Ex Patriots Star Chandler Jones Accuses Josh McDaniels of Having Aaron Hernandez Killed - NFL Tracker

An hour after that broadcast Jones was back on Twitter writing, "I’m about to hang with strippers don’t check on my well being.. they got me."

It was Jones who last December returned the Patriots' "Lunatic Lateral" for a bizarre game-ending touchdown in Las Vegas. He's in the second season of a three-year, $51 million free agent contract signed in 2022.

SEPT. 27 CHIEFS' STAR TRAVIS KELCE APPLAUDS BELICHICK'S TAYLOR SWIFT 'CATCH' LINE - While couples across America argue about Taylor Swift simply becoming Travis Kelce's girlfriend or Kelce simply being "made famous" by Swift, one thing is clear: Patriots coach Bill Belichick may have delivered the funniest line of his career toward the new "it" couple.

During a radio appearance this week, Belichick said "Kelce’s had a lot of big catches in his career. This would be the biggest.”

The line got back to the Kansas City Chiefs' tight end, who gave Belichick credit on the New Heights podcast he co-hosts with brother, Philadelphia Eagles' offensive lineman Jason.

"He hasn't talked much about me outside of game weeks that we've played, but he made sure to remind me that that's the best catch I've ever had in my life," Kelce joked. "Shout out to Bill."

Belichick attended a Swift concert last Spring at Gillette Stadium and considers himself a "Swiftie," even though he's not 100-percent sure what it means.

SEPT. 27 FORMER PATRIOTS LINEBACKER KYLE VAN NOY SIGNS WITH BALTIMORE RAVENS  - The Baltimore Ravens are signing former New England Patriots linebacker Kyle Van Noy to their practice squad. The 32-year-old, who had been a free agent this offseason, visited the Ravens on Tuesday. 

Originally a second-round draft pick by the Detroit Lions in 2014, Van Noy spent much of his time in the Motor City as a role player on defense. During the 2016 season, he was traded to the Patriots where he became a significant contributor to the Pats front seven. During his time in New England, Van Noy helped the Patriots to two Super Bowl victories.

Playing 81.9 percent of defensive snaps for the number one scoring defense [2019 Patriots] in football, he registered a team-high 51.5 quarterback pressures and also forced three fumbles, recovered two, and scored a touchdown.

During the 2020 offseason, Van Noy signed a 4-year, $51 million deal with the Miami Dolphins, cashing in on the best season of his career. After only one season in Miami Gardens, he was cut by the Dolphins in a cost-cutting measure. The move paved the way for his return to New England for 2021. Van Noy spent last season with the Los Angeles Chargers, starting 13 of the 17 games in which he played for the Bolts. 

SEPT. 26 EX PATRIOTS STAR TAKEN TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH FACILITY - Former Patriots' star Chandler Jones wrote in a social media post this week that he was taken to a hospital "against my will" by the Las Vegas Fire Department, and later transferred to a behavioral health facility.

"I'm still confused on what I did wrong. I'm stuck here. I'm very sane," Jones wrote. "I'm to strong of a person to be mentally broken."

In the wake of a string of troubling social media posts, he was recently placed on the "non-football illness" list by the Las Vegas Raiders. Jones, who spent his four seasons with the Patriots, has been inactive for the Raiders' first two games.

Earlier this month, he posted alarming demands saying he didn't want to play for the Raiders or former Pats' assistant/Las Vegas head coach Josh McDaniels. Last week he posted since-deleted messages about missing last week's game because "someone was molesting my God daughter" and seemingly, indirectly, implicating Raiders owner Mark Davis.

While the Raiders are only referring to Jones' status as a "private matter", Jones later claimed his Twitter account was hacked.

It was Jones who last December returned the Patriots' "Lunatic Lateral" for a bizarre game-ending touchdown. He's in the second season of a three-year, $51 million free agent contract signed in 2022.

SEPT. 25 ARREST WARRANT ISSUED FOR J.C. JACKSON - An arrest warrant was issued for Los Angeles Chargers cornerback J.C Jackson on Monday per Chris Mason of Mass Live News. Mason reported that Jackson was due to appear in Attleboro District Court for a probation violation on Friday, but he didn't show up. As a result, there's now a warrant for his arrest in Massachusetts. 

Jackson played for the New England Patriots from 2018 to 2021 and had 25 interceptions across that span. 

The Chargers host the Las Vegas Raiders at SoFi Stadium at 4:05 p.m. ET on Sunday.

SEPT. 24 USHER PERFORMING AT SUPER BOWL LVIII - Usher will be the headlining performer at the 2024 Super Bowl Halftime show, it was announced on Sunday.

“It’s an honor of a lifetime to finally check a Super Bowl performance off my bucket list. I can’t wait to bring the world a show unlike anything else they’ve seen from me before,” said Usher. “Thank you to the fans and everyone who made this opportunity happen. I’ll see you real soon.”

The game takes place at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Sunday, February 11, 2024, and is airing on CBS.

