Patriots News: Bill Belichick, Jalen Ramsey, Josh Uche, and more

No matter what is going on in the landscape of the NFL, it feels like the Patriots have been unable to escape making headlines for almost anything this season. That continues to be true as they prepare for their Week 8 matchup with the Dolphins, who they nearly beat in their first meeting last month.

Besides the constant whispers about Mac Jones and his future as the quarterback in New England, there has been a lot of conversation regarding Bill Belichick's job security as the Patriots have another disappointing start to a season.

Despite the number of analysts and insiders who claimed Robert Kraft was nearing the point of firing the legendary head coach, it was revealed recently that Belichick signed a contract extension prior to the start of the season. That suddenly changed all narratives that had been floating, and now we've got some more potential insight into what the new contract may mean.

Latest rumor regarding Bill Belichick's extension

When it comes to reporters who claim to have sources inside the Patriots organization, it's a bit difficult to trust what they have to say, mainly because they have been proven wrong so many times over the years.

It's well known that they are a tight-lipped team that doesn't like to give too much information to the media, so when something is put out there, it generally will continue until there's nothing left to discuss because those inside Gillette Stadium choose not to join or shut down the conversation.

Unfortunately, that doesn't make the speculation any less entertaining for most people.

That's where The MMQB's Albert Breer comes in, as he made headlines again on Thursday with his latest "reveal" regarding Belichick's contract.

When the news dropped about the extension, it was said to be a lucrative, multiyear deal, but any other details were left unsaid. The assumption has been that Belichick would likely be tied to New England for at least three more years, including the 2023 season, and his salary would seemingly remain on par with how he's been paid up to this point.

However, Breer believes his contract is similar to the one Tom Brady received in 2019, which was initially said to be a multiyear deal but turned out to be just for that upcoming season with several void years after.

If that's the case with Belichick, that leaves the door open for Kraft to move on from him sooner than anticipated. It's what has been speculated all season as the Patriots continued to look poorly coached and losses piled up. It adds another interesting layer to an already uncharacteristic season, with even more potential pressure put on the team and the head coach for the rest of the year.

Dolphins plan to activate Jalen Ramsey from IR - will play vs. Patriots

When the Patriots first played the Dolphins this season in Week 2, they were fortunate not to face an even more impressive secondary as newly acquired cornerback Jalen Ramsey was recovering from offseason knee surgery.

Now that the teams are set to meet for the final time this year, NFL insider Adam Schefter revealed on Thursday that Miami was planning to activate Ramsey from injured reserve, meaning he would be making his season debut against the Patriots on Sunday.

The news was significant for multiple reasons, but for the Patriots' offense, it may be one of the worst updates heading into another crucial divisional matchup.

Because the offense looked cohesive for the first time this season just last week, the thought of a Pro Bowl cornerback being added back into the lineup brings a bit of uneasiness concerning their potential success to continue in Miami.

But just minutes after the news hit the airwaves, Ramsey took to Twitter to respond and basically shut down the report put out there by Schefter. He first showed frustration with the media, who are more concerned with being the first to report something instead of just reporting the truth, while also claiming he hadn't been told he was good to go for Sunday.

He followed that tweet up with some clarification regarding his status, stating he has a chance to play in Week 8 but is yet to be fully cleared.

This could be interpreted in two ways: Schefter's reporting is accurate, and Ramsey will be suited up in Week 8, but the cornerback is unhappy that the news was broken beforehand. Or Ramsey is telling the truth that he has not been cleared yet and is just trying to set the record straight for all the Dolphins fans excited upon hearing the update.

So we'll have to wait and see the latest updates from the Dolphins over the next two days to see if the Patriots offense will need to be ready for Ramsey or not.

Josh Uche is at the center of most Patriots' trade proposals

Among the short list of players that may not be safe before the trade deadline, Josh Uche has become a repeated name in many proposals across local and national media. As one of the more rising stars on the defense, he would likely reap the most return for the Patriots, who are allegedly hoping to add more draft picks to their repertoire.

Albert Breer was the latest to mention the fourth-year linebacker's name as a potential name to watch over the next four days, claiming Belichick will be taking calls for all players, with Uche being atop the list as the most valuable asset to move.

"I think the one guy that’s come up the most as a potential guy that could get moved is Josh Uche. … He’s valuable, and he has a premium skill, which is as a pass-rusher. So, they’re gonna listen on, my understanding is, just about everybody."

With so few days left until the trade deadline is here, it's looking less likely that Belichick will be participating in any big-time trades. He could still get a deal or two done, as he has waited until hours before the deadline hit in the past like with Jimmy Garappolo.

Considering the short list of valuable players they currently have on their roster, it wouldn't be surprising if nothing gets done. But we'll just have to wait and see.

Jalen Reagor is signed to the 53-man roster - becomes 7th signed receiver on the team

Because the Patriots had an open spot on their 53-man roster after Malik Cunningham was waived earlier this week, there was a lot of debate regarding who would be signed from the practice squad or free agency to complete the roster.

The assumption primarily rested on Trey Flowers, who had recently been taken off the PUP list and needed to be activated this week to be eligible to play this season. That hope was cut short when he, too, was released this week, allowing another player to be elevated instead.

That's when it was announced that former first-round pick Jalen Reagor would be making the move.

He was an intriguing signing when he was added to the practice squad, mainly because he had been touted as a first-round talent but hadn't lived up to the implications of that during his stints with the Eagles and Vikings. But he has been quietly impressing Belichick and other coaches over the last several weeks, and after being elevated for the Week 7 matchup with the Bills, Reagor played his most snaps of the season.

Since the receiving corps has been the most criticized group on the team, Reagor's presence adds an exciting element to what looked like a well-put-together offense last week. He becomes the seventh receiver signed to the team and seems poised as a consistent contributor on offense moving forward.