dryheat44

I've been out of town, under a rock (or more accurately, on an ocean) for the better part of two weeks, so forgive me if this is posted somewhere I haven't gotten to yet...


Now, I'm the last guy to run around screaming the sky is falling, or to read much into rumors. The whole Willie thing hasn't really concerned me, just as the Givens and Adam things haven't concerned me. However, according to his words to Pasquarelli, it's hard to imagine that Belichick wants Willie in 2006. Not only was the discussion of renegotiation of his contract not discussed in 2005 (chalk up to uncertain CBA), but, in the man's words:

I'll never close the door [on going back to New England]. But since they cut me, they haven't called at all to see how we might be able to [construct] a contract to bring me back, and I don't see it happening. So it looks like they're moving ahead without me. And I'm moving forward, too.

BB hasn't even made an offer, or even discussed a future with the team when cutting him? What gives? For the entire write-up:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/column...len&id=2366533

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When it's third and 10, you can have the milk drinkers and I'll take the whiskey drinkers every time. -- R.I.P. Max McGee

BelichickFan

I don't think we have a clue whether Belichick is just letting McGinest go out and set his price on the market or whether it's time to move on.

The thing to consider is if Belichick wants to put Vrabel back outside and get a new ILB partner for Tedy, then he has Vrabel and Colvin because Colvin didn't really emerge last year until Vrabel moved inside and Colvin got more time. So it is possible that we're moving on with Vrabel and Colvin outside, Bruschi and Mr. X inside and letting McGinest go elsewhere. None of us really know.

richpats

Larry Izzo incident on the sidelines against Denver. The mistakes hurt, but that just twisted the knife for me as a fan. That was totally uncalled for and went against everything the Pats stand for as a football team. It's sad to think that could be our last memory of Willie, like Adam's missed FG or Troy's fumble.

scout

That game is a blurr for me, can you fill me in on the Izzo incident.

RayClay

Yeah, we don't like Willie anymore.

Ha ha ha. Great Oogly Moogly. Can We quit the silly season hype?

Pats are letting Willie find his level and then deciding if they keep him or let him make a lot of money elsewhere for his retirement.

They love Willie. Willie loves them. We love Willie. Willie loves us. Izzo loves Willie. Izzo blew his containment. They're human. It was a tough season.
They love pascatooli. Lennie loves them. Lennie needs readers. Willie needs publicity. Everyone loves everyone.

Please give it a rest.

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mgteich

Given the current situation what is happening makes sense.

Willie's contract had a $3.5M roster bonus, clearly anticipating that WIllie would be chacking out free agenct after CBA was signed. After all, the team and Willie could have agreed to a long-term deal last year. They didn't.

The CBA was signed. Would it have made sense for the pats to put a number out there knowing that Willie was going to check things out? I expect Willie to show his good offer to the pats and discuss whether the pats are interested pursuing him.

Would it be unreasonable for Willie to take a $4M a year contract to play for Crennell? Me, I'd sign him for that in a heartbeat.

BelichickFan

3 years / $9M is about the max I'd pay. Julian Peterson is said to want $5-6M per year, if I were going to pay $4M a year for McGinest I would shell out and extra 25-50% of that annually to get a guy who's much younger.

MoLewisrocks

I have no idea what BB is thinking but didn't Willie get off the a slow start again last season? Like he takes it easy in the first half and ramps it up in the second half? Maybe BB sees that as a sign he can't be Willie in a 16 game season. They do extensive review at the end of the season, and as with Milloy they pull no punches. Assumptions go out the window and are replaced by cold hard football analysis. They prefer to bail a year early rather than a year late. This is a draft deep at LB.

I do have some concern going forward but they center more on management style over substance. Simmering discontent (as Borges often threatens) isn't just bad PR from a fan standpoint. It can effect player attitudes inside as well as outside this locker room. And it seems silly (and perhaps is rooted in stubborness) to continue discounting something that requires just a small effort on their part. It's not even about stroking them as much as not alienating them needlessly in a very competitive market. Looking back to last off season even Brady had some issues with communication that led his camp to enlist Tom Curren as a public facilitator in his negotiations. Troy Brown didn't hear a word from them until he started giving interviews with his local WV media outlets. Ditto the Seymour camp until after they noticed he wasn't showing up. Why??? I just don't see what playing that version of extreme hardball gains them. And there is a (possibly unintentional) air of arrogance about it that would annoy me as an employee too.

I know players here are expected to check their egos at the door. But you have to retain some level of healthy ego to have the ability to succeed in this game.

bevster

I would like to know what happened as well.

RayClay

I believe Izzo didn't hold containment and they scored a touchdown. Inexcusable, but also the team was emotionally spent last year.

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