Actions speak louder than words...

[AzPatsFan]

Bill Belichick often does differently than what he says. You have to see what he does, or doesn't do, to ascertain his own current and future plans.

I think Belichick's actions are leading to but one conclusion. He views Ryan Mallett as THE current qualified candidate to be the Brady successor. All the attempts by draftnik desires to secure another #5 or #6 draft pick, via trading him have come to nothing.


I think Mike Lombardi at the Browns seriously wanted to trade for Mallett, and was prepared to pay for it. All his inquiries were ignored and rebuffed.

Belichick knows that Brady's time is coming. He also know that to win in this league you must have a franchise QB, which means losing seasons to position your self to draft such a franchise QB candidate. Or you need a pair of First Round picks to trade yourself into such a position. Once in a blue moon, a premium QB falls into your lap to draft. He thinks it has certainly occured once with Brady in the 6th; and and lightning may have struck twice, possibly with Mallett in the 3rd.

In any case the transition will not be easy; and the Fans will rebell as they did in Cleveland, when hometown hero Bernie Kosar went Over the Hill. The hubbub can destroy a team and its Front Office. Having seen it up close and personal, BB is preparing for the Day silently and assiduously.


Mallett espite going inot his third season, is really entering only his second Training Camp, with this rookie season Training Camp cut short because of the lockout. But some things are plain when not viewed by the warped lenses of people, with axes pre-ground, in search of a storyline.


1. Malletts athletic abilities with throwing the football remain unchallenged and re-affirmed. He does in fact have a rocket arm, perhaps the best in the league. He has even learned to modulate it some, in short pass situations.


2. The assertation that Mallett had a troubled personality and defects as a team player and team leader, have been clearly laid to rest by Bill Belichick, himself. In two years working with him, Mallett has displayed the desire to show up early, to study hard, to learn, and to keep his mouth shut. So he has accomplished all the things that downgraded him from selection in the First round as insubstantial innuendo.


3. Mallett is a pocket passer, with little thought or ability to run, like Brady. When the fad of the running QB fades with the inevitable torn ACLs, BB will still have a QB backup and candidate successor with premium attributes.


4. We can expect him to see more playing time in Training camp tempered by the need to acclimate Brady with his new receiving corps.

So I could see another case of purposeful obfuscation and Poise testing as was done with Cassell in the training Camp of 2008. It is likely that RM will be assigned the WR scrubs and the backup offensive linemen, and told to make do with them. Leading to to a "poor" pre-season performance, just as was done with Cassell, after they were sure he understood the Offense, as manifest during the regular season. This was done to see if he can maintain POISE in tough circumstances. Of course the marginal results will lead the professional Doomsters to call Mallett a failure, and to predict his dismissal from the team.

5. Belichick is in the midst of changing his Pass Offense. He is seeking a more broad based and perhaps, more horizontal and vertical passing Offense, and the receivers to perform in such an Offense. It will take a whole season or more to perfect such a plan. Is it just a coincidence that this change makes more use of Mallett's talents?

I think NOT. :snob:

 

[supafly]

I loved the Mallett pick, despite most posters complaining when it happened. I just don't think he has done anything to warrant a 1st or 2nd round pick to this point, as some posters act like these 1-2 picks are thrown about like frisbees.

I too, have considered what you're saying. The obvious question would be what happens after next season? It seems as though you're coming to the conclusion that we're going to pay Mallett acceptable/good backup money to stay on here, even though he'll likely want to move on to a starting opportunity, which he probably won't get here for another 3-4-5 yrs.

If they are fine with keeping him as the backup, I'd be very happy. It's certainly something I've considered, but the financial aspects argue against that, as does Malletts likely desire to compete for a starting role somewhere else.

If they're going to try and lock him up, they may as well do it this time next year then. I'm just not 100% convinced that is the plan. That said, it definitely should be considered at the same time.

