The big decisions are for Belichick & Brady

[mgteich]

Let's be real. 10 years is a very long time in the nfl. Brady and Faulk are the only players left from the beginning. Bdelichick is emotionally beat up. Brady is physically beat up again. Moss might also be added to the decision mix, although I do expect him to want to play another five years.

As we look to the next five years, both have to decide if they want to be the core of the future.

I expect Faulk to play another year or two. He still has the fire and the body and mind seem to be cooperating.

 

[BelichickFan]

I'm not sure Belichick is emotionally beat up.

I don't think Brady has to decide if he wants to be the core of the future, if the Patriots offer a good contract he will. But the Patriots have to decide if they want to put $15M+ into a QB starting when he'll be 34 or so or whether they're better off trading him for good draft picks and starting over.

I didn't intend to turn this into a "trade Brady" thread but I think it's the Patriots who have the tough call on Brady, not the player with the tough choice.

 

[mgteich]

I stand corrected, I agree that the front office and Brady have decisions to make. BTW, the front office can decide that the best thing is to trade Brady and Brady might very well retire if that is his decision.

The Front Office needs to decide whether they want to spend $15M ayear for 5 year on Brady. Brady has to decide how much more he wants to play.

 

[Warren94]

33 next year. Four Year Deal. He also has taken less to build a team around.

 

[mgteich]

Brady was younger, healthier and poorer then.

33 next year. Four Year Deal. He also has taken less to build a team around.

 

[Ring 6]

I stand corrected, I agree that the front office and Brady have decisions to make. BTW, the front office can decide that the best thing is to trade Brady and Brady might very well retire if that is his decision.

The Front Office needs to decide whether they want to spend $15M ayear for 5 year on Brady. Brady has to decide how much more he wants to play.

What are you talking about?
It sounds like you are telling us that you think that Brady doesn't like to play football any more, and if he does the Patriots may not want to keep him around.
Where in the world is this coming from?
20 teams fail to make the playoffs every season.
8 are eliminated before the conf championship and all but 1 don't win a SB.
Why do you think that because Brady and the Patriots are not champions that they are career suicidal?

 

[upstater1]

I know there's a coaching thread discussing what to do about assistants, but has communication between assistants and coaches been discussed?

I'm sure Ivan Spears and Dante Scarnecchia are getting through to the players, but I also remember how much the defense absolutely loved Romeo Crennel as a man. They loved playing for the guy, and that was clearly not only because of his knowledge of defense (heck, Pees may surpass his knowledge for all I know) but also because of his ability to communicate with players.

One element of coaching that we don't much discuss is this form of communication. I'm not saying we need a Buddy Ryan type coach where the defense lifts him up on their shoulders, but you wonder how much leadership coaches can give to their players. Pepper Johnson maybe is one such buffer between the man who sits in the booth and the players on the field.

 

[mgteich]

I know that Brady has been playing for 10 years, and has been injured for the last two years. I don't know what he wants. I don't know whether Kraft wants to play $15M a year for Brady to be the leader of the future. I don't know hwo you know any diffeently. The reality is that we are coming up to Bady's contract year, and decisions will be made in this offseason.

If you wish, you can make believe that neither the front office nor Brady have decisions to make. And you could be right. The decisions could have already bveen made.

What are you talking about?
It sounds like you are telling us that you think that Brady doesn't like to play football any more, and if he does the Patriots may not want to keep him around.
Where in the world is this coming from?
20 teams fail to make the playoffs every season.
8 are eliminated before the conf championship and all but 1 don't win a SB.
Why do you think that because Brady and the Patriots are not champions that they are career suicidal?

 

[patsfan13]

I know that Brady has been playing for 10 years, and has been injured for the last two years. I don't know what he wants. I don't know whether Kraft wants to play $15M a year for Brady to be the leader of the future. I don't know hwo you know any diffeently. The reality is that we are coming up to Bady's contract year, and decisions will be made in this offseason.

If you wish, you can make believe that neither the front office nor Brady have decisions to make. And you could be right. The decisions could have already bveen made.

Brady was also injured in the playoffs in 2007 and 2005. There is a legit question about him making him through the year and being healthy enough to make a playoff run.

 

[DarrylS]

Isn't this money thing not all that important, no matter what they will spend to the cap.. and the money will be spread around, whether or not it is a wise football decision is another issue..

None of this is about how much money the Krafts want to invest....

 

[mgteich]

No, I understand that the issue is not about how MUCH money Kraft will invest. The question is whether Kraft is ready to commit $15M a year or more of cap money to Brady.

Isn't this money thing not all that important, no matter what they will spend to the cap.. and the money will be spread around, whether or not it is a wise football decision is another issue..

None of this is about how much money the Krafts want to invest....

 

[RobertWeathers]

No, I understand that the issue is not about how MUCH money Kraft will invest. The question is whether Kraft is ready to commit $15M a year or more of cap money to Brady.

Brady is part of the solution- not part of the problem.

Not saying pay the man at all costs, but locking Brady up for the next 4 years, with the intent of building around the man with weapons at WR & RB and a solid O line should be the focus.

If Kurt Warner can do what he is doing at his age, as long as he keeps himself healthy and with a good supporting cast there is no reason TB can't do the same.

 

[BelichickFan]

I think it's a valid question and Belichick has been through it twice with good, though lesser, QB in Kosar and Bledsoe. I think they'll kick the can down the road, though, when they've seen Brady for another year and know what they're working with once there's more idea about a CBA (or lack thereof).

 

[RobertWeathers]

I think it's a valid question and Belichick has been through it twice with good, though lesser, QB in Kosar and Bledsoe. I think they'll kick the can down the road, though, when they've seen Brady for another year and know what they're working with once there's more idea about a CBA (or lack thereof).

There isn't a snowball's chance in hell they go into 2010 w/o a new deal for Brady. No chance.

 

[Ring 6]

I know that Brady has been playing for 10 years, and has been injured for the last two years. I don't know what he wants. I don't know whether Kraft wants to play $15M a year for Brady to be the leader of the future. I don't know hwo you know any diffeently. The reality is that we are coming up to Bady's contract year, and decisions will be made in this offseason.

If you wish, you can make believe that neither the front office nor Brady have decisions to make. And you could be right. The decisions could have already bveen made.

I think it is ludicrous to suggest that Brady doesnt want to play football any longer.
I think it is ludicrous to suggest the Patriots would not want him.

You ae in essence saying maybe he will quit, maybe they will cut him. Why? Because we lost a first round playoff game?
You have to bring a scintilla of evidence that Brady has any concern about continuing to play (every word out of his mouth says other wise) or that anyone in the Patriot organization believes at all that we would be better without him.

 

[Spiral]

Kraft is about buying low and selling high. If he can sign Brady this off-season to a favorable (for the Patriots) deal, he will. If not, I'd bet he lets him play in 2010 w/o an extension. The new CBA may also come into play here. The free agent market after next season may be somewhat limited if a strike is on the horizon. No team is going to pay a him a huge signing bonus if it looks like a lockout in 2011.

 

[MassPats38]

I have never seen and article indicating as much (my father is my source on this), but apparently a source of the animosity between Belichick and Vinatieri was Belichick kept a ranking of personnel at particular positions and Vinatieri was not the highest ranked at his position. True or not, anyone who believes Belichick would spend big money to keep a player out of puppy love rather than perceived capabilities probably has not been watching Belichick over the years. If Brady doesn't have it anymore, he would not get a big contract. If that is the case and he doesn't like he, he would be leaving. I see him staying given the fact you don't tinker with something if it isn't broken. There are plenty of other issues of higher priority that you do not want to create a new problem for the team personnel-wise.