goheels22002

An offseason to-do list for the New England Patriots - Sports - The Boston Globe

Bedard sums up his Patriots offseason plan with "let Welker, Lloyd, Talib, Donald Thomas, Chung and Vollmer walk in free agency. Re-sign Edelman, Arrington, Woodhead, Scott and Cole."

That is completely reasonable with the $18 million in cap space, but you can also keep Lloyd and sign one other free agent, if my calculations are close. I'd make a play for Welker after he tests the market if possible, and then re-sign Thomas. I'd let Talib, Vollmer and Chung go.

Deus Irae

This sort of output is why I follow Bedard for his reporting, and not his analysis.

__________________
"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane."
- Marcus Aurelius

CheeseMonkeys

Let Welker and Lloyd go? Who's our #1 at that point?

The Draft isn't our best shot at a starting WR and I don't think there are too many other options in FA.

I hope to god they find a way to get Talib back.

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“These players, a lot of other people didn't believe in them, but they believe in themselves. And that is all that matters.” - Bill Belichick

Jimke

Bedard suggests the Patriots go with a wide receiving corps of
Ebert, Edleman, and Slater? Possibly the worst receiving corps
in NFL history?

eom

lloyd is fa?

mgteich

Bedard's analysis is bad, even for Bedard. However, he did NOT suggest no additions at WR.
As is the case for many here, he suggest a major free agent addition as well as a draftee.

It is pretty crazy to set both Welker and Lloyd go and expect to replace their production in free agency and/or free agency.

Deus Irae

He wants the Patriots to be competing with the Jets on equal footing, apparently. I'm surprised he didn't suggest cutting Brady loose and trading for Chad Henne.


Here's the WR free agent list:

WalterFootball.com: 2013 NFL Free Agents - Wide Receivers

Everyone clamoring for WR change needs to take a look at that list. Realize that Welker and Lloyd obviously won't be options. Then take a look at the WRs who will either be tendered, franchised or at a cost that means little to no savings in comparison to Welker/Lloyd (i.e. Cruz, Bowe, Wallace, Jennings, Alexander, Hartline, Amendola) and quite possibly/likely with a drop in productivity, and then ask yourself how the hell such moves are supposed to make any sense.

There's no upgrade to Welker available, and there are precious few upgrades to Lloyd.

__________________
"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane."
- Marcus Aurelius

ChrisR2223

I would start the rebuild now I would offer talib 3 years at 21 million with most of the cash pushed back to protect myself to see if he stays on the patriots way.
I would aggressively go after another quality defensive back as well such as Sean smith at about 5 million a year. Over 3 yrs.
I would let Welker cash his last big paycheck somewhere else.
I would resign Edelman at about 2 million a year over 4 years.
I would restructure the contracts of Brady Mankins and Wilfork.
I would offer Danny woodhead 2.5 million for 2 years but I see him walking cause all the depth and vareen and demps filling in his role.
I let vollmer walk his injury history and the big amount of cap space he would eat up plus the great job scar does we can find someone to fill his role.
I offer the kitchen sink to the Vikings for Percy harvin he's insanely talented very flexible in scheme and a home run threat everytime. Plus belichick was rumored to love him. Our 1 st could get that done. If the Vikings and Harvin are looking for a change.
I sign DHB the man has speed and maybe we can ressurect his career like we did for Moss
2 million a 1 yr prove it kind of deal great situation for him. I don't stop there I pick up a receiver like Louis Murphy off the scrap heap and kick the tires on him.
The Patriots may or may not go all in on the reed sweepstakes I'd personally pass and bring in Adrian Wilson from Arizona I would trade up to a 4th round pick and bring in this proven leader and warrior to reshape the toughness In the secondary the same way Harrison did.
I feel like this is a bad taste in Belichicks mouth and he will be incredibly aggressive to try to get past very good to get to elite status.
2 idle thoughts Mallett to the Cowboys for a high pick and if Spikes isn't in the long term plans mainly with his lack of coverage ability and the true need for a thumper becoming less and less maybe they like Fletcher to take over that role. And trade him for a few mid picks. .

Thoughts?

DarrylS

Can see BB doing this, but the proposed replacements at WR leave us very thin... and does not seem all that fair to #12 and the rest of this team.

If they did do it, there would a lot of subsequent moves...

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"Being the best doesn't mean you always win. It just means you win more than anyone else".. tweet from Kurt Warner to Tom Brady.

Jimke

The going rate for a good wide receiver in free agency is about double what
Lloyd will be making. In addition, there is no guarantee how he will fit in with
Tom Brady. With regard to the draft, our last success with drafting one was
2002 when the Patriots got Branch and Givens.