R_T26

I've been an optimist but I bring this up for conversation. Anyone afraid that even with 17 mill in cap space the Patriots will still only be signing other teams backups and hoping they can groom to starters. We may lose Willie, Adam, and Givens, and will have to concentrate on replacing them before we can even think of adding other players. When the season ended I heard the dissapointment in BB's voice and knew he would do everything to get back to the SB. But instead of adding to what we had, they may have to work harder just to get back to last years level. Someone tell me Im just nervous. I just dont want to see all the teams around us stacking their teams and the Pats do nothing.

Michigan Dave

I'm not really that nervous. I think our management realizes what the areas of concern are, and that we were thiiiiiiiis close to winning a third straight super bowl. While we may not snag any huge names, I think we'll come into next season with an improved team, and I feel good about where we'll be next year.

__________________

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Feep_FLA

I'm not nervous at all. By the time TC rolls around we'll all be intrigued with how the new FA's will look and gel into the team. Especially at WR. Can anyone spell Jurivicous? How about Moulds? We sure aren't gonna draft a WR that can contribute this year........ I'm not worried... In BB/SP I trust.

AndyJohnson

I think you answered your own question.
We have 17 mill in cap room, and we always spend our cap room.
Of course we are going to sign players.
What leads you to conclude we wont?

Will we be wining, dining and signing the high profile, best known players? NO
For a few reasons.
1) In the grand scheme of things BBs value system typically precludes that kind of guy. BB typically sees 2 players costing 3mill to be better than one a 5.5 and one at 500k.
2) The 'name' players are typically players who have been great players, but also are on or close to the downside of their career. The primary reason BB doesnt sign a lot of 'name' players is that to become a name you have probably already done your best work. Unlike most teams, BB sees this as fools gold.

IMO, BB will get more out this 17mill than any other team will, when all is said and done. But when everyone looks at FA signings, the Pats will not seem exciting. This time next year, the year after, etc, this Pats FA class will look miles better than it does this July. BB signs 'soon to be name players' rahter than name players on their way down.

mgteich

aj,

We always spend our cap room? How much cap room did we have to start 2005. How close was that amount to the $1M that we generally agree is needed for during the season replacments.

I agree with your other statements.

Fanfrom1960

Yes, Jurevicius.

Speaking of him, even though he has a great work ethic and sounds like a solid citizen when interviewed, he'll be 32 next Dec. 23. I'd be nervous about that.

BelichickFan

I'm not, if we don't get any new big names we will likely have re-signed the Branch's or Seymours. If those two are left unresigned then we'll spend the money on new guys. We'll spend it one way or the other.

mgcolby

If they sign him then they can draft a guy in the later rounds to groom over the next couple of years. Joe has a 2 or 3 solid seasons left in him. I would be thrilled with him, Moulds or Finneran.

__________________
Hey, Bill you're wasting Brady's prime years......oh wait....
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

shirtsleeve

The astounding Shirtsleeve is here for his amazing prognostication. Umm, prediction. Ummm, wild guess on this off seasnon's moves. The amazing Shirtsleeve has a perfect record thus far. Lets hope he gets this one right, for a change.....

*Willie re-signs, gets a raise, and the team saves a boat load from the cap.
*Givens is a memory.
*Adam re-signs for a tweaked up version of the deal he left on the table, after checking things out just to make himself feel better. When guys like the Tuna tell ya you're crazy to leave, ya gotta start to hear it.
*We probably lose Neal
*We go get that hidden jewel reciever in FA. Dont look for a name here.
*We sign Mawae. Koppen moves to guard.
*We trade out of the first round, and into the top of the second, pick a DL/LB tweener with our first pick and go on to have a 2003 like weekend. Expect an early S, and OL. Then comes an RB and WR.
*Flutie stays one more year.
We will adress our glaring needs in this way. Suddenly we will be solid at most of our weaknesses. Now what about TE?

TeamPats

I do not like Joe, for one his value has never been higher which is the recipe for someone the Patriots avoid. Plus while he may have matured over the years, being a PSUer I know of Joe's "work ethic" that made Paterno sit him out of the Orange Bowl eventhough he was our leading receiver. To this day Jurevicius still speak poorly of Paterno for doing so and will not own up to the fact that he was skipping practices and teem meetings.

__________________
In front of his team after a 28-10 loss to the Packers in 2002, Belichick said: "We have a lot of smart guys in this room, but on the football field we play like a bunch of f------- morons. If you are one of the players flinching at the harshness of these words, you might as well begin packing. There is no way you are going to last as a New England Patriot."