Why Is Sopoaga Still On the Team?

[mgteich]

Almost all of us thought that Sopoaga would be gone by now. It would seem that if there were no hope that Sopoaga might make the team, he would be have been cut, as Gregory was.

Yet, Sopoaga is still here. Of course, there is no rush. He could be cut at any time.

My suspicion is that Belichick is simply being cautious. He has five healthy DTs: Siliga, Jones, Vellano, Sopoaga and Forston. Perhaps, Belichick would like to be sure that we have at least five healthy DT's for camp to compete with any additions or returning injured for roster spots. Perhaps, Belichick thinks that Sopoaga might even compete for a roster spot.

 

[ATippett56]

The same could be said of Adrian Wilson.

 

[chasa]

soon as you cut him that is money other players have to use as leverage.

"coach why are you asking me to restructure, you just added 4 mil by cutting Sop"

 

[mgteich]

OK, so why did we cut Gregory? Surely the same arguments apply.

soon as you cut him that is money other players have to use as leverage.

"coach why are you asking me to restructure, you just added 4 mil by cutting Sop"

 

[ctpatsfan77]

The best reason I can think of is that he has $1M in guaranteed salary for 2014. :nooo:

So the Patriots might be trying to use him as a minor trade chip to save that $1M, or perhaps getting him to restructure or something.

 

[mgteich]

Indeed.

I'm sure DI will have his response posted soon.

The same could be said of Adrian Wilson.

 

[ATippett56]

soon as you cut him that is money other players have to use as leverage.

"coach why are you asking me to restructure, you just added 4 mil by cutting Sop"

The salary cap savings by cutting Sopoaga is $2.5 million.

» Over the Cap- New England Patriots 2014 Salary Cap and Contracts

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

I think Gregory was cut early as a favor to a vet who played here for years.
Otherwise, why cut a player before you need the cap $ to sign someone, especially when there are MAJOR health concerns over the 2 starters at the same position?

 

[Rob0729]

I would be willing to bet there will be several players cut between now and 4PM on Tuesday. Look around the league and there are a bunch of players who will be cut and have not yet. Look at the Jets. They haven't cut Santonio Holmes and everyone knows he will be cut and Cromartie is likely to be cut too.

 

[ashley]

Not sure what the hold up could be. Reiss said he expects the move to come any day now. It seems like a no brainer that he will be cut, just a question of when and why wait.

 

[Deus Irae]

Many teams have many players still to be cut. If Sopoaga is still on the team come draft day, that'll be a story.

 

[Brady6]

Almost all of us thought that Sopoaga would be gone by now. It would seem that if there were no hope that Sopoaga might make the team, he would be have been cut, as Gregory was.

Yet, Sopoaga is still here. Of course, there is no rush. He could be cut at any time.

My suspicion is that Belichick is simply being cautious. He has five healthy DTs: Siliga, Jones, Vellano, Sopoaga and Forston. Perhaps, Belichick would like to be sure that we have at least five healthy DT's for camp to compete with any additions or returning injured for roster spots. Perhaps, Belichick thinks that Sopoaga might even compete for a roster spot.

I do not expect the release of Sopoaga until they make a decision on Vince Wilfork, if Wilfork does not agree to restructure I could see Sopoaga getting an opportunity to compete for a spot in training camp. It felt Sopoaga was dealing with an injury in 2013 and that limited him, he is 32 years old so he may have a productive season or two left in the tank if he is healthy.

 

[ATippett56]

I would be willing to bet there will be several players cut between now and 4PM on Tuesday. Look around the league and there are a bunch of players who will be cut and have not yet. Look at the Jets. They haven't cut Santonio Holmes and everyone knows he will be cut and Cromartie is likely to be cut too.

The New York Jets are run by morons. I would not use that NFL franchise as an example going forward.

 

[Rob0729]

The New York Jets are run by morons. I would not use that NFL franchise as an example going forward.

LOL! Even they couldn't be stupid to carry both those players' bloated salaries. They are just under $26 million worth of cap space combined and would free up $18 million worth of cap space if released.

They can't be dumb enough to keep their overpriced cap hits? Can they?!?

 

[Armchair Quarterback]

Maybe their trying to give the perception to Wilfork that they have NT covered with Siliga and Sopoaga. With less players at the position, it increases Wilforks' leverage, however small. Can't think of any other reason because Sopoaga's definitively not worth the money.

 

[mgteich]

That is a reasonable position and idea. We've kept a player as Wilfork insurance before. We used a 2nd round draft choice for Brace.

If we go into camp with Sopoaga, Jones, Siliga, Vellano, a draftee and Armstead, we will have a very low cost group of DT's. Belichick may be want to keep Sopoaga (perhaps he was playing injured as someone else suggested). In any case, he may being kept around until he is replaced or until he is beaten out for a roster position.

Maybe their trying to give the perception to Wilfork that they have NT covered with Siliga and Sopoaga. With less players at the position, it increases Wilforks' leverage, however small. Can't think of any other reason because Sopoaga's definitively not worth the money.

 

[PP2]

I think Gregory was cut early as a favor to a vet who played here for years.
Otherwise, why cut a player before you need the cap $ to sign someone, especially when there are MAJOR health concerns over the 2 starters at the same position?

That is what I am thinking. Give him a head start on FA. As much as I like to heap abuse on Gregory for his physical shortcomings, he did put in the effort and was a model player.

 

[chasa]

OK, so why did we cut Gregory? Surely the same arguments apply.

gregory isnt a DT last time i checked.

 

[patsfan-1982]

I could be looking into this to much but the more cap space they free up the more Talib and Edelman will want and wilfork may not want to re-work his contract if they have that much cap space

 

[Nunchucks]

My guess is that Sopoaga was out of shape last year and that is why he sucked. Maybe the Patriots are going to wait and see how he approaches this season before deciding what do with him.