dryheat44

I, for one, am tired with qualifying all of the teams needs post with "pending free agency signings" or something similar. You know what? Let's just include free agency signings as well. In other words, construct your ideal Patriots roster for 2009, including FA signings and draftees. Be realistic...we're not going to sign every marquee FA in the league. I'll delineate a few scenarios -- Franchise tags have been given to Nnamdi Asomugha, TJ Houshmanzadeh, Karlos Dansby, Terrell Suggs, & Channing Crowder. You can have them, but it'll cost you two #1s. We'll assume their teams won't match. In addition, Brian Dawkins, Albert Haynesworth, and Julius Peppers sign extensions with their current teams, so they're off the market entirely. Lastly, Brady shows up at TC 100% healthy, taking most of the practice reps and running sprints with everybody else.

Some links that may help: Miguel's UNOFFICIAL 2009 Patriots Salary Cap Information Page
KFFL - 2009 NFL Free Agents

The KFFL site is a good index for free agents, but isn't 100% complete.

Now to go kill an hour!

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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

Box_O_Rocks

Are we building a 53 man roster or an 80 man roster?

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dryheat44

Wow...aren't you ambitious? I was thinking 53, but don't let me stop you if you want to include the TC competition.

__________________
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

Box_O_Rocks

I just find it difficult to even think about the 53 at this point in the process.

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bakes781

Just because a FA to be has been slapped with a franchise tag doesn't automatically mean he'll cost another team 2 first rounders. We already know the Pats have indicated their intentions of tagging Matt Cassel & we all know that we're not going to get 2 first rounders. Obviously the idea behind it is to give them time to negotiate a sign & trade. Now yes those players would likely cost at least a 1st, so a trade for one of them is not likely going to happen with the Patriots.

With that said I would like to see the Patriots go after the other Ravens UFA LB, Bart Scott.

It's still a little early for me to think even semi-intelligently about the upcoming NFL draft.

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dryheat44

Incidently both Monty Beisel and Duane Starks are unrestricted free agents. Just so you know.


Edit** The salary cap is killing me!

__________________
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

ctpatsfan77

This Bart Scott?

Do not want.

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"Momentum was quickly snatched away by New England, who once again proved that any Patriot, at any moment, can make a play." —Inside the NFL, Packers v. Patriots

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cstjohn17

Damn this is tough, once the franchise tag is applied to Cassel there is very slim pickings via free agency (less than $5M). There could be some real surprise cuts / trades (Vrabel retires, Faulk gets cut or Seymour is traded).

For those who think the Patriots should get younger, this is the year. With the cap restrictions they are going to need a monster draft.

The theme for the 2009 offseason will be "Prepare to be underwhelmed". No block buster signings, the core of the team remains and they should be in the upper class of the league.

Here is my first crack....

QB Brady, Gutierrez, O'Connell,
LWR Aiken, Slater,
RWR Moss, Washington,
SWR Welker,
LT Light, LeVoir,
LG Mankins, Yates,
C Koppen, Mack,
RG Neal,
RT Kaczur, Boone, O'Callaghan,
TE Watson, Thomas, Pascoe,
FB Branson,
RB Morris, Faulk, Maroney,

Defense
RDE Seymour, Green,
DT Wilfork, Suh,
LDE Warren, Smith,
ROLB Thomas, Cushing, Redd,
RILB Guyton, Bruschi,
LILB Mayo, Appleby,
LOLB Vrabel, Woods, Crable,
LCB Wilhite, Wheatley,
SS Sanders, Harrison, Ventrone,
FS Meriweather, Johnson, Spann,
RCB Hobbs, Mickens,

Special Teams
P Morstead,
K Gostkowski,
LS Paxton,

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Draft rankings are based on expert lists and my gut feel

Draft
1 Cushing, OLB, USC
2 Suh, DT/DE, Nebraska
2 Mickens, CB, Cincinnati
2 Mack, C/G, Cal
3 Johnson, FS, Alabama
3 Boone, OT, Ohio State
4 Appleby, ILB, Virginia
5 Pascoe, TE, Fresno State
6 Morstead, P, SMU
7 Branson, FB, Central Arkansas

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Veteran FAs ($ expressed in millions)
Cassel $14.00 Franchise, then traded for two #2s (2009, 2010)
Sanders $1.10 3 years $3.3 M
Paxton $0.80 veteran min
Harrison $1.00

Box_O_Rocks

Best announcing team I heard that season and I second your vote, Scott can go to Dallas, they need a peace maker like that for their team.

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mcsully

I'm not a cap guru and my numbers might be way off but I'm going to take a crack at this

1. Franchise Cassel - Yes you tie up a large amount of money in the QB position but the ability to pluck one or two draft picks from someone is tempting. I would specifically contact Detriot, Tampa, Chicago and the Vikings, probably around the Senior Bowl and advise them of Cassels availabilty.. (these seem like the likely targets)

2. Advise all said teams that by Feb 5th you best have your deal in place cause Cassel will be shippd out on the 6th.. Of course this revolves around his agent getting a deal done with his new team but I would trade his rights by no later than feb 6. I say this because Free Agency has just started and we'll free up the money.
Regarding the payment for Cassel, I think they can obtain
a. 2009 1st round pick between 18-23 picks (see said teams)
b. grab 3rd or 4th pick that moves up to 2nd or 3rd based on playing time
c. stay away from top 5 picks, to much money

*** the dates can be played with but you get my drift.. Set a deadline on the best offer ***



3. Speak to Wilfork and explain once the Cassel situation is resolved, his contract will be extended. I'd give him Warren type money.

3. Now this is iffy cause I'm not sure how this works but my understanding is as follows. Extending Richard Seymour would save us on the cap now, knock down the 9 million dollar cap figure.. Of course I might be wrong on this but that # needs to come down

4. Basing the players DRYheat44 Franchised or signed up, I'd stay away from each one. I'm a draft pick whore and wouln't give them up for any of those players

5. I'd sign James sanders to a friendly home discount. If he was offered more money else where, I'd let him walk.. to me he's jsut another JAG and would be my 3rd Safety

6. I'd go hard for Sean Jones. 6-1, 210 pounds.. He can play near the line and play deep and makeup space.. He's avg's about 5 int's the past few years.. He's a solid tackler and seems to understand the game.

7. Regarding the draft, I'm not sure how or what to pick.. But I've left the team with 8 picks in the first 4 rounds.. I would lean more towards defense (CB, LB and DL) but take a shot at RB and OL

8. Oh yea, cut D O'neal.. Can't stand him..

9. Draft a punter to compete with Hanson..