Marshall 98 Posted March 1, 2015 With Stevan Ridley apparently set to become a UFA*, Shane Vereen's status up in the air**, Brandon Boldin swimming in limbo as per usual, James White a relatively unknown (and unused) quantity*** and Bill Belichick's (in)famous opaqueness regarding his running backs, I found this item interesting: Jonas Gray hopes to return to Patriots' plansby Shawn Krest | CBSSports.com(12:44 pm ET) Jonas Gray burst on the scene for the Patriots last season, rushing for 201 yards and four touchdowns in a Sunday night game. Just as quickly, he was gone.Gray overslept and was late for practice, and coach Bill Belichick didn't give him another chance to showcase his skills. Gray was inactive for the Super Bowl.Gray learned his lesson. "The tough part for me was to watch it, and not participate in a matter I thought I should," he told Dan Hanzus of NFL.com. "But it's motivation going into the offseason. I just know I need to work harder, so I'll never get myself in that position again."Still on the Patriots, Gray believes he'll get a clean slate next season, and he's spending the offseason preparing himself for the opportunity."I tell them, I'm going to have a Jerry Rice/Walter Payton mentality where whatever you do isn't enough," Gray said. "I'm going to have a work ethic where I know, in my heart of hearts, I'm going to outwork everybody. That's what I hope to achieve." http://fantasynews.cbssports.com/fantasyfootball/players/updates/1633112 Sooo, I looked up what I assume is the Pats' current depth chart ( http://www.rotoworld.com/teams/depth-charts/nfl.aspx ) and lo and behold, Gray is listed as #2 - with Ridley and Vereen entirely absent. Things that make you go hmm: RB 1. LeGarrette Blount 2. Jonas Gray 3. Brandon Bolden 4. James White 5. Tyler GaffneyGLB 1. LeGarrette Blount 2. Jonas Gray3RB 1. Brandon Bolden 2. James WhiteFB 1. James Develin At the moment, it appears to basically come down to Blount (who has always seemed like a temporary fix, for some reason) and Gray. Do any of you homers have additional insight? : ) ******************************************************************************************************************** * Ridley: http://espn.go.com/blog/afceast/post/_/id/75384/stevan-ridley-i-have-something-to-prove (I was amused by the following excerpt, wherein Ridley is full of praise for his teammates and staff - with any mention of his fellow running backs conspicuously absent : ) Playing with Patriots teammates: “I love my guys. I love who I play with. Tom Brady, regardless of his age, is the best quarterback in the game of football right now. You look at my tight end with [Rob] Gronkowski. You look at my wide receiver out wide, Julian Edelman, you look at Danny Amendola, you look at my college teammate [at LSU] Brandon LaFell. It’s pieces around. Not to mention it’s a solid offensive line up front. So that all plays a part in being a productive running back. You can’t get it done by yourself. You have to have pieces around you if you want to be a good player in this league. … When you have weapons around you, and coaches that put you in a position to win like Coach Belichick, like Josh McDaniels, it makes your job a lot easier.” ** Vereen: http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/patriots_nfl/the_blitz/2015/02/source_shane_vereen_hopeful_for_5_million_per_year *** White: Patriots list inactives for AFC Championshipby Chris Cwik | CBSSports.com(1/18/2015) The Patriots have listed DL Chris Jones, DE Zach Moore, WR Brian Tyms, WR Josh Boyce, C Bryan Stork, OL Jordan Devey and RB James White as inactive for the AFC Championship game.Jones and Stork were the only two players listed on the injury report coming into the contest. Jones was considered probable due to an elbow injury. Stork was ruled out due to a knee issue. The other five players listed are considered healthy scratches. White was also a healthy scratch for the Super Bowl. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
IGotWorms 3,315 Posted March 1, 2015 Depth charts are entirely meaningless right now Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Marshall 98 Posted March 1, 2015 Depth charts are entirely meaningless right now Yeah, I know that. But still...it serves as an intriguing example of gamesmanship. Maybe. : p Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
