March 2014 - New England Patriots Wiretap

Patriots May Use James White As Three-Down Back

Dec 10, 2014 10:19 PM

Bill Belichick believes James White can be a three-down running back for the New England Patriots this season.

White was a fourth round pick by the Patriots out of Wisconsin.

"It's been good working with James White. He's a very interesting and versatile player," Belichick told Sirius XM NFL Radio this month, per ESPNBoston.com's Mike Reiss.

White has drawn comparisons to Kevin Faulk in terms of the type of role he might have with the Patriots.

Marc Sessler/NFL.com

Tags: New England Patriots, Fantasy, IQ

Discuss
Patriots Claim Tyler Gaffney On Waivers

Sep 30, 2014 11:33 PM

The New England Patriots have claimed Tyler Gaffney on waivers.

Gaffney, a sixth-round draft choice out of Stanford by the Carolina Panthers, sustained a season-ending knee injury in a practice Friday.

The Patriots inherit Gaffney's contract, which runs through 2017 and calls for base salaries of $420,000, $510,000, $600,000 and $690,000.

Mike Reiss/ESPN

Tags: New England Patriots, Carolina Panthers, Misc Rumor, Waiver

Discuss
Wilson, Luck, Rodgers, Watt Headline Barnwell's Trade Value List

Dec 6, 2014 7:52 PM

Brill Barnwell has released his 2014 NFL Trade Value rankings, headlined by Russell Wilson at No. 1 and Andrew Luck at No. 2.

Wilson is ranked ahead of Luck because he is still two years away from being paid market value.

Aaron Rodgers is ranked No. 3, though Barnwell writes that he would rank him as the most talented quarterback in the NFL right now. But Rodgers is 30 and makes far more money than younger, cheaper quarterbacks.

J.J. Watt is the first defensive player on the list and ranks No. 4.

Colin Kaepernick and Cam Newton are ranked No. 5 and No. 6 respectively. 

Robert Quinn is at No. 7 as the second-highest ranked defensive player.

Peyton Manning, Matt Ryan, Drew Brees and Tom Brady rank No. 8-No. 11.

Here's the rest of Barnwell's top-50:

12. Patrick Peterson

13. Earl Thomas

14. Richard Sherman

15. Robert Griffin III

16. A.J. Green

17. Calvin Johnson

18. Von Miller

19. Philip Rivers

20. Eli Manning

21. Ben Roethlisberger

22. Joe Thomas

23. Joe Staley

24. Luke Kuechly

25. Greg Hardy

26. Jadeveon Clowney

27. Jimmy Graham

28. Tyron Smith

29. Duane Brown

30. Julio Jones

31. Dez Bryant

32. Tony Romo

33. Matthew Stafford

34. Patrick Willis

35. Darrelle Revis

36. Lavonte David

37. Demaryius Thomas

38. Muhammad Wilkerson

39. Trent Williams

40. Joe Haden

41. Nate Solder

42. Adrian Peterson

43. Ryan Tannehill

44. Mike Iupati

45. Ndamukong Suh

46. Gerald McCoy

47. Dontari Poe

48. Sheldon Richardson

49. Jim Harbaugh

50. Nick Foles

Bill Barnwell/Grantland

Tags: Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tennessee Titans, Washington Football Team, Atlanta Falcons, Arizona Cardinals, Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, New York Jets, Las Vegas Raiders, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Diego Chargers, San Francisco 49ers, Miami Dolphins, IQ

Discuss
Rob Gronkowski Won't Begin Season On PUP

Aug 5, 2014 4:46 AM

Rob Gronkowski will not begin the season on the physically unable to perform list for the New England Patriots.

Gronkowski said last week he plans on playing the full 16-game schedule.

Gronkowski, who was limited to seven games last season, underwent surgery on his right ACL on Jan. 9.

Gronkowski spent the majority of the offseason working out at the team's facility, yet his expected presence registers as a bit of a surprise.

Mike Reiss/ESPN

Tags: New England Patriots, Fantasy, Injury

Discuss
Text Messages Between Belichick, Hernandez Could Be Used As Evidence

Jul 21, 2014 9:27 AM

Text messagees between Bill Belichick and Aaron Hernandez have been handed over and could be used as evidence in Hernandez's murder trial.

It’s unclear what the texts say. Spokesmen for both the Patriots and Bristol County prosecutors declined comment, while Hernandez’s defense attorney did not return a call seeking comment.

Prosecutors handed over 33 pages of text messages from February to May of 2013.

Erin Smith, Laurel J. Sweet/Boston Herald

Tags: New England Patriots

Discuss
Larry Fitzgerald Never Approached By Cardinals About Trade To Patriots

Nov 24, 2014 11:38 PM

Larry Fitzgerald was rumored to be moving from the Arizona Cardinals to the New England Patriots as last year's trade deadline.

Fitzgerald was never approached by the Cardinals.

"Nothing at all. I mean, I heard stuff that was being said," Fitzgerald said. "But there was never a time where the team approached me. Nothing like that."

An offseason contract restructuring means Fitzgerald's cap hit for 2015 will be an untenable $23.6 million. 

"[I view 2014] like I view every year. I just cherish every moment I have on the field," Fitzgerald said. "It's what I love to do. I really enjoy it. It's fun to go out there and compete and be around the guys every day. I just cherish that. So, whatever happens after the season, happens after the season. But most of that stuff is out of my control anyway."

Will Brinson/CBS Sports

Tags: Arizona Cardinals, New England Patriots, Misc Rumor, Trade Rumor

Discuss
Rob Gronkowski On Track To Start Week 1

Dec 5, 2014 6:36 PM

Rob Gronkowski is on track to be available for Week 1 of the regular season for the New England Patriots.

With the Patriots losing Wes Welker and Aaron Hernandez last season, the reliance on Gronkowski became even more pronounced.

Gronkowski is coming back from a torn ACL and MCL.

Paul Perillo/NFL.com

Tags: New England Patriots, Fantasy, Injury

Discuss