 

[Archeryaddict12]

Brady still has a lot more left in the tank IMO. If he doesn't get pounded he should last past 2017.

 

[supafly]

Brady still has a lot more left in the tank IMO. If he doesn't get pounded he should last past 2017.

You could be right, but in theory we could still keep Mallett as his backup through his career. Of course there would have to be some variables and concerns sorted out, and they'd both have to be on the same page also, but it's possible that it's under consideration.

I wouldn't mind it at all. I'd actually prefer it. I just see a lot of obstacles in the way of that occurring, that's all.

 

[Brady6]

The reality is that unless Brady suffers god forbid a serious injury Mallet is not going to see the field because Brady know that if Mallet takes the field and has success he could suffer the same fate he served up to Bledsoe.

 

[scout]

Brady was not elite when the Patriots won in 2001. However, they did have a stong defense. I did not consider either of the Giant qb's elite, when BB was defensive coordinator and won Superbowls. Not trying to dispute your post, but the gist of your post is your trying to analyze BB, or assume what he's thinking.
Let's wait until draft day and see what plays out.

 

[supafly]

The reality is that unless Brady suffers god forbid a serious injury Mallet is not going to see the field because Brady know that if Mallet takes the field and has success he could suffer the same fate he served up to Bledsoe.

True, but the OP's point is that he believes there is a decent chance of keeping Mallett on another deal to be the backup and eventually take over as the starter here.

That is the plan he envisions, or at least feels warrants consideration.

I would love to see it, I just don't know about the finances involved and whether or not Mallett would agree to a new extension to stay as the backup.

 

[supafly]

Not trying to dispute your post, but the gist of your post is your trying to analyze BB, or assume what he's thinking.
Let's wait until draft day and see what plays out.

With all due respect Scout, what is going to happen on draft day that would point to the possibility of Mallett remaining here on an extension to potentially take over as our starting QB when Brady's career is done?

I don't think we'll know the answer to this question until his next 2 yrs play out and he either becomes a free agent or the OP's theory comes true and Belichick extends him.

 

[voluntarysaftey]

Mallet will not be the starting QB for the Patriots unless Brady gets hurt

If you're the Patriots, and Believe Mallet is a Pro-Bowl QB, then you do not extend Brady.

And if you're the Patriots, in 2 years, you're not going to pay Mallet starter-level money, or franchise him, to sit on the bench for 3 more years.

If you are Mallet, when you hit free agency, you do not re-sign with the Patriots so you can ride the bench for another 3 years before getting your shot. You go to a team that has no starting qb or a crappy one and you play for a chance to become the starter so that you can cash in big on the next contract

I think at this point, the Patriots would either be happy trading Mallet for a first rounder (which I don't see anyone offering), or having him be a cheap backup for 2 more years and then letting him go.

 

[Brady6]

If you're the Patriots, and Believe Mallet is a Pro-Bowl QB, then you do not extend Brady.

That's not really true you can be a pro bowl QB and still not be TB.

 

[supafly]

I think at this point, the Patriots would either be happy trading Mallet for a first rounder (which I don't see anyone offering), or having him be a cheap backup for 2 more years and then letting him go.

That is probably the highest percentage of the options in terms of what actually happens, in my opinion.

 

[Brady6]

With all due respect Scout, what is going to happen on draft day that would point to the possibility of Mallett remaining here on an extension to potentially take over as our starting QB when Brady's career is done?

I don't think we'll know the answer to this question until his next 2 yrs play out and he either becomes a free agent or the OP's theory comes true and Belichick extends him.

I really don't see them turning to Mallet when his is 30 years old only to have to basically turn the position over in 3-5 years all over again.

 

[supafly]

I really don't see them turning to Mallet when his is 30 years old only to have to basically turn the position over in 3-5 years all over again.

I'd have to guess that you're certainly right with all of your points.

Like I said, I think there would be difficulties in overcoming some obstacles and concerns regarding pay structure, etc. On top of that Mallett would almost be guaranteed to want to compete for a starter's job somewhere else.

