Re: Roster thoughts
Every year we see this nonsense from posters, and every year Belichick ignores posters and has at least two veteran special teams only players on the 53 man squad. Perhaps Belichick will find an upgrade to Slater and White for these two special teams positions, perhaps not. Brown might be considered a 3rd ST only player, although he did play some garbage time at safety (ditto for Murrell at emergency LB).
The reality is that once we have the final roster, there will be 2-4 players who are on the team to play special teams (not counting returners, kickers, dep snappers and holders).
Anyway, my point is that I seriously believe that the cuts (or losses in the case of White) will be at the special teams only positions such as Slater, and even possibly T.White--depending upon his status. The addition of so many draft picks with ST skills has made that specific position expendable in my opinion, even if it means taking a step down at the gunner position.
We'll have to agree to disagree on this one mg. Regardless, I hardly think it is considered "nonsense." You may claim that 'every yr we see this prediction,' but the fact is that the past 2 drafts have provided a very heavy special teams presence, and that should make guys like Matthew Slater expendable. That is not a 'nonsensical' thought on any level. Fact is that Tracey White may not even be back--that also could trim a ST-only player right there. There are also many here who think that Matt Slater is hanging on for dear life, this is not my original thought, nor it is 'nonsense.'
And it has absolutely nothing at all to do with, as you put it "finding an upgrade to Slater or White," it has to do with using a guy who was drafted to play an actual position on special teams--during one of the more competitive roster yrs in recent memory due to the high number of athletic draft picks in rounds 1-3 the past two drafts. That will certainly add to the challenge of cutting down the roster to 53, and it is my opinion that Belichick drafted guys that can do BOTH in his most recent couple of drafts. The fact the you claim 'this nonsense happens every yr' is totally irrelevant because we have not had the recent turnover that we've had in the past two drafts with a loading of youth and speed. Any examples that you have from past yrs are totally irrelevant IMO.
As far as Sergio Brown playing 'garbage time,' that is a bit of a stretch. Especially considering that he played a vital part in the 23-20 absolute nailbiter game vs San Diego. I will concur that he did not play anything close to a high number of snaps, but he did step in nicely considering that he was a very green rookie signed off the practice squad. I believe that he did absolutely nothing to make Belichick leery of having him as the #5 safety this yr if necessary. It is certainly a possibility.
Here is a great article on him, what Belichick thinks of him, and his special teams presence. I think he has a decent shot as being our 5th safety, especially depending on what now happens to Page likely being a UFA. Brown provides versatility on both the corner and safety level (mainly safety, but has played CB--one of the reasons Caserio picked him), and offers good financial value, and plays well on special teams. He is one of the kinds of guys I am referring to when I speak of the ST only players being trimmed by a guy who actually...plays a position.
Yes, you are likely correct that there will be a player or two that is ST only, but one would have to think that with roster spots being extremely competitive due to the youth of the team + the high number of recent draft picks, I still think that this ST-only position gets trimmed by a player or two. I do not see how that is even remotely close to 'nonsense?'
Just out of curiosity--if you do not agree with my assessment that we could trim the roster with the following, exactly WHERE would you see the room for an additional QB and TE come from?
--OL
--ST only
--possible trim from 6 to 5 CB's
I do not see how or why this 'theory' would be considered so strange to you, and I'd have to think that there would be many other posters who would agree to some level. At the very least they'd agree that it's a possibility. If I remember correctly (and I do) you and a couple of other well-known posters had an awful lot to say last year, when I correctly predicted that we would carry an extra DL to 7.
Sergio Brown lauded as 'great example' - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston