Contracts to deal with

[mgteich]

Guys who it is often suggested should be restructured or cut include:

Revis. I think he now understands enough about building a championship team that a deal can be worked out.
Wilfork. The players want him to stay. I think something will be worked out.
Mayo. The argument against keeping him is that at >50% sub, who needs 3 top LBs? But Hightower and Collins both seem versatile enough to make me disregard that. I want him kept.
Arrington. Tough call.
Amendola. I think he'll be worth more to other teams.
Browner. Some people think his pay should be cut; I don't understand why.

Now comes the hard part.

OFFENSE
I suppose that depends on how much you think Amendola is worth to Belichick. IMHO, especially if Vereen goes, Amendola will be difficult to replace. I think that the offense will be significantly diminished if we replace either player with weaker ones.

DEFENSIVE SECONDARY
I do NOT think that Arrington and Browner are close calls. Why would even consider any change to our #2 and #3 corners. Didn't they do enough this year. With Revis and McCourty, these two were to core of
our secondary. Those who would cut these players (they should not take pay cuts) would be replacing their reps with more reps to Ryan, Butler and Dennard. Personally, I think that this would be really silly idea.

DEFENSIVE FRONT SEVEN
Yes, we want Mayo and Wilfork to stay at reduced compensation. Now, let's discuss reality.

We played all year with Collins and Hightower as our linebackers, with Casillas or Ayers as the backup. As we all know, we play 3 linebackers about 1/3 of the time. I believe that Belichick wants Mayo to stay. Perhaps a contract like Wilfork got last year will work. This would mean that Mayo would have an opportunity to earn the same amount as he is contracted for, at least in 2015. Of course, the cap would be helped because of the restructure.

The team negotiated long and hard with Wilfork last year. The current contract is what they agreed would be fair if Wilfork had a good year. Wilfork did all that was expected from him, and then some. I believe that Wilfork's contract will be restructured, but not reduced.

My BOTTOM LINE on both Mayo and Wilfork is that they will continue to get paid a lot until they stop being top players. This will likely mean a restructure every year. In the year when either does poorly, the pay that year will be too much, and the team will have significant dead money for the next year.

 

[mgteich]

This team let Woodhead walk so that Vereen could take on the Faulk role. We could probably dig up the thread weighing the pros and cons of that, or we can just figure that Vereen's not going anywhere due to the lack of even a semi-proven replacement.

Who is our semi-proven replacement? Neither White nor Bolden has shown much in Vereen's role. Has either done anything to suggest to you that they would be a reasonable replacement for Vereen?

 

[mgteich]

Arrington had a bad Super Bowl, but other than that, I think he was our second best CB all year. No way we should cut him.

So, you think that Arrington was better than Browner this year?

 

[Deus Irae]

Who is our semi-proven replacement? Neither White nor Bolden has shown much in Vereen's role. Has either done anything to suggest to you that they would be a reasonable replacement for Vereen?

Nothing. You seem to have misread my post. If that's because I didn't word it clearly enough, my apologies . If that's because you read it sloppily, you're a doody head!

 

[ashley]

Revis and McCourty have to be our top priorities. After those two, I'd like to keep Vereen, but with White being drafted last year, I doubt we are going to over pay for Vereen. I'd also like to keep Connolly, we all saw what happened to our interior when Devey and Kline were in there although I thought Kline didn't do too horrible against Indy, but against top lineman, it's a mismatch. Hopefully, we upgrade the Guard position.

 

[mgteich]

Nothing. You seem to have misread my post. If that's because I didn't word it clearly enough, my apologies . If that's because you read it sloppily, you're a doody head!

my bad.

I mis-read your post.

 

[Fencer]

It could be that Mayo and Ayers substitute for each other a bit. That's based on the theory that Hightower and/or Collins could be used more as edge rushers if they aren't more greatly needed for other duties.

That said, I'd surely like to have them both. Mayo/Collins/Hightower/Jones/Ninkovich/Ayers would be 6 guys for what are 5 positions in base and 4 positions in most sub packages, which is not excessive -- especially since Ninkovich is on the older side and most of the younger guys have had injury issues.

 

[BelizePats]

Those that want Arrington cut to save money simply don't understand situational football. The guy played really well for us this year. As BobD pointed out, he was put in a bad position during the Superbowl and that is the fault of the coaching staff. He's good value for what he does when he's used properly. Everyone and their mother knows the guys does not excel outside against tall opponents. But you put him inside against a speedy slot receiver and he more than holds his own.

I think Revis is more important that McCourty and I'm not sure the Pats have the $ to sign both. If it comes down to only one of them, I hope its Revis that stays.

Vince is a tough one because of what he brings to the locker room. His off field value is significant but as we know, BB is a ruthless SOB sometimes and he may feel getting rid of him now is the right thing to do for the franchise. Its a harsh one because if he does axe him, its strictly because of cost and nothing else.
Vince should see the writing on the wall and be good with 4-5 per. I know I'd appreciate it if he did!


Mayo I think is back with a restructure of some kind. He's been lost the last two years due to injury and collected fully on his salary. During that time we have gone to the AFC Championships both years and won the Super Bowl this year. Dude's a stud when healthy and does so many of the little things that average fans never see.

Ghost and Vareen I think are both critical to sign long terms for good money. A cheap rookie kicker can easily mean a loss or two, which could be the difference between home field or not. I'm not willing to play with my season to save $2 mil a year. He's worth 4 per over 4 years. Vareen was so good in the Super Bowl and I have seen nothing in White that makes me thing we can trust him to fill this role. Both are such integral cogs in the success of the offense this year. Where this money come from I have no idea?

Everyone wants to get paid when they win the Super Bowl. And there are at least 6-10 scavenger bottom feeding teams usually willing to throw stupid money at our free agents. The BASTARDS!!!

I'm glad its our coach making these hard decisions and not me.

 

[farn]

It is weird : the the reason we DO win is because stupid GMs overpay for the players we are championing our team to keep. And then, when Chung or TBC or Branch are let loose because they were making more money than their production warrants, they come back on the cheap.

Thank goodness for BB and thank goodness for his economics degree and penchant for (1) being smart with money and (2) keeping the good feelings going so that guys like Blount and the ones I mentionned earlier are happy to return.

Truth : BB knows what he's doing. BB is smarter than his colleagues.

 

[BelizePats]

It is weird : the the reason we DO win is because stupid GMs overpay for the players we are championing our team to keep. And then, when Chung or TBC or Branch are let loose because they were making more money than their production warrants, they come back on the cheap.

Thank goodness for BB and thank goodness for his economics degree and penchant for (1) being smart with money and (2) keeping the good feelings going so that guys like Blount and the ones I mentionned earlier are happy to return.

Truth : BB knows what he's doing. BB is smarter than his colleagues.

This is a pretty good post. Well said.

 

[Froob]

Aiken is going to lose us a game eventually if he isn't replaced.

 

[farn]

Aiken is going to lose us a game eventually if he isn't replaced.

This is an excellent sign for our team. We are at a level of awesomeness that is so amazing that we are worried about our LS.

 

[stinkypete]

