Lot Of Decisions This Week

[mgteich]

We need to decide regarding our RFA's and ERFA's. I presume Hoyer will get a 2nd, Lockett nothing and Love will get a contract a bit above the ERFA limit.

We also need to decide whether to put any offers in on RFA's.

Also, it will be most interesting to see which of our free agents are re-signed before free agency starts. We usually have several. Some are low-cost no-brainers (e.g. Slater and White). Even if they are later cut, it is low cost insurance to sign them now for camp.

Obviously, some of the players will wait to see offers from other teams. However, we should see some signings.

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

DE Anderson
WR Branch
DE Carter
OL Connolly
DE Ellis
RB Faulk
RB Green-Ellis
LB Guyton
S Ihedigbo
DB Jones
C Koppen
LB Koutovides
CB Molden
ST Slater
DL Warren
WR Welker
ST/LB White

 

[ay-yo]

We need to decide regarding our RFA's and ERFA's. I presume Hoyer will get a 2nd, Lockett nothing and Love will get a contract a bit above the ERFA limit.

We also need to decide whether to put any offers in on RFA's.

Also, it will be most interesting to see which of our free agents are re-signed before free agency starts. We usually have several. Some are low-cost no-brainers (e.g. Slater and White). Even if they are later cut, it is low cost insurance to sign them now for camp.

Obviously, some of the players will wait to see offers from other teams. However, we should see some signings.

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

DE Anderson
WR Branch
DE Carter
OL Connolly
DE Ellis
RB Faulk
RB Green-Ellis
LB Guyton
S Ihedigbo
DB Jones
C Koppen
LB Koutovides
CB Molden
ST Slater
DL Warren
WR Welker
ST/LB White

I could see us giving Hoyer a 3rd round tender. Especially if we have faith in Mallet and would rather have a pick than Hoyer.

Ideally we sign Anderson, Green-Ellis and Connoly before FA. I want Branch, Carter, Ihedigbo, Slater and White back as well but I don't see them being pursued aggressively by other teams.

 

[Gronkandez]

We need to decide regarding our RFA's and ERFA's. I presume Hoyer will get a 2nd, Lockett nothing and Love will get a contract a bit above the ERFA limit.

We also need to decide whether to put any offers in on RFA's.

Also, it will be most interesting to see which of our free agents are re-signed before free agency starts. We usually have several. Some are low-cost no-brainers (e.g. Slater and White). Even if they are later cut, it is low cost insurance to sign them now for camp.

Obviously, some of the players will wait to see offers from other teams. However, we should see some signings.

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

DE Anderson
WR Branch
DE Carter
OL Connolly
DE Ellis
RB Faulk
RB Green-Ellis
LB Guyton
S Ihedigbo
DB Jones
C Koppen
LB Koutovides
CB Molden
ST Slater
DL Warren
WR Welker
ST/LB White

You can cross Welker off the list. That's one down.

The more I think about it the more I think Hoyer will get the 2nd round tender, but if they get an offer for a 3rd or even a 4th rounder they may take it to save the cap rooom.

 

[Gronkandez]

I could see us giving Hoyer a 3rd round tender. Especially if we have faith in Mallet and would rather have a pick than Hoyer.

Ideally we sign Anderson, Green-Ellis and Connoly before FA. I want Branch, Carter, Ihedigbo, Slater and White back as well but I don't see them being pursued aggressively by other teams.

I didn't think there was such a thing as a 3rd round tender. Can someone confirm?

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Here is a better calendar from patriots.com. There are not a lot of decisions that have to be made this week. Just some. Teams must tender their RFA by Tuesday. Teams apparently can't sign RFA's to offer sheets until the 17th. RFA then have until April 21 to take with other teams and or sign offer sheets. Thereafter they can only re-sign with their team. Teams have until June 1 to replace tenders with 110% offers if the player hasn't accepted the RFA tender.