SEPT. 20 EX PATRIOTS STAR CHANDLER JONES PLACED ON NON-FOOTBALL ILLNESS BY RAIDERS - In the wake of a string of troubling social media posts, defensive end Chandler Jones has been placed on the "non-football illness" list by the Las Vegas Raiders. Jones, who spent his four seasons with the Patriots, has been inactive for the Raiders' first two games.

Earlier this month, he posted alarming demands saying he didn't want to play for the Raiders or former Pats' assistant/Las Vegas head coach Josh McDaniels. This week he posted since-deleted messages about missing last week's game because "someone was molesting my God daughter" and seemingly, indirectly, implicating Raiders owner Mark Davis.

While the Raiders are only referring to Jones' status as a "private matter", Jones now claims his Twitter account was hacked.

It was Jones who last December returned the Patriots' "Lunatic Lateral" for a bizarre game-ending touchdown.

On the non-football illness list, he will miss at least the next four games for Las Vegas. Players around the NFL are expressing concern for Jones' mental health.

SEPT. 19 DOLPHINS SIGN EX PATS DRAFT PICK BYRON COWART - Former Patriots' draft pick Byron Cowart is joining his fifth NFL team in five years, as the Dolphins signed the defensive lineman to their practice squad on Tuesday. Selected in the fifth round in 2019, he started 14 games in his second season in Foxboro.

He missed the 2021 season on New England's reserve/PUP list before being released in 2022. Since then he's been signed by the Colts, Chiefs and Texans before getting a shot with Miami.

SEPT. 14 FORMER PATS' WR RANDY MOSS PICKING JETS IN SUPER BOWL - Is Randy "Mossed"? Speaking to NFL Network's Rich Eisen this week, the Hall of Famer and former Patriots' receiver made a bold - bizarre - prediction for Super Bowl LVIII.

He might be the only person in America unaffected by Aaron Rodgers' season-ending injury suffered last Monday night.

"I had the Eagles and the Jets," Moss told Eisen. "And I'm going to stick to my guns. I'm not gonna jump ship."

In the wake of Rodgers' injury, the Jets' Super Bowl odds plummeted from 16-1 to 50-1.

"Zach (Wilson) has been in the NFL long enough ... he's had an offseason under Aaron," Moss said. "It won't look like it would've with Aaron Rodgers, but he can still go in and lead the team and put them in a position to win like he did the other night."

While the Jets - sans Rodgers - travel to Dallas this weekend to play the Cowboys, Moss' former Patriots squad hosts the Dolphins in a must-win game Sunday night at Gillette Stadium.

SEPT 13. PATRIOTS SIGN QB IAN BOOK TO PRACTICE SQUAD - The New England Patriots officially added to their quarterback room on Wednesday by signing Ian Book to their practice squad, per NFL Network.

As reported Tuesday, the Patriots were slated to host Book for a workout on Wednesday morning. Apparently, Book impressed the Patriots enough for them to sign him right away.

Book, a fourth-round pick by the New Orleans Saints in 2021, was one of the most prolific passers in Notre Dame history. He holds the school record for most wins by a quarterback with 30 and is second in touchdown passes with 72. The California native also guided the Fighting Irish to a pair of College Football Playoff appearances in 2018 and 2020.

Book has only appeared in one NFL game so far, and he was put into a nearly impossible situation. The Saints were down nearly 20 players due to COVID-19 in 2020, including quarterbacks Taysom Hill and Trevor Siemien, which forced Book into the starting role. With little preparation time and a depleted team around him, Book completed 12 of 20 passes for 135 yards and two interceptions.

The Saints waived Book in 2022, and he signed with the Philadelphia Eagles' practice squad the next day. He remained in Philadelphia for the entire year, but never appeared in a regular-season game before being waived on Aug. 29.

Book now joins a quarterback room that includes starter Mac Jones, backup Bailey Zappe and fellow practice squad player Malik Cunningham. The Pats signed Matt Corral last week, but he is now on the exempt/left team list.

SEPT 12. PATRIOTS REPORTEDLY TO WORK OUT QB IAN BOOK ON WEDNESDAY - The New England Patriots may not be done adding to their quarterback depth chart. 

Despite Bailey Zappe having returned to the 53-man roster, the Patriots are expected to host former New Orleans Saints quarterback Ian Book for a free agent workout on Wednesday morning, per NFL insider Jordan Schultz.    

Book was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the fourth round (No. 133 overall) out of Notre Dame in the 2021 NFL Draft. During his rookie season, Book made one start for the Saints after starter Taysom Hill and top backup Trevor Siemian were placed on the reserve/COVID list. Book completed 12 of 20 passes for 135 yards and two interceptions in a 20-3 loss to the Miami Dolphins. After being waived by the Saints in August 2022, Book signed with the Philadelphia Eagles, with whom he remained until final roster cutdowns on Aug. 29. 

In addition to Zappe, the Patriots also have undrafted rookie Malik Cunningham on their practice squad. Second-year quarterback Matt Corral is currently on the exempt/left squad list. 

