My ideal, but realistic free agency

[Rob0729]

Ok, here is what I am hoping for in free agency. I am trying to be realistic and not predicting things that will never happen like the Pats signing Aso, Holmes, or any other big name free agent:

1.) Sign Mathias Kiwanuka (although I think the Pats are more likely signing Matt Roth)
2.) Resign Brandon McGowan, Jarrad Page, and Matt Light - All would be short term deals. I think Light will take a hometown discount, but the Pats will have to be somewhat competitive. He is the least likely to return of the three.
3.) Sign James Jones - versatile WR who can run any route and won't be commanding top dollar since I don't think Belichick will spend the money to get one of the top guys like Holmes, Rice, or Floyd. This guy has the chance to really breakout.
4.) Sign Marcus Spears - The guy was better under Parcells' system than Wade Phillips'. Has been a solid player, but really fell short of his first round status. Will come at a bargain. The Pats may be all set at DE though.

 

[patriot lifer]

Ok, here is what I am hoping for in free agency. I am trying to be realistic and not predicting things that will never happen like the Pats signing Aso, Holmes, or any other big name free agent:

1.) Sign Mathias Kiwanuka (although I think the Pats are more likely signing Matt Roth)
2.) Resign Brandon McGowan, Jarrad Page, and Matt Light - All would be short term deals. I think Light will take a hometown discount, but the Pats will have to be somewhat competitive. He is the least likely to return of the three.
3.) Sign James Jones - versatile WR who can run any route and won't be commanding top dollar since I don't think Belichick will spend the money to get one of the top guys like Holmes, Rice, or Floyd. This guy has the chance to really breakout.
4.) Sign Marcus Spears - The guy was better under Parcells' system than Wade Phillips'. Has been a solid player, but really fell short of his first round status. Will come at a bargain. The Pats may be all set at DE though.

In regards to #2: 2 safeties? Not a big Sanders fan are we? I agree that McGowan would be cheap, but I'm not sure about Page.

 

[SeanBruschi54]

Ok, here is what I am hoping for in free agency. I am trying to be realistic and not predicting things that will never happen like the Pats signing Aso, Holmes, or any other big name free agent:

1.) Sign Mathias Kiwanuka (although I think the Pats are more likely signing Matt Roth)
2.) Resign Brandon McGowan, Jarrad Page, and Matt Light - All would be short term deals. I think Light will take a hometown discount, but the Pats will have to be somewhat competitive. He is the least likely to return of the three.
3.) Sign James Jones - versatile WR who can run any route and won't be commanding top dollar since I don't think Belichick will spend the money to get one of the top guys like Holmes, Rice, or Floyd. This guy has the chance to really breakout.
4.) Sign Marcus Spears - The guy was better under Parcells' system than Wade Phillips'. Has been a solid player, but really fell short of his first round status. Will come at a bargain. The Pats may be all set at DE though.

Matt Light refused the contract we offered him pre lockout.

Hell no to James Jones

Also dont think we have a chance at Roth or Kiwi.

Marcus Spears is crap.

 

[Rob0729]

In regards to #2: 2 safeties? Not a big Sanders fan are we? I agree that McGowan would be cheap, but I'm not sure about Page.

I forgot about Sanders on the roster, but word is that he might be traded.

 

[Rob0729]

Matt Light refused the contract we offered him pre lockout.

Yeah, so? If this was a regular offseason, even if he ultimately decided to resign with the Patriots he would decline a contract until he got to free agency unless the Pats' offer was really overpaying for him. Light has nothing to lose by checking out free agency and then take the Pats' deal if the offers aren't there.

Hell no to James Jones

I kinda like the guy. He wouldn't be my first choice if all things are equal, but I don't think the Pats will sign a top tier free agent WR. Between him and the older guys on their last legs, Jones is the better choice IMHO.
Also dont think we have a chance at Roth or Kiwi.

Marcus Spears is crap.

Marcus Spears isn't crap. He isn't bad. He is one of those guys who came in as a first round pick with lofty expectations and turned into a guy who can be a solid, but unremarkable starter who is a victim of his own expectations. He would come here and be more likely to be a starter on this roster than anyone other than Ty Warren or maybe Mike Wright (although Wright is more of a subpackage specialist). Brace and Pryor have yet to show the consistency. I think Marcus Stroud may have something left, but I would rather have Spears at this point.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

I forgot about Sanders on the roster, but word is that he might be traded.

