The reduction of NFL rosters to 53 per team hardly means that NFL rosters are set. A churning at the bottom of each team will start today, and it will continue until the season ends.
For the Patriots, one specific item of churn needs to be addressed soon. With long snapper Danny Aiken released, the Patriots currently have none.
Said Belichick on the absence of a snapper, via Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com: “Lot of things potentially in transition with a number of spots on our team.”
One of those things could be quarterback Ryan Mallett. After all, how can Belichick justify his “super-genius” label if he doesn’t get something of value in exchange for the 74th overall pick in the 2011 draft? Praised at the time for stopping Mallett’s free fall, some believed Belichick eventually would flip Mallett for something more than the third-round pick that was invested in him.
Now, it’s become a game of chicken. How long will Belichick refrain from cutting Mallett in the hopes of getting a decent offer? How long will a team that may want Mallett wait to call the Patriots in the hopes he’ll be cut?
“We’re fortunate we have three good players there,” Belichick said of the quarterback position. “It’s a good situation.”
It’s great to have Tom Brady as the starter, and it’s pretty good to start getting rookie Jimmy Garropolo ready in the event that Brady gets Mankinsed st some point over the next few years. But it’s not ideal to devote a roster spot to a player who undoubtedly will leave in March via free agency.