Westbrook, LT or Sproles...

[alphilip77]

Hmm...let's see......

I have to choose between a concussed player, a guy who's washed up and can't get a rush TD unless he's 2-3 yrds away from the end zone, or a scat back who can't pick up the blitz...No thanks. We have three RBs who are liabilities already on our roster in Taylor and Morris (often injured) and Laurence "I was vastly overrated/overhyped and was drafted in the 1st round and will never meet expectations" Maroney. Faulk is the only competant RB on our roster (and I think BJGE is too, we just don't see enough of him). NO MORE VETERAN RBs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! One order of fresh legs in the 2nd or 4th round please.

 

[NENGFAN]

Hmm...let's see......

I have to choose between a concussed player, a guy who's washed up and can't get a rush TD unless he's 2-3 yrds away from the end zone, or a scat back who can't pick up the blitz...No thanks. We have three RBs who are liabilities already on our roster in Taylor and Morris (often injured) and Laurence "I was vastly overrated/overhyped and was drafted in the 1st round and will never meet expectations" Maroney. Faulk is the only competant RB on our roster (and I think BJGE is too, we just don't see enough of him). NO MORE VETERAN RBs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! One order of fresh legs in the 2nd or 4th round please.

I agree with that...we do need an RB with fresh legs. This veteran running by committee is no good for us now. Maroney is just not "there".....we need a reliable RB with good technique who can get chunks of yardage so that 3rd downs are manageable. Who are the good RBs in the draft that might fall in our lap?

 

[BradyBranch39]

Re: Westbrook, LT or Sproles....

I would say none, resign Faulk.

I'd take Faulk over all 3 too.

 

[pats1]

Re: Westbrook, LT or Sproles....

If he is tendered he will be due 110% of his 2009 salary of $6.6M when he was tagged...regardless of what level he is tendered at. If he is not tendered then he won't he due anything but he's obviously going to be looking for a long term deal heading into a lockout season...

SD will likely tender him as absent a new stadium deal they lack the resources to do multiple long term extensions - let alone heading into a lockout season - and have long allowed the cap to essentially pay for the players they do extend.

Right, but he's not "due" anything at this point. I don't see how that comes into play here, unless someone is suggesting the Chargers don't want to even tender him that.

 

[Rob0729]

Re: Westbrook, LT or Sproles....

The 20% increase is only if they tagged him again, which since he's reverted to RFA status under the expiring CBA they don't have to do. RFA's get the salary at their tender OR 110% of their prior year's salary, so in his case $7.3M regardless of what RFA level they tender him at.

110% or 120% over his 2009 salary is too much for a third down RB. That is what Sproles is. If the Pats picked up Sproles, he would replace Kevin Faulk. He wouldn't be a fulltime back.

 

[Dragda]

Re: Westbrook, LT or Sproles....

I would say none, resign Faulk.

Yeah, Faulk is still effective. Sproles, while a playmaker, isn't as compelling as keeping Faulk. It's the end of the line for LdT and Westbrook. Two greats.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Because of his size, I agree that Sproles would be a potential liability in blitz pickup/pass blocking. However....

He'd be an outstanding option out of the backfield as a receiver, an excellent change-of-pace runner, and provide more than adequete depth in the KR/PR games.

Additionally, he is only 26. Not sure what kind of cash he is looking for (I assume a great deal) but IMO he would be type of playmaker the offense needs.

No disrespect to Faulk. Hes been an outstanding performer, but he will turn 34once TC starts.

 

[Rob0729]

Because of his size, I agree that Sproles would be a potential liability in blitz pickup/pass blocking. However....

He'd be an outstanding option out of the backfield as a receiver, an excellent change-of-pace runner, and provide more than adequete depth in the KR/PR games.

Additionally, he is only 26. Not sure what kind of cash he is looking for (I assume a great deal) but IMO he would be type of playmaker the offense needs.

No disrespect to Faulk. Hes been an outstanding performer, but he will turn 34once TC starts.

I would be all for picking up Sproles, but he is a role player and not a starter. He might be looking to cash in like Michael Turner did in a similiar position before him. Unlike Turner though, I don't think he can carry the full load.

 

[killerrob]

Sproles if the price is right. LT and Westbrook are broke down.

We need a replacement for King Kevin Faulk (altime great Patriot), Sproles I think can be that guy.

 

[pats1]

Re: Westbrook, LT or Sproles....

110% or 120% over his 2009 salary is too much for a third down RB. That is what Sproles is. If the Pats picked up Sproles, he would replace Kevin Faulk. He wouldn't be a fulltime back.

That isn't necessarily what the Pats would pay. That's what the Chargers need to tender him at, probably with the 1st and 3rd tender. The Patriots would then submit an offer sheet with their own contract terms. If the Chargers decline to match it, then the Patriots would get Sproles and would give up 1st and 3rd round picks. Or they can work out a trade and then an extension, like they did for Welker.

