Peter King MMQB - Patriots & Lance Briggs?!?

[Scott37]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/peter_king/03/18/overtime/3.html

e. He said the Bears had a seven-year, $33-million contract offer on the table for Lance Briggs last year, and haven't offered him a multi-year deal this offseason. It's either play the year at $7.2 million (poor guy) or sit out (he'll never do that) or hope some team comes to the Bears (the Patriots?) and says, "We'll give you a low first-round pick for Briggs,'' and then signs him to a $7 million-a-year deal with $20 million guaranteed.

"The Bears haven't given us many options,'' he said. "Come in and play this year at $7.2 million. That's it. They've said to us they have no intention of signing him to a long-term deal. If we'd have signed the deal they offered last year, Lance wouldn't have been among the top 15-paid linebackers in the league.'' I said, "The Patriots ought to send the 28th pick to Chicago for him. The Bears would have to take that, wouldn't they, rather than have a pissed-off player?'' Rosenhaus said: "From your lips to God's ears.''

 

[Pujo]

Football reporters love to speculate... it's the only thing to do this time of year. But didn't Briggs say he didn't want to play in a 3-4 defense?

 

[Terry Glenn is a cowgirl]

...who knows if this would ever happen though????

If it did happen, the Pats would have a fairly decent linebacker roster (hahaha)...

 

[Scott37]

For the signing bonus, a long term contract, and to get out of Chicago, I think he would say "how high" to BB's "jump."

For the record, I make this trade in a heartbeat.

 

[BelichickFan]

Sounds like he just tossed the Patriots out there as we have two #1s.

#28 pick ? At a high but reasonable deal ? I'd do it, we'd then have the kind of rotational depth we would love to have.

 

[SeanBruschi54]

Sounds like he just tossed the Patriots out there as we have two #1s.

#28 pick ? At a high but reasonable deal ? I'd do it, we'd then have the kind of rotational depth we would love to have.

Thats exactly what he did. He thought of the team that has spent the most money and has two picks and said BOOM instant connection.

The Patriots really dont have the money to throw at this guy.

 

[Sporin]

With Pat's sitting on 2 late first rounders, they are always going to be speculated in big trade possibilities like this.

 

[dryheat44]

Thats exactly what he did. He thought of the team that has spent the most money and has two picks and said BOOM instant connection.

The Patriots really dont have the money to throw at this guy.

Well, if they can re-sign Samuel they do. The problem might be not enough playing time. But Jeebus, to think of a LB corps of Colvin, Vrabel, Bruschi, Thomas, Briggs, Seau???

 

[SeanBruschi54]

Well, if they can re-sign Samuel they do. The problem might be not enough playing time. But Jeebus, to think of a LB corps of Colvin, Vrabel, Bruschi, Thomas, Briggs, Seau???

Believe me they have ways of moving money around to get the guy. But the Patriots like to have some extra money around in case of injuries as so forth. I just dont see it happening at this time.

They still have to sign rookies and a few extra vets. Most noticeably Seau and Brown (Troy). And more scrubs for TC fodder.

Would the thought of those players playing together make me happy?
WHY THE HELL WOULDNT IT??? I'd have to be Keegs in order to hate that.

I just think we might have explored this sooner rather than later and now we are past the point of trading for him.

 

[AirForcePatFan]

Seau hasn't been resigned so technically he's not on a team right now...

 

[sebman2112]

Well, if they can re-sign Samuel they do. The problem might be not enough playing time. But Jeebus, to think of a LB corps of Colvin, Vrabel, Bruschi, Thomas, Briggs, Seau???

Why would you wan't Briggs, if you don't like the idea of spending a first on Willis?

 

[Va_Pats_Fan]

Plus 2.5 mil frees up in June, when the stretch Dillons hit out...

hey, we can always dream

 

[PatsMyBoyz!]

Well, if they can re-sign Samuel they do. The problem might be not enough playing time. But Jeebus, to think of a LB corps of Colvin, Vrabel, Bruschi, Thomas, Briggs, Seau???

Now that I've revived myself...I can't help but think Thomas was our ace-in-the-hole and that's how it will stay. King was speculating based upon our situation. They'll extend Samuels (hopefully),use their picks,take care of Vince,etc.
But still...good lord...

