Re: 5 weeks into FA season, PATS approach still makes no sense
Give us names. Which FAs did you want? And would you rather have had them than Wilfork, Bodden, TBC, Faulk, or Neal? Because if you count the guys the Pats kept, this has been one of the best offseasons so far.
O.K. This is nuts. ramon is right. We seem to believe on this site that Brady is going to last forever. In case you guys want to know and that includes the De Facto Presidente of this site, "lil Ceasar" DeBruinz because he will comment on anything I write beacuse he never adds anything and he needs to wake up this morning anyway (good morning Cousin!). All hail to you DeB!
You want a list? Here goes.
These "resigns" should have already have been done and never had to happen this off season anyway, These should have all been finished prior so any "homer" that thinks the Patriots F.O. "did their job", they did not (well they did but better late than never). It sounds good but if you think that this made for a good off-season you are kidding yourself. You have got 14 holes to fill and you resigned the same guys who we walked off the field with against the Ravens. Have we gotten one bit better?
If you also are delusional and think that signing twelve 21 year old kids are going to make our problems go away and the holes all filled, you are kidding yourself. 18% of those picks will make a difference by year 2013 upon NFL average. That is 2.16 players (say 3) will become "full time long term starters", "solid upper tier contributors" (kicker, punter, returner) or "All Pro present or potential" picks. That is just three Cousins. If we hit on four it will be considered a monster 2010 Draft for the Patriots. Now what do we do about the other holes? Plug in some JAGS or attempt to make the Team better by FAs or....trades (which is what I believe Cousin ramon could have meant as well).
You have some quality players that will make a difference in 2010 (not 2013...please remember TB isn't getting younger) that you can get. Some are not really my cup of tea but they make us better. Some are going to cost too much to sign which is a huge consideration.
I don't care what the homers say, the Pats fell asleep on the Boldin deal. I am not giving that a "In BB we Trust" certification. That was a pure FO "My Bad".
You have a list of players that can make a difference that you can really get. All you very sarcastic Cousins don't give me any Madden crap. I wouldn't even know who is on the cover of that kids game. Yes some are way too expensive to fit but here is a list of trades and FAs that can make this team better and I am not a personal fan of some.
1-RFA Brandon Marshall WR (hate the person, love the player but he will cost) He makes the Pats better in one signing. He costs us our #22 but he is insurance for Moss and 26 years old.
2-RFA Ray Edwards DE/OLB. He costs us our #22. He will be money to resign but I don't expect too bad. Don't give me baloney that he is good because he played on a good D Line unless you are telling me Warren and Wilfork are a weak link here.11 sacks in his last 11 games and only 25. There is absolutely not one player in this Draft at #22 or down better. No one will disagree with me. Biggest no-brainer move for the Pats in 2010.
3-Greg Olsen TE. We need a move TE, He is also 25 and 70 receptions last year. It has been stated (and not by me Mr. DeB) that the Bears have interest in James Sanders. Yet we are throwing about the idea of going for Gronkowski, McCoy or Pita (same age). How the hell does that make sense if you can get Olsen for Sanders and or a lower pick? The Bears picked up another vet TE anyway.
4-Steve Smith WR (Panthers). I have thrown this out there not by fact but reason. Smith is 31. Older WR has never been a problem for the Pats. Smith can still stretch the field. He has a present reasonable contract until 2013. He has indicated that they need to dial up someone else to take #1 WR duties. They have basically a rookie QB. They will run more with this kid which can't make Smith happy. At big issue, the Panthers do not have many Draft choices nor a #1 pick and they are in rebuilding mode. One of our second should look attractive. Smith still plays at a high level and again insurance for Moss if he leaves. Also less double teams for Moss and Welker (et al). Smith could catch 80 here in 2010. He is also a highly emotional, gung ho presence in the locker room and plays with attitude.
5-Adam Carriker DE. He is being sought by many Teams because he was miscast as a DT by the Rams and added 20lbs and got hurt. He had a decent rookie season and has been dinged. Now over surgery I see him as the best DE "On the Board" at one of our lower seconds or mid round picks. He is only 26 and has NFL experience. His measurables are better than any DE in the second round or lower. My thought is the Rams need an DT in trade etc, so they can go after Bradford. Would our last year second rounder who was miscast as a NT, Brace be enough with a lower rounder to get Carriker? Sorry to all you non Carriker fans who doth protest. He is being sought by many NFL Teams so one would think they are smarter than you or I. Lose the 20lbs and he will be a great 3-4 DE. Also some of you actually would have us Draft Ordick (including El Presidente)....why?
6-Washington could move Cooley and Santana Moss. They need picks for Shanny. I think Shanny prefers his old buddy Sheffler the TE who the Broncos want to move. Some Patriots picks for these two make sense. Moss has a decent contract and for only this year is you want to do the now infamous Patriots "test drive". He is just 30 and 70 receptions from Campbell last year. Cooley is only 27 and recovered from a broken ankle. There is your pass catching TE who can split out like Clark. He ain't Watson! In fact he had as many receptions as Watson did the whole year, in 7 games. Here is something I have thought about. The Skins could be a player for AD. Why on earth? They have no picks, need an OLB to play opposite Orapko and are switching to a 3-4 and have no players on that Defense let alone LBs with 3-4 experience. Snyder would be able to pay AD.
7-Speaking of the Skins. Would I take Haynesworth at $16m (9 million guaranteed) for three years only? Yep for a lower second rounder, why not? He is only 29. They say he takes plays off. Seems we had an ALL PRO DE that did some of that and we kept him for a while because when they want to play both players could dominate. When is the key.
(7a? How about Haynesworth, Cooley and Santana Moss for a couple of seconds perhaps #47 and #53 and AD who is really a need for them? If fills needed positions with quality. Yep they are not 21 and yes they will cost more, but this Block Buster still gives us some decent Draft picks to get younger and makes the Pats a front runner for the Super Bowl over what we have now and some kid Draft choices versus a trio of experienced Pro Bowl players (2) in their prime.....just sayin)
8-I am no fan of Merimman, but the Chargers would move him and could he make the defense any better? Will he come back form his injuries (or roids)? You can trade not a #1 pick for him I am sure. Gamble yes. Younger yes.
9-Jared Gaither OT Ravens. What? Not sexy? This guy could be had for a second or third and is only 24. He's got to be an upgrade on Kcazur who is now 30. This allows us to see if Volmer can take over LT. Maybe we pick up something then for Light (and he is one of my all time Pats but at the end of his contract and we know what has been the climate of the Pats FO if they have a capable replacement in line). The Bears, Redskins and Seahawks could be a landing spot.
10-T.O.? I don't know but he is an upgrade on anything we have at #3. The reports on Mr. Tate suggest good KR and mediocre WR so why are we all hyped about him. Aiken? A 5 catch per year guy ST player. Patten?........Makes me feel young. I think that although I am not a big T.O. fan he wins at least a few games for us in 2010. Look at it that way when you critique some of these players. ...Can they win a game or two?
So ramon isn't all wrong. He is not whining. He speaks the truth. Hopefully some of these ideas or similar the Pats might have in the works. Only a homer would day we have had a great off season so far. Everyone said patience yet some decent players have come and gone that could have helped this team like Boldin, Wimbley and Gocong (not your Peppers or Dansby so you Madden lovers back off). I am not buying into Murrell, Crumpler or an short squat 32 year old DT as making this a great off-season and the Draft is great but we need way more Cousins.
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