Gasper: Woods re-signed to new deal (not tender)

[JSn]

Depth is almost as important as quality starters. In this case, Woods has proven that he can be good depth and has knowledge of the system. For just over $1M, I don't see why not. Nobody's expecting him to be a difference maker (if they are, they should probably stop watching football) but this a good move and is a step in the right direction.

I think he's good enough to be a difference maker at least once a season. Didn't he force the fumble that led to winning the Bills game in the opener last year?

This is a good signing. And if he's good for the locker room, it could be worth a lot more than we think.

 

[QB12]

Merriweather caused the fumble against the Bills.

 

[efin98]

I think he's good enough to be a difference maker at least once a season. Didn't he force the fumble that led to winning the Bills game in the opener last year?

This is a good signing. And if he's good for the locker room, it could be worth a lot more than we think.

That was him.

 

[dhamz]

No surprise. The story on Woods remains the same as it has always been - short $ and good on special teams but if he is playing OLB then there are big issues.

 

[The_Riddler]

No, He's the guy who recovered the fumble, was DOWN, and the referees refused to blow the whistle. Just like on the miraculous play from horseface jr to david Tyree.

Goober Jr.'s miracle never happens if #58 doesn't let a little RB wrestle the ball out of his hands. Inexcusable !

Kids learn from the age of 5 in Pop Warner to play until the whistle blows. That play defines what he has brought to this team. He belongs in some construction firm building decks at this point, he's a waste of a uniform and a roster spot.

I know one guy who is happy about Pierre's contact, that would be one Ahmad Bradshaw............I'm sure he's still chuckling as we speak.

 

[efin98]

Merriweather caused the fumble against the Bills.

Merriweather stopped him in his tracks but it was Woods who came in and stripped the ball out of his hands causing the fumble. Without Merriweather Woods wouldn't have gotten there but without Woods it would have been a tackle at the 30 with about 2 minutes left and the Bills in the lead.

 

[ramon]

JAG and thats it

BB and Caserio are loving this...

 

[Deus Irae]

JAG and thats it

BB and Caserio are loving this...

The Patriots re-signed a special teams/depth player. As a Jets fan, you're probably unfamiliar with the concept of "depth". You should probably look it up.

 

[patchick]

I'm glad to see mostly positive comments in this thread. Woods is a strong contributor on special teams, a more valuable LB backup than the typical ST-first guy like Alexander, and a good teammate. Why wouldn't anybody be happy about about securing experienced depth?

 

[jmt57]

I like Woods as a special teamer, but I don't consider him to be as good as Izzo (who was making less), Whigham or Tatupu were over the years on special teams. Since he's not getting a cut in pay then he'll be making at least $1.5 mil once again this year ... but a year ago the Pats wouldn't pay Gaffney $2.5 per year and opted for Galloway at $1.75 instead.

Yes this is 20-20 hindsight, but wouldn't it have made more sense to go ahead and pay the starter, and make up the difference if need be by spending $800k on the special team slot? I know that's assuming the budget is comparable to last year's budget, but what happened to the previous concept of filling in holes in free agency so you could enter the draft with the philosophy of going after the best player availabel rather than being trapped into a position where you are forced to reach for a need at a certain position?

 

[DaBruinz]

I like Woods as a special teamer, but I don't consider him to be as good as Izzo (who was making less), Whigham or Tatupu were over the years on special teams. Since he's not getting a cut in pay then he'll be making at least $1.5 mil once again this year ... but a year ago the Pats wouldn't pay Gaffney $2.5 per year and opted for Galloway at $1.75 instead.

Yes this is 20-20 hindsight, but wouldn't it have made more sense to go ahead and pay the starter, and make up the difference if need be by spending $800k on the special team slot? I know that's assuming the budget is comparable to last year's budget, but what happened to the previous concept of filling in holes in free agency so you could enter the draft with the philosophy of going after the best player availabel rather than being trapped into a position where you are forced to reach for a need at a certain position?

Gaffney wasn't a starter here. And I am fairly confident that BB and McDaniels had a gentelman's agreement that McDaniel's could sign Gaffney as a way to help implement the offense they wanted.

