Do you think Pats were just going to cut Vrabel?

[tombonneau]

I was thinking about it, and that's about the only scenario where the value from the Pats POV makes sense. Given the cap hit, they could have been planning on cutting Vrable soon, but rather than do that, they threw him in the deal to KC so they didn't have to bother going after him in FA.

That way, from their POV, they pretty much got Cassel for #35.

 

[CheerforTom]

I do think this. Vrabel's drop off from 2007 to 2008 was astounding. At this point we'd be much better off in investing in a new edge rusher.

 

[maverick4]

It was a way to treat a valued guy with respect. Trade him, make him feel he was worth something, instead of just cutting him.

Belichick learned from his experience with cutting Milloy

 

[Ochmed Jones]

I do think this. Vrabel's drop off from 2007 to 2008 was astounding. At this point we'd be much better off in investing in a new edge rusher.

I think that is the case. I think Vrabel played with a damaged shoulder last year and "warrior"ed his way through it, but he was clearly on the decline.

I would love to see BB grab two OLB's in this draft and move Thomas back to SILB, which is where opposing offenses ran almost at will last year.

 

[PATS68]

My thinking is that they were going to cut him and he would have signed with Cleveland in a heart beat. He is from Ohio and loves Ohio. I don't think BB wanted to see Vrabel on rat boys team. If it helps get the deal done then I am all for it.

Vrable is at the end of the road.

 

[italian pat patriot]

honestly not

 

[matt1073]

With as much respect to Mike as possible cause I love the guy, maybe KC taking Mike in the deal was a huge favor. now KC has to pay him his bonus which is due any day now, he is 34 yrs old and will have to have shoulder surgery Mikes damaged goods. With a draft full of LBs Mike would have most likely been cut anyway

 

[mgteich]

I think that this is right. Many of us are still pi$$ed at the team's treatment of Milloy.

We might have traded him for a 5th or 6th in camp. I suspect that KC wanted a late pcik back from us and accepted Vrabel instead.

It was a way to treat a valued guy with respect. Trade him, make him feel he was worth something, instead of just cutting him.

Belichick learned from his experience with cutting Milloy

 

[reflexblue]

No i don't think they were going to cut him. I think he was 1. a salary dump and 2. Pioli wanted him for his leadership.

Two years ago when he had the 12 sacks we were scoring so many points the opposition had to throw and Vrable got to rush the passer more. last year we weren't scoring as many points plus he was injured so i think that was the main reason for his drop off. That and who else had to be accounted for Seymour?

 

[crowell33]

Based on the trade it appears Vrabel had ZERO value. Cassel was worth at least a 2nd by himself. That would mean Vrabel was not even worth a 7th round pick or one would have been included in the deal.

 

[VOODOOZF]

It seems logical that he was a cash dump and would have been dropped anyway.

 

[PatsCanDoIt]

I don't think it matters at this point. It's a done deal. We can go on and on about getting ripped off. We can talk about Vrabel's contract versus his expected production. I think we're better off discussing current and possible future Patriots players.

 

[Stu Pidassle]

While others think we should not have rushed into taking less in ths deal. I think this gives the team time to deal with FA's and trades leading up to the draft. In any event, I am not sure they had much choice. As mentioned earlier in this thread; Vrabel had a roster bonus that came due last week which was the reason for the timing of this deal.

Good luck to two players I will continue to be a fan of. The Pat's came out ok in the deal as well. We have some good will with KC and a lot of flexibility to build our roster.

Stu

 

[VJCPatriot]

Vrabel was a throw in. But he gets to save face because he was traded along with Cassel, not cut. KC will welcome having a 3-4 vet to transition to their new defensive scheme. I honestly thought/predicted that Vrabel would be a cap casualty before. I was initially surprised we got something in value for him in a trade but if you look at the trade as a whole, Cassel was easily worth the 2nd by himself. Anyways thanks for the memories Mike and good luck in KC!

 

[sieglo]

Ouch, bent over by KC.

 

[SeymourTrophies]

So...what were we expecting? Vrabel is a waste of roster space, and we weren't getting their number 3.

 

[MassPats38]

Vrabel has value despite his age and I do not see him getting cut if he stays. I agree with the theory Cassel, with the franchise tag, was more than KC was willing to assume for the pick NE wanted and the Chiefs are a very young team in need of a defensive veteran who can command on the field.

I honestly do not see what all those in favor of cutting Vrabel see. The drop off from 2007, other than raw statistics, was not as evident as all these experts seem to think it was. When opposing teams are always having to play from behind, more sacks are inevitable. 2008 presented a very different picture for the defense.

KC read NE's position and offered a palatable alternative to NE eating a QB franchise figure. Vrabel was the casualty. If Vrabel was of no value, he would not have been traded as Pioli knows his capabilities at this point and would not have added him to the roster. I would rate the LB value on NE prior to this trade as Mayo, Thomas, Vrabel, in that order. Who is a better OLB currently on the roster comprising the top 4 LBs on the team other than Mayo (if moved outside) and Thomas?

 

[Patriot_in_NY]

It was a way to treat a valued guy with respect. Trade him, make him feel he was worth something, instead of just cutting him.

Belichick learned from his experience with cutting Milloy

That too. But BB is a businesman too. He just dumped 4.4M in cap money for a guy he was gonna cut, or certainly not resign next year (i.e. get nothing for) to sweeten the pot enough to get a prime pick in this years draft, for a guy that people obviously were hesitant about (the market was pretty thin.

Think about big Willie to Cleveland. Great in the locker room, sh!tty on the field. This is win-win

Vrabel has value despite his age and I do not see him getting cut if he stays. I agree with the theory Cassel, with the franchise tag, was more than KC was willing to assume for the pick NE wanted and the Chiefs are a very young team in need of a defensive veteran who can command on the field.

I honestly do not see what all those in favor of cutting Vrabel see. The drop off from 2007, other than raw statistics, was not as evident as all these experts seem to think it was. When opposing teams are always having to play from behind, more sacks are inevitable. 2008 presented a very different picture for the defense.

KC read NE's position and offered a palatable alternative to NE eating a QB franchise figure. Vrabel was the casualty. If Vrabel was of no value, he would not have been traded as Pioli knows his capabilities at this point and would not have added him to the roster. I would rate the LB value on NE prior to this trade as Mayo, Thomas, Vrabel, in that order. Who is a better OLB currently on the roster comprising the top 4 LBs on the team other than Mayo (if moved outside) and Thomas?

He was traded for the LOCKER ROOM. I'm quite sure Pioli got that. As Crennel did before him.

 

[CMcCartney]

Felger on EEI this morning saying that his 'sources' tell him that Vrabel was, in fact, going to be cut. By trading him he gets to keep his roster bonus, etc.. It's the only thing that makes any sense in all of this..

 

[dhamz]

They were going to cut him and Pioli probably knew it before he left here. Pioli says that if they throw in Vrabel, Cassel for #34 is a done deal and Bill willingly accepts.

Piloi wants Vrabel for a year in his locker room to help change the culture. He couldn't get him if he got cut because Vrabel would not go to a rebuilding team. It wasn't a favor to anyone - not Vrabel who would probably rather be a UFA and not to Pioli. It was a very smart man using some inside knowledge and leverage to get a player he wanted the only way he could. He knew the Patriots woud be willing to throw in Vrabel to get #34 for Cassel so he made sure they did.