RFA Emmanuel Sanders visits Pats 3/16; signs offer sheet 4/10, sheet matched 4/14

[Ozymandias]

This draft will be the most interesting one in recent memory precisely because of the low number of picks the Patriots will have in the first four rounds.

I'm intrigued to see how this all unfolds on draft day/weekend. Will they stand pat and take the best player available or wheel and deal to gather more picks. The latter seems very likely, but as always, you never know what you're going to get with these Patriots.

As for the offer sheet to Sanders, despite the risk involved I believe this is the right move to make if they don't believe they can find a WR in the third round better than what Emmanuel is right now. If all goes as planned, in addition to Sanders and Amendola, I still believe its necessary to draft a true outside receiver who's a more bigger body than those other two, explosive, can win on the perimeter. jump-ball situations and especially in the red/money area to field a have fully capable WR core.

/birdcents

 

[Kontradiction]

Probably best discussed in a different thread but this move makes me believe there is something in the works for Mallett to gather draft picks. Maybe you get 68 the Browns 3rd and 4th/5th worst case but can't see BB going into the draft with 2 picks in the first 4 rounds.

I like this move though. I still draft a bigger outside WR but this allows us to rely less on that player.

Wishful thinking, at best. Mallett isn't going to net us two picks in the draft. IMO, a 3rd will be about the best we can hope for.

Good move, weakens the Steelers makes us better. Can't wait for the media **** storm about how BB is cheating the RFA system if indeed we can restructure him this year hahah

MIND.BLOWN.

 

[Hazy]

Steelers only had $2m cap space as of 7 days ago.

Sanders is on a $1.3m tender so potentially they could offer him a $3.3m contract (if they make no more roster moves in 5 days), which seems doubtful.

But i doubt we offer him $3.4m for one season, seems expensive since we wouldn't pay Lloyd that.

But anything more than $1.3m puts the Steelers in more limited cap position.

 

[Ivan]

Gotta say, merging the new news on this with the 4,000 page old thread was a bad idea. Should have locked the old one down and stuck with the new one imo.

 

[Brady6]

Emmanuel Sanders, a RFA, visited the Pats. Has signed 1-year tender

Good move, weakens the Steelers makes us better. Can't wait for the media **** storm about how BB is cheating the RFA system if indeed we can restructure him this year hahah

Yeah it's going to be really interesting to see what pitts reaction is if that is in fact what happens. Would they file a grievance or something. I get the feeling this is going to be spy gate 2.0

 

[Shockt327]

Re: Pats submit offer sheet for Emmanuel Sanders

Although, I'm not sure Sanders is a great fit for this offense. We've never had much success with players of his skill set.

Could you elaborate?

I'd ague that it's because WRs who are slender, finesse, and get by on straight away speed are not a good fit in NE. He's not someone who can go over the middle with good lateral movement. He's not someone who is physically freakish enough to fight for the jumpball either (i.e. Moss). He's a finesse player. He'd thrive in a timing based offense. Think Peyton Manning's Colts/Broncos. That's a style of attack that thrives on one fixed route where the receiver can run un-impeded. The Patriots? Way too many post-snap reads for recievers and changes of direction; which favors guys with good lateral movement.

I'd point to everyone from Joey Galloway to Chad Jackson and Bethel Johnson as players within the same general skill set; all epic draft/fa busts. Ocho is somewhat similar; never had as much raw speed though.

 

[DaBruinz]

Steelers can only elect to match the initial offer. Once they decline to match, that's it. Afterwards we can then try to restructure Sander's contract into a multi-year one, but again, this still requires his consent (since he has all the leverage at that point).

That's the big question I am asking- we'll see how it plays out.

As Miguel just pointed out, the Pats would not be able to restructure the deal for 1 year. Basically, after the Super Bowl in 2014.

In all honesty, I think that the Pats decided they didn't like the depth of this draft, figured that getting Sanders was better than someone who wouldn't necessarily produce, and, at worst, they can potentially get a 3rd back for Sanders if they lose him in Free Agency next year.

