Pulling A Fast One On Bill Belichick
March 21st, 2022
Confused.
So NFL Network stats queen Cynthia Frelund, who seems to be offering more opinions on the network rather than just rattling off numbers from her Excel software, decided to type a piece for NFL.com on the three best fits and three biggest headscratchers of the first week of free agency.
Frelund being Frelund, she used a lot of numbers and stats and projections. She’s not into matchups or physical mismatches or attributes, though slowly but surely she’s making progress.
One of the three head-scratchers was the Bucs trading for right guard Shaq Mason. But it is not what you may think. She just cannot figure out how Bill Belicheat gave Mason away for a third-day draft pick.
Shaq Mason
The trade: Acquired from the New England Patriots in exchange for a 2022 fifth-round pick.
OK, this one is a head-scratcher for the Patriots, who only receive a fifth-round pick while offloading the balance of Mason’s non-premium contract (just a $7.4 million in 2022, then $8.5 million in ’23). The 28-year-old has been PFF’s fifth-highest-graded guard since 2016.
For Tampa, a Super Bowl contender once again with Tom Brady’s unretirement, the deal makes all the sense in the world. Mason fills a huge need left by Ali Marpet’s surprise retirement.
Joe guesses Frelund means Mason brings a high level skillset needed on the Bucs’ front line since Ali Marpet retired. Of course, Mason, unless Frelund knows something Joe doesn’t, is most likely to play right guard for the Bucs in place of Alex Cappa.
It is odd to see Belicheat get swindled like this, for a fifth-round pick no less. It is why Joe has antennae raised that something might be hidden and wrong with Mason.
March 21st, 2022 at 4:09 am
Reminds me of Schiano shipping Lagarette Blount to the Pats. Just a total brain fart as it appears now by Billy B. So thanks Bill, for paying it back with Logan. Yeah the Bucs had a young Doug Martin also, but Lagarette simply was one of the best Running backs the Bucs have ever had and for Schiano to just send him away was plain dumb.
GO BUCS!!!
March 21st, 2022 at 5:05 am
BB is just a cheapskate. He will probably draft a guard to replace Mason. It’s just what he does. I mean he let Brady walk instead of giving him a 2 year deal. That should tell u all u need to know. Tried to trade Gronk in his prime so he didn’t have to pay him. Chandler Jones, Jamie Collins. The list goes on and on.
March 21st, 2022 at 5:28 am
Patriots are an o line factory. Let’s just hope this is BB sending Brady some love
March 21st, 2022 at 5:40 am
August 76’ you hit the nail right the head. Blount was the best RB this franchise ever had!
March 21st, 2022 at 6:03 am
Maybe he has herpes. 3rd rounder would have been cheap but a 5th?
Herpes.
March 21st, 2022 at 6:13 am
Wasn’t Schiano the one that got rid of Michael Bennett?
March 21st, 2022 at 6:47 am
He didn’t get swindled.
He did it to help Tom.
March 21st, 2022 at 6:51 am
coach bill as of late is not a top 20 g.m.
March 21st, 2022 at 7:12 am
You’ve got to assume that Brady would absolutely know if something is wrong with Mason…..he’s still very connected with the Pats…..
As far as Bill is concerned…..he did exactly what he wanted…..but, he probably could have held out for a 4th…or at least a 5th in 22 & 6th in 23….
Our fourtune.
March 21st, 2022 at 7:14 am
Belicheat has a plan he was going to release Mason anyway he doesn’t like to pay players a lot of money they have a cheap QB for three more years I would assume hes going to draft guard Zion Johnson in the first round great guard Boston College player right next door.
March 21st, 2022 at 8:01 am
Butter face.
March 21st, 2022 at 8:18 am
Happened when he was coach but Joe spoke with someone who was in the room when the decision was made and it wasn’t Schiano’s call.
March 21st, 2022 at 8:19 am
Frelund, yeah, that dude is an idiot. Thanks for telling us what we already know captain obvious…day late and a dollar short.
