Any chance Pats rescue Larry Fitzgerald's career

[ausbacker]

Fitzgerald is a Patriots kinda guy which means he works hard, puts up minimal fuss and usually performs. I'd love him on the Patriots but that doesn't necessarily means it happens.

 

[PatsBoy12]

It would be nice.

 

[The Dynasty]

Ochocinco may come to be available. I'd rather get him as another #2 WR while we draft/develop his and Branch's replacements. I prefer this type of offense (multiple #2 WRs) over the the #1 WR offense. It's also allows greater depth and is cheaper (Och-o gets paid less-o if he wants to be here).

Worse case scenario is we don't add another WR in the offseason, I still think our WR gets better next year under this scenario.

Absolutely not to Ochocinco. Definitely not a Patriot/BB guy.

Fitz maybe, depends what kind of direction the Pats want to go in and how high they are on Tate and Price.

 

[fair catch fryar]

Maybe, but shouldn't we be trading for Demarcus Ware on his dead end franchise? Or Adrian Peterson on his? Or _____________________ (big name player of your choice here)?

Yeah right. As much as I could get used to watch Brady throw to Fitzgerald I think I'd prefer to see them acquire a big-time RB for the rest of Brady's career.

 

[RodThePat]

Yeah right. As much as I could get used to watch Brady throw to Fitzgerald I think I'd prefer to see them acquire a big-time RB for the rest of Brady's career.

RBs are a dime a dozen. You can find good backs anywhere, but WRs like Fitzgerald don't grow on trees.

 

[fair catch fryar]

RBs are a dime a dozen. You can find good backs anywhere, but WRs like Fitzgerald don't grow on trees.

I don't think so. I think a back like Adrian Peterson or Chris Johnson for 4-5 years would make a Brady led 'O' nearly unstoppable, regardless of who he throws too.

Don't get me wrong, if they brought Fitzgerald in I wouldn't be complaining, but for the type of trade that DaBruinz threw out there I'd personally rather see the Pats spend the resources on the ground game.

 

[Ron Sellers]

The Pats could end up with only 8 picks in total depending on what the compensation for Ojinnaka and Page is.

That being said, I'd package Price or Tate to the Cardinals with the Pats 1st to get Fitzgerald.

You lost me; don't the Pats have their own seven picks, plus four others (Oakland's 1st, Carolina's 2nd, Minnesota's 3rd, and New Orleans' 6th) for a total of 11 picks? The worst that could happen is the Pats don't gain any comp picks; they don't take any away for signing free agents. Besides, I can't imagine either of those two being more than a 7th in the comp formula.




Back to Fitzgerald: His salary is $7 million in 2011. But in 2012 if he is franchised, he will get paid $23 million. So even though he's only 27 Arizona may want to trade him this offseason and get something more than a future 3rd round comp pick in return, since they appear to be headed towards more rebuilding in 2011; I can't see him remaining a Cardinal once his contract expires.

On the other hand I can't see the Pats trading for him unless they are allowed to talk to him first and work out a long term deal. Why give all that up for a one year rental?

 

[TriplecHamp]

Fitz or VJax would be an awesome addition to this team but really we got rid of Moss and the offense has looked smoother, would we really add another number one receiver type along with Wes, and Branch?

 

[bradydaman29]

After the Moss experiment, I think Brady does better when he doesn't have that superstar receiver. He seems to do just as well if not better when he doesn't zero in on one receiver and can just scan the field for an open uniform and fire it in. For the money they would pay a Fitzgerald, I'd rather get a middle of the road receiver and spend that extra money on achieving more balance by getting good players for other positions.

 

[HEY BRO! WHAT UP?]

Fitz or VJax would be an awesome addition to this team but really we got rid of Moss and the offense has looked smoother, would we really add another number one receiver type along with Wes, and Branch?

Moss and Fitz are totally different WR's at this point of their careers.

Fitz is the complete package. He can run every route and jump into the sky to catch the football.

However, to answer the OP's question, Fitzgerald could've avoided this situation had he thought about his options before signing a contract with a flukey team and catching passes from a QB who was at the twilight of his career.

While it's understandable, sometimes players get caught up in how much their going to get paid now instead of looking at the bigger picture.

