Report: Pats sign DT Tommy Kelly

[IcyPatriot]

 

[olschool]

Don't need old castoffs from one of the worst teams in the league. Another Haynesworth signing. Waste of money.

 

[Kontradiction]

What kind of mod are you when all you do is insult posters to make yourself feel better?

I just put a huge post about the old guys we've signed from 2010 on and how the only good ones are Waters, Carter, and maybe Lloyd (I count him as good, but many do not).

I think you view Kontradiction's post as "quality, thoughtful, and informative" because it was more tempered and less likely to enflame your homer senses. He essentially said the same thing, but that theres a chance it could work out.

Which if you paid attention I concede early on, just pointing out he is more likely than not going to be meh.

There goes that reading comprehension again. I didn't say the same thing as you. Not even close. You called him a bum. I made it clear that I was fine with the signing as DT was a need, but that people need to temper their expectations because, based upon what I saw, he was on the decline last season and that, hopefully, the team wasn't done building at DT.

 

[Don Kipines]

They definitely aren't okay in terms of the future on any level, and it's certainly debatable as to whether or not we should be "satisfied" even going into this season.

At the moment all they've really done is added Armstead and Kelly. Vega may not be anything more than camp fodder, and no one else should be keeping us up late at night with excitement either. The group was good/very good in terms of run stuffing last season, but couldn't apply interior pressure to save their lives.

"All they've really done" is add the CFL's best interior pass rusher from last year and a guy who in 2010-2011 was arguably the best interior pass rusher in the NFL. That's the rose-colored take on these moves, of course, but those are two pretty significant gets nonetheless. It's not like other teams weren't interested in both of those players.

If you want to upgrade a position group in the offseason, the best thing you can possibly hope for is that the team adds a good free agent and a promising draft pick at the position. That's basically what we have here, if you consider Armstead the equivalent of a third or fourth-round pick.

Unless the money we paid him is ridiculous (and it might be: he had other suitors and his signing earlier than some other DL out there makes me nervous), this can't be anything but a good move.

 

[Kontradiction]

I don't really understand the reasons to dislike this signing. We didn't just sign a random QB to a 20m/year contract.

We signed a veteran DT for depth purposes. If he is washed up and worse than those on the team he won't stay on the team.

If he's washed up and STILL better than those on the team, then we just improved our interior line.

If last year was a fluke and he isn't washed up and returns to his form of 2 years ago, this might be the most underrated signing for us this year.

I honestly just don't understand the hate. We didn't just hand him the keys to the city and if he doesn't perform he won't play. If he gets mauled on the line someone else will play. If he's getting mauled on the line and still better than Love/Daedrick/Armstead then we'd be screwed with or without him.

Theres no downside to Kelly in particular, we're either improved or we're not, we won't be worse. He was the best DT on the market that fit our needs for bolstering the interior pass rush.

That's a good way of looking at it. The Kelly signing needed to happen. DT was a need. I think he'll be fine on the team because he isn't done quite yet. So, in all, it was a good move to go out and get him. That said, I still hope that the team isn't done building on the DL. IMO, we still need another body in there at DT and another pass rusher.

 

[Brady2Moss]

Kontradiction's and several others posts that were negative about Kelly weren't lost in any sea.

Once again, you are completely blind to the reason why no one is taking you seriously.

Once again point flew over your head I was mocking the guy for telling me I need to change my attitude, he would rather I just sing the homer tune. You are blind to the fact that I don't take any of the people that can't discuss football and turn to childish insults seriously.

 

[Brady2Moss]

I get it, you're not paranoid, everyone is out to get you.
Perhaps some day you will realize if 'everyone' is taking shots at you, disagreeing with you, and causing you to look paranoid, perhaps you are causing that with your acerbic, negative, and argumentative approach. In any event, carry on, I just won't read your posts any more.

I don't care if you read my posts. You're the guy that cried when I finally took a shot at you after you did so for post after post in another tread. Seems like you can't take what you dish out. Perhaps you will realize because the majority disagrees it doesn't mean the minority is always wrong.

