FOXBORO — Josh Uche understands the sport exterior the sport.
Whether he performs in New England previous this season, a contract 12 months for the gifted 24-year-old move rusher, is carefully tied to his efficiency on the soccer area. But not totally.
The Patriots’ ongoing negotiations together with his brokers will probably be impacted by a number of elements: his contract calls for, the crew’s curiosity, how move rushers of his age and caliber are being paid throughout the league, wage cap projections, the chance value of signing Uche to a big contract for the crew, potential replacements for him on the roster, how the entrance workplace tasks he’ll play in upcoming years, what Uche believes he’ll do and which aspect can greatest flex
So, with all of that in thoughts, Uche is selecting to maintain a transparent head. The enterprise sport? His brokers can deal with that. Football is the one sport he needs to play.
“I just let (my agents) handle all the little stuff and just come out here and work each day,” Uche stated after Thursday’s coaching camp follow.
Last season, Uche tallied 11.5 sacks and two compelled fumbles in a breakout season that coincided with spectacular campaigns by fellow 2020 draft picks Kyle Dugger and offensive lineman Mike Onwenu. Dugger and Onwenu are additionally getting into contract years. Another 2022 breakout star, linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley, has already obtained a brand new deal, agreeing to a two-year extension in June.
According to a supply, Bentley made it clear he needed to stay in New England. The sides discovered a center floor that’s prone to resemble a team-friendly deal by the point it expires or even perhaps earlier. It was necessary to Bentley to proceed what he sees because the Patriots’ defensive legacy.
Asked whether or not he’d like to take action Thursday, Uche stated he did.
“This is the team that developed me into the player I’ve become,” he stated. “This is the place I’ve called home the last four years. I’m comfortable. I know the area, I’ve got family out here, and I love it out here. And I’ve been able to make myself at home. And I would love to be here.”
However, Uche doesn’t sound fairly as able to make monetary concessions as a way to keep long-term. He’ll go the place he’s needed, as he repeatedly advised reporters Thursday. Whether that’s with the Patriots – who might have drafted his alternative final April in second-round rookie Keion White – or one other crew has but to be decided.
Mac among the many ‘best’
Wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster has been impressed together with his new quarterback, Mac Jones, early in his Patriots tenure. And the wideout has a reasonably excessive baseline of comparability.
Smith-Schuster caught passes from two-time Super Bowl champion Ben Roethlisberger for the primary 5 seasons of his NFL profession. He received his personal Super Bowl with quarterback Patrick Mahomes on the Kansas City Chiefs.
So, when Smith-Schuster begins tossing round comparisons involving Jones, it’s value listening.
“The guy’s just super intelligent and like his work ethic is — it’s the best,” Smith-Schuster stated Thursday after Day 2 of coaching camp. “I’ve seen a lot of guys work, coming into the office early, put in the work, and he’s one of those guys.”
Belichick ‘good’ with Mac, too
We came upon Wednesday afternoon by Jones that his relationship with head coach Bill Belichick is “good.” Belichick confirmed that in his personal means Thursday morning.
“Yeah, again, I’m good with all of the players who are on the team,” Belichick stated earlier than Day 2 of coaching camp. “Absolutely.”
Jones stated he and Belichick agreed to a recent begin this season after a disappointing 2022 marketing campaign for the younger quarterback. That’s one piece of data the longtime head coach is not going to verify Thursday.
“Yeah, I’ll keep all of my conversations with the players private for the sake of the players,” Belichick stated.
Jones had one of the environment friendly seasons for a rookie quarterback in NFL historical past in 2021 earlier than declining in 2022 beneath the offensive management of Matt Patricia and Joe Judge, who changed departing offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. Patricia is now a defensive assistant with the Philadelphia Eagles and Judge is the Patriots’ assistant head coach with a give attention to particular groups. The Patriots introduced again Bill O’Brien as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, and the hope is Jones could have a resurgence beneath new teaching.
Pats’ curiosity in Cook?
The first defensive play from the Patriots on Day 2 of coaching camp got here from Belichick.
Belichick was requested Thursday morning a couple of report from ESPN that free-agent working again Dalvin Cook is “in talks with the Patriots about setting up a possible visit to New England.”
“Yeah, no, I’m not going to talk about players that are not on our team,” Belichick stated. “It’s a long-standing policy that I’ll continue to stick with.”
Cook reportedly is visiting the New York Jets this week.
Belichick wouldn’t speak Cook, however Patriots director of participant personnel Matt Groh did focus on the free-agent working again’s scenario Wednesday.
Cook is a four-time Pro Bowl choice, and New England has been working again depth since slicing James Robinson within the spring. Pierre Strong, Ty Montgomery, Kevin Harris and J.J. Taylor are backing up starter Rhamondre Stevenson.
Cook carried the ball 264 instances for 1,173 yards with eight touchdowns final season. He has 1,282 carries for five,993 yards with 47 touchdowns in six seasons with the Minnesota Vikings. He was launched final month for salary-cap functions.
An ex-girlfriend of Cook, Gracelyn Trimble, sued the working again in November 2021, alleging him of assault, battery and false imprisonment. Cook filed a counterclaim in opposition to Trimble alleging her of defamation. The civil case is ongoing.
Guy retains contract talks personal
Patriots defensive deal with Lawrence Guy is current for coaching camp, which is an improve from his minicamp standing.
But it appears the problems that stored Guy out of obligatory minicamp aren’t fairly resolved. Guy’s absence was believed to be a contract situation, ESPN reported in June.
“Me and my agent have been in discussions with this organization and we’re gonna keep that private between us,” Guy stated Thursday after Day 2 of coaching camp.
Guy stated he welcomed a toddler round minicamp and “we had things we had to deal with.”
“We’re big on family, and we had to handle certain things,” Guys stated. “We’re going to leave it at that.”
Guy wouldn’t say whether or not his presence at coaching camp meant that he was assured that his contract can be amended. The 6-foot-4, 315-pound defensive deal with nonetheless has two years and $6 million left on his deal.
“I’m here. A big smile on my face,” Guy stated. “I’m going to do whatever I can for the organization. I’ll work as hard as I can. That’s why we play this game — to be out on this field. To be a brotherhood.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com”