Fencer

The Patriots famously leave room on their roster for a variety of players who aren't all that expensive, but aren't minimum-contract guys anyway. Some fans criticize this, wanting more "impact players".

Well, the list of "impact players" acquired last off-season starts, in some order, with:

Carter (Pro Bowler, sackmeister)
Waters (Pro Bowler)
Anderson (sackmeister)

What was that again about the Pats needing to pay up more for impact players??

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

Ice_Ice_Brady

Yes, but you are ignoring the fan base section that wants to give the 30th best defensive player in football the most money in NFL history by outbidding another team dumb enough to do that.

Jangles

Don't forget the impact of the amazing Ocho, and the other sackmeister, Ellis.

Rob0729

And neither cost the Pats as much as Albert Haynesworth cost the Redskins or Adam Archuletta cost the Redskins or Javon Walker cost the Raiders or Jerry Porter cost the Jags or Jermia Trotter cost the Redskins or Antwaan Randal-El cost the Redskins (seeing a Redskin trend here?) or Duante Robinson cost the Falcons etc.

The good thing about lower free agents means that they come with less risk. The reward may not be as great, but the success rate isn't that far off.

If you are a fan of your football team making a big splash in free agency, become a Redskin fan. Be warned, their season ends in late April around draft time because Snyder trades away all of his picks and that is when the Free Agency Lombardi is handed out.

Reckedtrek

The Pats (as will any team) will hit on some, and miss on others. It's gamble, and it comes down to the team willing to take that risk. They took the risk with Adalius Thomas, to many fans' delight (including mine at the time). He started okay, but fizzled, and certainly wasn't worth what they paid him. Assuming Fanene is as good as advertised, from what I see online, he looks like a good addition.

BB seems to build with good football players (usually not stars) that are consistent in their ability and effort. Especially ones who will take to being coached up. The antithesis of The Redskins, among others.

__________________
Full Tilt, Full Time! Thanks Tedy!!


To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.



... I use heavy strings, tune low, play hard and floor it. Floor it, That's technical talk. ~ Stevie Ray Vaughan
.

AndyJohnson

If you thought Ellis was a sackmeister then your understanding of the game is skewing your ability to make an informed opinion.

Deus Irae

How many great "impact" players were picked up on the cheap for 2010?

__________________
"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

How many teams matched or beat the Pats' FA influx over the past 2 years combined?

1 year, 2 years, 5 years -- overall, the strategy has worked, even if both recent Super Bowl appearances did turn out to be losses.

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

TriplecHamp

the way most of these teams are spending these days, middle-class players are becoming pretty expensive. Would rather draft talent and pay to keep them in house than break the bank for a Mario Williams.

Deus Irae

No, sorry... you don't get to pull that nonsense when you're trying to make the argument for going after the cheap stuff instead of the good stuff.

How many "impact" players were brought (via the method you're pimping) in for 2010? How about 2008 and 2009? Hell, let's toss in 2007 to make it a full 5 year span.

__________________
"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