B-Pod Studios

B-Pod Studios

All right, hi, everybody, welcome to the program, and that's where we're going to begin.

First day of the NFL's legal tampering period, which has really turned into the first day of the signing period, is off and running, and the Patriots have made a move. It is a re-entry Monday. It is brought to East Boston Savings Bank, so ostensibly everything from the weekend. But this is where we will begin. Maz and Murray back in our Town Fair Tire Studios in Dorchester. I am remote as usual during these times. Maz, your thoughts.

Murray, you want to go first? You want me to? No, I'm still getting set up. All right. So Murray's not ready. He's a little grumpy over there, I think. So here's a bit tight look. Do you want me to go first? No, I'll go first. You called it on the tight end. You said this would be an area that they might extend on first, which is exactly what happened. and I'll tell you this, I'd rather have this guy than Hunter Henry.

So this guy's a more complete player, and I felt this way before the signing. In fact, I remember making notes to myself about it. This guy's bigger. He can block. It feels to me like, you know, again, you're getting a guy who can play in more situations than maybe Hunter Henry can. And so, am I happy about it? Yes. I'm also happy about the move they made. They

signed a nose tackle from Miami. I don't know if the guy can play, but I think it is an attempt

to address a need, which is in the interior of that defensive line. So I would say day one,

right out of the gate, I think they're trying to address needs. I'm happy about that. But I am also skeptical. How good is a tight end if you don't have a quarterback? So, you know, and I don't know whether this guy in Miami can play or not. But do I feel like they're trying? Yes, I feel like they're trying. Yeah, so they needed a tight end and now they have a real one. He only missed four games at four years, so he seems durable. I'm not going to pretend, you know, maybe he misses some plays because of being nicked up here and there. But just based on the stats, looks like he's durable. He had a season high, career high, rather, in touchdowns last year in eight. So you have an actual real tight end. I don't know how anyone can downplay the

John Hsu Smith signing. This other guy, this other guy, though, I sent you this article from the

Miami Herald doesn't paint a good picture of, I still don't even know how to say. God Chow. Is that

how you say his name? The nose tackle, Devon Godchow. Injury-rilled season last year, not good against the run, lost his job to a rookie. Like, if you want to address this position, why not stick with what you know in Lawrence Guy, who's really good at it? Okay, we'll get to the nose tackle in a second, Murray. Does this signing allay your fears that they won't be able to get guys? They're going to have a hard time drawing guys here. It's a big story on this team.

And it's a legit question. And I think you've been very concerned about that. Does this tell

you anything about their ability to get quality players, offensive players?

Well, they're able to do it because Smith is one of the top two or top three tight ends that was available. So, you know, that if you want to blah me about it because I have some doubts as to whether or not Bill Belichick's the draw anymore, you have some ammo because this was one of the marquee tied-in free agents. Yeah. It's not a blah. I'm saying the royal You, not you. I don't think you set that up as a blah.

Like, no, it's a good move for them.

There's nothing you can say about this right now that says like, I don't think you can downplay the Jono Smith signing. It's a good signing for them. This is a real story on the team. Sure is. Your concern is legit. I mean, I disagreed with you, but it's a legit concern.

Can they get players?

Are guys going to want to come here without a real quarterback, without Tom Brady, without concern is legit. I mean, I disagreed with you, but it's a legit concern. Can they get players?

Are guys going to want to come here without a real quarterback, without Tom Brady, without,

you know, a championship caliber team? Can you compete? And, you know, I thought they could. I think this tells you that they can, but it's still an open book. And, you know, I'll tell you why.

You know, when I told you last week, tight end felt like a pretty, you know, predictable

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