FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — There were a record 10 trades at the NFL trade deadline on Tuesday. The busy day saw every team in the AFC East make a move other than the Patriots.
Seeing the Patriots (4-4) stand pat could mean that Coach Bill Belichick is happy with his current roster. Conversely, it could also mean that the Patriots couldn’t find an adequate trade partner when it came to moving on from an asset or acquiring veteran help.
So, which is it?
Belichick wasn’t in a revealing mood on Wednesday. The Patriots’ coach wouldn’t admit if he was happy with his roster, saying the team could still make more roster moves before the season ends. When it came to the trades that didn’t happen, Belichick said he didn’t understand what ‘close’ meant when it came to trade talks.
“It’s old. We’re done,” Belichick said when asked if the team was close to making any moves. “The trade deadline’s over, so we’re moving on (to) the Colts.”
When asked if director of scouting Elliot Wolf or director of player personnel Matt Groh talked to him about any deals that were close to coming together, Belichick wouldn’t say.
“Nothing happened, so, we’re moving on,” Belichick said. “I don’t even know what close means. What does that mean?”
When the reporter explained that ‘close’ indicates whether two teams were far apart or not during a trade discussion, Belichick said he never really looked at it like that.
“I’ve had conversations that have gone on for months, and nothing happened,” Belichick said. “I’ve had conversations that have gone on for 6-to-10 minutes and the trade gets done. I don’t know what that means.”
The Patriots did make two moves during the trade deadline. The team signed offensive lineman Hayden Howerton and punter Michael Palardy to their practice squad while subsequently releasing kicker Tristan Vizcaino and defensive lineman Ron’Dell Carter.
When asked if the lack of moves at the deadline meant he was happy with their roster construction, Belichick said it’s impossible to predict how many moves the team will make between now and the end of the season.
“Well, we’re always looking to improve,” Belichick said. “We added a couple practice squad players this week. It’d be hard for me to say there won’t be any roster changes between now and the end of the year. That’d be a stretch, but I don’t know. Who knows? We’ll see how it goes.”
NICK FOLK went 5 for 5 on field-goal attempts in a 22-17 win over the Jets last Sunday, including four he made from more than 40 yards away, and the NFL took notice.
The Patriots’ kicker was named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week, the fourth time he’s won the award as a Patriot. The 37-year-old won the same award once last year and twice in 2020. Sunday’s performance was the second time Folk’s gone 5 for 5 this season, after he was perfect over a busy day at Cleveland in Week 6.
Belichick called Folk probably the smartest kicker he’s coached with the Patriots and indicated he should be considered for the Hall of Fame.
“They were all smart, but (he’s) really just professional, totally understanding everything about kicking. Adam (Vinatieri) and Steve (Gostkowski) were probably a little more talented, but just in terms of the fundamentals, the execution, the consistency, Nick’s really good,” Belichick said.
“I mean, Adam’s really good, too. You’re talking about a Hall of Fame kicker. Honestly, all three of those guys could be. They’re pretty good. I’ve been very fortunate.”
On the season, Folk is 15 of 17 on field-goal attempts, and he’s nailed all 18 extra points. Earlier this year, he set the NFL record for most consecutive made field goals inside of 50 yards at 64 in a row. Folk’s longest field goal of the year is a 52-yarder he drilled on Sunday.
PRACTICE REPORT: Patriots running back Damien Harris was removed from the team’s injury report before last Sunday’s win over the Jets, but based on Wednesday’s practice, Harris might be listed again soon.
Harris was one of three starters missing at the Patriots’ first practice ahead of this weekend’s home game against the Colts. Wide receiver DeVante Parker (knee) and center David Andrews (concussion) were also absent. Andrews missed practice all of last week, and Parker has a minor knee sprain that is not expected to sideline him for more than one game.
Harris recently recovered from a hurt hamstring. It’s unclear why he was missing Wednesday.
Defensive tackle Christian Barmore returned to the field after missing practice all last week. He hurt his knee at Cleveland in Week 6.
Backup quarterback Brian Hoyer remains absent, though he is now eligible to come off injured reserve. Hoyer suffered a concussion against the Packers in Week 4. In his place, fourth-round rookie Bailey Zappe has played well, and the Patriots added veteran Garrett Gilbert to their practice squad.
BELICHICK-SPEAK: There’s apparently not a lot of talk about historic accomplishments in the Belichick family. However, Steve Belichick isn’t blind to the historic milestone his father achieved this past weekend.
Steve Belichick is the older of Bill Belichick’s two sons, who both serve as position coaches for the New England Patriots. Steve is the Patriots’ outside linebackers coach and defensive playcaller. In addition to being a coach in New England since 2012, Steve Belichick has grown up around the organization and watched his father rack up hundreds of NFL victories over the years.
When asked about his father and boss notching his 325th NFL victory – which moved him past George Halas for No. 2 on the league’s all-time wins list – Steve Belichick admitted that there isn’t a lot of open discussion about such things. However, he’s still proud of what his father has accomplished.
“I’m very proud. Proud to be his son and proud to see the work he’s put in pay off. Even if it’s just one number,” Steve Belichick said. “I know that’s not what he was striving to do, like, ‘I just wanted 325 wins,’ or whatever, and now all of a sudden he hit that number, he’s gonna stop. I know he would have been working just as hard if that was his 25th win. I’m really proud of him and glad he was able to be recognized for it. But a lot more work to be done.”
Bill Belichick trails only Don Shula (347) on the all-time wins list.
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