Carry on believing the team has improved. Ill look forward to hearing how we should have won the Super Bowl if player X was healthy or some other BS next Jan.

 

[M_A]

I think its a solid signing, there's no doubt that the Patriots needed (and still need) to add depth to the D-Line, it would be great to see Kelly come in and play like he did a few years ago. I think with Wilfork next to him they can be a great duo. Even if he doesn't play 3 downs, I think everyone can appreciate it if Kelly can come in and be a 2 down player. If he can show that he's still go it, and makes the team, I think he could really help the Pats out this year.

 

[Don_the_patfan]

Another meh signing, he's a bum. Maybe he'll be as good as Haynesworth

A solid veteran signing. I have a feeling he'll be an upgrade over what we have as depth. I don't understand what you expect at this point in FA. At this point there are no 100 million dollar players to sign unfortunately B2M.

 

[FCB02062]

Add him to the likes of Fanene and Haynesworth - those guys were supposed to be good signings....just another in the long line of cheap, lets throw a bunch of shizat against the wall and see what sticks, signings - Kelly, Armstead, Vega....they sign another other flotsam and jetsam for the defensive line? What, Shaun Ellis not available??????

 

[Brady2Moss]

A solid veteran signing. I have a feeling he'll be an update over what we have as depth. I don't understand what you expect at this point in FA. At this point there are no 100 million dollar players to sign unfortunately B2M.

I expect no big signings at this point because everyone's been signed. Maybe he'll be an upgrade, maybe he'll do nothing like the last 3 DTs we've signed/traded for (Ellis. Haynesworth, Fanene).

 

[BradyManny]

If people are concerned about this signing b/c ProFootballFocus said he was the 75th best defensive tackle last season, don't be. ProFootballFocus is probably the 75th best football site run by amateur scouts who have day jobs and no prior experience scouting athletics.

 

[patfanken]

I expect no big signings at this point because everyone's been signed. Maybe he'll be an upgrade, maybe he'll do nothing like the last 3 DTs we've signed/traded for (Ellis. Haynesworth, Fanene).

While you conveniently ignore the signings of Carter, Waters, and Anderson. Your relentless negativity knows no bounds. You look for the worst and then parse your way to finding it. It must be hard to be a fan of the best team of the past 12 years and still wake up each morning and be unhappy with every move they make . Really bud, it must suck to be you. You sincerely have my condolences.

 

[Rob0729]

I expect no big signings at this point because everyone's been signed. Maybe he'll be an upgrade, maybe he'll do nothing like the last 3 DTs we've signed/traded for (Ellis. Haynesworth, Fanene).

But who was better out there at DT especially one who can rush the passer?

Everyone was drooling over Vaughn Martin when the Pats were reportly interested which is kinda surprising since I bet most of the people drooling over him didn't even know who he was until the Pats were reportedly interested. But was he a better selection than Kelly? He has more upside potential, but the guy has been in the league for four years and has 78 tackles and 3 sacks to show for it. Yet, the front office bashers have turned him into Haloti Ngata since he was signed by the Dolphins.

Kelly is arguably the best DT on the free agent market even from the start of free agency. You might have argued Alan Branch, but he is a pure run stuffer which isn't what the Pats need. Cullen Jenkins maybe, but he is on the decline too and he doesn't even have a new system to blame for his decline.

Again, people are writing Kelly off because of one bad season where he was in a new system that might not have used him properly. Also, with Seymour out for half the year, teams might have double teamed him more (don't know because I didn't watch many Raiders games). It could be because he is old or lazy, but based on one season it is hard to tell especially since the entire Raiders' defense was mediocre last year.

 

[JackBauer]

Can we all just agree to ignore B2M and move on to some actual football discussion?

Seriously...