 

[JackBauer]

This draft will the most interesting one in recent memory precisely because the low number of picks the Patriots will have in the first four rounds.

I'm intrigued to see how this all unfolds on draft day/weekend. Will they stand pat and take the best player available or wheel and deal to gather more picks. The latter seems very likely, but as always, you never know what you're going to get with these Patriots.

As for the offer sheet to Sanders, I believe this is right move to make if they don't believe they can find a WR in the third round better than what Emmanuel is right now. If all goes as planned, in addition to Sanders and Amendola, I still believe its necessary to draft a true outside receiver who's a more bigger body than those other two, explosive, can win on the perimeter. jump-ball situations and especially in the red/money area to field a have fully capable WR core.

/birdcents

I wonder how many pieces they need to add via the draft, though? If they sign Sanders, they really need a WR, DE, CB. Plus they can always supplement in UDFA.

 

[Sicilian]

Gotta say, merging the new news on this with the 4,000 page old thread was a bad idea. Should have locked the old one down and stuck with the new one imo.

I second this motion.

 

[Brady6]

Emmanuel Sanders, a RFA, visited the Pats. Has signed 1-year tender

The CBA says:
"The player and the New Club may not renegotiate such Player Contract to reduce the Salary in such contract until after the end of the first regular season covered by the Contract. Neither the player nor the New Club may exercise an option in such Player Contract that reduces Salary in the first League Year of such contract until after the end of the first regular season covered by the Contract."

(i) Salary, which shall consist only of
(a) the fixed and specified dollar amounts the New Club will pay, guarantee or lend to the Restricted Free Agent and/or his designees (currently and/or as deferred compensation in specified installments on specified dates) in consideration for his services as a football player under the Player Contract (i.e., signing bonus, Paragraph 5 Salary, and reporting and roster bonuses); and
(b) Salary that is variable and/ or is subject to calculation only upon the following bases:
(1) based upon the performance of the Club extending the Offer Sheet (only those incentives which are "likely to be earned" by the player if he enters into a Player Contract with the New Club, pursuant to Subsection (c) above, must be matched by the Prior Club for the purpose of exercising a Right of First Refusal, and such incentives may not exceed 1 5 % of the Salary in the Offer Sheet); and (2) League honors listed in Exhibit C to Article 1 3 ;

Good stuff thanks Miguel.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Awesome, this makes me feel a bit better. We're almost there

 

[SteelersCanada]

Pittsburgh (more?) East!

In all seriousness, I doubt we'll match the offer for two reasons: one, we can't really. Two, even if we could match it, I think Mike and friends are more interested in picking up that third round pick as trade bait to move up in the second round and grab a Safety.

I will say though, the Pats offense is starting to become scary again. If you guys get someone like DeAndre Hopkins or Robert Woods in the first round, Brady is going to have a lot of young weapons.

So much for that 'unwritten rule'.

 

[50-yard-line]

Here's the answer as to why a one year deal from packers ex-gm:



I still hope they have a side deal for a long term contract. Not comfortable with a one year for a 3rd at all.

It's an interesting strategy, but what if Manny Sanders goes all Victor Cruz on us after 1 year? That's a helluva risk to take in passing on a third rounder - what's the success rate for 3rd rounders?

That said, I really don't see any rookie receiver coming in and having an impact with this team in year one. Kontradiction's reasoning seems sound on this - they knew they had to do something.

So I'm with you on this one, Don. Interesting, but...but...but...

 

[BadMoFo]

So if he's good, he's gonna look to break the bank next year, and we're back to square one again.

 

[Spergon Wynn]

Re: Pats submit offer sheet for Emmanuel Sanders

I'd ague that it's because WRs who are slender, finesse, and get by on straight away speed are not a good fit in NE. He's not someone who can go over the middle with good lateral movement. He's not someone who is physically freakish enough to fight for the jumpball either (i.e. Moss). He's a finesse player. He'd thrive in a timing based offense. Think Peyton Manning's Colts/Broncos. That's a style of attack that thrives on one fixed route where the receiver can run un-impeded. The Patriots? Way too many post-snap reads for recievers and changes of direction; which favors guys with good lateral movement.

