The New England Patriots are not necessarily known for being one of the most active spenders in free agencies, but the legal tampering in 2021 was still a return to Bill Belichick’s roots – at least according to one person who played the team’s inner workings. know well: Patriots CEO Mike Lombardi appears on the Pat McAfee Show to talk so far about his former employee’s active free agency week.
New England signed eight free agents in a 24-hour period, was a step in the right direction, and a sign that Belichick is well aware of the previous weaknesses of his list.
‘They had a tough year last year, and I think it’s not just Belichick who’s throwing things in the cart when he goes down the aisle. It’s a strategic plan, ‘Lombardi said. ‘At the end of the year he knew he had a team with very few skill players, no fixed points, receivers who really could not play and were dynamic, a quarterback who could not throw the ball effectively, but the ball well.
‘I think he decided to go back to his roots. He had to correct his offensive and defensive lines – Trent Brown trades, signing some guys on the defensive front who will help them – and then trying to improve his team’s skill level. ”
Lombardi worked in the Cleveland Browns’ front office under Belichick and later rejoined him between 2014 and 2016 in New England.
On the first two days of the legal tampering period, the Patriots signed Jonnu Smith and Hunter Henry, the defense packages Davon Godchaux and Henry Anderson, the wide receivers Nelson Agholor and Kendrick Bourne, as well as defender Matthew Judon and cornerback Jalen Mills. They also have two of their own free agents in defensive linemen Deatrich Wise Jr. and Carl Davis retained.