New England Patriots: Reason for free agent frenzy spelled out

The New England Patriots spending frenzy is indicative of one overarching factor as Bill Belichick goes all-in in NFL free agency. It’s called: Relevance.

In 2020, for the first time since Tom Brady took over the helm of the New England Patriots’ franchise on the field in 2001, the New England Patriots in 2020 were not RELEVANT.

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They likely didn’t even warrant a slap on the wrist on a daily basis from the jealous Jet’s supporting newspaper tabloids in the Big Apple, who thrive on anti-Patriots and anti-Bill Belichick rhetoric. The 2020 edition probably didn’t even compel those slaps.

In fact, they didn’t. Not at all. Yet, the cognoscenti continue their silly criticism of Cam Newton as the cause of the Patriots’ dismal 2020 season. It is surprising actually that some really top Patriots commentators have bought into this drivel.

Meanwhile, Belichick, whom they routinely praise as a demigod (though now criticism of the past few drafts is becoming increasingly suggested) has brought back Newton to once again lead the line for the Patriots in 2021. Fancy that. See some inconsistency there? Right.

New England Patriots quarterback Cam Newton threw for a higher completion percentage than Tom Brady in 2020.

Just to complete that thought, once again, let’s go to the statistics. Newton’s completion percentage in 2020 was higher than Super Bowl-winning quarterback, Brady’s, during the 2020 season.

That’s right, Brady’s percentage was 65.7%, and Newton’s, 65.8%. What about that is not comprehensible? Brady had that percentage with a cast of receivers and tight ends that completely dwarfed New England’s non-collection. Top-notch versus almost nobody.

Yet, despite this overwhelming fact, Newton is consistently criticized by even some of the best commentators/writers in the business who can’t seem to see the proverbial forest for the trees.

Yes, Newton underthrew receivers. Fine. Have they forgotten the 2019 version of Brady bouncing balls on the Gillette turf like basketballs at the Gahhhhden, because no one was open?

Or his reportedly flat-out refusing to even throw to some of that cast of characters? Evidently, they have forgotten or conveniently chosen to forget it.

But Newton short-threw the same or actually an even worse cast of characters (no Julian Edelman for 100 catches, thank you), yet, he is vilified as washed up or worse. Is something missing in this equation? You bet there is.

And I thank the Head of Football Operations of the New England Patriots, Belichick for sustaining this viewpoint by bringing Newton back to New England for the 2021 season.

In addition, in recognition of his offensive skill position deficiencies, he also … drum roll please … bolstered the pathetic receiving skill positions to a fare-the-well in free agency to seek to rectify the obvious (to some) 2020 massive deficiencies.

Belichick evidently came to the conclusion that the fault lay not in his quarterback, but in his stars, or lack thereof on offense in support of Newton. Of which in 2020, there were none.

So, in getting back to the point at hand, the fact that Newton had no one to throw to in 2020 is directly responsible for the major free agency splash on offense, unprecedented in the entire history of the New England Patriots. Goal: rectify that situation with four new receiving additions.

These include two wide receivers in Nelson Agholor and Kendrick Bourne, and, also (and this is the really greatest aspect), bringing in arguably the top-two free-agent tight ends on the market in Jonnu Smith (who’s improving yearly) and Hunter Henry, despite trading up to draft two tight ends in the third round of last year’s NFL draft.

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So it’s quite clear that Belichick wants to be relevant in 2021 once more, really relevant, and is willing to spend lots of Bob Kraft’s money to do so. Great.

But hats off to Boss Bill for going all-in in 2021. How sweet it is! Let’s hope he wins the pot.

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