March 21st, 2022 at 8:30 am
Joe Says:
March 21st, 2022 at 8:18 am
Wasn’t Schiano the one that got rid of Michael Bennett?
Happened when he was coach but Joe spoke with someone who was in the room when the decision was made and it wasn’t Schiano’s call.
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Kudos to Joe, this is why we love you! You are “the fly on the wall” and we get a real-life take of what’s what. Sincerely appreciative that I stumbled on this site a decade ago. Nothing better.
Also, this decision, the reported take of it, makes a lot of sense bc for all the hubbub about Schaino being a general and too stubborn/strict, he had a great defensive eye for talent and fundamentals (as you’ve netioned).
From the arm chair perspective, that move reeks of “rock star” level of Jack asserey. Hell of a nice guy, but I’d love to have a round table debate about this move, and his open philosophy on not drafting O-Line bc he wanted to see them play at this level. Lol, trench warfare is the foundation! Thankful for Licht, and grateful for another year of TB12! Go Bucs!
March 21st, 2022 at 8:31 am
Chandler Jones in a cold New England December walked into the Foxborough police station with only his underwear on. Police drove him home and found synthetic marajuana in his house. A week later he was playing for the Arizona cardinals.
March 21st, 2022 at 8:34 am
@mg
Bill Belichick hasn’t been a top GM in something like a decade. I’m not kidding, his Day 1 and Day 2 of the drafts have been poor (Mac Jones was a no-brainer), and his free agency buying binge was rather spotty. His trading record in that span hasn’t moved the team one way or the other, and his desire to prematurely trade Brady and later not re-sign him were just plain crazy.
What’s did Dirty Harry say? “A man has got to know his limitations.”
March 21st, 2022 at 8:41 am
Not him either, so Joe was told.
March 21st, 2022 at 8:43 am
Cappa for Mason is like Winston for Brady. Well, almost.
March 21st, 2022 at 8:48 am
Thanks, Joe!
Clears up a lot, and if it was a failed physical, I assume it comes down to the owners. Either way, glad Bennett went on to get a ring and be an all-decade player. Stud!
Hopefully that move, along w other head scratchers led us to the prize that is TB12.
Props to the organization for leaving the light on, and enacting a swift plan to reload and go for it all. Let’s send the goat out on top, 8/11 in SBs!
March 21st, 2022 at 10:25 am
I read on a Patriot Fan Board that the reason Bill let Mason go for a 5th round draft pick was because he still has Love for Tom Brady, and wanted him to be protected!
Bill knew that we lost 2 of our O Line starters, so he sent Tom a Guard.
I know that sounds far fetched, but how could Bill not Love Tom Brady ?
They will share history together!
March 21st, 2022 at 11:15 am
Kentucky Buc Says, you did not know anything about Belichick. If he hates a player, he sent him to the Browns as he did it to Collins. If he sent Mason to the Bucs, it means he loves Mason. He sometimes sent good players to a good team in another conference because he loves that player as you see in the case of Gimmy to the Niners for just a second draft pick. He will get a give back from the Bucs in the future for sure. You know our GM was from his staff.
March 21st, 2022 at 12:22 pm
Remember the last time someone “pulled one over” on Belicheck?
Me neither.
March 21st, 2022 at 1:08 pm
SIGN MATHIEU!! SIGN GILMORE!!! KEEP JPP!!..sign ingram!! sign OBJ!!!
March 21st, 2022 at 1:11 pm
HIGHTOWER AND FLOWERS WITH KEEPING SHU AND JPP WOUKD BE A FORCE !! JARVIS COULD COME CHEAP
March 21st, 2022 at 1:35 pm
Bill Belichick did NOT send a player to the Bucs in a bad trade because he “loves Tom Brady”. That is literally the stupidest thing I’ve ever read. Football people get fired based on who the sign, cut and trade. No front office intentionally makes a bad trade because they want to help another team out.
ESPECIALLY Belichick. The dude is a pretty ruthless winner. My antennae is up as well.