Word is always that he might be traded.

 

[SeanBruschi54]

Yeah, so? If this was a regular offseason, even if he ultimately decided to resign with the Patriots he would decline a contract until he got to free agency unless the Pats' offer was really overpaying for him. Light has nothing to lose by checking out free agency and then take the Pats' deal if the offers aren't there.



I kinda like the guy. He wouldn't be my first choice if all things are equal, but I don't think the Pats will sign a top tier free agent WR. Between him and the older guys on their last legs, Jones is the better choice IMHO.
Also dont think we have a chance at Roth or Kiwi.



Marcus Spears isn't crap. He isn't bad. He is one of those guys who came in as a first round pick with lofty expectations and turned into a guy who can be a solid, but unremarkable starter who is a victim of his own expectations. He would come here and be more likely to be a starter on this roster than anyone other than Ty Warren or maybe Mike Wright (although Wright is more of a subpackage specialist). Brace and Pryor have yet to show the consistency. I think Marcus Stroud may have something left, but I would rather have Spears at this point.

Touche sir

Egh i dont care for him. Its a matter of personal opinion and you def have the right to yours of course.

Spears never turned into the guy that Parcells expected him to be, which is why i think Parcells would tell BB to stay away. And Beli and Parcells still do keep contact and im pretty sure since parcells is out he wouldnt mind giving him an expectation.

 

[JoeSixPat]

I've been of the opinion for awhile that much work between agents, free agents themselves, undrafted rookie free agents, and between organizations regarding trades has been going on behind the scenes for quite some time.

This article makes note of similar efforts taking place before the lockout at the Combine - though I tend to think conversations have continued whether "legal" or not, with few organizations or players having any interest in leveling tampering charges this year.

NFL teams got head start on free agency during combine - chicagotribune.com

I think free agency will still be quite "wild" - but I continue to think that BB has a plan in place and maybe even some agreements ready to go.

Regardless, all things being equal, the Patriots are MUCH better off than other teams lack starting QBs or other key positions heading into the shortened free agency (not to mention the shortened practice time prior to the regular season)

 

[Rob0729]

Touche sir

Egh i dont care for him. Its a matter of personal opinion and you def have the right to yours of course.

Spears never turned into the guy that Parcells expected him to be, which is why i think Parcells would tell BB to stay away. And Beli and Parcells still do keep contact and im pretty sure since parcells is out he wouldnt mind giving him an expectation.

I don't know if Parcells hates Spears. Word was that before he left Miami that Parcells tried to trade to get Spears, but Jerry Jones wouldn't give him up unless Parcells seriously overpaid for him. Just because he didn't turn into the player Parcells hoped for, doesn't mean that Parcells didn't value his contribution anyway.

BTW, I forgot to respond to you Kiwanuka and Roth comment. I think both guys will have less of a market than you think. I think the fans are more hot on them than most teams will be. Kiwanuka has a big injury concern. Roth doesn't have the track record. Although with a lot of teams having to spend a lot of money, you never know.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

I've been of the opinion for awhile that much work between agents, free agents themselves, undrafted rookie free agents, and between organizations regarding trades has been going on behind the scenes for quite some time.

This article makes note of similar efforts taking place before the lockout at the Combine - though I tend to think conversations have continued whether "legal" or not, with few organizations or players having any interest in leveling tampering charges this year.

NFL teams got head start on free agency during combine - chicagotribune.com

I think free agency will still be quite "wild" - but I continue to think that BB has a plan in place and maybe even some agreements ready to go.

Regardless, all things being equal, the Patriots are MUCH better off than other teams lack starting QBs or other key positions heading into the shortened free agency (not to mention the shortened practice time prior to the regular season)

Aside from hinting at interest, I really doubt a lot of deals have been negotiated ahead of FA given that FO's didn't know what the cap was going to be or how money was going to be treated until last week.

 

[fester]

I forgot about Sanders on the roster, but word is that he might be traded.

The only word that Sanders may be traded is from delusional posters on Patsfans.com who can't believe that Sanders is actually a valuable contributor.

 

[Rob0729]

The only word that Sanders may be traded is from delusional posters on Patsfans.com who can't believe that Sanders is actually a valuable contributor.

