The New England Patriots have won a total of eight games over the past two seasons. A franchise that proudly boasts their six championships since the turn of the century, it’s understandable that they didn’t want to be at the bottom of the NFL for long and made big moves to change the culture.
The Patriots fired Jarod Mayo after one season and replaced him with Mike Vrabel. New England also dropped a total of $360 million in free agency, hoping to patch some of the holes that have sunk the ship over the past two seasons.
While spending big on established players is good in theory, it often leads to buyers remorse. One new addition has already landed in the doghouse since signing with the Patriots and it puts a target on his back as he begins his time in New England.
New Patriots CB Carlton Davis’s Absence From OTAs is a Disappointment
A lot of words have been written about Stefon Diggs’ offseason adventures after he signed with the Patriots, but another free agent that was disappointing during OTAs was cornerback Carlton Davis III.
The 28-year-old is coming off a strong season where he made 56 total tackles, intercepted two passes and had 11 pass breakups in his lone year with the Detroit Lions. The performance was cut short due to a broken jaw last December but it didn’t stop him from getting a three-year, $54 million contract this offseason.
The idea was for Davis to come in, form a strong cornerback tandem with Christian Gonzalez and provide the type of veteran leadership the Patriots haven’t had in recent years. But Mass Live’s Karen Guregian noted that Davis was rarely seen during the offseason program with the exception of riding a jetski during voluntary workouts.
“Up until minicamp, Davis was largely invisible,” Guregian wrote. “His absence, even during voluntary workouts, isn’t a good look, especially going to a new team, and being a fortune.”
You may state that Davis skipped voluntary workouts and you are correct. But it’s worth noting that Vrabel takes voluntary workouts more seriously than most coaches around the league, telling Phil Perry of NBC Sports Boston that he writes a “voluntary” letter to players to “make sure they voluntarily read it and voluntarily show up.”
In the end, Davis could pull a Roger Dorn and wave his new contract in the air if Vrabel has an issue with him not showing up. It also could be forgotten if Davis brings what the Patriots are expecting to their defense. But it also creates an unnecessary spotlight on him before he even plays a game in New England, which is something they are trying to get away from as they enter the Vrabel era.