mgteich

Obviously, Belichick will be looking at free agents and trades that could benefit the team. Other than that, there seems that there are very few decisions to be made before the final cut.

Belichick could simply cut down to the top 51 and sign two players from other teams.

Personally, I expect us to keep at least one of the bubble linebackers: Lenon, Alexander, Crable, Ninkovitch.

The real action of the next two weeks may be an extension or two, perhaps Faulk and Neal.

jmt57

Just my opinion, but I don't think the top 51 roster spots are all that firmly etched in stone just yet. For example:

• QB: 2, 3 or 4? Does Hoyer have a shot?
• RB: 4 or 5? Can BJGE steal a spot away from someone?
• TE: 3 or 4? Does Alex Smith make the team?
• OL: How many? Who and how many among Hochstein, LeVoir, O'Callahan, Britt, Wendell, Connolly, Bussey and Ohrnberger? How many rookie OL will BB trust to keep?
• WR: How many? Are Galloway and Lewis learning quickly enough? How does special teams affect which WR's are kept? Who and how many stay between Galloway, Lewis, Edelman, Slater, and Nunn? Does Tate go on PUP or IR?
• DL: How many? Is Green a lock? Is Pryor now a lock? What about Richard, Williams and Adams? How much does the usage of the 4-3 affect how many DL, OLB and ILB are kept on the roster?
• OLB: Lumping DE/OLB in this group - how many, 4, 5? AD, Burgess and probably Woods are locks; how many from among TBC, Alexander, Crable and Ninkovich stay? If Alexander can play inside and outside, does that help his chances? Could Crable be cut? Could TBC be gone because of the arrival of Burgess?
• ILB: Does the occasional shift to a 4-3 mean the Pats keep only 3 ILB rather than 4? If 4, Lenon or Ciurciu for his special teams play?
• S: McGowan seems to be the favorite over Williams, but what about Herana Daze-Jones and Ventrone?
• CB: Is there any chance Springs or Wheatley don't make the roster?

Granted there are definite 'most likely' scenarios to all of these questions and some (such as 4 QB, or CB) may be a bit of a reach, but I'm just not buying the concept that this roster is already absolutely set in 51 out of 53 positions.

PatsWickedPissah

EXCELLENT questions.
I have only 2 answers.
QB: No, Hoyer does not make the 53 but makes the PS unclaimed to another 53.
CB: Wheatley makes the 53 but is a game day inactive

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mayoclinic

• Three. No. Hope Hoyer makes it to the PS.
  
  
  Quote:

  Originally Posted by jmt57 RB: 4 or 5? Can BJGE steal a spot away from someone?

  Four. No, unless Morris goes on IR. Just not enough room.
  
  
  Quote:

  Originally Posted by jmt57 TE: 3 or 4? Does Alex Smith make the team?

  Three. Very unlikely, unless he does something radical in the next 2 weeks to bump Thomas and justify a $1.5M cap hit.
  
  
  Quote:

  Originally Posted by jmt57 OL: How many? Who and how many among Hochstein, LeVoir, O'Callahan, Britt, Wendell, Connolly, Bussey and Ohrnberger? How many rookie OL will BB trust to keep?

  Nine. Seabass, Ohrnberger, O'Callaghan and probably Hochstein (possibly Wendell) make the 53 in addition to the starting 5. LeVoir goes on PUP and probably bumps O'Callaghan after week 6.
  
  
  Quote:

  Originally Posted by jmt57 WR: How many? Are Galloway and Lewis learning quickly enough? How does special teams affect which WR's are kept? Who and how many stay between Galloway, Lewis, Edelman, Slater, and Nunn? Does Tate go on PUP or IR?

  Six. Moss, Welker, Galloway, Lewis, Edelman and Aiken seem set. Tate probably goes on PUP to give the option of activating him after week 6 - he can always be put on IR at that time if he isn't ready or if the current batch looks solid. If Tate does get activated he probably bumps either Edelman or Lewis.
  
  
  Quote:

  Originally Posted by jmt57 DL: How many? Is Green a lock? Is Pryor now a lock? What about Richard, Williams and Adams? How much does the usage of the 4-3 affect how many DL, OLB and ILB are kept on the roster?

  7. Seymour, Wilfork, Warren, Brace, Green, Wright and Pryor look to be locks unless Green gets traded.
  
  
  Quote:

  Originally Posted by jmt57 OLB: Lumping DE/OLB in this group - how many, 4, 5? AD, Burgess and probably Woods are locks; how many from among TBC, Alexander, Crable and Ninkovich stay? If Alexander can play inside and outside, does that help his chances? Could Crable be cut? Could TBC be gone because of the arrival of Burgess?

  At least 4 and probably 5. I think Crable is a lock unless he goes on IR, in addition to Thomas, Burgess, Woods and TBC.
  
  
  Quote:

  Originally Posted by jmt57 ILB: Does the occasional shift to a 4-3 mean the Pats keep only 3 ILB rather than 4? If 4, Lenon or Ciurciu for his special teams play?

  Four is likely given that Bruschi may not be able to deliver much, with Lenon still having the inside track unless he goes on IR.
  
  
  Quote:

  Originally Posted by jmt57 S: McGowan seems to be the favorite over Williams, but what about Herana Daze-Jones and Ventrone?

  Meriweather, Chung, Sanders and McGowan look like locks. Only real question seems to be whether Slater gets a spot as a "safety"/STer instead of a 9th LB.
  
  
  Quote:

  Originally Posted by jmt57 CB: Is there any chance Springs or Wheatley don't make the roster?

  No. 5 CBs are pretty much set in stone: Bodden, Butler, Springs, Wilhite and Wheatley.
  
  

Questions answered.

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bagwell368

Extend Neal? Oh good god I hope not.

patsfaninpa

I'm thinking Kaczur slides into RG next year. Vollmer plays RT. We need to extend our other G.

ausbacker

Personally I'd want Jay Cutler deciding the final 53. He seems to know what's best for a team.

mgteich

I think that all these questions are already answered. Belichick may not have informed this board of his final decisions.

mayo answers all your questions. However, I will restate the last two decisions to be made.
Player 50: Hodel or Ingram; Belichick knows who.
Player 51: Belichick has already decided whether to keep BJGE or a 4th OT. We just don't know yet.

IMHO, the last two roster spots are still to be decided with the following players not in the first 51: Crable, Lenon, Alexander, Slater, Ninkovitch,Ventrone, Nunn, Tank Williams, and players from other teams.

signbabybrady

other than injury concerns is there any valid reason why you wouldn't want him back? he is nasty especially at pulling and geting up field in th screen game.

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jmt57

I agree with Mayo's predictions. Respectfully, I disagree the premise that these are all set in stone and think it is rather presumptuous to assume so many of these roster decisions. Lawyer Milloy, Chad Jackson, Reche Caldwell, Bam Childress, Garrett Mills, and a few other former Pats cuts say hello and would surely beg to differ - especially without our benefit of 20-20 hindsight.