Key dates on the 2012 NFL calendar

 

[patsfaninpa]

I could see us giving Hoyer a 3rd round tender. Especially if we have faith in Mallet and would rather have a pick than Hoyer.

Ideally we sign Anderson, Green-Ellis and Connoly before FA. I want Branch, Carter, Ihedigbo, Slater and White back as well but I don't see them being pursued aggressively by other teams.

I think you have the key 3. M. Anderson, LawFirm and Connolly. I doubt we make a big splash. I'm thinking B. Lloyd - wr, Reggie Nelson - FS and Kendall Langford - 2Gap DE. Allows us to go into the draft without any holes in the starting lineup. My priorities would be a 2-gap de to rotate with Deaderick/Langford like D. Still. An olb to push Anderson. Maybe a guy like Mercilus, Perry or Branch. A wr we can develop. A cb to push the guys we have. In the 2nd could be Chase Minnifield and Marvin Jones.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Must resign/extend:

WR Welker
DE Anderson
WR Branch - Many may disagree but even if Welker is retained, he would be the only proven wideout on this team w/o Branch. Despite whatever draft/FA are brought in, I think we need Branch on the roster next year at the very least for leadership and insurance.
DE Carter
OL Connolly
ST Slater

For the right price:

RB Green-Ellis
S Ihedigbo
C Koppen
LB Koutovides
ST/LB White

 

[MoLewisrocks]

I didn't think there was such a thing as a 3rd round tender. Can someone confirm?

There isn't. It's a first, a second or orignal round, which for Hoyer is no compensation since he was an UDFA... There used to be a super tender of a first and third, but the new CBA eliminated that. The NFLPA wanted to force teams to use the tag on those players who warranted more than a first. There is also a rule that you cannot tag a former first round pick with the original round tag and receive compensation, you must tag him at the first round level or you will not receive any compensation if you lose him.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Must resign/extend:

WR Welker
DE Anderson
WR Branch - Many may disagree but even if Welker is retained, he would be the only proven wideout on this team w/o Branch. Despite whatever draft/FA are brought in, I think we need Branch on the roster next year at the very least for leadership and insurance.
DE Carter
OL Connolly
ST Slater

For the right price:

RB Green-Ellis
S Ihedigbo
C Koppen
LB Koutovides
ST/LB White

Welker is tagged. I think all the rest belong on the at the right price list. Carter and Branch will probably be easy because they want to be here and Branch has little value outside the system (again KC maybe). Slater too. Anderson may not, nor may Connolly. There are lots of OL options in FA and the draft, that can work either way. They reportedly have an offer on the table for Benny. Just not one he is willing to accept for now. I think unless he gets offered substantially more (and guaranteed) he will be back where he at least knows he is wanted and he is used. Koppen could land in KC, as could Connolly, because of the system. Other than that his size works against him. His brain is worth more here or in KC than elsewhere. Connolly isn't a standout C, and other teams may see his value tied to this OL and system. Ihedigbo probably prefers to come back to a place where the HC plugs in situational players.

And the whole KC fit for some may be moot since true Parcell's disciples don't tend to mess with each others UFA's unless they get the nod that they aren't targets to be retained.

 

[Potstickas]

Key dates on the 2012 NFL calendar

thanks for this. Sorry for the minor threadjack/tangent but what does this mean?

April 16: Teams with returning head coaches may begin offseason workout program.

It seems to suggest that there is another schedule for teams with new head coaches?

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Welker is tagged. I think all the rest belong on the at the right price list. Carter and Branch will probably be easy because they want to be here and Branch has little value outside the system (again KC maybe). Slater too. Anderson may not, nor may Connolly. There are lots of OL options in FA and the draft, that can work either way. They reportedly have an offer on the table for Benny. Just not one he is willing to accept for now. I think unless he gets offered substantially more (and guaranteed) he will be back where he at least knows he is wanted and he is used. Koppen could land in KC, as could Connolly, because of the system. Other than that his size works against him. His brain is worth more here or in KC than elsewhere. Connolly isn't a standout C, and other teams may see his value tied to this OL and system. Ihedigbo probably prefers to come back to a place where the HC plugs in situational players.

