Off-season Options for Patriots Secondary in 2013

[Wilfork#75]

NFL suspension for Dennard? Probably not - Extra Points - Boston.com

These are the key parts to me

As far as Dennard being suspended by the NFL under the personal conduct policy, that is unlikely considering that the incident happened before Dennard was an NFL player, so he was not covered by the collective bargaining agreement.

A closer case to Dennard's was that of Jets defensive lineman Kenrick Ellis, who pleaded guilty to a college assault and battery charge, served 45 days in prison and probation. The NFL reviewed his case, like it is Dennard, but did not suspend him.

The lack of suspension was not because it was only a misdemeanor (Dennard was convicted of a felony) and he pleaded out, it was because Ellis was not an NFL player at the time. The severity of Dennard's situation should not factor into any decision by Goodell. It's a CBA issue, not one of crimes and misdemeanors.

I don't see Goodell getting too involved here. Maybe a stern talking to, but I don't think he has any grounds to suspend him. It was before he was part of the NFL and wasn't covered by the CBA.

 

[mgteich]

OK. Much of the media seems to agree. So, a couple of game suspension at most.

I'm speaking strictly in a worst possible case scenario here, nothing more.

I certainly agree to what you are saying, since the indicent happened prior to being a member of the NFL etc, nothing was agreed upon under the CBA and Dennard was not representing the NFL at the time therefore he shouldn't be able to be punished.

I am just stating that in a worst possible case, the "suspension" could not possibly ever be more than a game or two anyway since the personal conduct policy is not like the mandatory minimum/hands tied situation of the drug policy.

In other words, we really don't need to concern ourselves with the possibility of a suspension, because even IF it were allowed (which is almost impossible) it couldn't amount to anything anyway.

 

[supafly]

OK. Much of the media seems to agree. So, a couple of game suspension at most.

I don't mean to come across as pretending to know it all. It's just an opinion, but I think it's pretty black/white as far as what the rules are, and I also think it's fair to assume that if anyone would try and make up his own rules--it'd be Goodell, so you're right about that.

I just think that it's getting to be overblown too, and that it's going to be much ado about nothing in the end. If we need to play 4 games without Dennard or something like that due to his incarceration, then so be it. They'll get through it.

In the meantime though, I do think that justice can be served and an example set without it destroying his career too. The prosecutor didn't recommend anything, and claims that he and the defense will sit down in the coming weeks to decide something reasonable to suggest as punishment. In this case I couldn't see any reason why the judge wouldn't go along with it.

Dennard's atty's will be arguing that any incarceration is completely unnecessary, and the prosecution will likely want some form of jail time. I think they want to see him behind bars in some form.

I do think that an agreement can be reached as to how much jail time (and/or other forms of punishment) and more importantly--when it can be served. It is not unreasonable to think that even if he receives a full year that it can't be broken up into most now and the remaining when the season is over. I doubt that anyone wants to see Dennard's career or life ruined. That is not reasonable punishment at all, not to mention that he falls very low on the score for sentencing, although that could be slightly different in Nebraska.

There are really a ton of options.

Even as bad as Burress's case was, he only received two years, and that was totally different because it was a mandatory minimum sentence and there was absolutely no leeway whatsoever.

 

[Ring 6]

You seem to understand the facts but not the obvious conclusion. Dennard's case is so week that they thought the only way to save it was to have Dennard testify.
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Let's see now.

A) An individual tells the nfl that nothing illegal has happened.
B) A US court decides that the person is guilty.
C) The NFL then decides that there is not evidence to decide whether anything illegal was done or not; so the NFL then gives a patriot player the benefit of the doubt and does not penalize the player.

NOT
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You have gone over the wall on this one.
First, you don't know what Dennard told teams.
Second, being convicted doesn't mean he lied.
Third, lying to teams in interviews is not punishable by suspension under the CBA.
Fourth, giving your side of a story is not lying, even if a jury chooses to not believe you.

 

[BaltimorePatsFan]

Patriots Secondary in 2013: The Return of Duane Starks, Deltha O'Neal, and Hank Poteat.

 

[mgteich]

I am used to folks disagreeing with me on legal matters. We had these discussions before.
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The jury decides whether a defendant has committed the crime or has lied on the stand (presuming that he testified). It really is that simple.

With regard to the what he told the NFL, you are free to believe that he told the NFL that he resisted arrest and punched a policeman. I choose to believe that he addressed those allegations and denied them. Where I come from, we call that lying. You are correct in saying that I was speculating. Well, that is what we do here.

In any case, the patriots will not likely lose this felon for many games, if any. We will happily welcome him back as a starter. If you don't think that this isn't a PR for the nfl and for Kraft, so be it. You can chose to believe that hiring felons is OK. Personally, I don't think this philosophy really works for the league or for Kraft.

You have gone over the wall on this one.
First, you don't know what Dennard told teams.
Second, being convicted doesn't mean he lied.
Third, lying to teams in interviews is not punishable by suspension under the CBA.
Fourth, giving your side of a story is not lying, even if a jury chooses to not believe you.

 

[patsfan-1982]

the pats went from a Horrible to a average secondary with Dennard and Talib at CB and most of that was because of the big upgrade at FS ( Devin McCourty ) the pats need more talent and hopefully a upgrade at CB with or without Dennard and Talib, if Chandler Jones can turn into Jared Allen next year that would help the secondary alot but right now they are in bad shape

 

[Nunchucks]

Back on target!

I think the worst case scenario, which actually isn't too bad would see McCourty and ??? at CB (assuming Talib is not resigned), Arington as the nickelback, Wilson and Gregory as the safeties.

That may not be too awful of a backfield.

Ideally, we see Ed Reed and Wilson at safety with Gregory rotating in, McCourty, Talib and Dennard as the CBs.

 

[tonyto3690]

but they don't have to chase anything and can wait for the right move. Things aren't quite as desparate as many are making them out to be just yet.

Here are our starting calibre players we have right now:

1. McCourty.


Here is our list of starting calibre corners we have right now:

1. McCourty

Here is our list of starting calibre safeties we have right now:

1. McCourty


We need to sign...
-Slot corner
-Either two starting CBs and a S or two starting S and a CB
-#4 corner and depth


The issue is just as big, if not bigger than people are saying. Gregory and Wilson should never see the light of day on a championship team, and we have no one at corner. Not even mediocrity. Unless we move McCourty back, we have literally no one.