Fencer
Pro Bowl Player
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2006
- Messages
- 14,293
- Reaction score
- 3,986
We frequently see ideas along the lines of dumping a guy because we have so much other talent at his position. But when does that ever really come into play?
This offseason, the Pats are for the second time letting a good kicker go (the other was Robbie Gould). And Cassell was shipped out. But other than at the "There can only be one" positions, examples are scanty of guys who were let go for reasons of excessive depth, and then missed.
On defense, there's been the occasional JAG DB we might have liked back in our worst injury year, but anybody better has pretty clearly moved on for reasons of money, not roster space.
On offense there have been a few guys who started elsewhere, but which of them have been better than Pats who got reps at the time? (Thomas at TE? Perhaps. Who else?) Probably some WR examples, given that Slater or Aikman got the occasional snap, but they aren't jumping to mind.
Another area may be STs -- Sean Morey went on to be a Pro Bowler after he left. But overall, if there's a guy who's useful, who's not overpaid, and who didn't generally burn his bridges, he winds up staying and getting snaps as injuries, packages, etc. progress.
This offseason, the Pats are for the second time letting a good kicker go (the other was Robbie Gould). And Cassell was shipped out. But other than at the "There can only be one" positions, examples are scanty of guys who were let go for reasons of excessive depth, and then missed.
On defense, there's been the occasional JAG DB we might have liked back in our worst injury year, but anybody better has pretty clearly moved on for reasons of money, not roster space.
On offense there have been a few guys who started elsewhere, but which of them have been better than Pats who got reps at the time? (Thomas at TE? Perhaps. Who else?) Probably some WR examples, given that Slater or Aikman got the occasional snap, but they aren't jumping to mind.
Another area may be STs -- Sean Morey went on to be a Pro Bowler after he left. But overall, if there's a guy who's useful, who's not overpaid, and who didn't generally burn his bridges, he winds up staying and getting snaps as injuries, packages, etc. progress.