NFL
By Steve Atkinson
Patriots OTA storylines
It was hinted that the Patriots would change Campbell’s position because of his performance at the end of the season and the Super Bowl. There was talk that even after the draft, Campbell was going to be the left tackle, but not so fast. The Patriots need a football storyline, and Campbell changing positions shifts focus away from non-football stories.
Caleb Lomu is a replacement for Campbell at left tackle, where they were better on the offensive line last year, but that playoff run wasn’t good. Patriots have a tougher schedule this year, but I think they can still win at least ten games because it benefits ESPN and the league if they keep winning. If they don’t win, the talk will be about the Vrabel situation, and ESPN and the league won’t want that. They don’t want more coming out anyway; they want the story to go away.
Mike Vrabel’s engagement during Patriots OTA’s
I think Vrabel will be engaged during the OTAs and very involved like he was last year. Even with what came out during the off-season, he was still engaged in the rookie mini camp and the draft, except on day three. I don’t think we’ll see Kayshon Boutte, who is probably going to be part of the AJ Brown trade next week. I expect AJ Brown to be part of OTAs next week after he gets traded to the Patriots.
Really, I’m just interested in the Vrabel engagement, Will Campbell, and how Drake Maye looks. Will Campbell be offended by a different position on the offensive line as Lomu is tried at left tackle? How will Drake Maye look entering his third season with the Patriots, making way for a major development next week after departing with Stefon Diggs? Lastly, how will Mike Vrabel handle the workouts and the media? I bet he hasn’t even asked about the situation and moving forward with the off-season program. Half the local media knew about the affair anyway.
