Let's Extend Arrington

[mgteich]

This would solidify our cornerback situation going forward. I suppose we could wait to see how McCourty and Dowling look in camp. IMHO, Arrington is worth extending in any case.

 

[Leemo]

why bother?

 

[brady199]

***SIGN THE BEAST***

I'm sure if it was a cap friendly deal, he would be signed, but the reality is that he will be 27 years old going into FA next year and if he has another year like last year, he'll be looking to cash in and who could blame him.

 

[Rob0729]

If this blurb is true, it would be stupid to extend him now:

Pro Football Weekly is hearing that, if healthy, Patriots CB Ras-I Dowling (hip surgery) will start opposite of Devin McCourty.

He'd be getting the nod over Kyle Arrington, who, after putting up an NFL-high seven interceptions last season, would work the slot in nickel situations. After being selected 33rd in the 2011 draft, Dowling starter in the season opener, but appeared in only two games due to injury.

Ras-I Dowling - New England Patriots - 2012 Player Profile - Rotoworld.com

If Arrington is the third or even the fourth CB (depending on Dennard's development), it is stupid to extend him now with his contract value being pretty high leading the league in INTs last year.

 

[strngplyr]

If this blurb is true, it would be stupid to extend him now:



Ras-I Dowling - New England Patriots - 2012 Player Profile - Rotoworld.com

If Arrington is the third or even the fourth CB (depending on Dennard's development), it is stupid to extend him now with his contract value being pretty high leading the league in INTs last year.

You need 3 corners in the NFL today.

 

[Marqui]

Why are people so high on Dowling anyways? Was I the only one watching when he was part of the secondary that gave up 400 yards to Chad Henne? Yeah.. Chad Henne..

Dowling looked great in that game to me.

 

[patchick]

Why are people so high on Dowling anyways? Was I the only one watching when he was part of the secondary that gave up 400 yards to Chad Henne? Yeah.. Chad Henne..

Hmm. You watched a rookie who had NO offseason because of the lockout, then almost no training camp because of injury, earn a day-1 starting job and acquit himself very well. But because the defense as a whole gave up a bunch of yard that day, you concluded that the rookie's not worth much?

IMO that's beyond a "glass half empty" attitude; that's more like "if the glass isn't 100% full, I won't take a sip."

Dowling has excellent size, athleticism and intangibles. There are plenty of folks here who have bashed him outrageously for his injury history, but you're the first I've heard dismiss him based the TEAM'S performance in his 1 game of NFL experience.

 

[mayoclinic]

why bother?

1. Because you can never have too many good DBs.
2. Because Arrington has gotten better each year he has been with the team.
3. Because Arrington can play outside or in the slot, and is a valuable STer who is just 25 years old.
4. Because it may be cheaper to extend him now than to wait until he hits FA.

You need 3 corners in the NFL today.

Yup. At least, probably more. Unless Arrington is looking for ridiculous money, it makes sense to tie him up sooner rather than later. If McCourty and Dowling are the "starters" outside then Arrington, Moore and Dennard will still be important parts of a rotation, and Arrington is still going to see the field on 60% of defensive snaps. And if McCourty or Dowling get hurt, get moved to safety, or either doesn't pan out at CB, then Arrington is a proven starter. It's a win in either case.

The question is, does Arrington prefer to stay with the Pats and have some security up front, or does he want to see how this year goes and whether his value will increase?

 

[TheComeback]

Why are people so high on Dowling anyways? Was I the only one watching when he was part of the secondary that gave up 400 yards to Chad Henne? Yeah.. Chad Henne..

Right, it's not like there were 10 other guys on the field in that game.

 

[Rob0729]

You need 3 corners in the NFL today.

Again I said depending on Dennard. If Dennard supplants Arrington as the first guy off the bench, why pay Arrington starter money which is probably what he is looking for right now.

 

[Rob0729]

Why are people so high on Dowling anyways? Was I the only one watching when he was part of the secondary that gave up 400 yards to Chad Henne? Yeah.. Chad Henne..

You mean when Henne got about 230 yards worth of stats padding at the end of the game when the Pats had the game locked up. If I remember correctly, Henne had something like 120 yards through three quarters. Greg Beddard had a breakdown his stats in that game at the time and other than the first drive in the game and one other drive the Pats defense shutdown the Dolphins' offense until the game was pretty much out of hand.

 

[patsinthesnow]

I love Arrington, he's a starting quality CB who will be a great #3/nickel back, but I feel he'll get overpaid the next offseason. With two kids behind Dowling/Mccourty in Moore/Dennard, he'll probably look for money elsewhere.

The #3 CB position is as important as any starting position defense nowadays though.

