Key FA target?

[jsull87]

slightly unrelated but still related to the hey FA target discussion. If we tag n trade cassel. does that tag count against us if we trade him before the season? 2nd if we tag asap then trade asap will we have the same amount of cap room as we would if we just let cassel go?

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

slightly unrelated but still related to the hey FA target discussion. If we tag n trade cassel. does that tag count against us if we trade him before the season? 2nd if we tag asap then trade asap will we have the same amount of cap room as we would if we just let cassel go?

The tag counts against the cap. Once the player is traded the tag is no longer a charge against the cap and the Pats will have that cap room for additional deals.

 

[ayjackson]

I think there could be a few teams that could switch. If Pioli ends up in Denver or Detriot, he might want to bring Romeo in. Cinci has pondered it in the past, I'm not sure if they switched this year or not, having not seen a single Bengal game this year.

If he has value as a DT in a 4-3 then that could present a further market for him.

In the end, I'm wafering on whether he'll be back or not, so yes, I will keep my poo poo to myself.

But as for Lechler, we're not punting next year!

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

I think there could be a few teams that could switch. If Pioli ends up in Denver or Detriot, he might want to bring Romeo in. Cinci has pondered it in the past, I'm not sure if they switched this year or not, having not seen a single Bengal game this year.

If he has value as a DT in a 4-3 then that could present a further market for him.

In the end, I'm wafering on whether he'll be back or not, so yes, I will keep my poo poo to myself.

But as for Lechler, we're not punting next year!

The trouble with teams looking to convert to a 3-4 is finding that NT. Mike Wright is a great "reserve" NT, he's not the guy you want carrying you an entire season.

Denver has a small D-line and Linebackers, they'd need 3-4 years to convert. Detroit was playing Tampa-2, so they would be on the same timeline. Miami was actually playing a hybrid, so then Parcells got there he just traded for Fergusen (sp?) with Dallas, that gave him a NT allowing Holliday to move put to DE, then they drafted Merling in round one - as close to an instant 3-4 D-line as you are going to get.

Wright would be a very good 4-3 NT, he can also play the 3-technique well as a penetrating DL. I was looking at ESPN's blog entry with the end of season team evaluations, Denver and Indy are two clubs who could be very interested in Mike. Jacksonville, KC, Washington, NO, Chicago, GB, Detroit, Seattle, and St. Louis all have D-line needs where a dependable guy like Wright would be welcome. Personally, I'd like to see him re-signed, but he'd need to take a hometown discount compared to what other teams could offer him.

 

[mgteich]

We call Wright a reserve because we have three probowl quality DL's playing ahead of him. There will likely be teams willing to pay starter money to Wright. I think the patriots might be willing, as they were with Green (and may be willing again with Green).

 

[DaBruinz]

We call Wilfork a reserve because we have three probowl quality DL's playing ahead of Wright. There will likely be teams willing to pay starter money to Wilfork. I think the patriots might be willing, as they were with Green (and may be willing again with Green).

MG - Who are you referring to in this post? You mention both Wright and Wilfork. Could you fix?

 

[mgteich]

done.......

MG - Who are you referring to in this post? You mention both Wright and Wilfork. Could you fix?

 

[Ochmed Jones]

We call Wright a reserve because we have three probowl quality DL's playing ahead of him. There will likely be teams willing to pay starter money to Wright. I think the patriots might be willing, as they were with Green (and may be willing again with Green).

Wright has had difficulty staying healthy, I'm sure the other 31 teams know this and they may hesitate to pay him starter type money.

However, Atlanta uses a lot of bodies in their DL rotation. I could see Dimitroff luring him to Atlanta with the prospect decent money AND a lot of PT.

 

[cstjohn17]

Vince Wilfork is my key free agent, other than that I expect the Pats to be minimal players in free agency.

 

[DaBruinz]

Vince Wilfork is my key free agent, other than that I expect the Pats to be minimal players in free agency.

How is Wilfork your key free agent when he's not a free agent?

 

[WhiZa]

Lechler would be a good signing. BB loves field position, but I dont think he's going to sign a punter coming off a pro bowl year to the money he rightfully deserves.

 

[goldenaleus]

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.

Funny, That was the 1st section for FA that I checked for and saw him there which I have no problem signing.

 

[patman52]

Oshiomogho Atogwe is the only guy I would target in FA from other teams, 6 forced fumbles, 5 interceptions, 8 interceptions the year before. 6/36 would probably bring him on board. To me safety is our greatest need.

If he cant be had, his teammate Ron Bartell is another guy i think would fit for the pats.

Both of these are young guys with 4 years of exp. Guys from bad teams with little pass rush so their stats are their own and not a result of teammates.

 

[DaBruinz]

Oshiomogho Atogwe is the only guy I would target in FA from other teams, 6 forced fumbles, 5 interceptions, 8 interceptions the year before. 6/36 would probably bring him on board. To me safety is our greatest need.

If he cant be had, his teammate Ron Bartell is another guy i think would fit for the pats.

Both of these are young guys with 4 years of exp. Guys from bad teams with little pass rush so their stats are their own and not a result of teammates.

Atogwe might get franchised... And since the Franchise tag for safeties is pretty convenient (probably in the 4.6-4.8 million range, Miguel could probably provide a more precise number) I don't see Atogwe going anywhere.

Bartell could be a guy the Pats look at since he supposedly excels in zone coverage... Something the Pats play a lot of.

 

[Seneschal2]

Oshiomogho Atogwe is the only guy I would target in FA from other teams

:agree: But DaBruinz is correct.

Too bad though, Atogwe was a pre-draft visit of the Pats. And considering his impressive NFL career production, I doubt the Pats are now disinterested.

 

[Warren94]

The only other guy would be Sean Jones. Reminds me of the late Sean Taylor from the Redskins. plays with intensity would help solidify our secondary.

 

[patchick]

The only other guy would be Sean Jones. Reminds me of the late Sean Taylor from the Redskins. plays with intensity would help solidify our secondary.

A significant FA at safety does seem likely, especially given the Pats' strong history of trying to patch every gaping hole in the lineup prior to the draft to give them more flexibility in draft selections.

But back to the original subject, punters: the highest-paid punter in the NFL makes less just $1.7 million/year on a long-term deal. Would you give $1.7 million of your salary cap to get your pick of any punter?

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

A significant FA at safety does seem likely, especially given the Pats' strong history of trying to patch every gaping hole in the lineup prior to the draft to give them more flexibility in draft selections.

But back to the original subject, punters: the highest-paid punter in the NFL makes less just $1.7 million/year on a long-term deal. Would you give $1.7 million of your salary cap to get your pick of any punter?

Nope, I'd draft Gano (FL State) or Huber (Cincy) day two and sign another UDFA for competition.

 

[Warren94]

Isn't Malone on our practice squad. The kid from USC? we've had some good success with qb's why not the punter.

 

[patchick]

Nope, I'd draft Gano (FL State) or Huber (Cincy) day two and sign another UDFA for competition.

Punters are a mystery to me. Not one punter drafted in the past 3 years ranked above 16th in the league in net average this year, and not one of the punters ranked #1 in the draft the past 3 years is still in the league. And BB, the master of field position and situational football, is constantly scraping around and re-signing Ken Walter over and over.

That said, a couple of this year's prospects seem to specialize in situational punting and downing the ball inside the 20. Perhaps the time has finally come for a rookie.