Tom + Bill
Practice Squad Player
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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.First, let's admit the Pats squad of 90 or 80 was loaded with talent -- so much so that other teams scouts were in attendance at Pats preseason games in record numbers.
Second, one never begrudges players cut who are snapped up by other teams.
So we wake up today to a situation where Yeatman is with Miami, Smith with the Bills, Cohen is in Seattle, Austin in Houston, Maneri is waived and will certainly be claimed as was LeVoir by the Ravens and so on and on. Notice, I do NOT include those BB wanted gone from the Pats like Merriweather, Sanders and Tate, who all found new homes. I am focusing on the younger developmental talent with high ceilings (and relatively inexpensive) who are lost to the Pats and will be making their contributions elsewhere.
Surely, we all know BB wanted Smith or Yeatman to make it to the practice squad -- but they did NOT. Crumpler may be available for this year (who knows if his shoulder has healed) -- but he is not the longer term answer. Losing Maneri or LeVoir will hurt if Light or Solder or another OL-men get nicked. When that happens, BB will be scouring the wires for a veteran in shape to come in and play.
All this leads me to the following question about BB roster construction. Why not cut Anderson (pass rush specialist) who will be a FA -- and could likely be signed again, perhaps after week one. Why keep Ihedigbo or Molden who were available before and might be available later. Why not try to retain those who are likely to be lost to other teams.
I am not sure there is a right answer. And certainly we do not have access to the evaluation of players that BB and his coaches have. But as a matter of strategic choice, it would be instructive to learn how the tradeoffs are made -- and if BB has any regrets the morning after.
I have to assume some of these hard choices were forced by injuries.
Six corners, rather than a third tight end? Arrington left the last pre-season game limping badly, and Bodden hasn't played in a while. If both were healthy, I have a hard time seeing Bolden as more valuable than Yeatman or Smith.
Dropping an emerging, athletic tackle for a 34-year old guard? Injuries to Connolly, Ohrnberger, and Wendell seem to have forced this trade-off as well.
First, let's admit the Pats squad of 90 or 80 was loaded with talent -- so much so that other teams scouts were in attendance at Pats preseason games in record numbers..
Wow, you guys are really buying into this spin?
We are talking about bottom of the roster players, ST players, in one case, Meriweather, a starter, some teams will have an interest. Just the same that when a team likes the Jets doesn't resign a player in FA, like Edwards, Brad Smith, Jericho Cotchery, all teams have talent and bottom of the roster talent that appeal to other teams.
Other players from OTHER teams were released and claimed yesterday, it wasn't a Patriot only garage sale.
Why do fans insist on spinning this to make themselves feel better about the team?
What is really funny is the statement that the team when it was at 90 players, was a loaded team, now that the team has cut back to 53, isn't as talented. What kind of logic is this? The Pats went out and signed a bunch of 34+ year old veterans to fill big holes on the team, that isn't saying much about their talent or their depth, especially when they are releasing so many of the players they drafted in recent years.
It's true that it wasn't just Pats players getting claimed but with now 6 players picked up on waivers, with close to 20 waiver claims put in for those players, no other team comes remotely close to that number. I think it does say something to the depth if that many players that didn't make this team are thought so highly of.
If it says something for their depth, why are the Pats going out and picking up guys off of the retirement in waiting scrap heap?
I mean, I get it that the Pats may have had a couple of players that interest teams, Meriweather being the biggest player because he was a starter.
It's no different than the Jets looking at Maybin, or the Pats signing Ellis, and to an extent Ihedigbo.
But I don't get the dramatization about how the Pats had x number of players claimed by other teams so that means the Pats had a lot of depth...
I like 50 of our 53 man roster.
I EXCLUDE
Tarp (some might exclude White instead)
Molden
Ihedigbo
How many of you agree?
I understand that we have different opinions on whome we might have kept. This is where the binky factor comes in. Posters often overvalue players, especially inexperienced ones.
This time there are GM's who agree with the posters that several of our youngsters are ready for a 53-man squad, just not ours, 6 by last count, plus the vets (Page, Levoir, Tate, Meriweather and Sanders.
Apparently, for now, Belichick thinks the best use of these roster spots of for special teamers. That is in addition to SLATER and WHITE, our returning veteran special teams leaders. We all thought that 2 was about the right number for this category; Belichick thinks 5.
I DON'T THINK IT MATTERS MUCH
I think that we will make 1-3 more acquisitions before Game 2.
If it says something for their depth, why are the Pats going out and picking up guys off of the retirement in waiting scrap heap?
I mean, I get it that the Pats may have had a couple of players that interest teams, Meriweather being the biggest player because he was a starter.
It's no different than the Jets looking at Maybin, or the Pats signing Ellis, and to an extent Ihedigbo.
But I don't get the dramatization about how the Pats had x number of players claimed by other teams so that means the Pats had a lot of depth...
If it says something for their depth, why are the Pats going out and picking up guys off of the retirement in waiting scrap heap?
I mean, I get it that the Pats may have had a couple of players that interest teams, Meriweather being the biggest player because he was a starter.
It's no different than the Jets looking at Maybin, or the Pats signing Ellis, and to an extent Ihedigbo.
But I don't get the dramatization about how the Pats had x number of players claimed by other teams so that means the Pats had a lot of depth...
Because you can only keep so many players at certain positions and there were a couple positions where we didnt have depth becaue of injuries.
If it says something for their depth, why are the Pats going out and picking up guys off of the retirement in waiting scrap heap?
I mean, I get it that the Pats may have had a couple of players that interest teams, Meriweather being the biggest player because he was a starter.
It's no different than the Jets looking at Maybin, or the Pats signing Ellis, and to an extent Ihedigbo.
But I don't get the dramatization about how the Pats had x number of players claimed by other teams so that means the Pats had a lot of depth...