Did the Pats try to trade for DeMarcus Ware?

[mayoclinic]

It's all water under the bridge now, as the NFL trading deadline has passed. But Jerry Jones has publicly stated that the Cowboys turned down a blockbuster trade offer, and Mike Lombardi speculates that it could have been for no one other than DeMarcus Ware:

Tavern talk: Bad idea trading a pass rusher | National Football Post

It makes some sense. Ware has only 2 sacks so far this year, and is due for a hugeextension/franchise tag. The Cowboys look like they are a middle of the pack team this year, so I could seem them considering trading Ware and going into rebuilding mode, but ultimately rejecting it.

I wonder whether some of the Pats' roster moves might have been done with the long shot idea of possibly trading for Ware. Certain things make sense:

- Mike Reiss quoted BB before the deadline as saying that he would be "surprised" if the Pats made a trade. That doesn't mean the Pats weren't trying. I'm sure BB would have been pleasantly "surprised" if he had been able to get Ware.
- Some of the surprise cuts freed up almost $3M in cap space. Ware's salary for 2009 is around $2.2M. He will be due for a huge contract once his current deal is up, but his contract for 2009 is quite reasonable.

From the Pats' point of view, going after Ware makes much more sense than Merriman or Peppers:

1. Ware is proven at 3-4 OLB, unlike Peppers.
2. Ware is only 27.
3. Ware has a manageable cap hit for 2009, unlike Peppers.
4. Ware does not have the steroid or injury concerns that Merriman has. Merriman looks like a shadow of his former self at this point.
5. Ware does not bring the off field baggage of Merriman.

With 7 day 1 picks in the next 2 years, I could have seen the Pats offering quite a bit for Ware. Even though there is a lot of talent at the position coming out in 2010, getting a sure thing like Ware would have easily been worth it.

Thoughts?

 

[PatsChamp88]

Don't think so, this is what the trade was Source: Bengals wanted Bennett

 

[Rob0729]

Do you think that Jerry Jones would seriously entertain a trade for his best player who happens to be one of the best defensive players in the NFL? Just because he is off to a slower than usual start, do you really think the Cowboys would be quick to dump him?

 

[MoLewisrocks]

The surprise cuts didn't free up any cap space, either. And because after cutting them two of them were signed to longer term extensions on top of their existing dead cap, it actually ate up substantial cap space.

 

[satz]

You believe jerry jones is going to rebuilding mode after building the huge stadium and signing guys like the WR from lions last year and losing all the picks ?

 

[mayoclinic]

Do you think that Jerry Jones would seriously entertain a trade for his best player who happens to be one of the best defensive players in the NFL? Just because he is off to a slower than usual start, do you really think the Cowboys would be quick to dump him?

Entertain? Yes. Do it? No - he didn't. "Quick to dump him" - not at all. But Jerry Jones traded Herschel Walker, and if the offer were big enough I could see him considering (and ultimately rejecting) it.

I never said it was going to happen or was likely to happen. I'm just wondering whether the Pats even tried to pursue it. They have enough draft ammo to get Jones' attention, if we was even willing to consider the possibility.

 

[MVPatsfan13]

I liked the initial article by ESPN on it. I forget who the author was, but it kinda went like this:
Author gives basic info.
Jerry Jones says since it didnt happen he doesnt want to talk about it.
Jerry Jones then goes on for a few paragrapghs on the trade and how he doesnt want to discuss it with the media, in front of the media.

Funny stuff, I cant find the article now though

 

[mayoclinic]

Don't think so, this is what the trade was Source: Bengals wanted Bennett

I wouldn't have considered that much of a "blockbuster". Jones indicated that the Cowboys were offered at least one 1st day pick plus a current player, and possibly more.

Jerry Jones turned down 'significant offer' before deadline | National Football Post

That seems like an awful lot to pay for a backup TE who was a 2nd round pick.

 

[mayoclinic]

You believe jerry jones is going to rebuilding mode after building the huge stadium and signing guys like the WR from lions last year and losing all the picks ?

Jones has financial issues. NFP has discussed this, including the implications for resigning Ware and the possibility that Jones was considering a "youth movement".

Biggs: Is money tight for Cowboys' Jones? | National Football Post

Again, I'm just speculating. Obviously Jones rejected whatever offer there was. But it makes some sense that he might have at least considered it, and that the Pats had the ammo to make a (long shot, admittedly, and if it happened, ultimately unsuccessful) run at it.

