mgteich

There amy be still a couple of open issues, specifically at TE. However, we should recognize that we play football with 45 players.

The rest are emergency backups, inactives, developmental players, practice squad players and even shadow squad players. We all have our binkies. We all have our favorites. But in the end, how much does it matter who makes the final eight? Anyone in contention is fine with me. Others will be on the Practice Squad. From week to week it matters little whether a player is on the active squad or on the Practice Squad being paid active squad money.

I think that we would be ready to go on Game One with the following squad. The weakness (if any) is on Special Teams. That is to be expected since some of the final eight roster players will make their mark by playing special teams.

AUGUST 16 MGTEICH’s 45 MAN ROSTER

OFFENSE 21
QB - 2 Brady, Cassell
RB - 3 Maroney, Morris, Faulk
FB - 1 Evans
C - 2 Koppen, Hochstein
G - 2 Neal, Mankins
OT - 4 Light, Kaycur, O'Callaghan, Britt
WR - 4 Moss, Stallworth, Welker, Gaffney
TE - 3 Watson, Brady, Rivers

DEFENSE 21
DE - 3 Seymour, Warren, Green
DT - 2 Wilfork, Wright
DL 0
LB - 5 Vrabel, Colvin, Thomas, Bruschi, Seau
CB - 3 Hobbs, Gay, James
S - 4 Sanders, Wilson, Harrison, Meriweather
ST 4 Alexander, Woods, Izzo, Andrews

SPECIALISTS (3)
P - 1 Baugher
K - 1 Gostkowski
LS - 1 Paxton

patriot lifer

hypothetically, if asante comes back, knock off james? That is a fine lookin' 45.

TeamPats

Looks great to me, but Rivers over Mills? I suppose Mills really has not proven anything but I'd like to see what he can do, I think if Mills makes it if Thomas is PUP'ed

__________________
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."

Metaphors

I agree with the active 45 approach. I've seen roster speculation where guys like James and Gaffney were "ranked" as gameday inactives...which would never happen in real life.

Mostly agree with your assessments. Highlighted the points where I would go differently:

• Having 4 active tackles seems like a bit much considering I'm not sure how much any of them contribute to special teams (if Britt does, I may take this back). I would substitute Washington in for Britt since he could serve as a gunner with Andrews as well as being a viable receiver.
• I have no reason to feel this way, but I think BB really likes Mills. Though he would be a reasonable candidate for gameday inactive, if he can contribute on special teams as well as some h-back sets, I think he makes the 45.
• I can't imagine BB is screwing around with Miller like this if he really anticipates keeping him around for the regular season. If Baugher doesn't implode in the next couple of weeks and he can be a solid holder, I'm leaning towards him. EDIT: Guess if I read the other threads this wouldn't have been necessary.

Agree that I think this is a solid crew to send to battle. I would guess that Samuel will be back sooner rather than later, which would make for an interesting last cut (unfortunately injuries tend to make that point moot).

Ochmed Jones

Why would Samuel come back anytime sooner than after the final preseason game?????

BelichickFan

Because he needs a big season for the monster payday he's looking for. Every INT nets him more $$$ so he needs to be 100% physically, mentally and instinctively from Minute 1 and playing in no games since late January doesn't accomplish that even if he's in tip top shape.

mgteich

I edited for the Baugher update.

I cheated a bit on the roster. I do not really expect all the 45 that I have listed to be active. I do consider them to be our 45 key players. I do understand that a couple of special teamers will be active at the expense of a player or two on my list, specifically the 4th OT as noted in one of the posts in this thread.

And finally, Mills is the binky of many. I did mention at the top that this is the outstanding 45-man roster issue. I just don't see Mils as our 3rd TE. I probably will see the light when Rivers is cut tomorrow. That is the way I came to see the light with regard to the roster issue previously noted at the punter position.

Canada's #1 Pats Fan

Mills must certainly have a better grasp of the offense then Rivers.

mgteich

Are you sure? Who had more reps in Friday's game and why?

Rob0729

Still think Samuel will be back at CB. Unless Merriweather switches soon back to safety he will be a CB, most likely the slot/nickel CB. I think Mays may be on the roster as a special teamer since he did very well at it at the end of the year. I think Mills may stay over Rivers.

Otherwise, a pretty good list.