NFL
By: Steve Atkinson
Bill Belichick signed DeVante Parker to a 3-year $33 million contract last week. Why? Because Parker plays ball with Belichick and doesn’t speak out. He shuts up does his job and didn’t complain about last year. So, because Belichick threw him a bone and gave him a contract extension. Jakobi Meyers spoke up about the offense and how bad it was last year and so did Kendrick Bourne. Meyers is now on the Raiders and Bourne has yet to be signed to an extension beyond this season. For Belichick, it all comes down to if people follow his way no matter how messed up it could be.
People are saying the Parker extension is to free up some money for Hopkins. I call BS on that one if they want Hopkins, they would sign him regardless of if Parker signed his extension or not. Parker was also a Matt Patricia signing last off-season with his best game last year was against the Ravens. I’m sure he and Mac Jones with a better offensive system are able to get better this off-season than last year. From the looks of it the offense is miles ahead of where it was a year ago.
When Parker was asked a few weeks ago after a minicamp practice about Hopkins here is what he said.
“I’m focused on us. Great player, but I’m just focused on us,” said Parker.
That’s what Belichick wants to see in a player if they feel threatened. Parker probably did with Hopkins visiting the Patriots but Belichick made sure because he didn’t speak negatively about the offense last year Parker gets an extension. Parker wouldn’t even elaborate on Bill O’Brien only that he’s brought a good offensive scheme with him.
The only two receivers locked up after this year are Juju Smith-Schuster who went on vacation a lot during the off-season and DeVante Parker. Smith-Schuster also played ball with Belichick and spoke brightly about him even though Belichick has a losing record since 2020.
If the Patriots were to get Hopkins Parker would probably be number 3 on the wide receiver depth chart. Kendrick Bourne would probably be number 4 while Tyquan Thornton will be number 5. If the Patriots don’t sign Parker then he’ll be the number 2 receiver with Smith-Schuster the number 1 receiver while Bourne and Thornton are 3,4 receivers.
Mike Gesicki and Hunter Henry who are also on the last year of their contracts could be a great duo at the tight end position.
All in all, of you play ball with Bill he will play ball with you. Belichick singed Cam Newton to a one-year deal in 2020 and all Newton did was glow about Belichick. Matt Patricia gets DeVante Parker last off-season, and all Parker does it shut up and do his job. Jakobi Meyers, Kendrick Bourne, Hunter Henry, spoke the truth about the offense last year. One of them is gone and the other two are on the last year of their contracts.
