Channing Crowder...Good fit?

[TBonePatsFan]

Any thoughts on whether or not Channing Crowder would be a good fit for the Patriots? He is relatively young, called the defensive plays for the Dolphins this season, and is unhappy that he doesn't have a contract moving forward (see attached link).

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/sports/epaper/2008/12/31/1231crowder.html

I like the idea of him playing opposite Mayo, with Guyton rotating in where necessary.

We'll just have to keep him and Light away from each other

 

[Krugman]

Re: Channing Crowder ... Good fit?

Any reason the Finns wouldnt sign him? They arent in cap trouble are they?

 

[Kontradiction]

Re: Channing Crowder ... Good fit?

No thanks. He's a decent linebacker but he has the inexplicable ability to take games off. Some games he's awesome, other's he is a ghost. I'd rather wait until the draft to see if we can land Brandon Spikes.

 

[TBonePatsFan]

Re: Channing Crowder ... Good fit?

Any reason the Finns wouldnt sign him? They arent in cap trouble are they?

I can't think of any reason they wouldn't sign him but if he becomes a FA (which I believe he will) he's fair game.

 

[Gator Mike]

Re: Channing Crowder ... Good fit?

Wasn't BB interested in Crowder when he declared for the draft?

And if I recall, Belichick had a long conversation with Channing after the Pats played the Dolphins during his rookie season.

 

[BelichickFan]

Re: Channing Crowder ... Good fit?

Wasn't BB interested in Crowder when he declared for the draft?

He spent a lot of time with him pre draft. Whether that made him more or less interested, we don't know.

 

[cstjohn17]

Re: Channing Crowder ... Good fit?

I can't think of any reason they wouldn't sign him but if he becomes a FA (which I believe he will) he's fair game.

He will be a free agent, and a good player but honestly I don't think the Pats will be able to sign any free agents beyond veteran minimums. They are currently at $100 M, http://www.patscap.com/futureyears.html and this is before Cassell get franchised.

 

[BelichickFan]

Re: Channing Crowder ... Good fit?

He will be a free agent, and a good player but honestly I don't think the Pats will be able to sign any free agents beyond veteran minimums. They are currently at $100 M, http://www.patscap.com/futureyears.html and this is before Cassell get franchised.

That leaves them with $22M or so once Cassel is traded.

 

[TBonePatsFan]

Re: Channing Crowder ... Good fit?

That leaves them with $22M or so once Cassel is traded.

BF, can you guesstimate what kind of contract Crowder would be looking to sign? What's fair?

 

[BelichickFan]

Re: Channing Crowder ... Good fit?

BF, can you guesstimate what kind of contract Crowder would be looking to sign? What's fair?

I really can't - others are better at that kind of thing than me. I hate the money side of things, it's a bullsh!t. So I ignore contracts the best I can. All I know is we have gobs of $$$ once Cassel is gone and few FA of our own to re-sign this year. The only fly in the ointment is if we're able to re-sign some of our big names who become UFA after next year, that would eat into our money for this offseason; but for a good reason.

 

[cstjohn17]

Re: Channing Crowder ... Good fit?

That leaves them with $22M or so once Cassel is traded.

That is part of the problem, their hands are tied... they can't go hard after free agents until Cassell is traded, he likely won't be traded until just before the draft. By then all the top FAs are gone.

 

[BradfordPatsFan]

Re: Channing Crowder ... Good fit?

Put his locker next to Matt Light's.

 

[BelichickFan]

Re: Channing Crowder ... Good fit?

That is part of the problem, their hands are tied... they can't go hard after free agents until Cassell is traded, he likely won't be traded until just before the draft. By then all the top FAs are gone.

There's no reason we couldn't trade him very quickly. Belichick can be talking to teams now and give permission for Cassel's agent to also talk to them.

 

[cstjohn17]

Re: Channing Crowder ... Good fit?

There's no reason we couldn't trade him very quickly. Belichick can be talking to teams now and give permission for Cassel's agent to also talk to them.

Hope you are right, I like Crowder but think he will be pricey, rather look at a journeyman like Eric Barton from the Jets.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

Re: Channing Crowder ... Good fit?

There's no reason we couldn't trade him very quickly. Belichick can be talking to teams now and give permission for Cassel's agent to also talk to them.

I expect them to trade him quickly. Otherwise if they wait teams might not have the capspace to give cassel big money, granted they could backload the money but i'm sure he'll want a nice signing bonus.

as i said before, it will be interesting whether cassel will sign the tender

 

[BelichickFan]

Re: Channing Crowder ... Good fit?

Hope you are right, I like Crowder but think he will be pricey, rather look at a journeyman like Eric Barton from the Jets.

Crowder is alright, I really want CB Dunta Robinson, assuming (I can't spell his name) the Raider CB is franchised.

 

[slash83]

Re: Channing Crowder ... Good fit?

I expect them to trade him quickly. Otherwise if they wait teams might not have the capspace to give cassel big money, granted they could backload the money but i'm sure he'll want a nice signing bonus.

as i said before, it will be interesting whether cassel will sign the tender

2 questions-

1. if he signs it he can still be traded right?

2.if he signs and we are unable to find a trading partner we wont be able to remove the tag would we?

 

[BelichickFan]

Re: Channing Crowder ... Good fit?

2 questions-

1. if he signs it he can still be traded right?

2.if he signs and we are unable to find a trading partner we wont be able to remove the tag would we?

1 - Correct - in fact we CAN'T trade him until he signs because he's a UFA.

2 - That is also correct.

 

[slash83]

Re: Channing Crowder ... Good fit?

1 - Correct - in fact we CAN'T trade him until he signs because he's a UFA.

2 - That is also correct.

cool thanks, I wonder if they've talked to matt about what they plan on doing and seeing what he thinks, or if they even are going to talk to him before the pats make there move...

 

[BelichickFan]

Re: Channing Crowder ... Good fit?

cool thanks, I wonder if they've talked to matt about what they plan on doing and seeing what he thinks, or if they even are going to talk to him before the pats make there move...

My guess is they'll try for a win-win and allow his agent NOW to talk to other teams. It's in everyone's interest to get this done as quickly and as amicably as possible. Of course it may not end up working out that way but it's in their interests to try to make it so.