Key FA target?

[dryheat44]

Asomugha is great, but almost certainly tagged. Ditto Dansby. Ray Lewis and Bart Scott will be eligible.

There is one guy out there, however, who will probably do more to benefit this team than most other "sexy" additions, and I don't believe anybody's mentioned him.

Want a hint? He plays in the AFC West.

Want another? In Oakland.

Still stuck? Shane Lechler. We know that BB values the kicking game more than most coaches, and we know how highly he values field position. I think Hansen's done a good job, but I think Belichick would love to get his hands on a weapon of Lechler's caliber.

Just call Oakland our farm team.

 

[mgteich]

There are lots of players Belichick will like to get his hands on. Our key free agent target should be Mike Wright (New England Patriots) who will be a free agent on February 27th.

 

[dryheat44]

There are lots of players Belichick will like to get his hands on. Our key free agent target should be Mike Wright (New England Patriots) who will be a free agent on February 27th.

I can't imagine giving Wright a big raise he'll likely want as somebody who's probably made less money than many of us in his career. I like him, even back as UDFA, but he's eminently replaceable. He might be replaced by LeKevin Smith or Titus Adams, to say nothing of rookies or veteran free agents.

If he wants to take a below-market multi-year deal, then great. But I don't see it as any kind of priority.

 

[BradyManny]

Still stuck? Shane Lechler. We know that BB values the kicking game more than most coaches, and we know how highly he values field position. I think Hansen's done a good job, but I think Belichick would love to get his hands on a weapon of Lechler's caliber.

Good thinking, agree Hansen has been OK - but that's a sure upgrade, and anytime you can upgrade a position cost efficiently, it's worth looking into.

Not that we're going to be punting much at all next year once Brady's back anyway

 

[Patriot_in_NY]

Lechler is probably gonna come with a hefty price tag (for punters anyway). I can't see BB digging too deep into his pocket for that position. Kicker perhaps, not a punter.

 

[Canada's #1 Pats Fan]

I agree that BB places an emphasis on the kicking more than some coaches, but do you really feel that he is prepared to tie up some 'considerable' cap money into a kicker. He didn't with Vinateri and he is a kicker that sees the field more than a punter. Just a thought.

 

[tanked_as_usual]

wright is actually more important than jarvis green since wright has put a bunch of time in at each spot on the DL.......green's play has been very spotty, and I think his money is better spent elsewhere and replace him with a draft pick

 

[Ochmed Jones]

Asomugha is great, but almost certainly tagged. Ditto Dansby. Ray Lewis and Bart Scott will be eligible.

There is one guy out there, however, who will probably do more to benefit this team than most other "sexy" additions, and I don't believe anybody's mentioned him.

Want a hint? He plays in the AFC West.

Want another? In Oakland.

Still stuck? Shane Lechler. We know that BB values the kicking game more than most coaches, and we know how highly he values field position. I think Hansen's done a good job, but I think Belichick would love to get his hands on a weapon of Lechler's caliber.

Just call Oakland our farm team.

Can Lechler kick in the cold and/or wind? I admit I have not seen enough Oakland games to get a read on him, which is sad on my part since Oakland punts so much. Didn;t Lechler botch a punt against us this past season?

 

[Ochmed Jones]

Asomugha is great, but almost certainly tagged.

BB needs to do whatever it takes to pry Nnamdi out from under Al's thumb.

Plan of attack.

1.) Send Al Davis lots of flowers and candy, with posted notes that read, "I'm sorry! BB"

2.) Include with the flowers and candy tapes of the great Oakland teams of the 70's and early 80's.

3.) With the flowers, candy and tapes include a card that reads, "Al, your team could be great like your teams of old if you didn't have Nnamdi dragging down your defense. In return for Nnamdi, I will send you San Diego's second round draft pick and the next Mike Haynes off our roster, DB Spann."

4.) Before enacting step one of plan, pay the Davis caregiver a boat load of cash to swap out Al's regular meds with chicklits.

Success almost guaranteed.

 

[mgteich]

I understand that you think that Mike Wright is an expendable scrub. I agree that the market for him is higher than that. I agree that Wright will not take a below market deal. Why would anyone? You would replace him with Titus Adams (LeKevin already has a roster spot) and potentially go into 2010 with Warren, Adams and Warren as you defensive line.

Wright is as valuable as Jarvis Green and should command similar money. I would want to re-sign Wright and extend Green, instead of expecting to replace them with JAG's.

