Ben Jarvis Green Ellis Enters Contract Year
Since Ben Jarvis Green Ellis tendered his contract that expired in 2011 he will play with the New England Patriots for another year. With the New England Patriots drafting 2 running backs in Shane Vereen and Stevan Ridley you have to assume that this is Ben Jarvis Green Ellis’s final year in New England.
If Ben Jarvis Green Ellis displays top notch numbers and guides the New England Patriots to a Super Bowl I could see him getting renewed, but I see the Patriots moving on with the 2 running backs that they have.
Ben Jarvis Green Ellis could be a #1 back for a few more years in New England, but with the 2 backs they drafted I could also see Ben Jarvis Green Ellis leaving the New England Patriots after this year.
Brian Hoyer Enters Contract Year
I believe next to Tom Brady that Brian Hoyer is the best quarterback on the roster. I think he is a quality backup who deserves a chance at the starting job when Brady retires, but the New England Patriots may not resign him.
Look at the big picture in New England. Why would Bill Belicheck go out and get a quarterback like Mallett if he believed Hoyer was a long term answer? It seems like New England has a garage sale with their backup quarterbacks every 2 years. Drew Bledsoe after he got bumped down to backup, Rohan Davey a disapointing 2002 4th round pick, Doug Flutie, Matt Cassel who went to the Chiefs, Kevin O Connell drafted in the 3rd round in 2008 and then gone entering this year, now you Brian Hoyer’s contract expiring along with Jonathan Crompton who is on New England’s practice squad.
Given New England’s track record of trying to find a suitable backup for Brady its safe to say that the New England Patriots will probably part ways with Hoyer after this year and give Mallett the backup job in the long run because Belicheck would not have took Mallett if he had any faith in Hoyer being a successful backup or starter down the road.
I think this would be a huge mistake because I believe Mallett lacks the intangibles while Hoyer could blossom like Matt Cassel did from sitting behind Tom Brady, but we will see what happens here with the New England Patriots as Hoyer enters his contract year.
Hoyer isn’t just playing for his job, he is also playing for his career because if he screws up this year he’s probably not going to get a second chance moving forward.
Ty Warren Gets His College Degree at Texas A/M
Different NFL Players are doing different things during the NFL Lockout. Some players are forming their own practices with teammates, some rookies are studying team play books, and some players are going to weight rooms. While those players are doing those things during the NFL lockout, New England Patriots 3-4 left end Ty Warren went back to Texas A/M to get his college degree.
In 2010, Warren skipped a Patriots camp that would have earned him $250,000 by going back to college in hopes of getting his degree. Now that Ty Warren has a degree he is the first person in the Warren family with a degree.
Warren addressed the numerous media outlets interviewing him on his college degree. Warren wants to emphasize the importance of getting a college degree to his children so that they have promising futures moving forward.
Another factor that motivated Warren to get his college degree sooner rather than later was the uncertain status of the NFL heading into last season. Warren missed last year with a hip injury.
Now that Warren has graduated from Texas A/M and is back at full health there is a chance he has a breakout year and returns to his dominant pro bowl form from when Warren played next to Richard Seymour on the Super Bowl teams that the Patriots had.
3-4 Right Outside Linebacker Job
The 3-4 right outside linebacker job will be an intense competition between second year player Jermaine Cunningham and Tully Banta Cain. Tully Banta Cain recorded 10 sacks in 2009. While Tully Banta Cain only recorded 5 sacks in 2010, Cunningham emerged as a pass rusher while stuffing the run and dropping back into coverage. Cunningham didn’t rack up the stats of a sack artist, but he did the little things that a pass rusher needs to do so I like Cunningham’s future.
Tully Banta Cain is a veteran journeyman who can be an effective pass rusher when healthy, but age is catching up to him. Tully Banta Cain can be a nightmare for quarterbacks if he returns to his 2009 form.
Jermaine Cunningham was a rookie in 2010, but he didn’t have more than 1 sack. Even Jason Worilds who was a backup to Harrison and Woodley all year managed to record 1 sack so it makes you wonder if Cunningham can improve enough to become a sack artist. Cunningham will win the job with ease if he performs like a sack artist during the preseason.
3-4 Right End Job
Ty Warren and Marcus Stroud will compete for the starting job at right end in New England’s 3-4 scheme. Both Warren and Stroud are expected to start for the New England Patriots this season, but both players are 3-4 left ends at best and one has to move over to that right end position. Ty Warren can be a pro bowl caliber player when healthy and had success early in his career in the 3-4 when the Patriots had Richard Seymour. Marcus Stroud was a 3-4 left end in Buffalo last season, but he may be playing right end because the Patriots are comparing Stroud to Gerrard Warren who started as a 3-4 right end when Ty Warren was injured last year.
I personally believe that Ty Warren would be a better fit as a 3-4 right end, but in the end I believe the New England Patriots will make Marcus Stroud a 3-4 right end because they signed him to a mega deal this offseason.
