Catch up with all the latest happenings surrounding the New England Patriots during their Week 11 bye week.
Matt Light believes Bill Belichick should remain the Patriots head coach
The conversation about what the Patriots should do regarding the future of the team continues to be a heated debate. Some believe Robert Kraft should make the ultimate change, firing nearly all current coaches to start fresh with an all-new staff, while others seem to be on the fence about Bill Belichick being stripped of his head coach title.
Fans and media members have made their voices heard, with most being split on the issue. But now we're beginning to hear more from former players Belichick coached for much of their careers express their take on the matter.
The latest to join the conversation is Patriots Hall of Famer Matt Light, who defended the longtime head coach while discussing the idea of him coaching elsewhere next season while appearing on MassLive's "Eye On Foxboro" podcast last week.
"I never thought Tom Brady would be allowed to leave. I never thought Lawyer Milloy would be cut right before Week 1. I didn’t think Logan Mankins would be let go. I didn’t think a lot of things over the years, but I also know I don’t want Bill’s job, and I don’t know anyone who could do it better.
So when it comes to the conversation as of late, whether or not (Robert) Kraft or anyone else should have a conversation about moving on from Bill, I have to just say, if not Bill, then who? That’s the most important question."
No matter what side of the argument you're on, it's a question that many seem unable to answer.
If Belichick were fired by season's end, who would be the best candidate to replace him? We knew the quarterback to take the reigns from Tom Brady would be subject to scrutiny for years to come; imagine how amplified that could be for the guy who replaces Belichick.
Some names have been floated since the conversation about his job security has grown, with some believing it could be Jerod Mayo, who has looked primed to take over at some point, or even Mike Vrabel, who the Patriots would have to trade for to make happen.
It remains speculation, of course, with no clear answer about who would be the best fit if the decision needs to be made, and it will likely stay that way until if or when the time comes.
Questions arise regarding Matthew Judon's potential return this season
It was an absolute gut punch earlier in the season when Christian Gonzalez and Matthew Judon went down with significant injuries in the same game, with their availabilities for the rest of the year coming into question for the following few days.
Unfortunately, the rookie cornerback suffered a season-ending injury, a heartbreaking development for the Defensive Rookie of the Year frontrunner, while Judon's status remained a bit clearer. Reports indicated there was a sliver of hope the latest franchise record-breaker had a chance to return later in the year; the only positive news coming out of an otherwise disappointing season.
Despite the good news about Judon's possibly impending return, some have begun to question the likelihood of it happening since the Patriots currently sit with a 2-8 record as they enter their bye week.
Could it deter him from wanting to get back on the field? According to Bill Belichick, who was asked that very question, the answer is no.
Other than Belichick having a definitive response to make you believe it's true, seeing Judon constantly on the sidelines for his teammates during rehab provides even more belief that he would return whenever he can.
It seems unlikely that a guy who would rather remain on injured reserve than get back into the lineup would willingly show up on game day to support his team.
If the initial reports were correct about the timeline of his potential return, Judon could be making his comeback as soon as next month. It may not mean much in the big scheme of things, as the Patriots are essentially out of any post-season conversation already; his production and leadership will be valuable for a team not used to playing so poorly.
Josh Uche says there is mutual interest for him to re-sign with New England
One of the main stories in the days leading up to last month's trade deadline surrounded the possibility that Josh Uche would be on his way to another team. He was reportedly one of the top candidates to be traded before the deadline, with a few teams calling Belichick to inquire a price for the fourth-year linebacker.
It was alleged a deal was nearly made hours before the deadline, but the Patriots wouldn't budge on their asking price for Uche, which deterred the teams that may have been interested.
Now it appears things have taken a dramatic turn, as Uche revealed to reporters recently that he has had discussions with the front office about re-signing with the team, stating there is mutual interest in getting a deal done at some point in the near future.
"We’ve talked a bit. I’m not at liberty to give you all the details, but it’s mutual. The organization would love me to be here, and I would love to be here as well. There’s just some fine-tuning and some things and details that need to be worked out to make it a possibility. But right now, it’s hard to say [what will happen] and everything gets smoothed out."
Offering an extension to Uche would be a move in the right direction for New England, who hasn't been re-signing their draft picks after their rookie contracts expire over the last several years.
Although his 2023 season has been the opposite of the production we saw from him last year, maintaining some consistency on the team that will inevitably see significant changes in the offseason is critical, especially if they hope to add some key rookies in next year's draft.
Patriots scouts were in attendance for USC quarterback Caleb Williams' potentially last college game on Saturday
Although the 2024 NFL draft is still over five months away, the Patriots find themselves with a top-three pick entering Week 11, the highest selection they could have since they drafted Drew Bledsoe with the first overall pick in 1993.
Because of their poor record and the high chance they will move on from Mac Jones as their starting quarterback, mock drafts continue to have the Patriots taking his replacement with their pick, coming down to North Carolina's Drake Maye or USC's Caleb Williams.
As the top prospects of the class, New England may have a chance at either of them if the season continues to go the way it has.
It's clear the team is taking their opportunity seriously, as they continue to be diligent with sending scouts to multiple games throughout the college season, the latest of which was Williams' final game of his career against UCLA on Saturday afternoon.
It was the first time any representatives for the team had been in attendance for one of the quarterback's games, probably due to what most believed was an unlikely chance they would be in contention for him come draft time. But now that they've moved up the draft board, currently holding the third pick, there is plenty of time to move up even more; it makes sense they made the time to see Williams in his final game.
Unfortunately, the Trojans lost the game 38-20, but Williams impressed with his performance regardless. It adds even more intrigue to the Patriots' draft board.