Did a Patriots uniform update leak at the NFL Draft?
As part of the fan experience at the NFL Draft in Cleveland, the league put on display each of the team’s uniforms for people to take pictures with. However, the Patriots uniform on display wasn’t quite one we’ve ever seen before.
A photo shared by David Slika on Twitter shows the old color rush jersey, which has a different font then the new home uniforms the team started wearing last season. The blue jersey is also paired with silver pants, even though as both the color rush jersey and primarily last year, it was always blue-on-blue.
Is this a nod that the Patriots will have some uniform tweaks coming in 2021? Or did the staff in Cleveland simply not have a current Patriots jersey and/or blue pants at their disposal? It’s hard to imagine that could be the case at an NFL-sponsored event, especially one as big as the draft.
@UniWatch @PhilHecken Two new uniform combos shown at the Draft. New Grey pants for Patriots and Black over Red for Falcons pic.twitter.com/KyC22FY6On
— David Slivka (@David_Slivka) April 30, 2021
Whatever the case, that’s of course not the uniform-related news Patriots fans are waiting on this offseason. There’s been speculation growing over the last few years that the NFL could do away with the ‘One Shell Rule,’ which essentially prohibits teams from using more than one color helmet during a season. It’s that rule that has kept the red jersey ‘Pat Patriot’ throwbacks on the shelf since 2010. As of April 10, there’s been no decision made on the future of the rule, per Pro Football Talk.
There’s also the possibility of the Patriots bringing back the mid-90’s ‘Flying Elvis’ jerseys, although that rumor has had much less substance behind it. Still, the team did start selling them in the Pro Shop two years ago. In 2021 they’re scheduled to host the Jacksonville Jaguars, who the Patriots beat in arguably the biggest win in those uniforms in the 1996 AFC Championship Game. It would be a fitting time to take the look out of retirement.
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Alex Barth is a writer and digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Thoughts? Comments? Questions? Looking for a podcast guest? Let him know on Twitter @RealAlexBarth or via email at abarth@985TheSportsHub.com.
