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The New England Patriots tried to give Los Angeles Rams passing game coordinator Nick Caley a contract to become their new offensive coordinator in the offseason.
But Caley turned them down. Now, according to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, we know that Caley walked away from some big-time money in order to stick with the Rams.
“Nick got offered almost $3 million a year,” Breer said during a radio appearance in Boston. “So, the fact that you’re willing to pay a first-time coordinator that number — that’s really, really good number.
"The contract [the Patriots] offered Nick Caley was a very healthy contract… almost $3M a year"@AlbertBreer details the Patriots' contract offer to Nick Caley on @ZoandBertrand pic.twitter.com/Fxjt0BYm4D
— Patriots Coverage on NBCS Boston (@NBCSPatriots) September 19, 2024
“So, I think having the person who’s going to write that contract in there — she’s an important piece of that puzzle if you’ve got a first-time head coach and a first-time top personnel executive running the show. That’s all. It doesn’t hurt to have that resource in there.”
The “she” that Breer referred to was Patriots executive vice president of football business and senior advisor to head coach Jerod Mayo, Robin Glaser.
The $3 million deal would have matched Baltimore’s Todd Monken and Mike Kafka of the New York Giants, both of whom earn a league-high $3 million per season according to Front Office Sports.
Ironically, both the Giants and Ravens have struggled mightily on offense to begin the season. So have the Patriots, who opted to start veteran Jacoby Brissett over rookie Drake Maye, whom they selected with the No. 3 pick in the NFL Draft.
Maye made his NFL debut on Thursday night in garbage time of a blowout loss to the New York Jets. He completed 4-of-8 passes for 22 yards behind a patchwork Patriots offensive line.
Meanwhile, Caley, who held multiple positions with New England from 2015-2022, is now trying to figure out how to fix a Rams passing game that is without top receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua due to injuries.
Los Angeles is also dealing with an offensive line crisis of its own.
So it sounds like things aren’t exactly going according to plan for either party.