Don’t do it, New England Patriots.

Don’t go after Odell Beckham, Jr.

Not the time to bring in a problem child. Of course, the Patriots do like to add during the season. Beckham has worked out a deal with the Cleveland Browns for his release so he can be a free agent by Tuesday.

“Yeah, we’ve done that before,” Belichick said on Friday. “We brough in (Aqib) Talib in the middle of the season. You’d have to evaluate any situation.

“I don’t really know any specifics to talk about, so at this poing, there’s nothing to really talk about. We’d do anything we could to help our football team. We brough in James Harrison with one game to go in the season.”

But Harrison wasn’t a jerk like OBJ is. Two organizations deemed him such a pain, one (Giants) at least got something for him and the other (Browns) just wanted him gone and got zip.

The thing is, you don’t want that kind of player and let a good guy like Stephon Gilmore go. They’ll see Gilmore today, and it will be tough seeing him in a Carolina uniform. The thing is, we get the fact the Patriots weren’t going to pay him. But Gilmore should have been dealt at last year’s deadline. Big boo-boo.

Belichick was asked if Gilmore was back to his old self.

“Well, he played about 20 plays last week,” Belichick said this week. “Each week there are players we know, or we’ve hd, or that have been here, or whatever it is. That type of situation comes up every week.”

Here’s a look at this week’s situations, seven of them:

PATRIOTS 27, PANTHERS 17

Even though Christian McAffrey is likely to return for this game for the Panthers, will he be at full strength? And can a Sam Darnold-quarterbacked team – if he plays — really have a chance at beating a Bill Belichick-coached team? Highly doubt it. Get a quarterback, Matt Rhule, and maybe you’ll get some more wins.

BROWNS 24, BENGALS 21

Free of OBJ, the Browns breath the fresh air in Cincy and manage to pull out a much-needed road win. The Bengals must still be scratching their heads over the loss to Mike White and the Jets.

DOLPHINS 24, TEXANS 10

Brian Flores gets the win he needs, as the Dolphins, who have to realize Tua Tagovailoa is not the answer, are probably thinking Flores isn’t, either. Texans have no answers in a tank year.

NINERS 17, FALCONS 10

Boy, San Francisco has just lost its way since getting to the Super Bowl two years ago, but Jimmy G is still there. The Falcons have lost their way since 28-3, and are trying to build things back up. Not yet.

RAVENS 30, VIKINGS 14

It’s time for Baltimore to assert itself as being a Super Bowl contender, but games like their blowout loss to the Bengals a couple of weeks ago make you wonder. We also wonder about Mike Zimmer’s coaching ability with the Vikings. Ravens come off the bye and Lamar Jackson gets them going at home.

CHIEFS 24, PACKERS 14

Good grief, Aaron Rodgers may have just derailed his team’s Super Bowl hopes. Not in terms of wins and losses, but just atmosphere. Chiefs have to start making their move, and with Rodgers out, they get a softball thrown at them.

RAMS 30, TITANS 13

Another situation where an absence makes the heart grow fonder, and the Titans will miss Derrick Henry immensely. The Rams won’t as they keep the pressure on. Von Miller gets a sack in his L.A.debut.

STEELERS 17, BEARS 10

Ah, what a difference a year makes for the Steelers, but Da Bears are showing up at Heinz Field for a Monday Nighter to help them get a good feeling going into the second half of the season. Matt Nagy will likely be gone as Bears coach after this season, because the offense is putrid.

LAST WEEK: 4-3

SEASON: 38-18

Tom King may be reached at tking@nashuatelegraph.com. Also, follow King on Twitter (@Telegraph_TomK).

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