AndyJohnson

This off-season, IMO, will be the most crticial of the BB era.

First, we will have a ton of resources. When we trade Cassel we will either get more high picks for now (possibly player(s) too) or choose to take 2010 picks. That decision can have a huge impact on the future of the franchise. It will be less value now or more value later. Will there be a rookie scale by then? Which draft looks strogner, particularly where we need it?

If you look at Miguels page, we essentially have half a team signed for 2010. 26 players, 11 starters, using half the cap room projected. BB is going to 'rebuild' half of his team by 9/10. There is every reason to belief that a good bunch of that will be retaining current players, but half the team will be built in a year and a half through a combination of retention, the draft and free agency. Theoretically, we could fill up to 80% of those spots in the draft, having a tremendous amount of cap space toward the remianing 20% probably retention of our own guys.
One choice would be for BB to just continue the process of drafting, keeping players he wants, filling in with free agents, but more than at least I have ever noticed, his decisions, most this off-season, but into the next could revamp his franchise.
Another, which seems less likely is to be a big free agency player. I don't see that happening because I think BB feels free agency is inherently a poor value, but thats an option.
We have 24 players who are signed through this year only. Of those I'd guess 8-10 will not be here next year. We also have a number of our own guys who could be resigned, and a bundle of picks.
This off-season could just be a retooling where we go into next year with only 30-35 players under contract, and a ton of cap room, but I think that BB will use 2009 to prepare for 2010-2014.
Admittedly I do not understand the CBA issue, so someone may be able to help me here.
It seems that teams that guess right about it will have an edge for 3-4 years and those that guess wrong may have big cap problems. Is this why we have so many contracts expiring this year? Would it make sense for BB to wait for that CBA resolution to deal with them? Is that why half the team (including half the starters) are not signed beyond 2009?
Does BB need to look at cash expense in addition to cap expense to be able to win in personell moves if it becomes uncapped? Is the lack of future commitment a preparation for that?
Regardless the answers, and whether its from within or without, BB has the opportunity to redefine half his team, half his starter, half his cap expense in one year. It should be interesting.

DarrylS

Well thought out post, this is a two fold opportunity first for the Pats to redefine themselves and to prepare for the future. I have a suspicion that this will be a much different team next year, the weaknesses were obvious and that will change.. I also suspect a lot of what is familiar will look different. As well as we did, there was glaring deficiencies that were exploited.

I would not be surprised to see some completely different looks next year.. particularly on D.. as far as I am concerned can pretty much blow up all of the CB's except Wilhite and Wheatley.. they get a pass right now as we do not know how good they really are.

I also suspect that some of our regulars will not be renewed unless they accept the Vet minimum, BB has always had the philosophy that we cannot fall in love with our veterans.. those moves will create multitudinous threads on this board.. most will be hysterical.

I do think that BB has his eyes on 2012- 2014 as you suggested... and he will use this "capital" to build for those seasons.

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Box_O_Rocks

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maverick4

Just as the last 2002 off-season after we didn't make the playoffs, I expect some MASSIVE personnel changes. There will be some surprise moves and maybe one of our big name players (not named Cassel) being cut or traded elsewhere.

mgteich

2002-2003 and 2006-2007 offseason seemed much more critical. Obviously these offseason produced on of the best teams ever (2003 and 2004 seasons) and the best regular season effort ever (including one of the best offenses ever)/

maverick4

Our most glaring problems this past year are we had a league bottom-3 red zone defense and pass defense.. which is really amazing since it was a Belichick coached team.

kurtinelson

I believe the uncertianty of the CBA in 2010 is why so many Patriots contracts expire at the end of the 2009 season. IMO it will be difficult for the Patriots to do any significant deals with their veterans until the 2010 issue is resolved, but this is a critical draft year IMO with the potential for possibly 2 1s and 2 2s if we trade Cassell. We need to land a few young studs.

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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.

Matt Cassel had a helluva season. We went 11-5. Didn't make the playoffs. There are no sure things in the NFL. But, #12 is about as close as you are going to ever get.

We had a lousy defensive team in 02. BB went out and tried to build it up. We had a lousy receiving corp in 06. BB went out and rebuilt it into the greatest offense in NFL history.
Pretty good guess that he's going to try to rebuild the defense again this off-season.

swheeler23

Why is everyone thinking Cassel is going to be traded?

AzPatsFan

AJ,

I usually agree with you 100% . But THE most critical year is not this offseason, but the the 2008 offseason.

BB faced dismantling the Defense grown old and slow, and rebuilding the back two thirds of it. His 2008 draft was Absolutely critical to the Team's future, and he came through it with flying colors. Just think; he found Mayo, Guyton, Crabel, Woods, Redd, Wheatly, Wilhite, maybe Richardson, and confirmed that Meriwether is a rising star.

That is NINE players who seem to have a future in this league. That rookie or almost expansion team Defense, climbed to Tenth ranked in the League, while playing all these guys new to the Team. Suppose the 2008 off-season had been merely average or below?

The Team's future is now assured, as a perrenial contender for the SuperBowl for the next decade. The foundation for a great Defense has beem layed.

And that doesn't include the clear additions made to the 2007 First ranked Offense. He added a lot of depth and a feared running game to boot. And lets not forget a second franchise QB, as well.

The 2009 off-season is merely around to add frosting to the Cake, that Belichick baked in the 2008 off-season.