Would getting Peppers be a bad sign?

[mayoclinic]

With the Julius Peppers trade rumors swirling again, I'm a little concerned right now that trading for Peppers might be a bad overall sign of the future for the Pats, based on 2 things:

1. Age. With the Taylor, Galloway and Springs signings, it seems like there is more of a short-term focus than in years past. Is BB reving up for a 2-3 year run as his last hurrah? In that case, it would make sense to go for the 29 year old Peppers rather than a younger but potentially longer-term OLB solution through the draft.

2. Salary cap. While the FO has done an amazing job of filling holes in FA so far, I can't help but wonder how they are making it all fit under the cap. Squeezing Peppers in would be a major feat. Floyd Reese was the guy who dealt with all those Tennessee contracts which ended up putting them in major cap trouble in 2006. Are we potentially setting ourselves up for long-term salary cap hell? Again, if BB is looking at the next 2-3 years as his swan song then it would make sense to do this kind of move; we could always franchise Wilfork and possibly Seymour or Mankins (in an uncapped year) to keep the core together. But if we are looking at keeping at a SB contender level for the next 5-10 years, would we be selling out the future to pay for someone like Peppers?

I hope I'm being paranoid about this.

 

[Sean Pa Patriot]

Well in this leauge it has to be short term..

1 the labor situation
2 Brady last year proved that every year counts
3 Its a win now leauge now..
4 Belichick and Brady have about 5 more years together..


So if its short term, or long term, 2009 is here and that is what we should be focused on.

 

[KDPPatsfan85]

So if its short term, or long term, 2009 is here and that is what we should be focused on.

Exactly one year at a time and one game at a time!! I dont think its a bad sign its a good sign in my view!!

 

[eom]

Well in this leauge it has to be short term..

1 the labor situation
2 Brady last year proved that every year counts
3 Its a win now leauge now..
4 Belichick and Brady have about 5 more years together..


So if its short term, or long term, 2009 is here and that is what we should be focused on.

agreed.
you obviously want to plan longer term, and don't want to set yourself up for failure, but for what it's worth I've been hearing about how the pats are headed for salary cap hell the last several years, and they've probably just kicked more ass than anybody in fa just now.

don't worry about it.
the big money old timers will move on one by one and will be replaced by cool new players, as is always the case in sports.
eveybody on the roster doesn't have to be 22, nor should they be.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

bring in peppers. how many years does brady really have left anyways?

 

[BelichickFan]

I hate to sound like a short sighted fanboy but we have gone 4 years now without winning a SB and I'll be damned if Brady wins 3 in his first 4 years then never wins another. We have a 31 year old HoF QB - I want another SB win NOW; sorry, but the future be damned.

 

[DefenseRules]

I hate to sound like a short sighted fanboy but we have gone 4 years now without winning a SB and I'll be damned if Brady wins 3 in his first 4 years then never wins another. We have a 31 year old HoF QB - I want another SB win NOW; sorry, but the future be damned.

WELL SAID! I care about 2009, I'll worry about 2010 when it gets here.
I WANT ANOTHER SUPER BOWL CHAMPIONSHIP.

 

[Rob0729]

With the Julius Peppers trade rumors swirling again, I'm a little concerned right now that trading for Peppers might be a bad overall sign of the future for the Pats, based on 2 things:

1. Age. With the Taylor, Galloway and Springs signings, it seems like there is more of a short-term focus than in years past. Is BB reving up for a 2-3 year run as his last hurrah? In that case, it would make sense to go for the 29 year old Peppers rather than a younger but potentially longer-term OLB solution through the draft.

2. Salary cap. While the FO has done an amazing job of filling holes in FA so far, I can't help but wonder how they are making it all fit under the cap. Squeezing Peppers in would be a major feat. Floyd Reese was the guy who dealt with all those Tennessee contracts which ended up putting them in major cap trouble in 2006. Are we potentially setting ourselves up for long-term salary cap hell? Again, if BB is looking at the next 2-3 years as his swan song then it would make sense to do this kind of move; we could always franchise Wilfork and possibly Seymour or Mankins (in an uncapped year) to keep the core together. But if we are looking at keeping at a SB contender level for the next 5-10 years, would we be selling out the future to pay for someone like Peppers?

I hope I'm being paranoid about this.

1.) Look at the age of the 2001 team or even the 2003 and 2004 teams. They had a lot of older players. Belichick just likes seasoned veterans over younger guys for the most part. He always has a lot of older veteran leaders and tries to add some draft picks to develop. This is the same argument people were saying two years ago when the Pats added Sammy Morris, Junior Seau, Donte Stallworth for one year, Randy Moss for one year, etc.

