Peter King on Patriots Free Agency

[PatsRule]

I think as much as I praise teams for showing a little restraint, I think one team that's gone wild and has done a good job is New England ... and the Patriots aren't done. For $14.2 million in 2007 cap dollars, the Patriots bought blocking back and special-teamer Heath Evans ($720,000 cap charge for '07), versatile defender Adalius Thomas ($3.4 million), blocking tight end Kyle Brady ($2.3 million), second running back/special-teamer Sammy Morris ($1.83 million), possession wideout/return man Wes Welker ($1.7 million), special-teams captain Larry Izzo ($475,000), third guard Billy Yates ($650,000) and, on Sunday, starting wideout Donte' Stallworth ($3.1 million).

Two notes: New England's still got the 13th-most cap room left, $7.7 million. And Mike Shanahan on Kyle Brady: "He's the best blocking tight end in football.''

The only way 2007 could have been better for New England is if Tom Brady doesn't throw the fourth-quarter interceptions at Indianapolis.

He had to mention the pick, just had to do it !!!!

 

[AirForcePatFan]

Well, it's true... It seems Brady is making a habit of throwing 4 quarter interceptions in the playoffs... Think back to Denver to now???

But I am pumped with what they are doing this FA, I really hope this season meets up to all these signings!!

 

[Handel]

Why Patriots.com do not put a word on these signings?

 

[Fencer]

Mike Shanahan on Kyle Brady: "He's the best blocking tight end in football.''

Interesting quote from a guy who just paid a LOT of money for Grahambo.

 

[amazinPats]

Interesting quote from a guy who just paid a LOT of money for Grahambo.

Yes, I was thinking the same thing, but then perhaps the quote is a year old?

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

...but then perhaps the quote is a year old?

My first inclination, I'm sure a newsroom morgue is just chock full of little tidbits like these, especially since everything is now electronic. I wonder how unique it must be for a sports publication to have quotes from a two-time (back-to-back at that) Superbowl winning coach at it's keyboard-tips...it makes the Priscos and Borges of the world look ever so clever.

The truly nice thing about this note, we now have Belichick and Shanahan, each with the odd Superbowl ring and two of the winningest coaches in this decade, on record saying nice things about Kyle Brady - the quick signing makes a lot more sense as Grahambo took his well deserved turn at collecting a nest egg.

 

[ironwasp]

Interesting quote from a guy who just paid a LOT of money for Grahambo.

Graham also catches a good ball. As far as I can work out we can expect next to nothing from Kyle Brady in the passing game.

 

[TealSox]

I would rather pay Kyle Brady half as much as Graham got to block and catch a ball once in a while. What does it matter when the Pats pick up Donte, Wes, and K. Washington? They still have Watson right? I suppose a comparison can be made between Fauria and Brady, with Brady being a better blocker. No?

 

[zippo59]

Why Patriots.com do not put a word on these signings?

Because the Patirots didn't officially announce the signings until today, and apparently Stallworth and Washington didn't actually sign their contracts until today.

But it's up now.

http://www.patriots.com/homepage/

 

[the taildragger]

Well, it's true... It seems Brady is making a habit of throwing 4 quarter interceptions in the playoffs... Think back to Denver to now???

I don't want to come off like a jerk but sometimes I wonder if I'm in the right fan forum.

Please don't invest too much in Peter King...he lacks conviction (because he's so often wrong about everything -- see Easterbrook's annual "bad football predictions" column and PK is always turning up the most).

We're talking about a player who, until last season, had the lowest INT/ATT % in playoff history. He's spoiled us. Everyone throws INTs, we're just not accustomed to it, so now it's a "habit." Seemed like Manning threw about 20 picks last year despite the advantage of a pair of $8M pro bowl receivers.

Look, credit Champ Bailey in '05 (and "no respect" for our ground game in red zone), and chalk up the Indy pick to forcing the ball out of sheer desperation. Now he did have a couple ugly picks against San Diego, but he also threw the pass of the year to clinch that incredible victory.

For Peter King to implicate the Indy loss was somehow on Brady is just embarrassing -- Tom was, as usual, our MVP in that game, and as usual, he was taken for granted (at least by anyone who, like King, remembers his performance for "the 4th quarter interceptions"). In truth, he did more than anyone to keep our tired asses in the lead for 59 minutes and nearly led us to a championship that would've had historians putting the Patriots at the head of the table. Sometimes you can't appreciate something until it's gone. Sadly, "perspective" isn't too far around the corner.