New England Patriots: How fans will know if team is all-in on 2021 NFL season

One way that fans of the New England Patriots will know if Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft are all-in on the 2021 NFL season will soon be revealed.

It will be divulged by the club’s actions (or non-actions) in the next few weeks. What actions could possibly alter and augment the already highly graded activities this offseason?

Note: it is interesting that this writer has been trolled not only for being really tough on the Patriots, (Grrrr) but most recently in a comment, signaled out as a “ghostwriter for Belichick.”

If anyone can convey an opinion on what that all signifies, please advise. It would be greatly appreciated. This writer is without a doubt, confused.

More from Chowder and Champions

• 3 Midseason Chaim Bloom Decisions That Have Killed the 2023 Red Sox
• 10 Patriots Who Will Be Cut by Tuesday’s Roster Deadline
• MLB Screws Red Sox Fans With Broadcast for Mookie Betts Return
• 3 Most Underpaid Celtics Heading Into the 2023 Season
• Red Sox Continue Rollercoaster Season With Massive Win

Now, let’s get back to the Patriots’ necessary future actions. That’s actually not too difficult to portray. The answer lies in the Patriots shoring up two positions on their roster.

If they do that, then it will be crystally clear that they are really and totally all-in to rebound from their disastrous first post-Tom Brady season.

First, and foremost, they will do what some pundits who have joined previous strong supporters of such a trade are suggesting that the Patriots deal for one of the top NFL receivers of the past decade, Julio Jones of Atlanta.

The other necessity is to provide adequate depth at offensive tackle and that has been suggested in this space on several occasions and won’t be belabored here. The wide receiver addition is key.

That fact is so obvious that it is screaming for the team to just “make it so” as Star Trek Captain, Jean-Luc Picard would say. So let’s take a look at the reasons again why this should happen, and when.

Why the New England Patriots of all teams should move for Julio Jones

The reputation of the reputed “GOAT” of coaches, Belichick was sullied last season by the poor performance of his first post-Brady team.

In addition, the Super Bowl-winning effort of “kicked-to-the-curb” Brady under the absolute worst possible circumstances environmentally, was certainly of some irritation.

The fact is, the reputation of Mr. Belichick took a major hit. Ergo, the Patriots have embarked upon what is really an unprecedented free agency splash to try to bring the team back.

The goal is to regain their swagger and remind the NFL that it was the Patriot’s organization, in total, not any one player, that was responsible for the six Super Bowl victories they gleaned in the 20 years old No. 12 was around.

Seemingly, (and financially certainly), the team has Mr. Kraft’s full support for this effort. The personal relations of Belichick and that No. 12 were likely the cause of the schism.

Yet, it was Mr. Kraft that allowed this untenable situation to fester and then become an irreparable split. For better or for worse, he shares the responsibility. The outcome at least in year one was wholly worse for New England for certain.

Why Julio Jones could be the answer

So, how do the Patriots climb out of the morass which they have built for themselves and complete the puzzle necessary to once again regain “relevance” and contend for the biggest prize, the Lombardi Trophy?

They have marched a long way toward that goal this offseason. Yet, the fact remains, that anything but a full and total commitment makes all of the other investments potentially meaningless.

More from New England Patriots

• Former Patriot Stevan Ridley Put Kevin Hart in a Wheelchair
• 3 Patriots Who Can Clinch a Roster Spot in Final Preseason Game
• Patriots Get Win Over Division Rivals Before Season Even Begins
• New Massachusetts Sportsbook Promos: $450 Bonus to Bet on Your Patriots at Caesars + DraftKings
• Ezekiel Elliott Reveals 3 Reasons Why He Signed With Patriots

You can’t go halfway in building a good football team. You either do absolutely everything you need to do, or it’s actually quite ludicrous to even bother with anything else.

The next step necessary is to bring in a top receiver. They corralled Nelson Agholor and Kendrick Bourne. That’s fine. But neither is a world-beater or game-changer. Jones is.

This writer is not a fan of cap matters. They are as important as they are boring. But, interestingly, evidently, the Patriots may have enough cap space to fit Jones in. That’s good.

Jones, if healthy, is a difference-maker and the difference is that he could elevate an already strong Patriots team to wherever. Who knows how far they could go with Jones?

So, to fill in the other spot that’s deficient, the Patriots need another offensive tackle for depth who can actually play. There is no reason why they can’t fill that position this offseason. But that’s secondary, for certain.

The key would be Jones. The Patriots’ wide receiver room is still deficient. They’re better, but still not playoff-caliber. If they add Jones to the mix (again, if he is healthy), they can contend, if he stays that way.

To bring things up-to-date, New England has spent a fortune in free agency. They had a draft that actually makes sense, not just another one of their versions that includes a high pick on a nonsensical player. (Thank you, Mr. Kraft!)

They have for once in an off-season done the “right thing”. Yet, to do so and not complete the loop makes no sense whatsoever.

Mr. Kraft and Mr. Belichick, please finish the deal. Go all-in for the big prize and get Jones to be your now, non-existent No. 1 receiver. And yes, go with the first-round pick if necessary.  Who cares? This is an all-time great receiver. Just go for it!

The rest of the pieces just may be in place. Please finish the rebuild and maybe Jones can be the final piece to the puzzle. Whatever the cost may be, if Jones is healthy, just pay it.

Go for it, now. No one will blame you for going all-in on a player of the ilk of Jones. Much of the work is done. Place the capstone on this new edifice and see what happens.

Who knows, it might just result in a seventh Lombardi Trophy. How sweet would that be?