2.) The Pats are relatively fine capwise. The are projected to have over $67 million next year capwise. That is if they have a cap. The Pats will have three players who will need big deals next year (Wilfork, Seymour, and Mankins) and Seymour isn't a given and one can be franchised. All the other players are either replacable or old enough that they will get short term value deals or retire all together.

Weren't you the same person who was concerned that Pioli left because the Pats would have to completely build next year? Now you are worried that they are only going to be good for the next 2-3 years.

 

[ClevTrev]

But if we are looking at keeping at a SB contender level for the next 5-10 years, would we be selling out the future to pay for someone like Peppers?

I hope I'm being paranoid about this.

You are.

The next 5-10 years? Contender? Let's get back into the moment. Peppers is no guarantee, neither is the Superbowl. Contender means that you are one of two or more. That's settling, and it's not in the cards for 2009. It's hard to win the Superbowl. When you have the opportunity, . . . . . . . . . . .

 

[Patriot Missile]

I'm onboard with Peppers if that is the direction the team wants to go. I'm a little concerned, but I have to agree with Belichick fan. Brady and BB have maybe 5 years left and then it's over. I would like us to cement our legacy as the best team from 2001 to 2010. I think we already have by winning 3 of 4 SB's but for some strange reason Pittsburgh fans and some mediots seem to think 2 is greater than 3.

 

[Rob0729]

I'm onboard with Peppers if that is the direction the team wants to go. I'm a little concerned, but I have to agree with Belichick fan. Brady and BB have maybe 5 years left and then it's over. I would like us to cement our legacy as the best team from 2001 to 2010. I think we already have by winning 3 of 4 SB's but for some strange reason Pittsburgh fans and some mediots seem to think 2 is greater than 3.

Brady may only have 5-7 years left, but don't count out him going until his late 30s. Belichick, on the other hand, could be here for another decade. The guy is still relatively young (56) and may stay here in some capacity until he is in his 70s. He may decide at some point to take a front office job rather than coach, but he seems to have football in his blood.

 

[JMarr]

Things have changed. It's been four [ultimately] very disappointing seasons now since we established a dynasty, BB probably doesn't want to be coaching the Pats when he's 60, and the window with Brady will be closing sooner rather than later.

If you're BB, potentially finding yourself "in salary cap hell" in 2011 wouldn't be so bad if you were wearing two more rings.

 

[Lansdowne]

The Pats getting Peppers would be a really bad sign.

For the rest of the league.

 

[Patjew]

It would be about as bad a sign as banging a supermodel and winning the lottery.

 

[Patriot Missile]

Brady may only have 5-7 years left, but don't count out him going until his late 30s. Belichick, on the other hand, could be here for another decade. The guy is still relatively young (56) and may stay here in some capacity until he is in his 70s. He may decide at some point to take a front office job rather than coach, but he seems to have football in his blood.

I agree. I don't think there is a Patriot fans naive enough not to realize he could walk away from football after the end of the season. He's that smart and that rich. His wife makes his salary look like a handful of peanuts. I had wondered if he had went undefeated would he of walked away from football that day?

 

[eom]

the funny thing is yesterday I didn't even care one way or the other about peppers.

now, if this actually happens I will pee myself.
that's not a prediction -- it's a promise.

 

[KDPPatsfan85]

I agree. I don't think there is a Patriot fans naive enough not to realize he could walk away from football after the end of the season. He's that smart and that rich. His wife makes his salary look like a handful of peanuts. I had wondered if he had went undefeated would he of walked away from football that day?

Brady has that competitive edge. I think he will play for about 5-7 more years!!

 

[Joker]

It would be about as bad a sign as banging a supermodel and winning the lottery.

two things, coincidentally, that I have NEVER done...and in all probability...WILL never do...

 

[alvinnf]

We need a stud safety not a stud 4/3 end. If your gonna make an arguement about future money. I would rather spend the money on a game changing safety. We have'nt done squat without Rodney, and last year he was coming off 2 season ending injuries in a row, so that was'nt the Rodney of old. Peppers does nothing for me.. Although I can see him in the elephant role on third down, but anyway.

 

[MassPats38]

It would be about as bad a sign as banging a supermodel and winning the lottery.

Stated eloquently as always, Patjew.

Too old? Short term focus? Last year to many fans here the team was too old, with too many short-term contracts, and too many contract issues and now it is substantially changed personnel-wise with little dead money to bar current transactions.

This team since 2001 is a mix of veterans and rookies, all of whom tend to find a way to do their job and win. When veterans are outmatched by the young blood, they renegotiate and assume supporting roles or get the axe. The Pats enter into long term, high bonus deals with only a select few, which means the Pats could dump most of the team and not be in salary cap hell. How is this year any different for the doom and gloomers predicting the Pats will become the new Niners in cap management?

I join the crowd saying this year is the most important year, not the 5-year prospectus that applies to no NFL team in the salary cap era, so go for the gold now not later.