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CLICK HERE to Register for a free account and login for a smoother ad-free experience. It's easy, and only takes a few moments.Interesting, one might make the argument athletically for an upgrade over Sanders, yet I fail to see an upgrade for the more challenging mental aspects of the position. One could make a case for Chung showing a fair grasp of this role, but I do not believe he's yet a match for Sanders as a Field General ... I don't think it necessary to dwell on Meriweather's performance. Adding another youngster is fine, but I think from an organizational perspective it falls well short of an upgrade (especially when I think back upon Moore's performance in the games I observed).
Tangentially: Bodden returns and pairs with Sanders in the veteran role and McCourty in the coverage assignment. Should NE elect to draft another young CB to develop and compete with Butler, Arrington, and Wilhite, one possible future might see Meriweather gone in Free Agency, Bodden moved to FS, and one of the youngsters teamed with McCourty.
I think that one of the reasons Page was given a 2nd round tender was because of the draft class.
I agree.
There wasn't much in the draft. So, Belichick signed Barrett to a long-term contract and now gave Page a tender. I also like Page. I think that we are in very good shape with
Meriweather, Sanders, Chung and Page.
Barrett, Brown and Lockett
The way I see it is if we stand pat we are not keeping up. Merriweather has the most pure talent but write this down, his agent will rape the Pats for his "Pro Bowl" Safety in 2012. Sanders who is a third rotation guy is scheduled to make almost $3m. I would not be shocked to see him as a CAP cut, nice 2010 year non-withstanding.
You are all correct. This is a weak Safety class. If you can sign a superior player like Weddle for your 28th pick (I know Seymour is the #17 result but I look at it this way the Seymour trade brought us back a top tier defensive player), you have a significant upgrade who is only 26 and can Team with Chung for years. Chung is still learning but I don't think anyone on this forum will doubt he has more upside than Sanders or Merriweather.
Please I know we had a mediocre pass rush but SD was not on the top of that list either. Only Phillips made the top 40 with sacks. Yet..........Their D was #1 in passing yards against.We were 30th. Weddle was purely the quarterback on their defensive backfield. He alone had almost 100 tackles. I will be called out of my mind, but I give up #28 for Weddle and try to get a second for Merriweather and something for Sanders and I am set with Weddle and Chung and Page and Barrett.
A major upgrade over Merriweather and Sanders. Plus between this year on Sanders salary and next year on Merriweathers "want or ask", maybe the least expensive end result.
You Cousins tell me at #28 who you can guarantee me that the kid will be better than Weddle who is an upper tier NFL player, as to what said kid can bring more to the Team offensively or defensively? I see a wise choice for #28. You see it as a wasted first rounder you can pick up a Ayers or someone who might not even start. Is that a fair statement?
The question is are Sanders and Merriweather upgradable? Absolutely. I see Weddle as better than either. Is he Ronnie Lott? No, but he is younger than Sanders and more capable of setting up the DBs than Merriweather.
DW Toys
You haven't liked SANDERS since he arrived. He calls the defensive signals. He's here to stay as part of a 3-man safety rotation.
MERIWEATHER has done his job also. He will likely be gone after this season. Hyperbole isn't necessary. He will not "rape" the patriots. It is very likely that another team will pay hime more than we are willing to pay.
So, we have CHUNG and SANDERS for 2012. We also have 3 youngsters who are now playing special teams: Brown, Barrett and Lockett.
Finally, we have PAGE who very possibly might be one of the three man rotation for 2012.
BOTTOM LINE
This is the year where we would get a safety through the draft to develop for 2012. The players just aren't there. If we are to get a safety from free agency, we could either get one this year (and trade Meriweather) or wait until next year. There really is no particular reason to act now unless Belichick finds great value.
Belichick often acts one year earlier than others with declining veterans. Meriweather is NOT such a player. There is not urgency to trade him. We could just as well get one more year of service and take the compensatory pick.
Just to follow this up a bit. It needs to be remembered that we're talking about safeties here. Only tight ends and P/K get less money when franchised. The Patriots could easily franchise Meriweather next year (2010 franchise tag for a safety: $6.455m) and pull a safety out of that draft, if BB doesn't want to give Meriweather a long term deal.
You haven't liked SANDERS since he arrived. He calls the defensive signals. He's here to stay as part of a 3-man safety rotation.
MERIWEATHER has done his job also. He will likely be gone after this season. Hyperbole isn't necessary. He will not "rape" the patriots. It is very likely that another team will pay hime more than we are willing to pay.
So, we have CHUNG and SANDERS for 2012. We also have 3 youngsters who are now playing special teams: Brown, Barrett and Lockett.
Finally, we have PAGE who very possibly might be one of the three man rotation for 2012.
BOTTOM LINE
This is the year where we would get a safety through the draft to develop for 2012. The players just aren't there. If we are to get a safety from free agency, we could either get one this year (and trade Meriweather) or wait until next year. There really is no particular reason to act now unless Belichick finds great value.
Belichick often acts one year earlier than others with declining veterans. Meriweather is NOT such a player. There is not urgency to trade him. We could just as well get one more year of service and take the compensatory pick.
the chargers #1 pass D was a smokescreen, watch the bengals game
as for getting a 1st rounder for weddle, i'd love it , i like weddle but if some team wants to give a 1st for him, cool with me