When conservative Patriots fans and writers say, “that will never happen” when it comes to rumors of Bill Belichick signing a big name in free agency or trading for a household name player, the fantasy-land people come back with, “Yeah but what about 2007?!!!” That was the year the Patriots seemingly loaded up with Randy Moss and Wes Welker.
Many people though the Pats would “go for it” again in the wake of Deflategate. After all, what better way to shut people up than to continue to rack up Super Bowl wins?
In hindsight the Moss and Welker moves had more to do with it simplybeing the right time than the Patriots trying to get revenge on the league (some of the shine came off the Pats dynasty in 2006 when they choked away the AFC title game against the Colts). The Pats didn’t exactly load up in free agency last year when the Deflategate hate was at a high and they haven’t exactly wowed this offseason either in the splashy name department.
Chris Long was closest thing to a sexy signing for the Pats and right now it looks highly unlikely that they’ll bring in a oldie but goodie like fellow defensive end Dwight Freeney, who remains a free agent. Freeney, a former chief rival of the Pats from his time with the Colts, told The MMQB this week that he’s not “against Bill [Belichick]” and “both sides would win” if he wound up signing in New England. Don’t hold your breath.
Dwight Freeney to Patriots signing seems highly unlikely
Getty Images
