A busy offseason awaits the Super Bowl LIII champion Patriots with a number of decisions to be made by players and the team alike.
FOXBORO – The duck boats have sailed.
So, too, will a number of the occupants who were on them on Tuesday.
That’s life in the NFL today.
“I think that every year things change in the NFL,” Patriots quarterback Tom Brady said back in the first week of January. “Really, this ’18 team won't be the same in ’19. And the ’17 team wasn’t the same as this team. And the ’16 team wasn't the same as the ’17 team.
“I think one thing that’s certain in the NFL is change. Coaches, players, I don't think it’s a big secret that people are just moving on.”
So a little travelin’ music, if you please, for those Super Bowl LIII champion Patriots who rode the duck boats through Boston Tuesday, for many of them will be moving on this offseason.
Actually, the departures have already begun.
With linebackers coach-de facto defensive coordinator Brian Flores, who succeeded Matt Patricia in the defensive play-calling role when he took the head coaching job in Detroit last February, being introduced as the Dolphins’ new head coach in Miami on Monday, the Patriots will have their third different play caller on that side of the ball in as many seasons in 2019. Wide receivers coach Chad O’Shea is said to be in line to join Flores as his offensive coordinator, with assistant quarterbacks coach Jerry Schlupinski reportedly en route to South Beach as the Dolphins’ new QBs coach.
As for the leader of the chosen 53 who suited up against the Los Angeles Rams in Atlanta on Sunday night, Brady has already gone on record as saying there is “zero” chance that he won’t be back in 2019, but beyond the QB who will turn 42 before he takes his next meaningful snap there are a number of veterans who come with no such guarantees.
The list of free agents-in-waiting (free agency starts next month) includes punter Ryan Allen, defensive tackle Malcom Brown, offensive tackle Trent Brown, wide receiver Phillip Dorsett, defensive lineman Trey Flowers, place-kicker Stephen Gostkowski, wide receiver Chris Hogan, cornerback Jason McCourty, kickoff returner-wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson and defensive tackle Danny Shelton.
Are we in for another offseason carnival act with tight end Rob Gronkowski?
After mulling retirement last offseason, the five-time Pro Bowler spent much of this season looking more like he was an old 29 than a 29-year-old. Now, it would seem the possibility that he’s played his final football game is stronger than ever.
In the week leading up to the Super Bowl, safety Devin McCourty brought up the “r” word, telling the NFL Network’s Deion Sanders: “I don’t know for sure, man, but I do look at (retirement). If we can win this game, win it with my brother, I don’t know what else I could do that’ll top that. So I'm just trying to make sure I enjoy this season and enjoy these last couple days with these guys.”
Beyond that, there’s this: McCourty’s salary cap hit of more than $13 million to the team in 2019 is steep. For that matter, so is linebacker Dont’a Hightower’s cap hit, which is in excess of $10 million. At the very least, those two could have their contracts reworked this offseason.
A high-profile, free-agent signing a year ago, defensive end Adrian Clayborn ($10 million over two seasons) didn’t come close to living up to expectations (can you say “bust?”) as a pass rusher and may be one and done here.
Clearly, a multitude of decisions are to be made in the days, weeks and months ahead, both by those who sign the paychecks and those who receive them – and that’s not even factoring a possible extension for Brady, who is due to enter the last year of his contract (at a $27-million hit against the cap the team could lower with an extension) in 2019.
Change is in the offseason air in Foxboro.
Such is life in today’s NFL.
As Brady said a month ago: “Over the years I’ve seen it all. Nineteen years.”