New England Patriots: 3 biggest storylines heading into Training Camp
The New England Patriots have plenty of stories to follow as training camp kicks off.
There is nothing better than NFL season. The leaves are falling, Sundays have a whole new feeling, and for New England fans over the last two decades, the Patriots are pursuing another Super Bowl title.
Of course the departure of Tom Brady last season dramatically changed the Patriots and their playoff hopes as they missed the postseason for the first time since 2008 after going 7-9.
Head coach Bill Belichick had the money to spend this offseason and did not hold back, giving Patriots fans the hope that this could be the season they return to the playoffs. That being said, there are still a plethora of questions to ask as free agency, retirement, and the draft have completely shaken up the team.
In this installment, we take a look at the biggest stories and questions the Patriots are facing as training camp begins this week.
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Stephon Gilmore: Will the CB and the New England Patriots reach a new deal?
On Thursday, ESPN’s Mike Reiss reported that 2019 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore arrived at training camp after holding out of workouts all offseason. This shocked many as Gilmore had been holding out to get a better contract with the team and many believed he would not be returning until that happened or he was traded from the team.
Gilmore’s sudden decision to rejoin his team after all signs pointed to him not doing so shows that he understands how Belichick works in these situations. Unless Gilmore is looking to be moved, it seems as though he wants to remain on the Patriots and playing under Belichick moving forward. After all, it’s in Belichick’s scheme that Gilmore made the step from solid corner to bona fide All-Pro.
The question at hand is simple, however. Will Gilmore and the Patriots be able to reach a new deal before the season? And to go a step further — does this team make the playoffs if Gilmore is not on the roster this season?
Belichick has built a defense that, with Gilmore, can be among the elite ones in the league. Time will tell as to whether or not Gilmore will be here but both sides recognize that they are better with each other than without. If the cornerback is willing to play as his arrival to training camp signifies, then this will be an odd one to figure out as there are no signs of a new deal coming for Gilmore.
Our guess is that he either plays on his deal or is dealt to another team before the regular season.