NFL Free Agency Thread

[Brady_to_Moss]

Hicks flying to Chi tomorrow...d%#*!@t

 

[Ross12]

WOW Ian he lets Rico go just like that?

Ian better report this to the Commissioner ASAP!

 

[primetime]

James Starks and Clay Harbor are visiting the Patriots today.

I like Starks a lot, he's easily one of the league's most efficient and successful backs on limited carries and has never really received his due. He's not an every down guy but he could be a good pickup.

Don't know anything about Harbor.

 

[JMC00]

Shoot, it seems like bill just isnt interested in this year's free agents.

Right.. Not contacting a player that plays a position that is not a need means he isn't interested in any free agents..

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

Hicks flying to Chi tomorrow...d%#*!@t

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

Starks? ehh

 

[Ross12]

To be totally honest these might be the smart signings. Starks had a great year a few years ago and IMO he looked decent last year, he could work as a partner to Lewis. I have always liked Harbor, I think he would be a smart signing. Again assuming they both come cheap.

 

[DaBruinz]

Per Adam Caplan:
Adam Caplan

✔ ‎@caplannfl
Two more visits for #Patriots today: RB James Starks and TE Clay Harbor.

Harbor could be an interesting pick up as he can block and catch the ball.. Not as good a receiver as Hernandez, but a better blocker..

 

[Big Bucks]

Not moving on at all.

Forte wants to be an every down back.
I assume he eliminated Minnesota from his list, as well as St Louis, Pittsburgh, and Tampa to name a few.
He also eliminate the Patriots because he will not be an every down back with Dion Lewis on the roster, he would share the role. That is common sense, Lewis would get plenty of reps, probably half of them.

Bilal Powell isn't taking reps away from Forte.

So while his choice of teams may, in fact, have come down to money, the Patriots were not among the teams on the list he was choosing from.

Your last sentence was just stupid.

If Forte was a sprite 25 years old moving on from his rookie deal I think I would agree with you. The Jets themselves have shown there hand by bringing in and resigning RBs to share on a committee with. If Forte is to see out those three years there is now way on this earth he plays 3 downs. Never happening. I really would not be surprised they signed him out of spite to stop us also. Jets are a committee running unit.

 

[BadMoFo]

Who are they visiting with? Aren't all the main coaches out at college pro days.

 

[PatCat]

Minus a real outside guy who can make the occasional outside catch and demand a defender it will be stack box city and ruff up anything moving. Pats know this and I guess are trying to fix it but if we don't get that guy we will see a repeat of what happened this year most likely. Teams are catching on to the dink and donk and plan to perfection against this. Oline has done us no favors either.

 

[jah]

I didn't like the idea of Starks at all, but I saw that last year was one of the best of career and was encouraged a bit. Still not too excited about a 30 year old who has never topped 700 yards in a season.

 

[Ross12]

What's nice about Starks is he can catch it too. Putting him on the field doesn't telegraph a run play to the defense. Rotating him & Lewis with White as a third-down-back and reserve receiver could work.

 

[IllegalContact]

Don't think I said "fact". Since I do not know Forte personally, how could I.
Forte has always been an every down back. He wanted out of Chicago, regardless of whether they executed the transaction of not.
Its just common sense that an every down back looking for a new team would rule out teams he has to share the job on.
Whether the Patriots would be interested or not is moot, because they never had the chance to be.

By the way I agree wear and tear is an issue, but at this point in the NFL 4 mill a year is chump change, worth risking that the wall wont be hit too soon.

no....he did not want out of chicago.......he tried engaging the bears in extension talks last year, but the bears did not respond......don't confuse taking a hint with wanting to be gone

more than anything, forte was looking to get paid.......don't confuse wanting 3 down money with wanting to be a 3 down back......he's over 30....he's going to be platooned whether he wants to or not

 

[primetime]

Starks flies beneath the radar but consistently grades out as one of the league's most efficient running backs. He doesn't get a ton of touches, but he's very good at succeeding with those carries and receptions. Criminally underrated change-of-pace guy, I'd be pretty happy if the Patriots brought him in.

 

[Ring 6]

You think if the Pats were willing to pay him that much, he was coming here to be a back up? LOL

You were the one who said he was a backup because Blount was better

I'm saying they have more interest in Lewis getting most of the reps, and anybody else who's cheap getting the majority of the carries.

I'm saying Lewis being here is why Forte did not consider NE an option. What is your beef?

If your theory is that the Pats were willing to pay him that much, then you can't tell me they were going to make him a back up.

I didn't say they were going to make him a backup, you did.
4 mill is chump change for a guy who can share the backfield with Lewis and gives us the production the 2 of them would have. BB would surely pay that.
Its Forte who wouldn't accept it because he wants all the reps.

"hey Matt, yeah we want you for 4-5 mil a year, but ideally you'll be backing up Lewis..."

No, that's wrong. Bottom line is, if the Pats were willing to go to that price like you said they were, then your theory that Forte wanted a bigger role is incorrect. At that price, he'd be the feature back. Every down back. Lewis would have a smaller role.

You can't make something up, call in my opinion and argue with me.
If the Patriots had signed Forte, he and Lewis would probably split time about 50/50, and that would be a good investment at 4mill a year.
Forte wouldn't come here to play 50/50.

But that's not the case, because they wouldn't pay Forte that much, and sure as hell wouldn't pay him that much for a smaller role than he has now

Sure they would. 4 mill is chump change.

 

[Ross12]

It's actually kind of funny because everyone is mad that Forte didn't come here, but Starks can come and basically do the same thing (albeit not quite as well) and is the same age, but will cost half as much...

 

[JMC00]

Minus a real outside guy who can make the occasional outside catch and demand a defender it will be stack box city and ruff up anything moving

Like the first 8 games when they didn't have a real outside guy but were still were putting up 30 points a game??

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

43 rec and 600 yards (rushing) from starks last year

 

[Ring 6]

no....he did not want out of chicago.......he tried engaging the bears in extension talks last year, but the bears did not respond......don't confuse taking a hint with wanting to be gone

That was before Lankford emerged and took his playing time away. After that he had no interest in staying.

more than anything, forte was looking to get paid.......don't confuse wanting 3 down money with wanting to be a 3 down back......he's over 30....he's going to be platooned whether he wants to or not

No. He wants to be an every down back. Teams offered that to him, such as the Jets. Sure, after narrowing the teams that would give him the role he wanted it became about money, but its obtuse to say sharing the role didn't matter to him.