Meriweather - Do you want him back?

[Kontradiction]

I absolutely, positively want Meriweather back. He's solid in coverage, good in run support, is a ballhawk, and lays the wood on opposing receivers whenever he gets the chance over the middle. He's pretty much solid in all aspects of his game. Chung is solid in run support, is a good wrap up tackler, and is sure handed when he gets his hands on the ball. However, he's still a bit of a liability in coverage. We've seen that a few times over the course of the season. Until Chung's coverage abilities improve (and they will, he improved quite a bit from his rookie year to this year), it would be absolutely stupid to let Meriweather go unless there's a better option available on the roster. Personally, I don't see one right now.

 

[Dufflebagz]

I have liked Meriweather since we drafted him. Idk why but he gets a lot of hate on here, he's solid....his biggest problem is that he freelances and always tries to go for the big hit. Sometimes he's caught out of position while he's roaming around and sometimes he makes a big play. Sometimes he misses tackles but some of those big hits are gonna make receivers think twice about going over the middle again or it can force a fumble. He's the best safety we have atm.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Seahawks strip sack to end game come to mind?

INT verse bills this year..and Colts. big plays to help us win because we barely won those games

His decapitation of Todd Heap had as much to do with the Pats beating the Ravens as any other single play. Not that I condone the hit, but it definitely swung the game.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Meriweather needs to tackle better but the guy is always fired up and in the games to make the receiver pay
...Better than some unemotional player out there.

 

[Guts]

Agree with everything Kontradiction said. Pretty much we need a dirty player out there to abuse the receivers.

 

[italian pat patriot]

absolutely yes, i hope he will be back as a Patriot

 

[mgteich]

We'd keep him for next year, even if he were the #5 safety.

Meriweather is the last year and is inexpensive. If he goes, it will be before the 2012 season. Of course, he could be traded this year if Belichick didn't think he were valuable to the team.

With 5 safeties on the team, Meriweather played 88% of the defensive reps. I do think that this number speaks for itself. But the cognitively challenged, this suggests that Meriweather's play has been acceptable to Belichick.

 

[QuinielaBox]

Yes - but he needs to play agressive and physical and not be afraid to take PF and/or a fine. I'm surprised he'll only make 650 K. When they levy 50 K fines for helmet to helmet hits on players, there goes your game check (and then some).

 

[condon84]

Why wouldn't we want one of our best defenders to come back? He's got the best range amongst our safeties, and he hits like a mack truck. I cringed at how Sanders defended that long Cotchery completion in the fourth quarter. He could have minimized that completion to a ten yard gain if he wasn't limited physically like he is.

So yeah, more of Merriweather and less of Sanders. If we insist on having a three man rotation, get Champ Bailey who has expressed his desire to play safety to prolong his career, who would be perfect next to Chung as the deep safety and would allow Merriweather to roam, where he is at his best.

 

[emoney_33]

His decapitation of Todd Heap had as much to do with the Pats beating the Ravens as any other single play. Not that I condone the hit, but it definitely swung the game.

I'm not sure we can say it definitely swung that game. At times it seems that Meriweather takes more bad angles and makes more whiffs than he does big hits. I want the guy back, he's a SOLID player but I fear he'll command more than he's worth based on his pro-bowl marketability.

 

[JackBauer]

Clearly what we should do is get rid of one of our better defensive players. More self-inflicted wounds in the offseason would be a terrific approach to retooling for next season. After all, it's not like we have glaring needs elsewhere.

 

[Keyser Söze]

One of my least favorite players...

Doesnt show a high football IQ and his horrible angles to the ball make me fume.

 

[emoney_33]

Clearly what we should do is get rid of one of our better defensive players. More self-inflicted wounds in the offseason would be a terrific approach to retooling for next season. After all, it's not like we have glaring needs elsewhere.

It's not about "getting rid of" anyone, it's business as usual. The Patriots are usually extremely good with valuation of players in their system. The question is how much more will other teams pay and what will Meriweather want to do.

 

[Keyser Söze]

Clearly what we should do is get rid of one of our better defensive players. More self-inflicted wounds in the offseason would be a terrific approach to retooling for next season. After all, it's not like we have glaring needs elsewhere.

Werent you the one who would constantly battle anyone who wanted Maroney gone?

 

[ATippett56]

If the New England Patriots organization is seriously pushing Meriweather out the door, what is the alternative? Who moves over to free safety next season that is currently on the New England Patriots roster? The New England Patriots have FAR greater draft needs with regard to the defensive line, offensive line, and outside linebacker! With the uncertainty of the new CBA and free agency, this does not make any sense whatsoever. Since Meriweather is under contract for another season, he is at worst a solid backup free safety.

 

[JackBauer]

Werent you the one who would constantly battle anyone who wanted Maroney gone?

What does that have to do with anything?

 

[JackBauer]

It's not about "getting rid of" anyone, it's business as usual. The Patriots are usually extremely good with valuation of players in their system. The question is how much more will other teams pay and what will Meriweather want to do.

While the OP is ambiguous, I read it as being in reference to next season. Since Meriweather is under contract through next season, if they got rid of him prior, my statement stands. It's rather pointless to speculate about re-signing him after next year since to my knowledge we don't know what kind of money he's looking for yet.

 

[patsfan-1982]

He's pretty much the only guy on this defense that opposing players have any reason to fear, so definitely.

yep i agree with this 100%

 

[emoney_33]

While the OP is ambiguous, I read it as being in reference to next season. Since Meriweather is under contract through next season, if they got rid of him prior, my statement stands. It's rather pointless to speculate about re-signing him after next year since to my knowledge we don't know what kind of money he's looking for yet.

To be honest, I didn't check the contract status and just assumed his contract was up based on the OP. I'm a little dumbfounded as to the OP's question now given that I know Meriweather is under contract next season. Unless there's a high value trade offered (along with the organization's feelings that there is little chance to bring him back at their value past 2011) then there's absolutely no reason for Meriweather not to be in a Patriots uniform.

 

[blackglass3]

His decapitation of Todd Heap had as much to do with the Pats beating the Ravens as any other single play. Not that I condone the hit, but it definitely swung the game.

It was definatley in players minds after that. Remeber Patrick Crayton seeing Meriweather coming and flinching instead of catching a few balls over the middle? I can't remember others off the top of my head, but I am sure there are more examples.