Reiss: Belichick has lengthy to-do list

[mcsully]

not sure if posted

The New England Patriots and Bill Belichick face a number of decisions this offseason - ESPN Boston

 

[mgteich]

an excellent summary of our situation

 

[RobertWeathers]

I thought Reiss did a nice job with this article. Didn't really disagree with anything he said except that if the Pats don't sign Brady to an extension that it could be viewed that the franchise is in trouble financially. IMO that is BS. The Pats are just fine financially. Net worth, debt-to-equity, revenues, operating income....c'mon, Mike..

If Brady is not signed to an extension, that means that he and the team can't come to an agreeement on cash and terms.

 

[pats1]

I thought Reiss did a nice job with this article. Didn't really disagree with anything he said except that if the Pats don't sign Brady to an extension that it could be viewed that the franchise is in trouble financially. IMO that is BS. The Pats are just fine financially. Net worth, debt-to-equity, revenues, operating income....c'mon, Mike..

They're having problems with Patriot Place, which was a bigger investment than the stadium. I wouldn't totally dismiss that.

 

[Deus Irae]

I would hope that

The fallout from Thomas' deal is that the Patriots are unlikely to swim in those rich free-agent waters again.

isn't true, and I think Reiss really should have touched on Belichick taking a long look in the mirror rather than just talking about the underlings.

Other than that, it's a solid article that reflects much of what many of us have been saying this season.

 

[PowerRunRevival]

For better or for worse this is the Patriots most important offseason in recent memory. Besides signing free agents and drafting players, it is an offseason for our young players to develop. If we can have players like Edelman, Butler and Chung make the jump as well as good free agent pick ups and a good draft we will be set for a long time. If we fail in the draft, free agency and/or young players don't develop it could scar the organization for years to come.

 

[mgteich]

How would you know that Reiss' statement "isn't true". What you mean is that you disagree with his analysis.

Perhaps you base you assessment on the great amount of risk we took with our high-profile and high dollar 2009 free agent signings.

I would hope that isn't true, and I think Reiss really should have touched on Belichick taking a long look in the mirror rather than just talking about the underlings.

Other than that, it's a solid article that reflects much of what many of us have been saying this season.

 

[RobertWeathers]

They're having problems with Patriot Place, which was a bigger investment than the stadium. I wouldn't totally dismiss that.

Yea I heard that too. The P&Ls for Patriot Place and the team stay seperate but if they are in over their heads and not generating the revenues derived from rent, etc., logic would make you think that to stay afloat, they will rob peter and pay paul.

Good point nonethless.

 

[Mack Herron]

There is some toughness on the DL and at safety. Bodden can play the run at CB. Wilhite cannot. Butler is small but maybe athletic enough to compensate. Toughness is lacking squarely with the LBs. When it comes to LB studs, there is no there there. On the other side of the ball, they could also use more physical play at WR, C, and RB.

 

[RobertWeathers]

How would you know that Reiss' statement "isn't true". What you mean is that you disagree with his analysis.

Perhaps you base you assessment on the great amount of risk we took with our high-profile and high dollar 2009 free agent signings.

I think that they will be very cautious about throwing money around- especially talented players who may be lacking in leadership, mental toughness, etc.

 

[RobertWeathers]

There is some toughness on the DL and at safety. Bodden can play the run at CB. Wilhite cannot. Butler is small but maybe athletic enough to compensate. Toughness is lacking squarely with the LBs. When it comes to LB studs, there is no there there. On the other side of the ball, they could also use more physical play at WR, C, and RB.

Agreed but it's the mental toughness on this team that is lacking which is most disturbing.

 

[BelichickFan]

How would you know that Reiss' statement "isn't true". What you mean is that you disagree with his analysis.

He said he hopes it isn't true.

I disagree with Reiss, Belichick isn't the type to blindly stop an action based on one failure. You take your lumps and try/hope to do better next time.

 

[chevss454]

For better or for worse this is the Patriots most important offseason in recent memory. Besides signing free agents and drafting players, it is an offseason for our young players to develop. If we can have players like Edelman, Butler and Chung make the jump as well as good free agent pick ups and a good draft we will be set for a long time. If we fail in the draft, free agency and/or young players don't develop it could scar the organization for years to come.

I'm in complete agreement with you. So many needs to return to dominance. Luckily there are many early draft picks to cash in

 

[Disco Volante]

They're having problems with Patriot Place, which was a bigger investment than the stadium. I wouldn't totally dismiss that.

How bad is that situation? Always wondered but never read too in-depth to it.

 

[Mack Herron]

He said he hopes it isn't true.

I disagree with Reiss, Belichick isn't the type to blindly stop an action based on one failure. You take your lumps and try/hope to do better next time.

Yeah, by the same token I suppose he should stop drafting players after 2006-08.

 

[pats1]

How bad is that situation? Always wondered but never read too in-depth to it.

Well, they're not a public company so there's no financial info you can attach to it. But when they first built it, there were analysts in the Globe saying it would be a huge financial risk for the Krafts. Since then, the traffic hasn't been as high as they would have liked, and the last time I was there (a few months ago), about 1/3 of the storefronts were still empty. PFW in Progress has also dropped a few hints here and there as to how it is doing.

 

[mgteich]

Belichick will not blindly do anything. Personally, I believe Belichick is a bit gun-shy. What was the last high-profile free agent that worked out for the patriots for the several years of his contract? Harrison?

He said he hopes it isn't true.

I disagree with Reiss, Belichick isn't the type to blindly stop an action based on one failure. You take your lumps and try/hope to do better next time.

 

[BelichickFan]

Belichick will not blindly do anything. Personally, I believe Belichick is a bit gun-shy. What was the last high-profile free agent that worked out for the patriots for the several years of his contract? Harrison?

It's a tough call for sure. Harrison would be the last although a good argument that Colvin worked out given that he was pretty good despite a really bad injury. We really haven't signed many big name FA from other teams since then. I do think we're more likely to try to find another player looking to prove himself like Moss, Dillon, Harrison that a budget breaker type who gets his first BIG contract and human nature takes over. Who ? I don't have a name there. It's a significant personality thing of guys who will take a low contract to play or those who will benefit from money because now all they have to do is play vs. those who don't give a crap outside of the money. How to tell who is who is the tough part. Brandon Marshall is a good example, would he become a slacker with money or would that side of him become satisfied and then the bad Brandon wouldn't come out.

 

[Deus Irae]

Belichick will not blindly do anything. Personally, I believe Belichick is a bit gun-shy. What was the last high-profile free agent that worked out for the patriots for the several years of his contract? Harrison?

It depends on how you define "high profile". Welker would be a successful signing, and that was 2007. But, again, it depends on your definition. If you mean the very top of the list, he hasn't signed many of those players at all, so there's really no pattern to be found. Colvin was injured about 3 seconds after signing, but do you hold that against other free agents?

 

[BelichickFan]

It depends on how you define "high profile". Welker would be a successful signing, and that was 2007.

Some will say that was a trade although it was more like a RFA signing for sure.