 

[mayoclinic]

I love Arrington, he's a starting quality CB who will be a great #3/nickel back, but I feel he'll get overpaid the next offseason. With two kids behind Dowling/Mccourty in Moore/Dennard, he'll probably look for money elsewhere.

The #3 CB position is as important as any starting position defense nowadays though.

That's why (1) it would be smart for the Pats to tie up Arrington sooner rather than later if he's willing, and (2) why he's probably not willing. If he wants to see how much he can push his value and get paid, then the Pats have other options. If he's willing to stay and be part of a perenniel contender, the team should lock him up quickly.

 

[Rob0729]

All right, all I'm saying is lets see if Dowling can even play more than one and half games before we crown him the savior of the secondary. Size and speed doesn't do a lot from IR. Just ask Shawn Crable.

Who is crowning him the savior of the secondary. It is just too soon to lock up Arrington to starter money (which is what he will want if the Pats give him a deal) without knowing if he will be even be in the top 3 CBs this season. If he ends up becoming the Pats' fourth CB going forward, he will be way overpaid even with low end starting CB money.

You only try to lock up a guy early if you know his value to the team will be as much or more than what he gave you in the previous season. We don't know that about Arrington. Arrington was a serviceable starter last season. He looks to be only used in sub packages in this upcoming season. He will want serviceable to good starting CB money and if Dowling and Dennard live up to expectations, he will be the second CB off the bench. Way too much money.

Even if Arrington ends up being the starter and the Pats have to pay him more than he would get right now, it is worth the risk since there is a pretty decent shot that the Pats will be afford to let him walk when he becomes a free agent unless he signs on their terms.

 

[patsinthesnow]

That's why (1) it would be smart for the Pats to tie up Arrington sooner rather than later if he's willing, and (2) why he's probably not willing. If he wants to see how much he can push his value and get paid, then the Pats have other options. If he's willing to stay and be part of a perenniel contender, the team should lock him up quickly.

Agreed on both points. Seeing some of the crazy contracts given to CBs this offseason, Arrington could get 5-8 mil a year on the open market.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Going off the entire last year, Arrington was the best player in our secondary. That includes McCourty, who had his skills completely fall off a cliff after one summer. I don't see how the best CB suddenly becomes the Patriots second guy off the bench.

That's the problem with trying to discern individual efforts in a team game: so much depends on all of the other parts, and some of the Pats' safeties would have been challenged for a roster spot by Hole in the Zone.

 

[Rob0729]

Going off the entire last year, Arrington was the best player in our secondary. That includes McCourty, who had his skills completely fall off a cliff after one summer. I don't see how the best CB suddenly becomes the Patriots second guy off the bench.

Because maybe McCourty's sophomore slump was injury related (that has been alluded to). Maybe they think both Dowling and Dennard are better. Dowling looked to be the best CB the Pats had last year before he was injured (granted it was a small sample size). Dennard was considered a first round prospect before some bad practices at the Senior Bowl, a poor Combine (possibly because of the hip flexor he suffered at Senior Bowl week), and his arrest. It is very conceivable that all three guys could be better than Arrington.

I'm not saying it will happen. I am saying it COULD happen. The Pats firmly believe Dowling is better than Arrington as a starter.

The Pats have had several CBs look really good for a year or two only to be shown as a mirage. I would put guys like Tyrone Poole, Otis Smith, and Randall Gay in that category.

 

[s3antana5757]

I wouldn't want to pay Arrington. You take out the interceptions, and Arrington was average/slightly above average last year. I don't think he's the long-term answer. I would actually go the other direction, and if we think Dennard is ready to play the 3, consider trying to trade the soon to be FA at the trade deadline. What do you think he could fetch in term of draft picks?

 

[supafly]

I think that we will see another case of the constant trend where some random NFL team overpays for a CB again.

I would expect a guy like Arrington to fetch anywhere between 6-7 1/2 per year in free agency, depending of course on his production this year.

For a guy like Belichick who doesn't seem to overpay at the CB position in particular, I would have to imagine that he does not value Arrington quite that high.

My guess is that he is hoping that any one of Dowling, Moore, or Denard may work out, as opposed to paying Arrington the kind of money that he will likely demand.

 

[Ring 6]

I think that we will see another case of the constant trend where some random NFL team overpays for a CB again.

I would expect a guy like Arrington to fetch anywhere between 6-7 1/2 per year in free agency, depending of course on his production this year.

For a guy like Belichick who doesn't seem to overpay at the CB position in particular, I would have to imagine that he does not value Arrington quite that high.

My guess is that he is hoping that any one of Dowling, Moore, or Denard may work out, as opposed to paying Arrington the kind of money that he will likely demand.

I think there are few, if any, teams out there that consider Kyle Arrington an acceptable option as a starting corner.
I can't imagine he will get paid as one.