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Felger and Mazz react to the Patriots' recent roster transactions.

Thumbnail photo courtesy of USA Today Sports.

#nfl #patriots #football
Transcript
00:00And roster moves and more moves today for the New England Patriots,
00:02and that was Mike Vrabel reacting to one of the moves,
00:04and that is the release of Kendrick Bourne.
00:06The other big headline is that the Patriots have claimed Tommy DeVito.
00:10Woo!
00:10Hey, Tommy!
00:12Off of waivers.
00:12Hey, Tommy Cutlets.
00:14Let's go.
00:14So we'll get your reaction to these two items off the top.
00:17But this has just occurred to me, Maz.
00:18Yeah, Tommy, did you hear that?
00:20Yeah, oh yeah, sure, I heard it on the way in, yeah.
00:22So, um, it's news to me.
00:26First of all, so it's like, is there another piece of information
00:28that's released that he didn't want released?
00:31But then really what I think he's reacting to there is the report,
00:37and you can tell me who had it,
00:38that Kendrick Bourne asked for his release
00:40and was granted his release because he asked for it.
00:43Right?
00:44Yeah, right.
00:44I mean, it's pretty much universally been reported that way,
00:47I thought, from anything I saw on Twitter.
00:49Yeah, and it was also Marcus Epps was part of that question, I believe,
00:51but go ahead.
00:52Okay, so Epps had an injury, but yeah, he also requested to be released.
00:56Okay, so that they were asked to be released,
00:58and they were granted their release because they were asked to be released.
01:02It's the worst sign yet.
01:03Go ahead.
01:04I mean, with Bourne, for me, this is the worst sign yet.
01:07Of what?
01:08That this is, they're not going to be great.
01:11Kendrick Bourne, you would think ostensibly would want to be here.
01:15He had his best career season with the offensive coordinator who's back,
01:19Josh McDaniels, in 2021, 800 yards, five touchdowns, go look it up.
01:23Kendrick Bourne's best season was with Josh McDaniels.
01:25When he was at camp early in the summer, he did the interview with Zolak and Bertrand.
01:31I heard it.
01:31I was like, well, even if he's dinged up and not the same guy post-injury,
01:34and it feels like he might not be, I listened to that interview.
01:37We all did.
01:37We're like, well, he's got luck for the team.
01:39He's happy-go-lucky.
01:40He's the one guy that sounds like he's ready to go.
01:42He wants to be with Josh McDaniels.
01:44He's going to know the offense.
01:45He'll be comfortable.
01:46Comfort usually means you're going to be a little bit more successful in the NFL.
01:50You would think he would want to be here is the point.
01:55Josh McDaniels, he had worked together.
01:58It's all worked.
01:59He had his best season under him.
02:00He'd be comfortable here.
02:02People tell me this quarterback's going to be good.
02:04He's up and coming.
02:05He's going to be able to get the ball to Kendrick Bourne.
02:06Kendrick Bourne could be productive in this offense.
02:09What happened here?
02:10He decided, no, I want no part of this, even though I would be comfortable with Josh McDaniels
02:15and I know the offense.
02:16And supposedly people tell me this quarterback's going to be good.
02:18But this young up-and-coming quarterback, no, I don't want to work with.
02:20He looked around and said, I don't want to work with the quarterback.
02:23I don't really want to work with this head coach.
02:24I don't like what's going on here.
02:26Please release me.
02:27I want to go somewhere else.
02:28This is the worst sign yet.
02:29This is the one guy you can look at on the roster, on that side of the ball, in a room,
02:35in a wide receiver room that I know is full, but it's not full of talent.
02:39And he's been productive here before, again, to keep using that word.
02:42And Bourne could look around and say, like, I could do something here.
02:45No, this is a good spot for me.
02:46And he decided the complete opposite.
02:48I don't want that.
02:49This is the worst sign yet.
02:50So the only other thing I wonder in this whole thing, did McDaniels want him?
02:56Why wouldn't he?
02:57You know what I mean?
02:57In other words, but then I wonder what was the communication like between Vrabel and McDaniels?
03:03So did McDaniels want him and Vrabel didn't?
03:06As far as the asking or didn't ask, I look at that and say, I'm not sure I believe Vrabel.
03:11I'm also not sure I believe Bourne.
03:13So if someone really wanted Bourne, they wouldn't have released him either way.
03:17Like, you know, they would have said to him, you're going to have a major role in what we do,
03:20and they might have been able to appease him.