And the whole KC fit for some may be moot since true Parcell's disciples don't tend to mess with each others UFA's unless they get the nod that they aren't targets to be retained.

Carter should be easy yeah. Anderson I agree wouldn't break the bank for but I'd really like to see him back. Our pass rush was the best I've seen it in a long time because of those 2.

Connolly I really want back on a 3-4 year deal. At least as a stopgap while we draft some depth/future options at C. When Koppen went down the offense didn't skip a beat, hard to take that for granted. I'd be concerned if we enter 2012 without Koppen OR Connolly on the roster. Slater is a must retain IMO, him and Mesko are too crucial on punt.

 

[jmt57]

thanks for this. Sorry for the minor threadjack/tangent but what does this mean?

April 16: Teams with returning head coaches may begin offseason workout program.

It seems to suggest that there is another schedule for teams with new head coaches?

Teams with a new head coach can start offseason programs on April 2

Teams with a returning head coach can start offseason programs on April 16

2012-13 Calendar: Key Dates for the Pats & the NFL

 

[Fencer]

Some thoughts.

DE Anderson I want him back but he could get very pricy.
WR Branch I presume he'll be signed cheap.
DE Carter I want him back and I think it will happen.
OL Connolly I'm not as confident as others that he will come back, as Patriot reserve OL tend to get bid away. But I'd like him back.
DE Ellis Enjoy your well-earned retirement.
RB Faulk Ditto, and I'll miss you a LOT.
RB Green-Ellis You know how backup QBs like to be in places where they might actually compete for the starting job? NE is like that for RBs. I think he stays.
LB Guyton Bye.
S Ihedigbo See above re BJGE. Plus it's his hometown.
DB Jones Who?
C Koppen I think the chance of him being back is higher than others seem to, on football/money grounds. Plus, he's lived here since he started college.
LB Koutovides Likely to be replaced.
CB Molden Ditto.
ST Slater Pro-Bowler, emergency WR? I think he stays.
DL Warren Played pretty well at times. Could well be back, depending on roster numbers. In particular, might join the team Week 2.
WR Welker Oh yeah -- he's staying.
ST/LB White Seems like a more useful defensive player than Izzo ever was. That's a reason to keep him.

 

[supafly]

^^ Agree on all accts with the above post. ^^

There's not a single player who we disagree on.

I would say that Anderson is 50/50 at best. They may just decide to keep Carter and hope that he still contributes at 75% of last yr, which is still great.

I think Ihedigbo comes back for depth and ST, hopefully we don't have to see him starting.

BJGE is a tough one, but I think he stays too. I'd put him at 60/40 staying.

Slater stays, White should stay too.

 

[supafly]

I actually expected a guy or two to be locked up by now. Kind of surprised that this is not the case.

 

[Ivan]

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

DE Anderson-Will be tough to keep after his performance last season-signs elsewhere

WR Branch-Returns at a low price

DE Carter-Played really well in 2011, re-signs on a 2 year deal

OL Connolly-Will draw interest on the market, Patriots will have to pay more than they would have liked to keep him, Koppen may be gone to pay him.

DE Ellis-Done

RB Faulk-Retires

RB Green-Ellis-I think they want to keep him but the cost will be too high, off he goes.

LB Guyton-Done

S Ihedigbo-Back up at best, short term low money only

DB Jones-Same as Ihedigbo

C Koppen-Tough call, I don't think he's taking a hometown discount and they have to pay Connolly and Waters as well. Hate to see him go but it may well be the case.

LB Koutovides-End of the roster-Min deal.

CB Molden-End of the roster-Min deal

ST Slater-End of the roster Not minimum but not pricey, 2 year deal.

DL Warren-Same as last season, waits until the season is starting to come in, or for an injury.

WR Welker-Is locked up for this year and a deal will get done.


ST/LB White-End of the roster