New England Patriots News: Steve Beauharnais, Julian Edelman, Shane Vereen
Updates from yesterday regarding articles and news on three New England Patriots players in wide receiver Julian Edelman, rookie linebacker Steve Beauharnais, and running back Shane Vereen in this piece.
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It was initially reported that the New England Patriots signed both Rutgers Scarlet Knights rookie Duron Harmon and Steve Beauharnais to four-year deals, but they only signed the third-round safety to a contract. It was initially reported that the Patriots signed Beauharnais, and the deal was rumored to be for four years and at $2.2 million. However, that report has since been rescinded, a Beauharnais’s agent Mook Williams tweeted out that his client has not signed a deal with the Patriots and is currently focused on exams at Rutgers.
Although I can’t see the possibility of the New England Patriots cutting wide receiver Julian Edelman, both ESPN Boston and the Boston Herald have stated that they don’t view Edelman as a lock to make the roster. Anything is possible these days, and Edelman is coming off of a setback and is on a one-year deal, but I just don’t see the Patriots cutting ties with Edelman. He’s going in as the team’s No. 3 wide receiver behind Danny Amendola and Aaron Dobson, and it would take huge efforts from Josh Boyce and Donald Jones to have Edelman axed off the island. He may not be a total lock, but it’s almost impossible to envision the improving wide receiver getting cut by the Patriots. Edelman showed us a lot last season with improved speed before breaking his foot, and the only question for Edelman at this point is his health. On a cheap, one-year deal with plenty to prove, I don’t see Edelman getting his walking papers. Then again, “lock” is a strong word. What do you guys think?
Shane Vereen is the ideal replacement for Danny Woodhead in this offense, even if losing Woodhead was clearly not ideal for the Patriots. The San Diego Chargers paid him a lot and desperately needed a guy like Woodhead, whereas the Patriots could afford not to pay too much due to the presence of a rising third-year running back in Vereen. ESPN Boston wrote yesterday that Vereen is in-line for Woodhead’s role, and it would be extremely difficult to argue against that point. While Woodhead was the better player and much better pass blocker, Vereen offers plenty of upside and explosiveness. I mean, just look at how he played when Woodhead went down in the AFC Divisional game against the Houston Texans, and I would also highly recommend re-watching Vereen’s touchdown catch against the New York Jets on Thanksgiving Day.
Vereen spoke quite a bit to the media yesterday and delivered this nugget, “I’d say that I’m approaching this season a little bit differently than I did last season. Just with a mindset of my role on the team.”
Chalk up Vereen as a player who is poised for a breakout year in a bigger role on the Patriots offense. I wonder how much he has developed as a rusher, because consistency on the ground will be the key for Vereen.
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