{
  "id": 9503399,
  "title": "Analyst says the Patriots ‘should be embarrassed’ by latest news on Mack Hollins contract talks",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/24/analyst-says-the-patriots-should-be-embarrassed-by-latest-news-on",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-24T06:18:44.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/analyst-says-patriots-embarrassed-latest-061844839.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Greg Bedard has harshly criticized the New England Patriots for altering Mack Hollins' contract incentives before the start of the season, describing their actions as something for the team to \"be embarrassed\" about. Hollins agreed to more stringent catch targets, altering them from 30, 40 and 50 receptions to 47, 50 and 55. This change generated $600,000 in salary-cap space for the Patriots, who had previously relied on the veteran's reliable production. Bedard expressed particular indignation at this decision, given Hollins' stellar performance last season, where he had already achieved two of the original incentive milestones. By making the bonuses harder to earn, the Patriots unintentionally placed the incentives in the \"not likely to be earned\" category from a salary-cap standpoint. Despite his valiant return from a lacerated spleen last postseason, Hollins' situation remains contentious. While he has expressed a stoic acceptance of the business realities, New England has declined to trade the 33-year-old receiver. Hollins now stands a better chance to regain the incentives with the addition of A.J. Brown to the roster, as Brown is projected to be out for several weeks due to an ankle injury. The Patriots will now be counting on Hollins to deliver, as he attempts to meet the revised catch numbers and put this contract dispute behind him.",
  "summary": "Greg Bedard has criticised the New England Patriots over their handling of Mack Hollins’ contract, saying the team “should be embarrassed” after changing the receiver’s incentives before the season. Hollins agreed to make his 2026 bonuses harder to reach, with his catch thresholds moving from 30, 40 and 50 receptions to 47, 50 and 55.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}