Patriots 'Heating Up' on DeAndre Hopkins Trade, 'Reports' 'Pacman' Jones
OK, now it's getting weird.
Our gauging of the New England Patriots' interest level in trading for Pro Bowl receiver DeAndre Hopkins of the Arizona Cardinals doesn't lead us to think that "Nuk'' is New England-bound.
Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer wrote in his mailbag agrees, writing that he can't “find anyone in that building who thinks Hopkins will be a consideration for (coach) Bill Belichick, and at this point New England hasn’t been in it.”
While it's wise of Breer to write "at this point'' - it's a way to CYA, and we're right there with him in this "never say never'' business - we don't see much reason for Patriots fans to get excited about the prospects of a trade here, even though the overall price (trade cost and salary) seems reasonable.
But ...
On Thursday, Hopkins’ pal Adam “Pacman” Jones, the former NFL cornerback, appeared on the ”The Pat McAfee Show” ... not as a "guest,'' exactly, but more as if he was sitting in the chair of a "journalistic insider.''
Jones claims he's heard “interest is heating up” and offered a list of five teams as potential landing spots. And he cited "sources.''
Man, did he cite sources.
“My sources tell me that D-Hop is getting hot right now. Interest is heating up. There’s five teams on that list,” Jones said. And he went on ...
*“Falcons need some help. ...I think that can fit.''
*"Ravens. I think if Lamar (Jackson) deal goes and get done, sources tell me that that might be a landing spot.''
*“Our sources is telling us the Bills. I think it could work.''
*"I like the Raiders too. The Raiders are on the board also.''
And finally, McAfee asked, “Anybody else (who should be excited)?''
*“Patriots fans,” responded Jones.
It was all sort of kooky and awkward and fun, and it left the impression that Pacman doesn't have "sources'' - did he really call "sources'' who work inside the buildings in Atlanta, Baltimore, Buffalo, Las Vegas and New England - as much as he has a friendship with Hopkins.
That might mean this is "Hopkins' list'' more than anything else. But from the Patriots' angle? Yes, they still need a No. 1 receiver, yes, the trade cost will apparently be less than a second-round pick, and yes, at $17.2 million per season in cap impact for the next two years, Hopkins is "affordable.'' ... meaning the star receiver should be on most teams' lists ...
Including New England's.
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