 

[Brady2Moss]

While you conveniently ignore the signings of Carter, Waters, and Anderson. Your relentless negativity knows no bounds. You look for the worst and then parse your way to finding it. It must be hard to be a fan of the best team of the past 12 years and still wake up each morning and be unhappy with every move they make . Really bud, it must suck to be you. You sincerely have my condolences.

What does my post have to do with the signings of 2011? Funny how all your examples are from two years ago. Anyway your ignorance is hilarious given that I made a post detailing the good and bad "over the hill" signings and mentioned Carter and Waters as good ones. I did not include Anderson because he was still young when we signed him.

Anyway your agenda is clear that you do not even read the posts I make before trying to discredit me, don't read them that's fine but do not presume to tell me what I do and do not ignore.

Actually it doesn't suck because I don't go insane when they lose in the big games in the same way they always do because it is fairly easy to see coming every year. Sorry that I've grown weary of these moves after years of seeing the same holes in the squad, I used to set unrealistic expectations like most here (Wow Ocho is going to be amazing going from Palmer to Brady! Haynesworth will be a beast when he gets his head out of his ass!, etc.).

 

[Rob0729]

While you conveniently ignore the signings of Carter, Waters, and Anderson. Your relentless negativity knows no bounds. You look for the worst and then parse your way to finding it. It must be hard to be a fan of the best team of the past 12 years and still wake up each morning and be unhappy with every move they make . Really bud, it must suck to be you. You sincerely have my condolences.

Yeah, people seem to only want to focus on the bad selections. The Pats have had a lot of hits to go with the misses.

This year is different than the last six or seven years though. Teams have been forced to cut players with value because of contracts. The Pats can more likely find those "washed up" veterans who turn into huge additions like they did in the early 200s. Not sure Kelly will be one of those guys, but he might be.

 

[tonyto3690]

While you conveniently ignore the signings of Carter, Waters, and Anderson. Your relentless negativity knows no bounds. You look for the worst and then parse your way to finding it. It must be hard to be a fan of the best team of the past 12 years and still wake up each morning and be unhappy with every move they make . Really bud, it must suck to be you. You sincerely have my condolences.

I don't think it's unfair to say Kelly might do nothing. He's 32, had a pretty dreadful year last year and the only time he was any good was when Seymour was dominating.

Like all fanbases, we constantly overrated how much of an impact guys like Kelly will do. I would only be mildly surprised if he was cut in training camp in favor of fringe guys like Cunningham and Francis because they can play inside and out.

 

[Brady2Moss]

But who was better out there at DT especially one who can rush the passer?

Everyone was drooling over Vaughn Martin when the Pats were reportly interested which is kinda surprising since I bet most of the people drooling over him didn't even know who he was until the Pats were reportedly interested. But was he a better selection than Kelly? He has more upside potential, but the guy has been in the league for four years and has 78 tackles and 3 sacks to show for it. Yet, the front office bashers have turned him into Haloti Ngata since he was signed by the Dolphins.

Kelly is arguably the best DT on the free agent market even from the start of free agency. You might have argued Alan Branch, but he is a pure run stuffer which isn't what the Pats need. Cullen Jenkins maybe, but he is on the decline too and he doesn't even have a new system to blame for his decline.

Again, people are writing Kelly off because of one bad season where he was in a new system that might not have used him properly. Also, with Seymour out for half the year, teams might have double teamed him more (don't know because I didn't watch many Raiders games). It could be because he is old or lazy, but based on one season it is hard to tell especially since the entire Raiders' defense was mediocre last year.

My original post did not say he was not the best alternative. I certainly was not drooling over Vaughn. I just said it was a meh signing and the guys a bum he declined sharply last season. You are assuming things about my post that I did not say. He very well could be the best alternative, I am just saying I don't expect him to be much of anything until proven otherwise.

 

[Brady2Moss]

Can we all just agree to ignore B2M and move on to some actual football discussion?

Seriously...

This all started because of folks like you wanting to turn this away from football into childish back and forth about my attitude/opinion. It's perfectly fine if you disagree, carry on.