03:22So we know they had too many receivers as far as yesterday.
03:25I feel like it's all sort of campaigning or image control now that either for Vrabel or for Bourne about who, you know,
03:34why did he hit the market and who made the decision?
03:37And, you know, even what you said about did someone leak it out and he didn't want it out?
03:41Like, it's all kind of bull crap.
03:43And I'm not telling you, but I think his case is interesting because what the hell is going on?
03:50Can I ask you who reported first?
03:52I think it was Schefter.
03:53And did he say that he...
03:55I thought, I mean, am I...
03:56Or maybe Palisaro.
03:57Oh, one of those.
03:58Yeah, one of those.
03:59Sorry.
03:59It was Palisaro.
04:00Do you mind just finding it?
04:01Sure.
04:02The first report because...
04:03Yeah, hold on.
04:03And Schefter had the detail that Bourne had asked for the release.
04:07Oh, that's what I meant.
04:08Yeah.
04:08Okay.
04:09So, Murray might be right.
04:11I'm not...
04:11I wasn't coming out from that angle.
04:13I was coming out from the angle of Vrabel.
04:15And we're just getting to know...
04:18Like, I really...
04:19I mean, I covered him as a player.
04:20Sure.
04:20So, I knew, you know, him as a player at a pretty decent level.
04:24And followed him.
04:25So, I think we all sort of knew him.
04:27But it's really coming home.
04:30He really can't help himself.
04:32He can't.
04:33And this is something Stillman said the other night.
04:36That...
04:37Get ready for it.
04:38He calls it Vrabel-ese.
04:40That he'll have an opportunity just to let it lay.
04:43And he just can't help himself from taking some sort of passive-aggressive shot.
04:49Or some sort of comment where you have to read between the lines.
04:54And for us, it's great.
04:56Because we like those sort of comments.
05:00We like reading into stuff.
05:01And digging in.
05:02And what does that mean?
05:03And sort of finding the story behind the story.
05:06And the extra layer.
05:07And I know some people aren't always interested in that.
05:09But maybe just Maz's former beat guys and reporters.
05:12Or to just have it in their mind.
05:14To listen to everything.
05:15And well, what the hell did that mean?
05:16And they're trying to figure that out.
05:18Vrabel's kind of a goldmine.
05:20I'm coming to learn.
05:21And boy, he can't help himself.
05:23And so, this is where I'm coming from on this.
05:25Real quick, Stu.
05:26Play Stillman from the other day.
05:27He talks about Vrabelese and the rat comment after he was asked about the Jalen Polk surgery.
05:34He just could have said no.
05:35But he couldn't help himself.
05:36Go ahead, Jimmy.
05:37And the thing about Vrabelese and Mike Vrabel is there is always a pair of lines to read between.
05:45And the thing you have to understand about Mike Vrabel is he cannot help himself sometimes when it comes to passive-aggressive comments.
05:55If you go back to that cut, the question was very simple.
06:00Jalen Polk is having back surgery.
06:02Is there anything you'd like to add to that?
06:04Vrabel said no.
06:06Now, right then and there, that should be the end of it, right?
06:10Like, if you're Vrabel and you're no-nonsense and you don't want to give the media a quote, you don't want to say anything and you don't want to...
06:17Isn't no the perfect answer?
06:20No and move on.
06:21But Vrabel cannot help himself.
06:24And this happened time and time again in Tennessee.
06:28Most notably that week.
06:29So, fast forward to today.
06:32This comment did pop into my head when I heard Vrabel's...
06:34Fast forward to today.
06:36Yep.
06:36It's reported across the board.
06:39He's been released after asking for his release.
06:42And Vrabel's asked about...
06:43Give me again the cut we just let off the show with, Jimmy.
06:45Please.
06:46I don't know who you're referring to, I guess, specifically.
06:58Epson Bourne.
07:02Yeah, that's news to me and...
07:05So, stop.
07:06He can stop right there.
07:07Yeah.
07:07I don't know who you're referring to specifically.
07:09Epson Bourne.
07:09Oh, well, that's news to me.
07:11Next question.
07:12But, go ahead.
07:13You know what I mean?
07:18You know what I mean?
07:19I think that we just, again, try to put the roster together.
07:22I mean...
07:23I guess when it doesn't work out...
07:27You know, you break up with somebody.
07:31Your girlfriend doesn't want to be with you.
07:33And then you say, well, I don't want to be with you either.