 

[PatsChamp88]

I wouldn't have considered that much of a "blockbuster". Jones indicated that the Cowboys were offered at least one 1st day pick plus a current player, and possibly more.

Jerry Jones turned down 'significant offer' before deadline | National Football Post

That seems like an awful lot to pay for a backup TE who was a 2nd round pick.

NFP is missing a key quote this is from PFT Jerry Jones turned down "significant" offer | ProFootballTalk.com

"We had a significant offer for a key player that we turned down and turned down in getting in more extended dialogue for, " Jones said. "It was a very firm, significant offer for one of our young players."

Although DeMarcus is only 27 I don't think he would be considered a "young" guy, what do you think?

 

[mayoclinic]

NFP is missing a key quote this is from PFT Jerry Jones turned down "significant" offer | ProFootballTalk.com
Although DeMarcus is only 27 I don't think he would be considered a "young" guy, what do you think?

I don't think "young" would exclude Ware. He's still in his rookie contract, after all.

It's just speculation. But Lombardi suggests that Ware was the guy targeted, and Lombardi is fairly astute. Again, I have no idea whether it happened, but it doesn't seem impossible that the Pats made an offer. They might even have included a player (such as Derrick Burgess, or even Adalius Thomas if the cap hit/salaryissue could have been dealt with, though that seems unlikely), in addition to a #1 pick.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

I don't think "young" would exclude Ware. He's still in his rookie contract, after all.

It's just speculation. But Lombardi suggests that Ware was the guy targeted, and Lombardi is fairly astute. Again, I have no idea whether it happened, but it doesn't seem impossible that the Pats made an offer. They might even have included a player (such as Derrick Burgess, or even Adalius Thomas if the cap hit/salaryissue could have been dealt with, though that seems unlikely), in addition to a #1 pick.

Again, AD could not be included as his dead cap would have put us over the cap thereby negating any trade...

Let it go. It wasn't us unless the target was the young TE or the WR the Crypt Keeper claims we were frantically scrambling to locate. And Lombardi never suggested it was us. More likely than not it was just Jerry overstating what actually transpired (Bengals) trying to snag some trading deadline ink for America's team in dissaray. He snookers/distracts his fanbase that way routinely so somehow they never seem to target the man who creates the mess as the one who caused it. Instead they blame all the coaches and select players he acquires because he's certainly provided enough talent to win it all...

 

[Ochmed Jones]

Proven pass rushers are rare and truthfully Jones needs to concentrate on the QB position.

 

[Deus Irae]

The Patriots were able to steal Burgess from the Raiders for just 2 draft picks. That did such a great job at solving all the team's pass rushing woes that the team was able to trade its sack leader from last year away for a draft pick years down the road.

Burgess will have 20-25 sacks by the end of the regular season. Ware would just have been a redundant player and a backup.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

The Patriots were able to steal Burgess from the Raiders for just 2 draft picks. That did such a great job at solving all the team's pass rushing woes that the team was able to trade its sack leader from last year away for a draft pick years down the road.

Burgess will have 20-25 sacks by the end of the regular season. Ware would just have been a redundant player and a backup.

You're like a dog with a half rotted bone. Remind me a bit of myself when I stopped being a Sox fan after they opted for old bloody sock over Pedro, only I had the sense to walk away entirely including from posting about them going forward. Otherwise it becomes something other than a fans passtime, bordering on a perverse obcession with wanting to see them fail.

 

[SyN65]

No. It wasn't a big trade at all. It was for their TE Martellus Bennett.

If the Pats were gonna get anything from the Cowboys I'd expect them to get someone like Miles Austin since they need a 3rd WR.

 

[Deus Irae]

You're like a dog with a half rotted bone. Remind me a bit of myself when I stopped being a Sox fan after they opted for old bloody sock over Pedro, only I had the sense to walk away entirely including from posting about them going forward. Otherwise it becomes something other than a fans passtime, bordering on a perverse obcession with wanting to see them fail.

Actually, given that current reports suggest that the player being talked about wasn't Ware, it was just a fun jab at homers such as yourself. I'd have thought that the Koolaid jpeg would make that pretty clear. If you're so far gone in the tank for all things Belichick that you can't handle even something this innocuous (seriously, 20-25 sacks wasn't a clue?), perhaps you should re-evaluate your stance.