No matter how you slice it, the Pats would need to give up a high draft pick for Sproles, and then sign him to a big extension or offer sheet, and even then there's no guarantee, because the Chargers could match the offer sheet (unless you poison pill it) - or Sproles could just sign his $7M tender and cash in. More than likely a 1st rounder, and probably a 3rd too because the Chargers aren't looking to dumb Sproles, so they're not going to give up less via trade than what they could get via restricted free agent rules.

I can't see the Chargers having any problem paying Sproles $7M in an uncapped year.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Re: Westbrook, LT or Sproles....

I'd take Leon Washington if it looks like he can get back to his normal form from his broken leg.

Seconded. 10char

 

[pats1]

Re: Westbrook, LT or Sproles....

Seconded. 10char

Washington is also an RFA. Are you willing to give up a 1st and 3rd and give him a large extension?

 

[mcmurtry86]

If San Diego pays Sproles $7.3M/year even in an uncapped world, they are absolutely insane. They paid him $6M as a franchise player in the hope that he could be more than a 3rd down/situational guy. Now that he's proven he can't be much more than that, they should let some other team overpay him.

He's a dynamic playmaker, but history dictates that those guys lose it fast (especially running backs) and he's on the field for what? less than 50% of your offensive snaps?

Tomlinson and Westbrook are just about finished, and I'm not sure either would sign the bargain-bin deal the Pats would offer them. As it is, with Morris and Taylor signed for next year, the Pats have their quota of washed up, banged up vets. Time for some fresher and/or more reliable legs.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Re: Westbrook, LT or Sproles....

Washington is also an RFA. Are you willing to give up a 1st and 3rd and give him a large extension?

We don't know it will be a first and third until NYJ tenders him; I believe he was a fourth round pick, I'd be willing to use NE's second to get him if he passes the physical.

 

[RobertWeathers]

I would be all for picking up Sproles, but he is a role player and not a starter. He might be looking to cash in like Michael Turner did in a similiar position before him. Unlike Turner though, I don't think he can carry the full load.

To play devil's advocate, if the team envisions Sproles touching the ball 230 times a year (100 as a runner, 50 as a receiver and 80 as a KR/PR) and scoring 8 TDs (what he had last year combined) then is he worth $7m a year???

Guess it depends on how you look at it.

 

[Triumph]

Re: Westbrook, LT or Sproles....

We don't know it will be a first and third until NYJ tenders him; I believe he was a fourth round pick, I'd be willing to use NE's second to get him if he passes the physical.

He was a 4th and the pick KC gave up for Hermie Edwards.

 

[mcmurtry86]

To play devil's advocate, if the team envisions Sproles touching the ball 230 times a year (100 as a runner, 50 as a receiver and 80 as a KR/PR) and 8 TDs (what he had last year combined) then is he worth $7m a year???

Guess it depends on how you look at it.

The issue isn't necessarily "is Sproles worth $7m a year" it's "is Sproles worth $7m for SEVERAL years" which is what any team other than San Diego would have to pay for his services. Seeing how I think paying him $6.6M was crazy, I can't possibly fathom a team giving him a $35M contract (say 4 years/$7M per + signing bonus).

More to the point, there is absolutely no way the Pats would hand out that kind of money to a situational player.

 

[Triumph]

Re: Westbrook, LT or Sproles....

Washington is also an RFA. Are you willing to give up a 1st and 3rd and give him a large extension?

He held out of Jest training camp last season, but decided to end his holdout when they couldnt agree on a deal as the season approached. LW was rumored to have scoffed at 4 Mil per season which turned out to be foolish after breaking his leg.

Jets Offer RB Leon Washington Contract | MKRob Sports

I cannot believe he will be a happy camper if he is tendered approximately 1.5 Mil after being the good soldier last year.

 

[RobertWeathers]

The issue isn't necessarily "is Sproles worth $7m a year" it's "is Sproles worth $7m for SEVERAL years" which is what any team other than San Diego would have to pay for his services. Seeing how I think paying him $6.6M was crazy, I can't possibly fathom a team giving him a $35M contract (say 4 years/$7M per + signing bonus).

More to the point, there is absolutely no way the Pats would hand out that kind of money to a situational player.

I don't think the Pats will go after him either but getting 230 touches a year is hardly situational. Need to think of it that way in order to justify the pricetag. Thats they way Parcells rationalized the signing of Dave Meggett in 1995.

 

[mcmurtry86]

Re: Westbrook, LT or Sproles....

He held out of Jest training camp last season, but decided to end his holdout when they couldnt agree on a deal as the season approached. LW was rumored to have scoffed at 4 Mil per season which turned out to be foolish after breaking his leg.

Jets Offer RB Leon Washington Contract | MKRob Sports

I cannot believe he will be a happy camper if he is tendered approximately 1.5 Mil after being the good soldier last year.

He's also kidding himself if he thinks he is going to get a multi year big money contract coming off of a pretty horrific injury. He very well may be best served to play one year on his RFA tender and hope he can prove to the world that he is healthy.

Although, there are enough idiot GMs where it wouldn't surprise me if he does get a big contract.