07:36I'm not going to get into all that.
07:37But I'm not going to get into it.
07:39Go ahead.
07:40So, who's that?
07:40I just said, I'm not going to get into it.
07:42I'm not going to get into it.
07:44You know what I mean?
07:44It's kind of like, well, I'm dumping you.
07:46Oh, no, wait.
07:47I dumped you.
07:47He can't help himself.
07:48Right, right.
07:49You can't fire me.
07:50I quit.
07:51So, this relates to the Bourne thing.
07:53Oh, you think that we release them because they asked to be released?
07:56Well, it's sort of like your girlfriend that says, well, I want to break up.
07:59No, I broke up with you first.
08:00He can't help himself.
08:02Yes, absolutely true.
08:03There's bitterness behind those words, though.
08:05A little bit.
08:06I mean, that's why he said it.
08:07That's why anyone ever says that.
08:09No, no, no.
08:09I was ready to dump you, too.
08:11No, you're the one that got dumped.
08:13Bourne dumped you.
08:14He wanted to be gone from this operation.
08:16See, but just quickly, I'm not sure I totally believe that either because it benefits Bourne
08:20to say, I want it out.
08:22I'm just saying, this isn't all that important, but it's just what struck me.
08:26Sure, of course.
08:28He just said this.
08:28It's like, he really just can't let it lie.
08:31You know what I mean?
08:31He's got to get in there and say, you broke up with me?
08:34No, we broke up with you.
08:36Like, it's important for him to get that out and, well, there it is.
08:39So you don't believe him.
08:40You believe Bourne.
08:42I don't believe either one of them.
08:44I don't know who's telling the truth.
08:46Something, my guess, put it this way.
08:48If they were going to release Bourne, why didn't they do it yesterday?
08:52I don't know.
08:53Good question.
08:54Why didn't they do it yesterday?
08:56So, like...
08:56The whole thing was amiss.
08:57When they initially tweeted out that roster, thanks to Panini, that we read on the year,
09:02Bourne wasn't on it.
09:03Cole Strange was.
09:04Then they quickly deleted it, and they had him on the final roster.
09:07And now he's gone?
09:08I think there's, like, some...
09:09To me, that reeks of, like, there's disagreement in terms of Rabel or McDaniels, Rabel and McDaniels,
09:15some of the coaches.
09:16They weren't on the same page.
09:18The social media team was ready with the roster.
09:21They put it out.
09:21And then it was, like, this scramble.
09:22It would be like, that's not it.
09:25That's not it.
09:25Pull it down, and then we'll give you the new one.
09:27Because what?
09:28They're not on the same page?
09:29That's what it reeked of to me.
09:30So, the McDaniels part, I do wonder about.
09:33Like, that one, I think, is sort of...
09:36McDaniels and Bourne have a past.
09:38They have a connection.
09:40So, did McDaniels want him?
09:42And that's why they kept him yesterday.
09:43And then Tommy DeVito became available, and Rabel said,
09:45after that, we're getting rid of this bum.
09:47I don't like this guy.
09:48He doesn't like me.
09:48See you later.
09:50And, you know, sorry, Josh, we're doing this.
09:52Like, I don't know.
09:54Like, but something like that, because the change from yesterday to day on Bourne to me is curious.
10:00So, it's just, and Rabel's sort of frustrated by the whole messaging of it, and yet he can't help himself.
10:07And...
10:08He really can't, though.
10:09No, no, he really can't, because he shouldn't have even said, that's news to me.
10:14News to you?
10:15He just said, look, we're just putting the roster together.
10:17End of story.
10:18You decide what you want.
10:20You know, I'm not getting into it with Kendrick Bourne one way or the other.
10:23And he was clearly, like, he wouldn't, he sort of talked about the signing of DeVito without mentioning the name or really talking about him specifically.
10:30He didn't want to talk about the specifics of the things that have, I thought, been done and been reported on.
10:37Certainly reported on.
10:38He says, you'll know at four.
10:40I guess you're going to release the final roster at four, whatever.
10:42And he wants to wait until then, yet it's all out, and it's all been messaged, and he's kind of behind it, and he can't help himself.
10:50It's a little less than dialed in, maybe, perhaps.
10:53Again, not a big deal.
10:54But I just get a kick out of Stillman's analysis and just it being in my face so badly, how he just, he can't help himself.
11:04He can't help himself.
11:05And clearly, he doesn't like the messaging from the Bourne side, apparently, that Bourne quit, he wasn't fired.
