Why Peppers To Pats May Be Tough - NBC Sports Blogs
reference to our miguel
reference to our miguel
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CLICK HERE to Register for a free account and login for a smoother ad-free experience. It's easy, and only takes a few moments.We have a ton of picks. Lets draft wisely and surely, atleast, one or two will develop into future Peppers, while leaving enough room to pay everybody. Isnt that what the Patriot's, Bill's and Tom's philosophy is?
I think if it were as simple as just drafting a potentially elite pass rusher instead of bending contracts to fit under the cap, that would be the preferred alternative, by far, for any team. If the Patriots are truly seeking to acquire Peppers, it's likely because they seriously doubt their ability, even while drafting wisely, to grab someone who can fulfill the potential that the Patriots feel Peppers has in him to be a very effective defender in BB's defensive scheme.
I think if it were as simple as just drafting a potentially elite pass rusher instead of bending contracts to fit under the cap, that would be the preferred alternative, by far, for any team. If the Patriots are truly seeking to acquire Peppers, it's likely because they seriously doubt their ability, even while drafting wisely, to grab someone who can fulfill the potential that the Patriots feel Peppers has in him to be a very effective defender in BB's defensive scheme.
Patchick has documented in other threads that since 2005 teams are something like 0 for 12 trying to find the next DeMarcus Ware/Terrell Suggs/Shawne Merriman in the draft. Not particularly good odds. Some think that Connor Barwin has the best agility since Ware, but he's far from a sure thing. Recent history says that none of the potentially 3-4 OLB conversions will turn into an impact player, even if we were assured of getting one of the desired ones. Trading for Peppers would assure getting the player we want, and while he's not a sure thing either he is a proven impact player in the NFL. I suspect that BB would find a way to make use of his talents even if he does not turn out to be a Ware-like pure 3-4 OLB.
Plus, I just dont want him on our team. I have a feeling that his playing attitude and locker room culture just doesnt mesh with Patriots locker room.
We have a ton of picks. Lets draft wisely and surely, atleast, one or two will develop into future Peppers, while leaving enough room to pay everybody. Isnt that what the Patriot's, Bill's and Tom's philosophy is?
Patchick has documented in other threads that since 2005 teams are something like 0 for 12 trying to find the next DeMarcus Ware/Terrell Suggs/Shawne Merriman in the draft. Not particularly good odds. Some think that Connor Barwin has the best agility since Ware, but he's far from a sure thing. Recent history says that none of the potentially 3-4 OLB conversions will turn into an impact player, even if we were assured of getting one of the desired ones. Trading for Peppers would assure getting the player we want, and while he's not a sure thing either he is a proven impact player in the NFL. I suspect that BB would find a way to make use of his talents even if he does not turn out to be a Ware-like pure 3-4 OLB.
Vernon Gholston comes immediately to mind as someone who must top the list of crummy college DE with lots of hype -> 3-4 premier rushing OLB conversion attempts.
Difference being Peppers has shown actual ability in the NFL at DE, whereas Gholston has not.
If Peppers is willing to be somewhat "Moss-like" and agree to a cap-friendly contract in order to make things work, then Currans concerns #2 and #3 go away, and the major issue is making the contract fit under the cap. The biggest single hurdle at this point would be that under league rules, in order to trade for Peppers he would have to sign the franchise tender and the Pats would have to have $16.7M worth of cap space. I'm not sure how they would get around that, even if they would immediately sign him to a more cap-friendly long-term deal.
Difference being Peppers has shown actual ability in the NFL at DE, whereas Gholston has not.
I wasn't comparing Gholston to Peppers at all. I was suggesting that Gholston is the prime example of a guy who had lots of hype as a can't miss OLB pass rush monster who has ended up not having what it takes thus far.
MayoClinic was saying how much failure teams have had in trying to find guys who are even remotely capable of being a Ware or Merriman type player - and, since I really think that's a great point, added in Gholston as an example.
That's my point. BB has 8 years of game film and multiple head-to-head contests to evaluate Peppers and decide whether he thinks Peppers would be likely to succeed at 3-4 OLB. He probably has ideas on how to use him to maximize his chance of success, and how to get value from him even if he doesn't succeed as a "traditional" Pats 3-4 OLB. In contrast, it's much more of a crapshoot evaluating any rookie, and there's no guarantee that any particular prospect we covet will be available.
My feel on the situation is that Peppers would be unlikely to take a Moss like contract. Imagine if Peppers walked away from his guaranteed franchise tender to play on the cheap for the Patriots and then wound up either playing poorly or suffering some serious injuries. Moss in 2007 and Peppers in 09 are in different points in their career -- people thought Randy had lost a step and was an injury waiting to happen, Peppers just had 14.5 sacks and made another pro bowl, in addition to the whole franchise player tag.
I think many saw that Gholston was a miss...at least some.. I agree that Peppers is a lot better than ones out there, but look at age...and money and...whether he has the football instinct to make that change..I just do not see that all coming together...Messing up the pay structure?? Why do that when one can draft a player or players AND bring in a Taylor and NOT mess anything up at all?? SO you want Peppers...which do u wish to get rid of...WIlfork or Seymour???I wasn't comparing Gholston to Peppers at all. I was suggesting that Gholston is the prime example of a guy who had lots of hype as a can't miss OLB pass rush monster who has ended up not having what it takes thus far.
MayoClinic was saying how much failure teams have had in trying to find guys who are even remotely capable of being a Ware or Merriman type player - and, since I really think that's a great point, added in Gholston as an example.