Chris Hogan, Anquan Boldin still available to Patriots in NFL free agency

“Real American” could very well be played just as much as “I don’t wanna lose your love tonight”on the Gillette Stadium PA system this season if the Patriots are to sign Chris Hogan away from the Buffalo Bills.

Hulk Hogan’s theme song has a cult following, just as much as Buffalo’s seemingly under-utilized slot man does and the Patriots are said to be interested in acquiring the 27-year-old. Hogan had36 receptions this past season and had 41 the year prior.

His career numbers don’t stand out in the least, but Hogan has shown flashes of goodness – particularly against the Patriots. He had a season-high 95 yards receiving against the Pats in November of last year and had six grabs for 72 yards and a touchdown in an October 2014 game against New England.

The Patriots again weren’t players in the early, headline-stealing phase of free agency as top offensiveplayers like Matt Forte (Jets) and Mohammad Sanu (Falcons) went elsewhere. Forte would have given the Pats a great pass-catchingthreat out of the backfield and Sanuwould have given Tom Brady that outside threat that he’s been missing for years now. But the Patriots are the best organization in the league at adapting, both during the season and in the off-season.

If the Pats’best option at this stage of free agency is to bring in Hogan,who is basically Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola-lite, they will go ahead and do so and adjust their offense accordingly. If they bring in 35-year-oldAnquan Boldin, who is a physical outside threat, they will adjust their offense accordingly.

NFL Network’s Rand Getlinreported this week that Boldin “wants to play for a team that can compete at the highest level” and that it’s “important to him.”