With that said, I'd love to have Fitzgerald and the Pats certainly have the ammunition and believe he could be had at the right price.

History has shown the Cardinals don't have the ability to turn this situation around quickly.

 

[TriplecHamp]

]Moss and Fitz are totally different WR's at this point of their careers.

Fitz is the complete package. He can run every route and jump through into the sky to catch the football. [/B]

However, to answer the OP's question, Fitzgerald could've avoided this situation had he thought about his options before signing a contract with a flukey team and catching passes from a QB who was at the twilight of his career.

While it's understandable, sometimes players get caught up in how much their going to get paid now instead of looking at the bigger picture.

With that said, I'd love to have Fitzgerald and the Pats certainly have the ammunition and believe he could be had at the right price.

History has shown the Cardinals don't have the ability to turn this situation around quickly.

Fitzgerald is the elite of the elite, no doubt about it. Hes also a lot younger than Moss but Im not sure that with the way Brady is spreading the ball around post-Moss that the team would feel the need for an elite receive as opposed to keeping those picks and grooming what we have or drafting our own WR to fit what the Pats are doing now right now. It would be interesting to see what they do this offseason.

 

[CheeseMonkeys]

That would be awesome if we could get him but we won't. I just do not see that ever happening. And Please people, Ochocinco to the Pats is just stupid to hope for. I would never want him here anyway.

 

[brady199]

If this was baseball, I might agree with you. But it's not. There is a salary cap. And Fitzgerald would want a new deal if traded. So that is going to lower his value.

3/11/2008: Signed a four-year, $40 million contract w/NTC. The deal contains $30 million guaranteed, including a $15 million signing bonus, and a $9 million option bonus and $3.1 million roster bonus in the second year. If Fitzgerald is franchise tagged in 2012, he must be paid $23 million that season. 2010: $6.3 million, 2011: $7 million, 2012: $5 million, 2013: Free Agent

Thats was his last deal signed from rotoworld, not sure why it says if he is Franchised in 2012 he will get 23 Mill, maybe they meant 2013 since thats when he will be a FA, but if he's got that clause then, I would want to give him a new contract for at least 5 years if We were gonna give up valuable picks.

This guy is worth the money, he's kinda old school the way he goes about his business, and to the poster that said they would be happy with him or VJAX, there is a huge difference in value and mental stability between the two.

The only negative is we would have to put up with his Father.:bricks:

 

[Taxed in Maine]

You lost me; don't the Pats have their own seven picks, plus four others (Oakland's 1st, Carolina's 2nd, Minnesota's 3rd, and New Orleans' 6th) for a total of 11 picks? The worst that could happen is the Pats don't gain any comp picks; they don't take any away for signing free agents. Besides, I can't imagine either of those two being more than a 7th in the comp formula.

NE got a 6th from NO for TE Thomas plus their own 6th and their own 7th.

They traded a 6th away in the Maroney Trade.
They got Ojinnaka from Atlatna for an undisclosed pick
They got Page from KC for an undisclosed pick

More than likely those 3 trades will eat the 3 picks they have in the 6th & 7th.

Leaving the two 1s, two 2s, two 3s, a 4th and a 5th.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

You lost me; don't the Pats have their own seven picks, plus four others (Oakland's 1st, Carolina's 2nd, Minnesota's 3rd, and New Orleans' 6th) for a total of 11 picks? The worst that could happen is the Pats don't gain any comp picks; they don't take any away for signing free agents. Besides, I can't imagine either of those two being more than a 7th in the comp formula.

No.

OAK 1 (for Seymour)
NE 1
CAR 2 (from 2010 draft)
NE 2
MIN 3 (for Moss)
NE 3
DEN 4 (for Maroney, gone for Branch)
NE 4
NE 5
NO 6 (for Thomas)
NE 6 (gone for Maroney)
NE 7 (gone for Ojinnaka)

And there's still the undisclosed pick for Jarrad Page (Tracy White was a conditional(?) 2012 pick, and the Vikings got NE's 2012 7 as part of the Moss deal).

So the Pats only have nine picks ATM, and might only have eight.

 

[serifyn]

do i want him? yes.

will we get him? no chance in hell.

Belichick Believes in team building through the draft, even when he traded for welker and moss he didnt end up giving up a whole lot for those players, and they signed for cheap.

