DaBruinz

Holyredeemer -
Really? For the Last two years the players they have been bringing in via Free Agency or Trade have been horrible? Guess you missed that Corey Dillon was traded for prior to the 2004 season. I guess you also like to throw the baby out with the bathwater and can't be bothered to look beyond a single year. Beisel was brought in as a project for the ILB position. Chad Scott played well for the Pats until going down to injury. Andre Davis was the Pats best kick returner by the end of last year.

How about Artrell Hawkins and Michael Stone? Hawkins shored up the secondary and Stone was the Pats best Special teams player after he arrived.

Oh, and how about JOSH MILLER, who the Pats signed prior to the 2004 season? Guess he was a total waste, right?

The Pats have done a pretty decent job at bringing in quality talent via trade and free agency. Did they strike out on some? Yes. But every team does that. Why do people insist on acting like the Pats have just missed the boat totally? Does it make you feel better or something?

DaBruinz

R_T -
Thank you for proving that what you'd REALLY like is for the Pats to sign a Marquis player who lives only on his name. That is Charles Woodson.

The fact is that you are WRONG about the Patriots. The signings of Harrison and Colvin did not take place RIGHT AWAY during free agency so your claims of them being pro-active are false at best.

Yes, the Pats have 17 million to spend. However, they also have Seymour, Branch, Koppen, Graham, and Samuel who are Free agents next year. The cap is only going up 7 million from this year to next. Do you honestly believe that the Pats can sign those 5 with only 7 million in cap space extra next year and with other player's cap numbers going up?

Stop and think for a minute. This free agency period isn't just about this year. Its also about next year as well when the Pats have 5 MAJOR free agents up for contract.

primetime

Charles Woodson is one of those Heisman winners that people just won't give up on, like Danny Awful or Rashan Salaam. The difference being shutdown corners are much harder to find then good running backs or decent quarterbacks, so he lives off a reputation he had during college and never lived up to in the pro's. Lucky guy.

kurtinelson

Brady is more than just the ketchup. He's the special sauce.

__________________
"Tonight a dynasty is born" - Ricky Proehl before the start of Super Bowl XXXVI


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R_T26

First off people are underating Woodson. When healthy he's better then anything we got. Last year people probably thought Starks was better value then Ken Lucas. If the Pats signed Woodson people would love the deal. Its funny how when the Pats sign Terrell or trade for Starks people get excited and think being in this system they will be productive, but Woodson has better talent and been more productive then both of them. And as for when the Pats got Harrison and Colvin, yes they were a week into free agency, but that team hadnt lost Law, McGinest, Givens. The Patriots need to improve upon last years roster in order to win a Super Bowl, now they are in the position where they have to make several moves just to get back to that level. I trust BB/Pioli but they are not perfect, and we cant expect every guy to be the next Vrabel. Think about the moves that worked:

Poole (2003 @ least)-but was put in a secondary with 2 all pros
Dillon-Proven Player
Harrison-Proven Player
Colvin-Proven Player
Washington-Proven Player
Traylor-Proven Player

And this year has taught me the salary cap is bogus and should not be feared.

1 week ago the Redskins were going to have to cut their whole team-now they are going to sign half the free agents on the market. No deal in the NFL will ruin your franchise, its ok to take chances once in a while. Like I said before when the Pats were adding Free agents, they were adding them to a solid core, now that core is dwindling. Patriot fans seem to think every good player is overated/overpriced because they know the Pats wont go after them, but if they signed these guys people will be excited. One of the most exciting times was after 2002 because you were confident they were going to be good. Its so early in FA, and I know im over reacting, but the Pats need to build a new core.

kurtinelson

Wow - using condiments as a metaphor for the perceived talent erosion of the New England Patriots...interesting. Your analysis is right up there with "the theory of value grouping" as far as I'm concerned.

__________________
"Tonight a dynasty is born" - Ricky Proehl before the start of Super Bowl XXXVI


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R_T26

I was going to use the shampoo analogy, but stuck with condements, thanks for the compliment.

DaBruinz

Charles Woodson is one of the most over-rated CBs in the league. Sorry.

Since you missed it, the Redskins, as of yesterday, were still over the salary cap. They have yet to sign anyone. So, for you to make your exaggerated statements shows you really lack in the concept of understanding the ramifications of the salary cap and free agency.

The Patriots still have a solid core. For you to sit there and act like the sky is falling in just because McGinest was cut and Givens is moving on really shows a lack of understanding regarding the whole game, never mind just free agency.

Yes, the Patriots need a new core. But, since you missed it, let me fill you in on who it is. The players who are the "core" of the team include Brady, Seymour, Wilfork, Warren, Wilson, Light, Branch, Koppen, Bruschi, Vrabel, Harrison. Players whom the Pats have added to strengthen that core include, Sanders, Kaczur, Mankins, and Ellis Hobbs, last year. Watson and G. Scott the year before. The core USED to Include McGinest, Law and Milloy. McGinest could still be part of that core, we won't know for a few days.

Do the Pats need someone behind McGinest? Yes, since I don't believe that TBC is that player.

Do I feel the Pats need another ILB? Yes. I think that Claridge will be a good player, but the Pats need someone to groom behind Bruschi unless they are completely sold on Beisel.

Where do the Pats have their biggest needs? WR, O-line depth, LB, Safety. There are players like Bart Scott, Tank Williams, Brian Finneran, and Kevin Mawae who could be very good solutions for those spots. But the DRAFT is where the Pats will get a majority of the depth to replace the core.

You seem to have a propensity to over-react and not look at the whole picture.

R_T26

DB I know you from the ESPN boards, though I think you know what your talking about, you sometimes sugarcoat everything for the Pats. If every one is overpriced or overated then who do you sign, seriously. As for thinking Claridge will be a good player, how do we know, none of us ever saw a UNLV football game, no one has ever seen him play. This team needs to IMPROVE from last year, not stay the same or digress. We pretty much know, barring a trade, that the Pats recieving corps will be worse, and unless willie is resigned, the lB corps will be worse.

DaBruinz

R_T -
Where have I said everyone is over-priced or over-rated? Do you enjoy putting words in other people's mouths as well as exaggerating beyond logic? Also, as for your sugar-coating comments, I'm a Pats fan. I am optimistic for them. But if you had been reading my posts on McGinest, you'd have seen that I said it was a bad move.

As for Claridge, I said I think he will be good. That means its my opinion. Why do I think he will be good? A few reasons. One is that he came out of a 3-4 defense in college. Two is that he was getting some very good reviews before he got hurt in camp last year.

As for the team IMPROVING, you are the king of stating the obvious, aren't you. That is the Patriots goal every year. To try and improve. As for your other garbage, no, we don't know that, barring a trade, the Pats receiving corps will be worse. Its the first day of free agency. If you followed the Patriots at all, you'd know that, under BB/Pioli, they rarely if ever sign players on the 1st day or even the 1st week.

Also, how do you know that the LB corps will be worse unless the Pats re-sign McGinest. Are you pre-cognizant or something? Can you see the future? I thought it was a bad move because Willie is still one of the best 3-4 OLB in the game. But the Pats actually had 3 damn good 3-4 OLBs in Colvin, Vrabel, and McGinest. So, maybe the Pats feel that they can be a more well-rounded team with the 6.8 million in funds they freed up from cutting McGinest. Also, neither of us knows whether Willie will be back. And we don't know how well his replacement will play. If its Manny Lawson, he could outplay McGinest tremendously. Neither of us knows.

R-T, I think you should rename yourself to Chicken Little, put on a chicken suit, and run around flapping your arms yelling, "The sky is falling. The SKY IS FALLING."