SEPT 12. PATRIOTS, BAILEY ZAPPE CONTRACT DETAILS EMERGE: MORE OF THE SAME? - The New England Patriots have had their recent share of intrigue when it comes to their situation at backup quarterback. 

From waiving both Bailey Zappe and Malik Cunningham, to claiming Matt Corral off waivers from the Carolina Panthers, things have been interesting behind starter Mac Jones so far in September. 

However, with personal issues understandably keeping Corral from the field until further notice, the Pats acted quickly in re-signing Zappe to the 53-man roster as Jones’ primary backup.  

While Zappe’s role on the field should have a familiar feel, it will seemingly be like he never left from a financial standpoint. 

Zappe’s contract, per a Tuesday morning report from ESPN’s Mike Reiss, covers the next three years with base salaries of $870,000 in 2023; $985,000 in 2024; and $1.1 million in 2025.

Essentially, the Patriots appear to be honoring the terms of his original rookie contract.

Still, there are some differences. Patriots salary cap expert Miguel Benzan later added Zappe’s expected earnings are minimum salaries for a player with his number of credited seasons. His 2024 and 2025 signing bonus prorations equaled $161,768, before he was waived. Zappe’s new deal changes that amount to $323,536, while the 2025 total reverts to $0. 

In summary, the Pats moved his 2025 signing bonus proration into 2024.

SEPT 11. EX PATS' WR ANTONIO BROWN LOSES BIG BET - Former Patriots and NFL wide receiver Antonio Brown, who was recently arrested in Florida for failing to keep up on his child support payments, apparently lost a lot of money on Sunday by betting on a game.

Brown, according to his own social media, placed a large wager on the Minnesota Vikings to defeat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. How large? 

The former All-Pro reportedly lost $120,000 betting on the Vikings, who lost in Week 1 to the Buccaneers, 20-17, as four-point favorites.

AUG. 24 VIKINGS CUTS EX-PATRIOTS RECEIVER The Minnesota Vikings have cut former Patriots receiver N'Keal Harry, according to the team's website.

The former 2019 first-round pick for the Patriots signed with the Vikings prior to the start of the preseason, where he'd go on to record just two catches for 24 yards before being released on Thursday. 

The move by the Vikings to let Harry go was to make room for the signing of former Los Angeles Rams safety Jake Gervase.

Harry's struggles to stay on a 53-man roster continue after he was traded from the Patriots to the Chicago Bears last offseason. In 40 career games, Harry has posted just 64 catches for 714 yards and five touchdowns. He's also added seven carries for 49 yards as he will begin searching for a new team.

AUG. 21 FORMER PATS' LINEBACKER RETIRES In 2020, free agent Brandon Copeland signed a $1.1 million contract with the Patriots. For that investment, the team received four starts and 12 tackles out of their linebacker. And this week, Copeland announced he was retiring from the NFL at age 32.

Copeland's Patriots' stay ended in Week 7 of 2020 when he suffered a torn pectoral muscle and was place on injured reserve. He played with the Falcons and Ravens after leaving Foxboro and had a seven-year career in the league. His best seasons were with the Jets in 2018-19.

AUG. 21 EX PATS SPECIAL TEAMS STAR SIGNS WITH SEAHAWKS Last Summer DaMarcus Mitchell was one of the surprising stars of Patriots' training camp. Undrafted out of Purdue, he not only made the team as a special teams standout but also wound up playing 310 snaps in 16 games.

Last week, however, he was cut in part to make room for new running back Ezekiel Elliott. It didn't take long for Mitchell to find a new home as over the weekend he was signed by the Seattle Seahawks.

AUG 11 NFL NETWORK EXPERT PICKS PATS LAST Long gone are the days of the Patriots winning Super Bowls. And, according to one former coach and current NFL Network analyst, so is their time even being competitive in the AFC East.

"The Jets and Dolphins will be better, but it should be the Bills division to win," Steve Mariucci said this week on the Rich Eisen Show. "I can't imagine predicting the Patriots fourth, considering all the success they've had through the years, but that's what it looks like."

Despite a 14-game winning streak over the Jets, New England is the consensus pick to finish last in the AFC East this season.

JULY 25 HERNANDEZ ARREST Aaron Hernandez's older brother, D.J., has been arrested again - this time in a most frightening matter as police say he has been planning mass shootings at UConn and Brown University.

Per TMZ, cops say Hernandez - who has been arrested four times in recent months - showed signs of July of being "gravely disabled and a danger to society."

He allegedly posted a message on social media that stated, “Will I kill?  I’ve warned my enemies so pay up front.” That triggered police to make contact with him as he allegedly began threatening officers at the scene.

Hernandez - whose brother Aaron was briefly a Patriots star tight end before he was convicted of murder and then hung himself in prison - reportedly entered the classroom buildings of both UConn and Brown to potentially plan out his crimes. He's currently being held by police on a $250,000 bond as he awaits a court date.