“One Of The Top 5 Players On The Roster”
March 19th, 2022
New Bucs guard Shaq Mason
Joe has written about new Bucs guard Shaq Mason possibly being a top-5 right guard in the NFL after his years of solid play (no Pro Bowls) with the Belicheats.
But he wasn’t just viewed through that lens in New England. They thought more highly of him.
Mason, who turns 29 this summer, was considered by many Patriots fans and media to be an extremely critical piece to their 2021 playoff team.
Consider what Belicheats beat writer Chris Mason (no relation) wrote in his recent mailbag feature.
Mason was playing at a Pro Bowl caliber level last season — he’s still one of the best run-blockers in the NFL — and his contract wasn’t an albatross. For comparison’s sake, Amari Cooper was also traded to the Browns for a fifth-round pick but his money was awful ($20 million cap hit for the next three years).
In Mason’s case, the Patriots saved $7 million in cap space, put $3 million in dead money on their books, and got appreciably worse in the process. It’s not an exaggeration to say the guard was safely one of the Top 5 players on the roster in 2021. With Ted Karras already gone in free agency, the offensive line has become a concern when it wasn’t before.
March 19th, 2022 at 5:18 pm
Can mason play iron man football? We sure can use some pass rushers right now.
March 19th, 2022 at 5:24 pm
i think the relationship with the pats shall remain uber friendly – and if anything we could trade tom back to the pats to play his last year in new england at some point…far fetched but not impossible…
shaq might have been a serious peace offering…
i think there is a slim chance he actually plays a final year in new england, not just a 1 day contract…
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also to repeat myself, i see stinnie and mason as realtime roadgraders…and potentially upgrading the running game from cappa and marpet…
also shaq is shorter than the rest, so he plays with that lower center of gravity…
cappa was like 6’6…marpet 6’4…
shaq 6’1
March 19th, 2022 at 5:25 pm
Patriot Fans are still scratching their heads about why Belichik allowed Mason to get away, for only a 5th round pick!
I have been watching some film on him, and he is an excellent run blocker, so IMHO we have upgraded our run game with him, compared to Cappa.
March 19th, 2022 at 5:29 pm
Maybe he’ll be pulling for
Shaquan Barkely this year
March 19th, 2022 at 5:40 pm
Good to hear.
Cordelle patterson just resigned with ATL
2 years 10.5. Cmon lenny. He had similar numbers. I think he had 11 or 12 tds running and receiving
March 19th, 2022 at 5:41 pm
Rojo and Vaughn. I won’t be sad if Lenny leaves.
March 19th, 2022 at 5:45 pm
Nice. Did Bellycheat have a stroke?
March 19th, 2022 at 6:07 pm
@adam: 6’1″ is an advantage in run blocking, but a big disadvantage in pass blocking, unless his arms are freakishly long.
March 19th, 2022 at 6:15 pm
Cobraboy he only allowed one sack last year. Don’t know how many pressures.
March 19th, 2022 at 6:20 pm
Shopping list: Melvin Gordon, Rashad Penny, Marlon Mack, Sony Michel. Get one of these guys+ K. Vaughn. Raiders cut Jalen Richard because McDaniels wanted other guys in his system, but Richard is good, lightning fast and has receiving and return ability.
March 19th, 2022 at 6:23 pm
Cobra, Shaq is undersized, and that was a worry when he was drafted but he was solid in both run and pass. Anchor.
March 19th, 2022 at 6:27 pm
Bucs just upgraded their O-line with Mason. Check the sheets, you will see it’s true.
March 19th, 2022 at 6:29 pm
I am happy Mason is back with Brady. Us Brady fans will never forgive Shaq Mason for allowing the strip sack against the eagles in super bowl. Just google it watch the play you will see. No way the eagles were stopping Brady and pats but Mason screwed up. I will never get over the that. Thats the whole Gisele telling Kraft she is sick of her husband being treated like Johnny Fing Foxboro. I was only Brady fan after that and am so Happy his is with the Bucs. Bucs organization Gm ownership treat Brady great. I can’t if put in words how happy I am he is with th Bucs with their ownership and Gm. I dont really like Arians with Byron was the head coach
March 19th, 2022 at 6:29 pm
Another solid move by brady
March 19th, 2022 at 6:34 pm
No one is better than Licht at finding offensive linemen, be it in the draft, trades, whatever. He’s still learning too and can you imagine if he got even half as good at finding running backs and cornerbacks?!? To me Licht is already on a hall of fame path and only needs to shore up a couple of things.
March 19th, 2022 at 6:34 pm
This trade is just shocking to me. I don’t believe there is a national pundit, or any pundit, that believes the Patriots won the Mason trade. If you still think Licht is a crappy GM, you really know nothing.
March 19th, 2022 at 6:40 pm
Is Gio Bernard even an option somewhere in the RB room? I am excited about Vaughn with a strong run blocking oline. Lombardi Lenny got that name with Stinnie starting in the playoffs. Very much like Fournette back. He was a great receiver last year for Brady dump offs.
March 19th, 2022 at 6:54 pm
His Georgia Tech film is awesome!! He is a mauler so glad to have him in Tampa!!
March 19th, 2022 at 7:06 pm
I’m all for keeping Lenny and have a strong pounding run game. That said, we do have TB back and are spending big on receiver too.
We’ll be needing an economical RB and TE in the draft.
March 19th, 2022 at 8:02 pm
Ybor why are you talking about his college film. The man has played guard at an all pro level for years.
March 19th, 2022 at 8:46 pm
@Cobraboy
Demar Dotson was like 6’10” and got beat regularly in pass pro.
He’s been 6’1″ his entire career and it evidently hasn’t been an issue yet, not sure why it would be now.
March 19th, 2022 at 8:57 pm
Not sure what Barkey wants, he sure didn’t put up Lenny numbers last season but if he can stay healthy, I say Brady should court this guy depending on the $$$. He is a great receiver and WAS one of if not the best in the league at one point.
March 19th, 2022 at 8:58 pm
Bucs will draft an OG in the first two rounds in any case.
March 20th, 2022 at 7:31 am
is Cobraboy secretly suggesting shaq mason is the proud owner of 2 alligator arms ? 🙂
March 20th, 2022 at 7:37 am
my new york sources tell me barkley is all washed out and broken down from the rash of injuries he unexpectedly endured in such a short period of time…i’m hearing he’s not the same player that came out of college any more…
but he’s still young..and the giants are a complete mess that potentially can be plucked from…
i keep saying will hernandez has like kinda flopped out in new york…pluck him from the new york football giants – heck give then darden
March 20th, 2022 at 10:40 am
I still think first 3 picks are going to be OL DL RB