Larry Fitzgerald is going to want alot of money and The Cards wont give him up for anything less than a solid 2nd.

Right now this team has greater priorities than WR such as rebuilding our O-lane in the offseason and helping out the defense, brady has proven that he can succeed with a bunch of no-name guys and he alone is winning games for this team.

unless larry fitzgerald is going to help our 3rd down defense, i cant see him in a patriots uniform, as much as i would love having him here.

i know most people want to see alot of big flashy plays between brady and larry, but this team has evolved, its now more of a short play, clock management team, we've seen a respectable run game for the first time in half a decade and if we cant to maintain this strength, the O-line must be Bolstered and maintained.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

do i want him? yes.

will we get him? no chance in hell.

Belichick Believes in team building through the draft, even when he traded for welker and moss he didnt end up giving up a whole lot for those players, and they signed for cheap.

Larry Fitzgerald is going to want alot of money and The Cards wont give him up for anything less than a solid 2nd.

Right now this team has greater priorities than WR such as rebuilding our O-lane in the offseason and helping out the defense, brady has proven that he can succeed with a bunch of no-name guys and he alone is winning games for this team.

unless larry fitzgerald is going to help our 3rd down defense, i cant see him in a patriots uniform, as much as i would love having him here.

i know most people want to see alot of big flashy plays between brady and larry, but this team has evolved, its now more of a short play, clock management team, we've seen a respectable run game for the first time in half a decade and if we cant to maintain this strength, the O-line must be Bolstered and maintained.

2008 just called. It said, "WTF?"

[Seriously—this year, the Pats are averaging 112 YPG on the ground—16th overall—and 4.3 YPC. In 2008, the Pats had 142 YPG—6th in the NFL—and 4.4 YPC!]

 

[Patsfanin Philly]

You lost me; don't the Pats have their own seven picks, plus four others (Oakland's 1st, Carolina's 2nd, Minnesota's 3rd, and New Orleans' 6th) for a total of 11 picks? The worst that could happen is the Pats don't gain any comp picks; they don't take any away for signing free agents. Besides, I can't imagine either of those two being more than a 7th in the comp formula.

Compensatory pick- one likely for losing Watson/Jarvis Green offset by signing Crumpler, likely a 6th or 7th rounder....if you follow adamjt13's tabulations...

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Compensatory pick- one likely for losing Watson/Jarvis Green offset by signing Crumpler, likely a 6th or 7th rounder....if you follow adamjt13's tabulations...

The Donkeys cut Green, so he doesn't qualify; Watson and Crumpler do, and likely offset, so the best case scenario is a comp 7. Frankly, I expect no comp picks at all, and will look at any gained as gravy.

 

[Ron Sellers]

NE got a 6th from NO for TE Thomas plus their own 6th and their own 7th.

They traded a 6th away in the Maroney Trade.
They got Ojinnaka from Atlatna for an undisclosed pick
They got Page from KC for an undisclosed pick

More than likely those 3 trades will eat the 3 picks they have in the 6th & 7th.

Leaving the two 1s, two 2s, two 3s, a 4th and a 5th.

No.

OAK 1 (for Seymour)
NE 1
CAR 2 (from 2010 draft)
NE 2
MIN 3 (for Moss)
NE 3
DEN 4 (for Maroney, gone for Branch)
NE 4
NE 5
NO 6 (for Thomas)
NE 6 (gone for Maroney)
NE 7 (gone for Ojinnaka)

And there's still the undisclosed pick for Jarrad Page (Tracy White was a conditional(?) 2012 pick, and the Vikings got NE's 2012 7 as part of the Moss deal).

So the Pats only have nine picks ATM, and might only have eight.

Compensatory pick- one likely for losing Watson/Jarvis Green offset by signing Crumpler, likely a 6th or 7th rounder....if you follow adamjt13's tabulations...

:bricks:

My bad. When I read Da Bruinz comment about "comp" it registered in my cranium as compensatory pick, not compensation (i.e., undisclosed draft pick). I should have known better, DB is usually pretty informed with his comments.

I had forgotten about the 6th as part of the Maroney trade, and should have put 2+2 together with the comment about Ojinnaka and Page rather than jump to the conclusion about compensatory picks.


Thanks all for setting the record straight.