If the QB situation is solved before March 1st, I expect Wright to be signed to a Jarvis Green type contract in the first week of March. I also expect us to quickly re-sign Hochstein, Paxton, Evans, Gaffney and Lew Sanders. With these singings and the tenders to Woods and Britt and the ERFA's, we wold then be ready for the rest of the off-season.

I can't imagine giving Wright a big raise he'll likely want as somebody who's probably made less money than many of us in his career. I like him, even back as UDFA, but he's eminently replaceable. He might be replaced by LeKevin Smith or Titus Adams, to say nothing of rookies or veteran free agents.

If he wants to take a below-market multi-year deal, then great. But I don't see it as any kind of priority.

 

[DaBruinz]

I can't imagine giving Wright a big raise he'll likely want as somebody who's probably made less money than many of us in his career. I like him, even back as UDFA, but he's eminently replaceable. He might be replaced by LeKevin Smith or Titus Adams, to say nothing of rookies or veteran free agents.

If he wants to take a below-market multi-year deal, then great. But I don't see it as any kind of priority.

I can see the Patriots giving Mike Wright a contract similar to what Jarvis Green received when Green went to free agency.

 

[dryheat44]

I can see the Patriots giving Mike Wright a contract similar to what Jarvis Green received when Green went to free agency.

I don't think Green got to free agency, but maybe I'm wrong. I like Wright, I hope he sticks around. I just wouldn't call his a priority signing.

 

[ayjackson]

Let me poo poo on both of you.

1) BB is not going to pay millions of $ for Lechler because he has no plans of punting next year. Seriously, the only time we punt is when the rout is on.

2) BB knows that you're only as good as your 53rd man and likes to pay for that value. That said, I think there will be teams switching to 3-4 defences (or filling holes on their current 3-4) that will look to give Mike Wright big starter money and we won't be able to justify matching.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

I agree that BB places an emphasis on the kicking more than some coaches, but do you really feel that he is prepared to tie up some 'considerable' cap money into a kicker. He didn't with Vinateri and he is a kicker that sees the field more than a punter. Just a thought.

At the end, he actually was willing to give Vinatieri more $, but, thankfully for Gostkowski, Vinatieri signed with the Dolts.

 

[CGH TX PATS]

I believe that all three Lb's from Baltimore will be free agents. Scott, Lewis, and Suggs. I believe that any of them would be great additions to our defense due to the fact that Adalius filled in nicely! Thoughts???

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Lechler's leg is about to hit the wall. Just like recent MVP RBs who've been unable to keep up the pace, Lechler's 70 punts/game has taken it's toll. Forget him, draft Gano from Florida State or Huber from Cincinnati and stay with the youth movement.

 

[DaBruinz]

Let me poo poo on both of you.

1) BB is not going to pay millions of $ for Lechler because he has no plans of punting next year. Seriously, the only time we punt is when the rout is on.

2) BB knows that you're only as good as your 53rd man and likes to pay for that value. That said, I think there will be teams switching to 3-4 defences (or filling holes on their current 3-4) that will look to give Mike Wright big starter money and we won't be able to justify matching.

Which teams are going to be switching to 3-4 defenses? We know that there are 2 teams that will probably be switching back to the 4-3 (NYJ and CLE). In addition, the Ravens weren't really running a 3-4 as their defense. They were running a 4-3 to protect Ray Lewis. The Cowboys might also be switching from the 3-4 if Wade Phillips is fired.

Which team that runs a 3-4 defenses is going to be looking to give Mike Wright starter money? The following teams run a 3-4. Pats, Jets, Phins, Chargers, Ravens (though not really), Cards, Browns, Steelers, Cowboys. And we've already talked that as many as 4 of them could be running the 4-3 next season.

Please keep your poo poo top yourself.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Which team that runs a 3-4 defenses is going to be looking to give Mike Wright starter money?

I agree with this query, Wright's performance this season has highlighted the value he would add to a 4-3 team as either a 3-tech or NT.

 

[jsull87]

like we did with teddy. i think the raven don't let ray lewis go unless either party is stupid they will keep him at a lower salary if he wants more then he will move but i am pretty sure he will end his time as a raven. the talk has been that the ravens want to keep suggs by using a franchise. i dont know how true that is but i would rather see him on the market and potentially a patriot

 

[DaBruinz]

like we did with teddy. i think the raven don't let ray lewis go unless either party is stupid they will keep him at a lower salary if he wants more then he will move but i am pretty sure he will end his time as a raven. the talk has been that the ravens want to keep suggs by using a franchise. i dont know how true that is but i would rather see him on the market and potentially a patriot

I don't want Ray Lewis on this team, to be honest. I don't think his style of play fits with the Pats schemes.