Patriots Daily

Patriots Daily: Premier of ‘The Dynasty’; NFL Roster Moves Begin

Published

11 months ago

February 16, 2024

FILE - In this Feb. 7, 2017, file photo, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady holds up Super Bowl trophies along with head coach Bill Belichick, right, and team owner Robert Kraft, left, during a rally in Boston to celebrate the win over the Atlanta Falcons in the NFL Super Bowl 51 football game in Houston. Tom Brady is an NFL free agent for the first time in his career. The 42-year-old quarterback with six Super Bowl rings said Tuesday morning, March 17, 2020, that he is leaving the New England Patriots. The Patriots Dynasty won six Super Bowls. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File)

Jeff Benedict’s book “The Dynasty” covered the incredible run of the New England Patriots under the ownership of Robert Kraft. Now Apple TV is running a ten-part docuseries covering the same period as Benedict’s book. It is complete with video highlights and interviews with those involved. Patriots Football Now will be running reviews of all ten episodes, which will be released two at a time weekly.

The book was fantastic. If the docuseries is similarly entertaining, it will be must-watch television. That said, the snippets that have been released do not paint a two-decade run of success in the same positive way. How will Bill Belichick be portrayed? Again, based on the known clips and quotes, not necessarily as kind as Belichick supporters would be comfortable with.

Much like the games themselves, from a viewer’s perspective, it is important to let the episodes play out before judging them. It will be nice for fans who did not live through those first three championships to see how they unfolded. Director Matt Hamachek states he will present the unbelievable run from many lenses with no agenda. Some were weary of that statement before a single episode was released to the public. Stay tuned.

NFL Roster Moves Have Begun

Yesterday marked the beginning of NFL teams making their 2024 roster moves. Two teams already made news, with very different moves.

The Seattle Seahawks guaranteed quarterback Geno Smith $12.7 million by keeping him on the roster. The money converts from an injury guarantee to being fully guaranteed. The Seahawks drafting a quarterback in the 2024 NFL Draft is still very much on the table. Smith still makes a reasonable salary for a QB who led the league in completion percentage while throwing 30 touchdowns in 2022. In addition to a Seattle return, Smith is also a veteran possibility to teams searching for a change.

Meanwhile, the Chicago Bears cut salary yesterday. They released their two longest-tenured players, DB Eddie Jackson and OG Cody Whitehair. Chicago now has over $70 million in cap space heading into free agency. Pro Football Focus ranked Jackson 51 of 61 NFL safeties in 2023. Whitehair ranked 51 of 54 qualified guards. With their draft capital and free agent money, the Bears could be in place to make quite a splash this offseason.

Also in today’s Patriots Daily…

New England Patriots

Patriots Football Now – Patriots Roster Breakdown: Jalen Mills heads to free agency

Patriots Football Now – Chandler Jones shares encouraging update

New England Patriots Staff

Patriots Football Now – Questions and concerns for offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt

Patriots Football Now – Ivy League assistant Michael McCarthy tabbed for Patriots coaching job

NFL Draft

Patriots Football Now – NFL Draft: History of the No. 3 pick

Patriots Football Now – NFL Mock Draft 2.0

NFL News

Patriots Football Now – Key dates on the 2024 NFL calendar

NFL.com – Chiefs OL Trey Smith shares experience of Super Bowl parade shooting

Pro Football Network – NFL franchise tag candidates

Yardbarker – George Kittle mic’d up, unaware during key play in Super Bowl 58 (video)

ESPN – New Falcons OC Zac Robinson: All QB options are on the table

Boston Bruins

Go over to our sibling site Bo ston H ockey Now to check out the great Boston Bruins coverage from Jimmy Murphy and the BHN team. The NHL season is underway and plenty is happening in the Bruins 100 Anniversary season.

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Football Fun Fact of the Day

Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Jerome Bettis turns 52 today. Bettis holds the NFL record for most career rushing yards for a franchise that did not draft him. Better was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams and played his first two seasons there. He was then traded with a third-round pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers for second an fourth-round picks. Bettis went on to rush for 10,571 yards as a member of the Steelers.

The only other NFL player to rush for 10,000 yards for a franchise that did not draft them was Curtis Martin, who did so for the New York Jets after beginning his career with the New England Patriots.