LS Danny Aiken I agree. Snaps have been consistently low all year. It's amazing that the flukey FG blocks worked in our favor and not against. Given the excess of upcoming draft picks, it would not surprise me to see a 6th spent on an LS.
DE Akeem Ayers It welcome if he wants to be here. It would not surprise me to see another team offer him a starting role and a contract that outvalues his role in NE.
DT Alan Branch A one year rental I think.
LB Jonathan Casillas. Replaceable as a depth LB, super valuable as a core STer who can fill in on D in a pinch. He'll be back.
OL Dan Connolly. I think he walks. Someone else will offer $5-$6 million.
FB James Develin (restricted). No brainer for RFA money.
K Stephen Gostkowski. Worth the money. I hope Belichick wouldn't ride an inexperienced kicker into Brady's final act.
S Devin McCourty. Franchise tag
LB James Morris. Will be retained on the cheap. Special teams value at almost no cost.
WR Greg Orton. Minimum deal camp fodder.
RB Stevan Ridley. 2 years removed from being a 100 yard back, coming off an ACL injury, in a banner free agency year for RB. I think Ridley will be very affordabl.
DT Sealver Siliga (restricted). Also a no brainer at RFA money. I think Siliga gets extended long term post draft.
WR Brian Tyms (restricted). Low cost camp fodder with #5 WR potential. Worth a spot on the 90.
RB Shane Vereen. This is a RB that the market is primed to overpay. I think he gets an offer he can't refuse from a team like Indy.
LB Chris White. More cheap ST depth and camp bodies
Revis. I have the feeling he will stick around for a few "1 year deals" and jump ship as the Brady/Belichick eras come to an end. $14 million will keep him.
Wilfork. I don't see him taking another pay cut after last offseason. I don't think they'll be ready to consider cutting him for another year.
Mayo. Mayo has very little leverage given the 2 season ending injuries and emergence of Collins and Hightower. It's his turn to restructure, and I think he does it. The defense is much better with him.
Arrington. Between his awful first half and Butler's clutchest play ever, it wouldn't surprise me to see Arrington depart. Look at it this way, what if it's Arrington vs. Revis?
Amendola. I think Amendola has earned his place on the offense. Something clicked on in his game in early December and he was an essential piece to the playoff run.
Browner. I don't see a better option at the money.

 

[HawaiianPatsfan]

I hear what a poster was saying about frontline players. But the reason BB and the Patriots have been successful is that their middle class is competent, if not spectacular. You need Ninko. You need Arrington. Don't fault the fox for eating the hen if you place them both in the same cage. Arrington stopped TY Hilton. He scored on STs. He is what he is and, for the most part, he is good at what he does. Ask him to guard Megatron and you are the guilty party for putting him in a position to fail.

Yes, but is he worth almost 4 million a year?

 

[HawaiianPatsfan]

So, you think that Arrington was better than Browner this year?

I like the thought of trading Arrington, and bringing in Antonio Chromortie.

Sign revis to a 3 year deal, and draft two physically talented CB with high upside.
Players like Josh Shaw, and Nick marshall. Let the two sit behind Revis, Browner, and Chromortie for 32-3 years, then unleash them.

 

[zipster9]

That is the KEY issue. Will Revis make Patriots be in a bidding war with Jets and Bills?

Patriots have till early-March to make the decision to pick up his $20million. Of course that is very prohibitive on the cap, so, I believe, either Revis wants a long-term contract with $$$ guaranteed at top dollar, or he will bolt to the other team. He got his ring and maybe $$ is now the #1 factor for him.

I doubt patriots will pay him $16m/yr. He is 30 yrs old soon, so how many yrs you give him? And how much $$/yr?

Remember, Patriots still need to sign a bunch of folks!

 

[patsfaninpa]

CB is basically a non-contact position. Even though Revis is a very good tackler when called upon. Remember his stoning Colts OT Costanzo on a running play in Indy? He has 4-5 good years left. Jerry Jones has said he expects the cap to be at 146m. 15-16M per is what the going rate is for elite corners.
Pay the man!!

 

[TBR]

I REALLY want Vereen back but I have a feeling it won't happen

 

[HawaiianPatsfan]

CB is basically a non-contact position. Even though Revis is a very good tackler when called upon. Remember his stoning Colts OT Costanzo on a running play in Indy? He has 4-5 good years left. Jerry Jones has said he expects the cap to be at 146m. 15-16M per is what the going rate is for elite corners.
Pay the man!!

Correct with everything you said.
To add to what you said, Revis's game is pure technique. He doesn't rely oh his physical skills at all. This means as he ages, he will be just as good.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

Really want vereen back on this team as well..out of the backfield can be very dangerous