Well, someone might give a late round conditional pick. They are not going to get more than a conditional 5th or 6th, but even that is not a likely scenario.

 

[JoeSixPat]

3.) Sign James Jones - versatile WR who can run any route and won't be commanding top dollar since I don't think Belichick will spend the money to get one of the top guys like Holmes, Rice, or Floyd. This guy has the chance to really breakout.

I could really grow to like such a signing - it might or might not address what I think is a need for a deep WR threat - but Brady likes all around WRs who can run accurate routes more than one trick ponies and having some long-term versatile WR help would be a big plus.

He might even have the deep WR skills I think we need (though just hasn't been called on t showcase it)

If deep WR is indeed a priority, I can't help but wonder whether Donte Stallworth has anything left. He didn't have a bad season with Brady, but at $6 million for year #2, and with Moss already in the fold, barring a 200 catch season he was going to be cut from the Patriots that season no matter what.

Since he was cut from the Patriots I've been watching to see if it could be determined whether he still had his pre-Patriots deep threat skills. Unfortunately for Donte, injuries and incarceration have prevented him from proving that one way or another ever since 2007.

That being said, even in his prime I don't think Stallworth is as good an all-around WR and route runner as others available or already on the team.

But if he can be that one trick pony, beating DBs deep on a simple fly route, he could probably be had quite cheaply, and offers the plus of already being familiar with the team, Brady and vice versa.

This team can go far without a deep threat WR - but how far is the question, and I see no reason not to handicap Brady by going into a season without a deep threat WR as was the case in 2006 with Reche Caldwell (though our other WRs are much better today).

 

[patriot lifer]

So is James Jones basically the equivalent of Jabar Gaffney? Or slightly better?

 

[QB12]

Given his familiarity with the system, and the drastically shortened pre-season, I think its Donte Stallworth's gig to lose. Whether he ultimately makes the team, however, remains to be seen.

 

[SeanBruschi54]

Given his familiarity with the system, and the drastically shortened pre-season, I think its Donte Stallworth's gig to lose. Whether he ultimately makes the team, however, remains to be seen.

Familiarity? Thats the reason he was cut! He couldnt become familiar!

 

[Rob0729]

Familiarity? Thats the reason he was cut! He couldnt become familiar!

He was cut because he was due a huge roster bonus and he wasn't worth the money he was being offered. I am not advocating getting him back because his role did diminish over the season in 2007, but his familiarity to the playbook was not why he was cut.

 

[DW Toys]

The only word that Sanders may be traded is from delusional posters on Patsfans.com who can't believe that Sanders is actually a valuable contributor.

Delusional? That would be me. $3m for a backup safety with mediocre ability is not the smart move methinks, Cousin. Rather give it to Light and resign Page.

Brown has a year under his belt and they did sign Barrett. Dowling might be a Safety for BB or even Arrington.

A waste of $3m when we have other needs.For a little more you can get Weddle with more range, just as smart and more 2010 tackles. Call me delusional. There are better values.

This is one mans opinion. We have others here who liken him to Ed Reed though. He does not start here.
DW Toys

 

[PATSNUTme]

Here is a FA list. Click on the position for the complete list and status. The front page is just a listing of their top FA's regardless of position.

Scout.com: 2011 NFL Free Agency Rankings

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Delusional? That would be me. $3m for a backup safety with mediocre ability is not the smart move methinks, Cousin. Rather give it to Light and resign Page.

CB Devin McCourty -- 1,050 of 1,101 (95.4 percent)
S Brandon Meriweather -- 881 of 1,101 (80.0 percent)
CB Kyle Arrington -- 849 of 1,101 (77.1 percent)
S Patrick Chung -- 796 of 1,101 (72.3 percent)
S James Sanders -- 779 of 1,101 (70.8 percent)
CB Darius Butler -- 381 of 1,101 (34.6 percent)
CB Jonathan Wilhite-- 204 of 1,101 (18.5 percent)
S Jarrad Page -- 186 of 1,101 (16.9 percent)
S Sergio Brown -- 86 of 1,101 (7.8 percent)
S Aaron Hernandez -- 2 of 1,101 (.2 percent)
S Randy Moss -- 1 of 1,101 (.1 percent)