11:13Right.
11:14That sort of thing.
11:14Yeah, went right up his ass.
11:16Like, and again, maybe he feels like it challenges his authority or makes him look like he's appeasing players who want out or who knows.
11:25Like, sort of what I mean by the image thing.
11:27It's like, but the whole thing, I will agree, is curious.
11:30What the hell?
11:31Okay.
11:32Just say nothing or answer the question, one or the other.
11:35He can't help himself.
11:36It's great.
11:36I'm here for it.
11:38How do you feel about Bourne being off the roster?
11:40It doesn't bother me in the least bit.
11:41I don't think it's good.
11:42I don't think it's good at all.
11:43I told you, I've been down on Bourne for a while.
11:45I've had enough for Kendrick Bourne.
11:47Not that I dislike the guy.
11:48I like the guy a lot.
11:49What's he given them over the last three years?
11:51No, not much, because he hasn't been the same post-injury.
11:54But I don't think it's good, because you need people that know Josh McDaniel's offense that can help your quarterback along.
12:00He's not the same player, so I'm not going to argue with anyone like that.
12:03He's not the same guy that he was when he first got here with Mac Jones.
12:05But you want people that are comfortable with Josh McDaniel's offense to ostensibly make the quarterback more comfortable.
12:11Now he's gone.
12:12He had an opportunity to kind of show out in a full room with now eight receivers or seven, because they've now also released Javon Baker.
12:17But he had an opportunity here to be at least like the third guy.
12:20They've released Baker?
12:21They've released Baker.
12:22Oh, he's gone too?
12:23Yeah, that just happened in the last couple of minutes.
12:25Hit the button, just because I want to hit the button.
12:28Oh, okay, yeah, sure.
12:28Please, let's do that.
12:29So maybe they just put these guys on as fillers.
12:32Or there's miscommunication between the offensive coordinator and the head coach.
12:35Let's hit the button, please.
12:36Hit the button.
12:36This is Breaking Sports News.
12:40Followed by Beverly Instant Oil Change.
12:42On 98.5, the Sports Hub.
12:44From Mike Reese of ESPN, the Patriots are releasing wide receiver Javon Baker.
12:51Thank you, Murray.
12:53You wanted it.
12:54No, I did.
12:55Yes.
12:55No, don't you?
12:56Yeah.
12:56So they picked up a defensive back in Tommy DeVito, right?
13:00So the two receivers out, two new guys and a quarterback and a secondary guy.
13:04Mark Daniels says the plan, per source, is for Baker to sign with the Patriots practice squad.
13:08If he clears waivers, which he will, because no one wants their suck players.
13:10Does Vrabel know this?
13:11And what's his name going to the practice squad?
13:12News to me.
13:13Braden Swinson's going to the practice squad, too.
13:15Oh, huge news.
13:18Hang on.
13:18I'm not out there.
13:19No.
13:19No.
13:20You wanted it.
13:21This is Breaking Sports News.
13:22Followed by Beverly Instant Oil Change.
13:23On 98.5, the Sports Hub.
13:25Go ahead, Jim.
13:26Stop it.
13:26Hermes, Braden Swinson, headed to the Patriots practice team.
13:32I like it.
13:34I do.
13:37He's a fifth-round pick.
13:38What are you cutting his ass for?
13:39He should have been on the roster.
13:41And, you know, there was an indication that he totally sucked in camp.
13:45But the fact that he's on the practice squad at least makes some sense to me.
13:49Maybe they had too many guys here.
13:51They have so many edge guys already that they said, and I say so many,
13:54but they have a depth of them that, you know,
13:57it didn't make sense to cut a fifth-round pick or whatever he was.
14:00So, if it means that they got him through to put him on the practice squad,
14:03so be it.
14:04Okay.
14:04The eight receivers never computed.
14:06That's just not what functional NFL teams do.
14:10And when you have eight receivers, it means you don't have enough O-line,
14:13D-line, second, whatever.
14:14It means you have so few good players that you can afford to overload at one position.
14:20So, that was just a bad look.
14:21I never thought that was going to hold, and it hasn't held, what, 24 hours.
14:25So, Bourne out, Baker out, we can get Caden Wallace out,
14:29we can get that storyline back of the entire 2024 draft being wiped out
14:33other than Drake May.
14:34Still in play.
14:35It's coming.
14:36So, we still got that.
14:37So, we still got that.

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