supafly

I have no problem trying to improve via free agency, if the contract and player are both right. As a matter of fact, I am a firm believer that R.Marshall would have made an excellent addition, and maybe even R.Wayne/Llyod too--for the next 2 yrs or so. And I am using 'realistic' options at positions that need depth and competition, not players like fantastical options such as V.Jax or Mario Williams.

BUT...were either one (Marshall or Wayne/Llyod) necessary? No. At least Belichick doesn't seem to think so at this point in time. And to be honest, the more I think about it, I don't either. There's a ton of ways to solve a problem sometimes, not just the ONE way that the fans and media thinks.

We may need a tweak here, and a tweak there, but adding players for larger or even middle-tiered contracts have not usually been a staple of this team. They always look to the draft, UDFA's, cut players, and practice squad signings; hell, they re-built an entire team on both sides of the ball (OL, RB, TE, LB, CB) in the past 2-3 yrs in this exact way + and there's still the option of trades which we saw with both the likes of Moss and Welker.

I think the pattern proves that they know who they want, and if that player is there they tend to go after him. Of course, the money has to be right too, b/c we're dealing with a roster full of Brady, Welker (I believe his situation is a bit more important one way or another, and that may be holding some things up too), Mayo, Wilfork, Mankins, etc. We have Chung coming up, Spikes, Vollmer...then Gronk and Hernandez. These are lots of players that are going to be taking up a big chunk of money. It's certainly more than possible that BB likes what he sees in the rebuilding phase, and he wants to keep most or all of these players here.

I believe there will be an improvement of stretching the field, and making more plays outside the numbers next yr; but it very well may not be the manner that we want or thought it'd be. The same goes for the secondary.

The draft will add some important pieces, and those players will be cheap and here for awhile.

Any other positions (WR, S, and DL) that need immediate attn after the draft and some low level FA signings, we will have to make due with. That's probably just the way it is. I don't believe that BB is either cheap or stupid, so all sides of the equation should be looked at.

The team still has to try and figure out what to do with BJGE, Connelly, Ihedigbo, Branch etc too---not to mention Welker, so I'm thinking that they are plenty busy trying to keep the good and properly built team from the last 2 yrs together (that went 14-2 and 13-3), while also attempting to patch up some quick fixes.

Let the other fanbases bask in the March glory of FA, we tend to bask in things come December--like winning the division, improving seeding and HFA, and winning conference championships and SB's.

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Patiently waiting to defend the next "bubble" player in this summer's training camp.....

IllegalContact

LOL.......vereen, dowling, Cunningham, brace, butler, Wheatley..... The pats should have avoided the risk and given those draft picks away

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“ I think good coaches will coach with the personnel they have, and if you only have one (good) linebacker, you’re not going to play a 3–4. ”
—Hank Bullough, who installed one of the first 3–4 defenses with the New England Patriots.

Deus Irae

Again, I'm not spinning. You're the one trying to do that. Welker was a trade, not a free agent signing. Even crediting him in your list, however, it would still be 3 years out of 5 without any impact choices, despite the high number of these 'bargain' free agents that the Patriots sign.

There have been may big time free agents who've worked out, actually, and the fact that you only go "probably" for Peppers should be enough to tell you that you're being ridiculous in holding your position. And one easy example that you ignored is Primetime.

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"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane."
- Marcus Aurelius

Fencer

What in my original post even faintly suggests that that's a relevant distinction??????

(Hint: Nothing.)

You owe me an apology, but of course I will not hold my breath for it.

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"To lose one parent may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness." -- Oscar Wilde

Fencer

Three Pro Bowlers in 5 years. How much more in the way of impact players do you think the Pats should have picked up in the FA market, where "impact" is a sufficiently strict criterion so as to exclude Anderson, Ninkovich, et al.?

(Yes, Welker came from the FA market, even if the receipt for his purchase wasn't written up in exactly the usual FA style.)

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"To lose one parent may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness." -- Oscar Wilde

DaBruinz

Other free agent signings that have been an "impact".

Rob Ninkovich
BenJarvus Green-Ellis
Dan Connolly
Ryan Wendell
Kyle Arrington
Sammy Morris
Tully Banta-Cain
Gerard Warren

Now, none of these players are "PRO-BOWLERS" but anyone who thinks that this team would have been as good as it was without the likes of Kyle Arrington or Rob Ninkovich is smoking some cheap stuff.

patfanken

Another asinine post by someone who tries desperately to prove to everyone that he could do a better job running the Patriots than Bill Bellichick. Anyone who dismisses players like Vereen, Dowling, Cunningham, and even Brace, all of whom have been injured is an idiot. (and I say that in the most respectful manner.)

By those same perimeters, IL would have dismissed the the likes of Rivers, Rodgers, Brees, Manning (both of them), and that's just the QBs. He also would have *****canned Connor Barwin, Wes Welker, Mike Vrabel, James Harrison or any of the hundreds of very good to great NFL players in the league who had the temerity NOT to enter the league and make an immediate impact, or were injured and recovered.

Just STOP it, IL, you can do so much better.

patfanken

This is one of the most idiotic post this board has even seen. There is NO way that you have watched the Pats for any length of time the last 12 years and could make that statement. Past ridiculous. I'm embarrassed I even commented on it.

IllegalContact

LOL.....the pattern has been simple and clear.......if they don't start out contributing for the pats, you can count on them to not contribute down the road.

in case you don't have a clue about QB's they take alot more time than any other position. as for Barwin, he had a solid rookie season....he sure as hell did alot more than brace (who by the way is mostly a healthy scratch, but if you're still holding out hope for him, then you're the idiot)

LMFAO at your anger

__________________
“ I think good coaches will coach with the personnel they have, and if you only have one (good) linebacker, you’re not going to play a 3–4. ”
—Hank Bullough, who installed one of the first 3–4 defenses with the New England Patriots.

IllegalContact

but you do a fantastic job of 'out-idioting' anyone

__________________
“ I think good coaches will coach with the personnel they have, and if you only have one (good) linebacker, you’re not going to play a 3–4. ”
—Hank Bullough, who installed one of the first 3–4 defenses with the New England Patriots.