The Official 2025 New England Patriots Thread

[Deepster]

Look at Aaron Hernandez before he murdered Odin Lloyd. There were other murders, fights, he was always high on PCP, he carried around a rifle in his gym bag and talked about how gang bangers were out to kill him, he whacked off in team meetings.

Nothing that happens with that organization should ever be a surprise after everything we've learned over the years.

And nothing with Stefon Diggs should surprise anyone.

It all starts at the top. I think most NFL owners have some level of sleazebag, but Kraft is in the upper tier for sure.

 

[HitDog]

Christian Barmore c'mon down.

 

[Deepster]

Well, the Stefon Diggs era is officially over. Quite a ride.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Well, the Stefon Diggs era is officially over. Quite a ride.

Might not be. He could re-sign on a lower deal. I'll start a 2026 thread.

 

[Deepster]

Might not be. He could re-sign on a lower deal. I'll start a 2026 thread.

All in all, the Diggs move was a D grade at best.

He had 6 games with 4 catches or less. 8 games with 38 yds receiving or less. 4 TDs. He didn't top 40 yds receiving in a single postseason game.

And he got 4 women pregnant, had off the field drama on social media with Cardi B and of course, the "alleged" felony charges for choking his personal cook.

Why would you want him back?

 

[HuskyHawk]

All in all, the Diggs move was a D grade at best.

He had 6 games with 4 catches or less. 8 games with 38 yds receiving or less. 4 TDs. He didn't top 40 yds receiving in a single postseason game.

And he got 4 women pregnant, had off the field drama on social media with Cardi B and of course, the "alleged" felony charges for choking his personal cook.

Why would you want him back?

He put up over 1000 yards, didn't drop the ball, was evidently an outstanding teammate with excellent leadership in a young WR room. I'd grade it a B. I don't know if he will be back, but he wanted to be. The off field stuff didn't affect the team. I thought he'd be a distraction and was wrong.

 

[Deepster]

He put up over 1000 yards, didn't drop the ball, was evidently an outstanding teammate with excellent leadership in a young WR room. I'd grade it a B. I don't know if he will be back, but he wanted to be. The off field stuff didn't affect the team. I thought he'd be a distraction and was wrong.

A B grade is insanity and just not reality.

Didn't drop the ball? That's his job.
"Outstanding teammate"? Soft compliment not based on numbers.
"Off the field stuff didn't affect the team"? How do you know?

You paid the guy to produce and, even if you ignore the off the field stuff, he had 3 really good games and disappeared a LOT, especially for having the "runner up to the MVP" at QB.

Guys like Wandale Robinson, Tet McMillan and even perennial bust TE Kyle Pitts had better years than he did.

 

[HuskyHawk]

A B grade is insanity and just not reality.

Didn't drop the ball? That's his job.
"Outstanding teammate"? Soft compliment not based on numbers.
"Off the field stuff didn't affect the team"? How do you know?

You paid the guy to produce and, even if you ignore the off the field stuff, he had 3 really good games and disappeared a LOT, especially for having the "runner up to the MVP" at QB.

Guys like Wandale Robinson, Tet McMillan and even perennial bust TE Kyle Pitts had better years than he did.

He had the best year an WR has had for this team since Edelman. I think it's definitely a B. As for the how do you know part, all the guys close to the team raved about him. Talked about how much he helped the young receivers and helped Maye.

 

[Deepster]

He had the best year an WR has had for this team since Edelman. I think it's definitely a B. As for the how do you know part, all the guys close to the team raved about him. Talked about how much he helped the young receivers and helped Maye.

Okay.

Then why are they releasing him?

You say it's contract related when every other thread you're bragging about the Pats cap space.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Okay.

Then why are they releasing him?

You say it's contract related when every other thread you're bragging about the Pats cap space.

Because they aren't paying a guy his age that much, when they can get a younger player at that cap hit. They also need to extend Gonzalez, which is going to chew up some cap.

I think they want flexibility. Maybe that cap space goes to signing Pierce, or maybe to an AJ Brown trade or maybe they use it on an Edge. Maybe on OL. Maybe spread it around. He wasn't the best use of $26.5m in cap space.

 

[Deepster]

Because they aren't paying a guy his age that much, when they can get a younger player at that cap hit. They also need to extend Gonzalez, which is going to chew up some cap.

I think they want flexibility. Maybe that cap space goes to signing Pierce, or maybe to an AJ Brown trade or maybe they use it on an Edge. Maybe on OL. Maybe spread it around. He wasn't the best use of $26.5m in cap space.

You're paying AJ Brown (32m a yr) more than Diggs (23m a yr)
You're giving up picks (they want a 1st and 2nd for him) that you keep with Diggs.
He's as much (if not more) of a malcontent than Diggs.
Brown: 78/1003/7 -- Diggs: 85/1013/4 -- Why would you take AJ Brown over Diggs?

Last year, you raved about Diggs, you give him a B on his way out the door.....then try to spin that getting AJ Brown would be better?

 

[HuskyHawk]

You're paying AJ Brown (32m a yr) more than Diggs (23m a yr)
You're giving up picks (they want a 1st and 2nd for him) that you keep with Diggs.
He's as much (if not more) of a malcontent than Diggs.
Brown: 78/1003/7 -- Diggs: 85/1013/4 -- Why would you take AJ Brown over Diggs?

Last year, you raved about Diggs, you give him a B on his way out the door.....then try to spin that getting AJ Brown would be better?

Nobody is giving Philly that much for Brown. I don't want to trade for Brown, because I think trading picks for guys on top of market deals is just terrible football management. Prefer Pierce at a little less than what Diggs was making for a younger, bigger WR. Just saying what they may want to do since Vrabel drafted Brown with the Titans. Brown is certainly much better than Diggs at this point.

I don't recall raving about him at all? I was reluctant when they signed him fearing he'd be a bad influence. Then he had the boat thing. But when he got to camp, he was evidently really good at working, helping young guys etc. I think his on field performance, 1000 yards, reliable, was a solid B. I'm glad they ended up with him instead of Aiyuke or some of their other targets. Got to a Super Bowl so it worked out fine.

My general view is that WR is a highly overrated position across the league. Elite WR aren't necessary and committing a lot of cap space to WR is a ticket to having a bad football team (See: Bengals). Ideally you want depth of capable guys who aren't stars. Mike Evans on a one year deal would be a nice addition. The smart move is to keep drafting guys in the middle rounds. Puka, St. Brown, many of the best guys were not 1st round picks.