I'd point to everyone from Joey Galloway to Chad Jackson and Bethel Johnson as players within the same general skill set; all epic draft/fa busts. Ocho is somewhat similar; never had as much raw speed though.

I'm not sure that's an accurate assessment of Sanders though. He may be a fast guy but his only skill isn't straight line speed.

He played in the slot over 50% of the time in PIT last year, which may say something about his ability to go over the middle.

 

[Kontradiction]

This draft will be the most interesting one in recent memory precisely because of the low number of picks the Patriots will have in the first four rounds.

I'm intrigued to see how this all unfolds on draft day/weekend. Will they stand pat and take the best player available or wheel and deal to gather more picks. The latter seems very likely, but as always, you never know what you're going to get with these Patriots.

Depends on who is available at the top of their board. If the WR or DE that they're looking at (have to assume those are the top two now) is not available or looks like they are going to slip, they'll trade down. If there is no sign that the guy is going to slip and a team behind them has the same need, they'll pull the trigger and try to make a trade later. Don't forget that this is a very deep draft.

As for the offer sheet to Sanders, despite the risk involved I believe this is the right move to make if they don't believe they can find a WR in the third round better than what Emmanuel is right now. If all goes as planned, in addition to Sanders and Amendola, I still believe its necessary to draft a true outside receiver who's a more bigger body than those other two, explosive, can win on the perimeter. jump-ball situations and especially in the red/money area to field a have fully capable WR core.

/birdcents

Very much agreed.

 

[Ozymandias]

I wonder how many pieces they need to add via the draft, though? If they sign Sanders, they really need a WR, DE, CB. Plus they can always supplement in UDFA.

I think interior OL depth is a need as well especially with Mankins and Connolly getting long in the tooth. It wouldn't surprise me at all to see a OL drafted with either one of their first picks if they stand pat as is.

Judging by the draft visits/private workouts it looks like the team views that as priority as well. But you're correct, WR and a another pass rusher would seem to be up there as well. With the later perhaps of lesser importance (judging by the visits/workouts).

 

[Sciz]

Well, so much for that unwritten rule

 

[Tunescribe]

So, does Sanders project in this offense as our 1 WR? It doesn't seem immediately obvious.

 

[patfanken]

The CBA says:
"The player and the New Club may not renegotiate such Player Contract to reduce the Salary in such contract until after the end of the first regular season covered by the Contract. Neither the player nor the New Club may exercise an option in such Player Contract that reduces Salary in the first League Year of such contract until after the end of the first regular season covered by the Contract."

(i) Salary, which shall consist only of
(a) the fixed and specified dollar amounts the New Club will pay, guarantee or lend to the Restricted Free Agent and/or his designees (currently and/or as deferred compensation in specified installments on specified dates) in consideration for his services as a football player under the Player Contract (i.e., signing bonus, Paragraph 5 Salary, and reporting and roster bonuses); and
(b) Salary that is variable and/ or is subject to calculation only upon the following bases:
(1) based upon the performance of the Club extending the Offer Sheet (only those incentives which are "likely to be earned" by the player if he enters into a Player Contract with the New Club, pursuant to Subsection (c) above, must be matched by the Prior Club for the purpose of exercising a Right of First Refusal, and such incentives may not exceed 1 5 % of the Salary in the Offer Sheet); and (2) League honors listed in Exhibit C to Article 1 3 ;

Thanks for giving us the appropriate info on this, Miguel. Now would you mind telling us WTF it means!

Now I'm reading it, that as long as the Pats don't lower the compensation, they can renegotiate it anytime, but whenever I read documents with the phrase "pursuant to subsection c", I have found things are not always as clear as it seems.