Are Patriots Concerned with JuJu Smith-Schuster?

CLNS Media Sports Network

On the latest episode of Pats Interference, Andrew Callahan previewed the Patriots upcoming matchup against the Dolphins and gave some takeaways from their week 1 loss to the Eagles.  After not being on the field during the team's closing drive, Is JuJu Smith-Schuster on the outside  looking in with the Patriots? Do the Patriots think JuJu isn't a top receiver on the team? Andrew sounds off on his latest report and what his sources told him.  If you enjoyed this content, please make sure to watch the full episode HERE: https://youtube.com/live/hrVPZm5_nuM | Pats Interference Podcast  This segment of the Pats Interference Podcast is brought to you by Fanduel Sportsbook, the exclusive wagering partner of the CLNS Media Network. NEW customers can bet $5  and get $200 in BONUS BETS – GUARANTEED. Plus, all customers who bet $5 will get $100 OFF NFL SUNDAY TICKET from YouTube and YouTube TV. Now is the best time to join FanDuel! The app is easy to use and you can be on everything from spreads to player props and more! So, visit  https://FanDuel.com/BOSTON and kick off the NFL season with an offer you won’t wanna miss.  21+ and present in MA. First online real money wager only. $10 first deposit required. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable bonus bets that expire 7 days after receipt. Restrictions apply. See terms at  https://fanduel.com/sportsbook. Hope is here. GamblingHelpLineMa.org or call (800)-327-5050 for 24/7 support. Play it smart from the start! GameSenseMA.com or call 1-800-GAM-1234. NFL Sunday Ticket Offer ends 9/18/23. No refunds. Terms and embargoes apply. $100 off NFL Sunday Ticket, not YouTube TV. YouTube TV base plan required to watch YouTube TV. Redemption requires a Google account and current form of payment. Commercial Use Excluded. Subscription renews; cancel anytime.  Ever wished you could navigate the betting field with the confidence of a pro? Enter Download the Odds-R App! They're not a sportsbook, but they're the sports betting advisor you've always needed. It's like having a playbook for smarter bets right in your pocket. I've been absolutely loving the experience, and I think you will too. Especially since Pats Interference listeners get a 30-day free trial! Elevate your game day and join the smart betting revolution! Go get it at https://oddsr.com/presspass

Transcript

00:00 Before we get to that, I wanted to take a minute or two just to cover my reporting

00:03 that came out this morning after a couple conversations I had with folks

00:08 within the team regarding Juju Smith-Schuster.

00:11 The headline of the column was very specific, and

00:14 it was why the Juju Smith-Schuster question won't be going away.

00:19 And the question started, very quickly for

00:22 everyone who obviously didn't miss this because you watched the game.

00:25 When Juju didn't play in the final drive against the Eagles in the season opener,

00:29 and Keisha Ambudi played over him, Demario Douglas played over him.

00:32 Those are two six round rookies, rookies who have impressive summer,

00:35 they made the team outright.

00:37 But Devonte Parker was out, and the guy the Patriots paid $25.5 million,

00:41 stared there on the sidelines, they tried to run a two minute drill.

00:45 So naturally, right away, my question directly to Bill Belichick was,

00:48 what was the decision behind that?

00:50 And naturally, Bill Belichick didn't want to give me much of an answer.

00:53 That's fine, it's just prerogative, no problems there.

00:56 >> New fan to customers can bet $5 and get 200 in bonus bets, guarantee.

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01:10 [BLANK_AUDIO]

01:13 >> But you keep asking around, you keep digging.

01:15 And what I found is that right now the Patriots don't see Juju Smith-Schuster as

01:20 a top five pass catcher on the roster.

01:22 That from multiple people within the team,

01:24 it's not that he's not a number one receiver.

01:26 Some pushback I got on this is the Patriots never talk about that.

01:29 I can show you text messages where folks in the building refer to things like

01:33 a number one receiver, Belichick doesn't, that's fine.

01:36 Spoiler alert, he was not a source for that story.

01:38 That's as far as I'll say on that front.

01:41 But I want to underscore something that was right above the paragraph that was

01:45 discussed on radio today and made some waves on Twitter.

01:49 Because yes, it was the part that Smith-Schuster is not presently,

01:53 I want to underscore presently among the team's five best pass catchers.

01:55 And the Patriots showed you that by the way, I wrote it.

01:58 I got people to trust me with that information and

02:00 their feelings off the record.

02:02 But we saw when they played football without him in a situation where they

02:06 needed to win that game and decided Juju Smith-Schuster is not a better option over

02:10 tomorrow Douglas, Keishon Booty and Kendrick Bourne.

02:12 The paragraph above that one where I lay that out,

02:16 is that the trouble for Smith-Schuster isn't that he missed the end of one game.

02:19 The Patriots have only begun to wade into the waters of the new season.

02:23 Smith-Schuster will get his chance to sink or swim, okay?

02:28 I completely agree with you.

02:30 If you are someone who is upset that this was one game, okay?

02:34 And believe Juju has better football ahead of him.

02:37 I think he might.

02:38 The trouble is not only just the opportunity that he had.

02:42 And I don't wanna say squandered, but was less impressive this summer in

02:46 the preseason than two rookies.

02:48 But with Devontae Parker out and Devontae Parker returning soon,

02:51 those opportunities will dwindle.

02:53 Not to mention the knee injury, which is not 100%.

02:56 So that's a little background, a little clarification on that column,

02:59 stand behind that entirely.

03:00 I wrote and heard what we all saw on Sunday,

03:03 just a little bit more inside information on that.

03:06 So I think Juju will get better.

03:07 There's a lot more to learn, but we're gonna have more questions because this is

03:11 what the Patriots have told you.

03:12 And that's a guy they paid top dollar for,

03:14 top dollar obviously Patriots scale back in March.

03:17 >> New FanDuel customers can bet $5 and get 200 in bonus bets, guarantee.

03:23 Plus, all customers who bet $5 will get $100 off NFL Sunday ticket

03:29 from YouTube at YouTube TV.

03:31 [MUSIC]

03:41 (upbeat music)

03:43 (upbeat music)

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