Most critical off-season of the BB Era - Page 6 - New England Patriots Forums

***Tunescribe*** · 02-09-2009, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patsfaninpa

I think every season we have Tom Brady as our qb is critical. We should try to win it every year that he is here. Don't want to get stupid like the Redskins/Cowboys. But, I'm willing to trade picks for vets. And, try to win this year.

I agree. A healthy Brady is the optimum factor, and this is the last year of Moss's contract -- the window is closing on that pairing. As long as both are present, I say mortgage a bit of the future if necessary to win now.

***AndyJohnson*** · 02-09-2009, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tunescribe

I agree. A healthy Brady is the optimum factor, and this is the last year of Moss's contract -- the window is closing on that pairing. As long as both are present, I say mortgage a bit of the future if necessary to win now.

Moss is signed through 2010

***AndyJohnson*** · 02-09-2009, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimke

Twelve of the players on our current roster were on the practice

squad or promoted from the practice squad when injuries occured

last year.

Meaning there are 38 'regular' players that are under contract, including Cassel.
We need 15 players if ALL we do is get back to where we started last year, ie not have ot rely on guys who didnt make the 53 out of camp.
That 3mill of cap room aint getting that done

BradyManny · 02-09-2009, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndyJohnson

Meaning there are 38 'regular' players that are under contract, including Cassel.
We need 15 players if ALL we do is get back to where we started last year, ie not have ot rely on guys who didnt make the 53 out of camp.
That 3mill of cap room aint getting that done

Well put. (10)

AzPatsFan · 02-09-2009, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mgteich

I agree that Belichick is way ahead of us in dealing with these issues. However, $14.6M is a lot of cap money. We can have a few restructures to sign the midrange pieces you mention and still be able to pay the rookies, but I think that it's close.

And so do I; but on reflection and close inspection, and relying on Miguel's numbers, I calculate that it is just do-able. Other wise it would be plain that we cannot afford to carry two franchise QBs, in order to insure we have AT LEAST ONE able to play the whole season.

Then Cassel would have to be moved or we would have to cut a good player, and weaken the team. My assumption all along is that would not be wanted, or necessary. But making a cut, is still something that BB might do. Having a spare QB is expensive, until you don't have one, then its almost priceless...

Part of my feelings is the total unwilligness to actually calculate the possibility, by so many posters. Just arbitrarily saying we've never done it so we never would. Sort of like "BB has never drafted a LB", "never drafted a G", etc, until of course he did, with Mayo and Mankins.

***mgteich*** · 02-09-2009, 01:28 PM

Belichick can choose to burden the 2009 patriots with a $10M handicap or not. The going rate for a top backup QB is certainly no more than $4.6M. There are lots out there at different values. I would not expect us to be near the playoffs with Cassel at quarterback at a cost of $14.6M, given our schedule, and given the artificial cap contraint. So, I don't see the point of keeping Cassel. I understand that many think that Cassel is a pro-bowler. Great! There are a lot of teams looking for quarterbacks. Maybe one of them will part with more than a 1st for him.

The patriots with a veteran backup and two top free agents at $5M each for a one-year contract is a much stronger team that a team with Cassel. I would not recommend the rent-a-player strategy, but you ahve.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AzPatsFan

And so do I; but on reflection and close inspection, and relying on Miguel's numbers, I calculate that it is just do-able. Other wise it would be plain that we cannot afford to carry two franchise QBs, in order to insure we have AT LEAST ONE able to play the whole season.

Then Cassel would have to be moved or we would have to cut a good player, and weaken the team. My assumption all along is that would not be wanted, or necessary. But making a cut, is still something that BB might do. Having a spare QB is expensive, until you don't have one, then its almost priceless...

Part of my feelings is the total unwilligness to actually calculate the possibility, by so many posters. Just arbitrarily saying we've never done it so we never would. Sort of like "BB has never drafted a LB", "never drafted a G", etc, until of course he did, with Mayo and Mankins.

JMarr · 02-09-2009, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tunescribe

I agree. A healthy Brady is the optimum factor, and [2010] is the last year of Moss's contract -- the window is closing on that pairing. As long as both are present, I say mortgage a bit of the future if necessary to win now.

I'm a spoiled fan and I couldn't agree more. The future is now and you do everything within your power to cover all the bases in the offseason, not just some. No more asking a Deltha O'Neal or Mike Webster to shut down elite WRs, or expecting untested rookies and aging LBs to be part of a dominating defense.

This year the Pats might want to trade up for a cant-miss stud on defense if he's there, or sign an Asomugha, Dansby, or Suggs if one of them is available. And they're going to need Cassel's 15 million to do it.

captain stone · 02-11-2009, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndyJohnson

We need 15 players if ALL we do is get back to where we started last year, ie: not have to rely on guys who didn't make the 53 out of camp.
That 3mill of cap room aint getting that done.

Damn right it ain't; that's why there is No Effin Way that there's gonna be $29M of QB on the 53 on Opening Day, because if there is, then that will also mean that we will - again - have has-beens, never-were's & never-will-be's at DB & LB.