VJCPatriot

Here is my master plan for the Patriots to return to the Superbowl in 2009.

Step 1. Franchise Cassel. Cost 14M.
Step 2. Trade Cassel. Receive in return 1st round pick or equivalent draft value. -14M dollars.
Step 3. Cut Vrabel and Green. Save 6M in cap space.
Step 4. Sign OLB Suggs to an AD level contract. Cost 7M per year with 35M guaranteed monies.
Step 5. Sign S Sean Jones. Cost 4M per year with 10M in guaranteed monies.
Step 6. Draft a CB, ILB, G, TE, etc. Make sure to hit on some second day picks too!
Step 7. Brady is healthy.
Step 8. Dominate the regular season.
Step 9. Win in the playoffs.
Step 10. Go back to the Superbowl and take home the trophy this time.

Alright maybe things won't unfold this perfectly. But if things went according to my master plan, I could easily see 13+ wins in the regular season and a return to the Superbowl.

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billdog3484

id certainly be happy if your master plan played out in reality but a lot of things would have to fall in place. i dont see us getting rid of vrabel and green

CanadianPat'sFan

I love it!! This is what I think they need to do .......even step 3 but I have said this before it is a business and BB is the best. I know step three is not popular especially with Vrabel but it has to be done but only if we get a proven FA like Suggs or Dansby.

If not then we need to keep him and flip flop and get a good FA DB and move OLB to the top priority of the draft. So that would alter step 6 slightly by changing the order to OLB, ILB, OL, TE but I agree with the other needs but ad a young safety if one slips down to the late rounds just for depth. If we could not get Jones maybe OJ Otogwe as discussed in another thread.

All in all I love it especially steps 7-10. A lot depends on if we can find a willing trade partner for Cassel and move him early in FA. I hope we get Suggs and Jones as they would make a definite impact on our defense for next season.

fgssand

Cutting Vrabel & Green makes no sense.............Green played the entire year with a badly sprained ankle and Vrabel played injured as well. Might as well cut Thomas as he was also injured and did not live up to expectations as a result.

Heal these guys up and watch them return to form.

I like all the other steps.

You may now return to your master plan with my blessing .

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Season ticket holder since 1971, first in section 209 and now in 134.

LOVE New England sports....10 years SEVEN championships!!!

farn

I also don't think that cutting Green & Vrabel is the way to go... truth is that even if we were able to get better options at those positions, which in its self could be difficult, you can never have enough solid players.

Vrabel : 2009 edition might not be the player he was in '04, but I don't think he's the reason they didn't go 12-4.

MassPats38

Given the injuries to the line this year, why would you cut Green when he has the ability to start for other teams in the NFL? The other veteran linemen said he is one of the best pure pass rushers on the team. Linemen are ranking pretty high on the franchise tag price, so I am guessing $5 million is not overspending. I am more concerned with him leaving next year as a free agent.

As for Vrabel, the guy had a huge season with 12.5 sacks in 2007, played in every game in 2008, had numbers well below his career highs but not far from his typical career averages. He is a veteran player willing to do what is required.

The bottom line is whoever you bring in with the $5.8 million savings or $9.7 million total price has to represent value added over these two in terms of depth, veteran presence and knowledge of the system. This system is not generally plug and play, so veterans need some time to adjust (a season or two).

And Thomas represents a slightly below market contract two years ago. I would be surprised if a coveted free agent signs for that amount under a substantially higher salary cap figure.

VJCPatriot

I am aware that step 3 is controversial. But the Pats might have to bite the bullet if it is necessary to make steps 4, 5, and 6 happen. Signing upgrades in free agency as well as signing our new rookies will all cost money. Please note that I made estimates to the costs, but I can't predict with certainty the actual contracts. The down economy and demand may all factor into final pricetags.

Vrabel of the 12.5 sacks is no longer the Vrabel of today nor will he be the Vrabel of 2009. Just watching him in 2008 being unable to get to the QB and the teams terrible 3rd down percentage due to lack of pressure will attest to that. The Pats D also had one of their lowest sack output from their OLBs in years. A drop from 20ish sacks to 10ish sacks is reason for concern. 50% output is not acceptable, particularly when it leads to one of the worst 3rd down conversions allowed percentages in the league.

Green is a highly overpaid backup. A GOOD quality backup, but not nearly worth his 5M dollar paycheck. The Pats can look for a cheaper replacement via the draft. The key to the plan is that they upgrade TWO starter positions via free agency. That way they can fill in the rest of their needs with more affordable draft choices.

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PATSYLICIOUS

I agree with most of it except cutting Vrabel/Green and signing Suggs. I love Suggs but we have enough high cost players on the team. Wilfork, Mayo, Merriweather are also going to eventually to be very well paid. We have an extra 2nd rounder this year and going to get more extra picks once Cassel is traded and not too many dire needs. I hope (and think) we will fill those through the draft.

Miguel

This looks more than a wishlist than a plan

IMO, a master plan should address what the Pats should do with the following free agents:

Raymond Ventrone, S
Eric Alexander, LB
Wesley Britt, T
Pierre Woods, LB
Rosevelt Colvin, LB
Heath Evans, FB
Jabar Gaffney, WR
Chris Hanson, P
Rodney Harrison, SS
Russ Hochstein, G
Larry Izzo, LB
Lamont Jordan, RB
Deltha O'Neal, CB
Lonie Paxton, LS
James Sanders, S
Lewis Sanders, CB
Junior Seau, LB
Kenny Smith, DE
Tank Williams, S
Mike Wright, DT

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farn

Agreed. Though I think some of the above are of higher value - considering potential salaries - than others. For example, I'd be surprised NOT to see Paxton or Izzo on the team (what other team would the Pats be bidding against ?). Others, such as Gaffney and the Sanders boys would be welcome, but will they be courted ? Thirdly, I'm not sure you bring back Seau & Rosie in the summer or just keep them on November speed dial.

The interesting ones for me are : Woods, Hochtein, and Hanson... I wonder what the cost is for those guys and what is BB's max on them.