 

[jmt57]

Gaffney wasn't a starter here. And I am fairly confident that BB and McDaniels had a gentelman's agreement that McDaniel's could sign Gaffney as a way to help implement the offense they wanted.

The Pats most common offensive formation is a 3WR/1RB/1TE set, in which Gaffney was one of the three starters in 2008; he left the following year.

If Belichick's feeling that players are not entitled to start or be part of the roster because of past accomplishments and his decisions are for the best of the team, that gives them the best chance to win - then why in the world would he discard that philosophy for somebody who was no longer part of the organization? Are you saying he's not sentimental to players in his decision making, but he is when it comes to personnel decisions if it involves a former coach?

That makes no sense, I find that hard to believe.

 

[condon84]

our special teams is looking pretty sick.........

 

[TheComeback]

Solid signing by the Pats. Woods is a hard worker from everything I've read, so there's still a chance he can improve. He hasn't shown much as far as pass rushing goes, but he is a decent edge-setter, which makes him an adequate option as a short-term starter. I seem to remember a lot of positive articles about Woods' progress last summer, but it didn't translate into much other than special teams performance. I could see him sharing time with a rookie at OLB, with Banta-Cain manning the other position. In that situation, you would hope we add more than one rookie linebacker, or a veteran after the draft.

 

[West Philly Patriot]

The Patriots re-signed a special teams/depth player. As a Jets fan, you're probably unfamiliar with the concept of "depth". You should probably look it up.

I love how he's never disputed being a jets fan but continues to post like he cares about the pats.

 

[satz]

Funny thread

1)He has been a leading tacklers and one of the spl team players for a few years. Even in a cap years it is like 1% - 1.5% of the cap .I am amazed at the how low spl team is valued in this forum. A starter in spl team is not worth even that low % of the money.

2)We spend around 5-7 % of our cap on spl teams . I think people prefer to get rookie`s to play spl team and can live with when they blow coverage and give up TD`s.

3)Lets see we got crabel,rudd,lua,rogers and i am sure quite a handfull of ILB,LB and DE who have been given the chance to win this guy`s job. yet all this drafted guys cound not EASILY beat him out his obviously easy job.

 

[Gwedd]

I agree with the "what's not to like?" comments.

Known quantity, solid ST, a great team mate, etc. Good for Pierre, and good for the team.

 

[tobias funke]

You can easily tell the people who understand very little about football in threads like these, because they are shocked when every member of the roster is not a Pro Bowler, and use singular plays and events to define a marginal player's career.

It's even funnier considering how little you can learn about individual non-skill players/special teamers solely by watching them on TV.

 

[RobertWeathers]

I agree with the "what's not to like?" comments.

Known quantity, solid ST, a great team mate, etc. Good for Pierre, and good for the team.

This.

Hes not Willie Mac and the chicken littles hold that against him.

 

[ramon]

I love how he's never disputed being a jets fan but continues to post like he cares about the pats.

I have said it over and over, I am 100% PATS fan and have been so longer than 95% of the people on this board. Posters like to paint other people into a corner when they do not agree with what is said.


I want the PATS to do well, at the same time I give the Jets FO props for turning that franchise around quickly and bringing in a hell of a lot of talent in a short time. I think their agressive approach is a good one and I remain skeptical that the Patriots passive approach this offseason will pay dividends.


I think it is disappointing that another year of Brady's prime could be wasted while the team depends 100% on rookies to fill glaring areas of need.


An example of FO poor performance is last year..getting boxed into a corner and having to trade a 3rd and a 5th at the last moment for an overvalued Derrick Burgess. This happened because the PATS were not proactive and suddenly were desperate to fill a need. They badly overpaid for Burgess as a result.

Think the team could not use that 3rd and 5th in this years draft.



Bottom line is I don't care if people call me a Jets fan or don't like my opinions. I have been there with the PATS since the Joe Kapp days, since they played at Harvard stadium, for Jim Nance, ... Gino Cappalettti, Sam Bam Cunningham, Daryl Stingley, Hog Hannah
I saw them play in Fenway Park...lived through the Rod Rust and Billy Sullivan years.