I think the question is whether or not Mallett would be okay with waiting another year or two on his extension here, if promised a shot to be in the mix for a starting job, and even then there'd be questions about the compensation in pay.

I think that it's a reasonable enough idea in theory, but that there are some questions that would point to this being an unlikely possibility unless both parties would somehow agree to it.

 

[cstjohn17]

I call bull****, Mallett is brutal. He plays behind God, Robert Kraft could be Brady's backup.

 

[Ozymandias]

Mallett's status is a peculiar case indeed. He's merely a back-up with limited film to gauge his progress as an starting caliber QB at this point. Until he's thrown into the fire we won't know how far he's come along. Even if he has great practice habits and all that until he's in the games in pressure situations, we don't know how he'd react to that.

By the same parallel we didn't know what was there with Brady. He stepped in and never looked back. Some guys excel in these situations while others fold pretty quickly. The great part about the NFL is that it exposes either traits fairly early in the process.

The thing to keep in mind is that anyone is replaceable, even first ballot HOFers can be replaced. Brady's not immune to this reality. His age is definitely a factor at this point and he's closer to the end than the beginning. If his play starts to dip and decline rapidly then you cannot seriously expect a coaching staff as rigid as Belichick's wouldn't plan to move on from him if they have a better option in place whether its Mallett or otherwise. There's no room sentiments in a cut-throat business like the NFL, just ask Peyton Manning or Joe Montana.

The good thing is that this hasn't occured, yet, though one day it likely will. Hopefully sooner rather than later. And perhaps Mallett could be the answer if that's the case. This training camp/preseason will be big for him. If he ever expects to earn a starter's job here or elsewhere now's the time to show it.

 

[scout]

With all due respect Scout, what is going to happen on draft day that would point to the possibility of Mallett remaining here on an extension to potentially take over as our starting QB when Brady's career is done?

I don't think we'll know the answer to this question until his next 2 yrs play out and he either becomes a free agent or the OP's theory comes true and Belichick extends him.

I shouldn't have stated "played out" on draft day. My thoughts were if something were to happen, their is a better chance it happening on draft day. In addition, never say never that BB doesn't draft a qb.

 

[supafly]

I shouldn't have stated "played out" on draft day. My thoughts were if something were to happen, their is a better chance it happening on draft day. In addition, never say never that BB doesn't draft a qb.

I follow you now. You're speaking in terms of a potential trade I think, and stating that the time of the draft may be when that happens.

I just don't see a trade happening because no one is going to part with a pick high enough to warrant Belichick shipping him somewhere else. Of course there certainly is a debate regarding that though.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

The thing to keep in mind is that anyone is replaceable, even first ballot HOFers can be replaced. Brady's not immune to this reality. His age is definitely a factor at this point and he's closer to the end than the beginning. If his play starts to dip and decline rapidly then you cannot seriously expect a coaching staff as rigid as Belichick's wouldn't plan to move on from him if they have a better option in place whether its Mallett or otherwise. There's no room sentiments in a cut-throat business like the NFL, just ask Peyton Manning or Joe Montana.

The good thing is that this hasn't occured, yet, though one day it likely will. Hopefully sooner rather than later. And perhaps Mallett could be the answer if that's the case. This training camp/preseason will be big for him. If he ever expects to earn a starter's job here or elsewhere now's the time to show it.

:wha:

 

[Ozymandias]

:wha:

Oops, I messed that one up big time. Obviously, what I meant to say was "later rather than sooner." Thanks for spotting that, as I don't want to give people the wrong idea about me and all.

 

[mgteich]

I agree with you.

I would note that I value the backup position higher than most. I'm not even tempted by a 3rd round draft choice, unless Belichick truly believes that Kafka is an adequate backup.

I just don't see a trade happening because no one is going to part with a pick high enough to warrant Belichick shipping him somewhere else. Of course there certainly is a debate regarding that though.