JackBauer

Well, I'd hope given the expenditure that Ridley and/or Vereen are ready for primetime. Woodhead as the third down guy, and then perhaps a FA or another draft pick to round off the roster.

Or maybe they'll promote Kettani! Unlikely, but it could happen, I guess.

fester

Why extend Light?

The Patriots right now don't need cap space, and they have three young (and 2 medium term cheap) tackles that they like. Vollmer if he stays healthy will get paid very nicely by April 2013, but Solder and Cannon will still be cheap for a couple more seasons.

If Light still wants to play AND beat out the younger/cheaper competition, then great, the Patriots have a very good starting left tackle for 2012 at a cap hit of $6.5 million dollars and a cash hit of $3.1 million dollars. That is a steal for a competent or better left tackle. And it gives the Patriots a good young group of tackles in 2013 at a very reasonable and flexible cap hit.

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Rob0729

If you extend Light and don't use all your cap money, it won't affect the cap at all in future years since the cap savings will be carried forward to 2013 and negate the cap hit for that year. If the Pats plan to be agressive in free agency, it gives them cap room they may need.

Say the Pats want to go after Mario Williams, Dashon Gholson, and Brandon Lloyd while franchising Welker (just a hypothetical); they will need a lot of cap space. Extending Light will give them more of a buffer. If they don't sign the players, it gives Light the money up front that will make him happy and it really doesn't negatively affect the Pats. It is a no lose situation.

stcjones

Ridley has had ball control issues. Started at LSU....continued this year. He will have to work on this in offseason. Otherwise, he has shown flashes of brilliance, and that he COULD be a huge offensive weapon. As for Vereen....I don't have high hopes for him. He seems injury prone and it appeared that he had trouble grasping the playbook. This upcoming season will be either make or break for him IMHO. I see them keeping BJGE if they can sign him right...If not there are some FA backs out there Jonathan Stewart from Carolina (4th year back out of oregon)...believe that is his name etc. Woodhead will definitely be back as Faulk retires. We have to bring in a TOP NOTCH VET WR this year. Ocho better be gone! Branch may come into training camp and they'll see what he has left.....Underoos should be cut.......They will need to draft a few WR and bring in at least one VET.

cstjohn17

It is these 3 starters that worry me the most, it will be difficult to rebuild the offensive line, the WR core and the Defensive Ends in a single offseason.