weepaws 2,460 Posted March 1, 2015 It's the first of March . I would not lose any sleep over any depth charts at this time . Take the family to Church and out for Dinner than to a Movie . Now that's much more important . Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Flyfreak 84 Posted March 2, 2015 pats will pick up someone off the rb trash heap or draft one in the mid rounds Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ralphster 274 Posted March 2, 2015 I like where yer coming from Marshall. Can't trust NE running backs, so what's up with these backs doesn't reach me save where they might end up and could be counted on to be useful. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Patriotsfatboy1 1,432 Posted March 2, 2015 Use a Patriots RB in fantasy at your own risk. Ridley is coming off a major injury and had fumbling problems. I don't see him coming back to the Pats. Vereen will cash in on his SB success for about $16m over 4 years - with someone other than the Patriots. White is an unknown commodity as a situational 3rd down back, but they want to see what they have with him. Blount is signed for next season and would be their #1 Gray is Blount's backup, but he has to be mature and not screw up again. Bolden is insurance and was signed to an extension at the tail end of the regular season. They like him on special teams. I could see the Pats signing Bush for short money to be a 3rd down back ($2m per season). Other than that, they are looking at what they need to do at other positions before they change the RB situation. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Herbivore 905 Posted March 2, 2015 Use a Patriots RB in fantasy at your own risk. Ridley is coming off a major injury and had fumbling problems. I don't see him coming back to the Pats. Vereen will cash in on his SB success for about $16m over 4 years - with someone other than the Patriots. White is an unknown commodity as a situational 3rd down back, but they want to see what they have with him. Blount is signed for next season and would be their #1 Gray is Blount's backup, but he has to be mature and not screw up again. Bolden is insurance and was signed to an extension at the tail end of the regular season. They like him on special teams. I could see the Pats signing Bush for short money to be a 3rd down back ($2m per season). Other than that, they are looking at what they need to do at other positions before they change the RB situation. No conundrum, pretty much this. I think they sign Ridley though. Blount, Ridley, Gray, Bush, and Boldin all for about 5/6 mil/yr. eta - White in there also. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Patriotsfatboy1 1,432 Posted March 2, 2015 No conundrum, pretty much this. I think they sign Ridley though. Blount, Ridley, Gray, Bush, and Boldin all for about 5/6 mil/yr. eta - White in there also. If you are Ridley, staring at a one-year deal, why sign with the Pats? Wouldn't you want to go to a place where you might have a chance to put up some numbers? Don't forget about Tyler Gaffney. He was a 6th round pick for CAR out of Stanford. They tried to sneak him through waivers when he had a season ending injury and the Pats claimed him. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ralphster 274 Posted March 3, 2015 Blount really might be the guy, and I wouldn't rule out a Danny Woodhead return if the bolts cut him. If that happens I think Ridley goes to SD. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
petekrum 20 Posted March 3, 2015 They're ALL sucker plays. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DankNuggs 305 Posted March 3, 2015 Cheap FA like Reggie Bush would make a ton of sense Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NEWPOSTERGUY! 267 Posted March 10, 2015 - Pippin to GMEN ... what a fustercluck in the swamp w/Jennings and Williams ... ooffaahh - guess now Reggie makes sense to offset the Pippin loss ... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
worm 34 Posted July 30, 2015 Legarrette Blount fails conditioning test: https://twitter.com/BenVolin/status/626723304653651968 Well this could muck things up again. Still time to pass it, but talk about blowing an opportunity. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cousinal111 57 Posted July 30, 2015 James White, deep sleeper Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
giraldi02 470 Posted July 31, 2015 James White, deep sleeper Travaris Cadet, deeper sleeper Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DankNuggs 305 Posted July 31, 2015 Jonas Gray will be the guy if Blount ends up in the doghouse Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Herbivore 905 Posted July 31, 2015 I expect Blount to pass the test eventually. FWIW it was the hottest and most humid day of the year around here. Might of had something to do with it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
weepaws 2,460 Posted July 31, 2015 After Blount I'm not buying . Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Flgatorguy87 160 Posted July 31, 2015 I expect Blount to pass the test eventually. FWIW it was the hottest and most humid day of the year around here. Might of had something to do with it. It wasn't an issue for the 300lb lineman... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Crystal Meth Tweekers 26 Posted July 31, 2015 Blount was good last year. I like him in the 7th. Could easily get 1000 and 10. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stonewall 647 Posted August 1, 2015 I was gonna run some wind sprints, but then I got high. I was gonna start at Running Back, but then I got high. I am prolly gonna lose my millions, and I know why...... (Why Man?) because I got high, because I got high, because I got hiiiiiigh. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
