What Pats veterans are likely to not return in 2011?

[PatsFans.com Article]

What Pats veterans are likely to not return in 2011?
By: John Morgan

Here is a look at 17 veteran Patriot players that potentially may not be on the roster when the 2011 season begins for the Pats in September....

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[RayClay]

Very good analysis there. I wouldn't be surprised to see both Warrens back for a year. Still hoping for a young DE replacement soon.

I was accused of hating because I didn't think the Patriots were going to give Matt Light a 3 million dollar a year raise.

hmm...Not a hater, not my fault

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Fred Taylor will retire and Sammy Morris will likely be gone.

I don't see Kevin Faulk returning either.

2 maybe 3 OL may be gone as well

You may need a game program at Gillette to recognize the new crop of RBs and OL in Foxboro in 2011

 

[jmt57]

One other minor addition to that list of players that could potentially be gone would be Matt Katula. If Lee Smith makes the roster then there's no reason to keep him.

Patriots.com - Transcript: Lee Smith Conference Call

Question: With your long snapping, how competitive do you feel in that area? Do you feel like you could do that here in the NFL?

Lee Smith: Yes, sir. And he did it for a long time, and I think he played 13 or 14 years. And at that position, it can add 2 or 3 years to a player's football career. And I feel like anything that allows me to play in the National Football League for even an extra year is something that's worth working at every day. That's been my passion my whole life. I love playing football. I love the competition. I love the camaraderie. If there's someone in New England that can get me right on my long snapping, I definitely could use a tweak here and there on it, but it's something that I'd be wiling to definitely learn how to do. I feel like if you have a tight end on the roster and he can also be your long snapper, it adds a roster spot somewhere else, so it can be nothing but helpful to me and the Patriots.

 

[mgteich]

There is a difference between someone who can deep snap and someone who does it as his career. It is indeed important to have a player or two who can deep snap in case your snapper in injured. We all recall the rams having to hire a player off the streets when their snapper was injured. Belichick could change his mind, but for years he has been willing to use a position to secure a deep snapper.

Obviously, if it is close, we could cut our current deep snapper. But, I don't think that the competition will be close.

One other minor addition to that list of players that could potentially be gone would be Matt Katula. If Lee Smith makes the roster then there's no reason to keep him.

Patriots.com - Transcript: Lee Smith Conference Call

Question: With your long snapping, how competitive do you feel in that area? Do you feel like you could do that here in the NFL?

Lee Smith: Yes, sir. And he did it for a long time, and I think he played 13 or 14 years. And at that position, it can add 2 or 3 years to a player's football career. And I feel like anything that allows me to play in the National Football League for even an extra year is something that's worth working at every day. That's been my passion my whole life. I love playing football. I love the competition. I love the camaraderie. If there's someone in New England that can get me right on my long snapping, I definitely could use a tweak here and there on it, but it's something that I'd be wiling to definitely learn how to do. I feel like if you have a tight end on the roster and he can also be your long snapper, it adds a roster spot somewhere else, so it can be nothing but helpful to me and the Patriots.

 

[Fencer]

Reasons BB likes a specialist long snapper include:

* Orderly practices. The guy doesn't have to practice anywhere else, and hence can work with the kickers and holder.
* Injury. If the long snapper gets injured doing something else, you have two roster slots with problems.

He likes having the punter be a holder for the same reason.

I forget when the interview(s) was I'm taking this from, but I believe it was in the past few years.