 

[BelichickFan]

Well, if they can re-sign Samuel they do. The problem might be not enough playing time. But Jeebus, to think of a LB corps of Colvin, Vrabel, Bruschi, Thomas, Briggs, Seau???

Money's not an issue, supposedly we're about $10M under (according to mgteich) as we can spread Dillon's acceleration hit as if he were cut after June 1. Draft picks will take less than $2M according to Miguel. Slight backloading makes it easily done and, like you said, if Samuel is re-done then it's even easier.

Playing time ? I don't think it would be a problem. We play 4 and would have Colvin, Vrabel, Bruschi., Thomas, Briggs, that's only 5. Barring injury, each could get 1/4 plays off, Belichick likes to do that anyway - remember when we had McGinnest, Vrabel and Colvin all outside. One would probably get hurt along the way and we'd have a set 4 but with 5 guys rotating into 4 spots, imagine how much extra spark they'd have in the 4th quarter.

 

[PatsMyBoyz!]

Seau hasn't been resigned so technically he's not on a team right now...

Interesting. I saw his name and wondered if we'd done anything definitive with him yet. All things considered,will they bring him back?

 

[PatsMyBoyz!]

Money's not an issue, supposedly we're about $10M under (according to mgteich) as we can spread Dillon's acceleration hit as if he were cut after June 1. Draft picks will take less than $2M according to Miguel. Slight backloading makes it easily done and, like you said, if Samuel is re-done then it's even easier.

Playing time ? I don't think it would be a problem. We play 4 and would have Colvin, Vrabel, Bruschi., Thomas, Briggs, that's only 5. Barring injury, each could get 1/4 plays off, Belichick likes to do that anyway - remember when we had McGinnest, Vrabel and Colvin all outside. One would probably get hurt along the way and we'd have a set 4 but with 5 guys rotating into 4 spots, imagine how much extra spark they'd have in the 4th quarter.

From your lips to God's ears.

 

[sebman2112]

Money's not an issue, supposedly we're about $10M under (according to mgteich) as we can spread Dillon's acceleration hit as if he were cut after June 1. Draft picks will take less than $2M according to Miguel. Slight backloading makes it easily done and, like you said, if Samuel is re-done then it's even easier.

Playing time ? I don't think it would be a problem. We play 4 and would have Colvin, Vrabel, Bruschi., Thomas, Briggs, that's only 5. Barring injury, each could get 1/4 plays off, Belichick likes to do that anyway - remember when we had McGinnest, Vrabel and Colvin all outside. One would probably get hurt along the way and we'd have a set 4 but with 5 guys rotating into 4 spots, imagine how much extra spark they'd have in the 4th quarter.

Draft picks are going to take more than 2M...more like 4M-5M NE's 2006 draft picks counted for something like 4.2-4.4M against the cap (thats with Mincey, and Stevens being cut prior to the season), and that was without two first rounders....If they trade away one first to Chicago they would then be in a simular situation as last year (minus a second rounder), but contracts have gone up, so they should still be in the 4-4.5M range. Check it out if you don't believe me.

 

[thomas144]

It isn't just that Peter King is speculating - he apparently made this suggestion to Drew Rosenhaus, who was probably inviting the speculation, and Rosenhaus was amenable to the idea.

I love it. Trading a first round pick would in itself free up some money for this, and there is no need to keep money in reserve for Junior Seau.

I know that Briggs has said he doesn't want to play in a 3-4, and if he is really dead set against it (I doubt that) then we wouldn't want him on the Patriots anyway.

 

[BelichickFan]

Draft picks are going to take more than 2M...more like 4M-5M NE's 2006 draft picks counted for something like 4.2-4.4M against the cap

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/showpost.php?p=366660&postcount=26

Miguel says last year's cost about $1.5M with everything taken into account (includeing the fact that most draft picks cost no more than the player they replace on the roster) and that this year will be about the same.

 

[sebman2112]

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/showpost.php?p=366660&postcount=26

Miguel says last year's cost about $1.5M with everything taken into account (includeing the fact that most draft picks cost no more than the player they replace on the roster) and that this year will be about the same.

I was talking actual contracts. But if you are talking about their offset on the cap by replacing other players I agree. Again, I was just talking actual rookie contracts. I've said before unlike other teams NE might actually gain about 1.2-1.6M in cap space with this year's cutdowns. Why? Because I believe some of their draft picks with lessor salary will replace some of the players who are currently in the top 53.