Offseason: Many decisions to be made

[NEfan32]

This offseason is going to be very important for the Patriots. There are many key players who need to either restructure their contracts or the Pats need to resign.

1) Will Randy Moss be back? There is a debate on which way this could go. If we win it all, Moss could go and hit the motherlode in free agency. But some teams could think they can't keep him happy like the Pats, so they won't bother. Or he wants to keep on winning and play with Tom Brady.
Prediction: Resigns with Patriots 5 year deal worth 35 million and 10 million guaranteed.

2) What to do with Donte Stallworth? The Pats have him signed for 5 more years, but the upcoming seasons cap hit is 11 million. I would like to keep Donte, but that cap hit is crazy. Once 09 comes around, his cap number is more palatable. I would like him to restructure a deal with the Pats. Donte seems happy here, but he could seek a number 1 job elsewhere.
Prediction: Released, resigns a 5 year deal worth 25 million with 8 million guaranteed.

3) Will Tedy Bruschi and Larry Izzo be back? Yes. The Pats will resign them. No questions asked.

4) What about Rosie Colvin? He will be released, but could resign. His cap hit is 7 million. I would think he restructures his deal.

5) Asante Samuel. He is an elite corner. The Pats know it. He will command probably around 20 million guaranteed. I would like the Pats to resign him. I honestly don't know what will happen. The Pats could pay or let him walk. But they never seem to let talent walk away. With that said, I am guessing he stays unless another team offers him Nate Clements money.

I think the team doesn't lose any players. Samuel and Stallworth are the only ones I am not surely convinced will stay.

 

[patsgo]

This offseason is going to be very important for the Patriots. There are many key players who need to either restructure their contracts or the Pats need to resign.

1) Will Randy Moss be back? There is a debate on which way this could go. If we win it all, Moss could go and hit the motherlode in free agency. But some teams could think they can't keep him happy like the Pats, so they won't bother. Or he wants to keep on winning and play with Tom Brady.
Prediction: Resigns with Patriots 5 year deal worth 35 million and 10 million guaranteed.

2) What to do with Donte Stallworth? The Pats have him signed for 5 more years, but the upcoming seasons cap hit is 11 million. I would like to keep Donte, but that cap hit is crazy. Once 09 comes around, his cap number is more palatable. I would like him to restructure a deal with the Pats. Donte seems happy here, but he could seek a number 1 job elsewhere.
Prediction: Released, resigns a 5 year deal worth 25 million with 8 million guaranteed.

3) Will Tedy Bruschi and Larry Izzo be back? Yes. The Pats will resign them. No questions asked.

4) What about Rosie Colvin? He will be released, but could resign. His cap hit is 7 million. I would think he restructures his deal.

5) Asante Samuel. He is an elite corner. The Pats know it. He will command probably around 20 million guaranteed. I would like the Pats to resign him. I honestly don't know what will happen. The Pats could pay or let him walk. But they never seem to let talent walk away. With that said, I am guessing he stays unless another team offers him Nate Clements money.

I think the team doesn't lose any players. Samuel and Stallworth are the only ones I am not surely convinced will stay.

man what is wrong with you, the pats are enjoying possibly their best season and your worried about next year??? get a clue man, get a clue, if needed go take a long walk by yourself and leave us alone

 

[Patriot_in_NY]

I think all except Asante and Colvin are back. Of course if we win it all, I do think that both Tedy and Larry consider it a career and retire. Colvin could come back (and I hope he does), but he could command a good deal elsewhere, so I'm a little worried.

Samuel........... GONE. No way we are gonna match the cash he is gonna command.

 

[Joker]

if needed go take a long walk by yourself and leave us alone

cmon man...you need to work on your comebacks...check this

"do us a favor and step in front of a speeding train"

"try an ice pick shampoo"

"pray the aliens take you back to planet Moron"

"you make me puke...marry a girl named Ruth"

"aren't you ashamed that the doctor slapped your mother when you were born?"

Get to work...

 

[ctpatsfan77]

2) What to do with Donte Stallworth? The Pats have him signed for 5 more years, but the upcoming seasons cap hit is 11 million. I would like to keep Donte, but that cap hit is crazy. Once 09 comes around, his cap number is more palatable. I would like him to restructure a deal with the Pats. Donte seems happy here, but he could seek a number 1 job elsewhere.
Prediction: Released, resigns a 5 year deal worth 25 million with 8 million guaranteed.

No. According to Miguel's site, his cap hit is $6.4M. He will earn $11M, though.

One other thing--releasing + resigning is NOT a good thing. For the sake of argument, assume the Eagles released a player they had signed through 2011. The cap hit on the remaining signing bonus automatically becomes due no later than 2008. Even if they re-sign the player, they can't spread out the SB money.

I don't see Colvin getting cut + resigned. Either left as is, cut, or restructured.

 

[NEfan32]

No. According to Miguel's site, his cap hit is $6.4M. He will earn $11M, though.

One other thing--releasing + resigning is NOT a good thing. For the sake of argument, assume the Eagles released a player they had signed through 2011. The cap hit on the remaining signing bonus automatically becomes due no later than 2008. Even if they re-sign the player, they can't spread out the SB money.

I don't see Colvin getting cut + resigned. Either left as is, cut, or restructured.

Thanks for the clarification. On that note, I see Stallworth staying. When I said released and resigned, restructured is what I meant.

 

[Sean Pa Patriot]

I propose we dont talk about off season till it is the off season, which I hope wont be till Feb 10th .. Cmon Pro bowl counts..

 

[Joker]

nice proposal...but doomed

nice to know we have some long range strategists amongst our ranks anyway

 

[solman]

This offseason is going to be very important for the Patriots. There are many key players who need to either restructure their contracts or the Pats need to resign.

1) Will Randy Moss be back? There is a debate on which way this could go. If we win it all, Moss could go and hit the motherlode in free agency. But some teams could think they can't keep him happy like the Pats, so they won't bother. Or he wants to keep on winning and play with Tom Brady.
Prediction: Resigns with Patriots 5 year deal worth 35 million and 10 million guaranteed.

Absolutely no chance. $35M/5 is at the very edge of plausibility. If he were to accept such a deal, it would represent an enormous discount, and he would be looking for big time guarantees. He'd need at LEAST $20M guaranteed.

I think that slightly less than $30M guaranteed including an option bonus at the beginning of 2009 is much more realistic. To make this work, we are probably looking at a six year deal.

2) What to do with Donte Stallworth? The Pats have him signed for 5 more years, but the upcoming seasons cap hit is 11 million. I would like to keep Donte, but that cap hit is crazy. Once 09 comes around, his cap number is more palatable. I would like him to restructure a deal with the Pats. Donte seems happy here, but he could seek a number 1 job elsewhere.
Prediction: Released, resigns a 5 year deal worth 25 million with 8 million guaranteed.

I think this is believable. We have to release him (and not just because of his 2008 cap hit which you have misstated), but I think we could re-sign him. If I were BB/SP, I'd push him closer to $4M/yr. If he accepts the deep discount, great. If he walks, we try to fill the spot with CJ and/or future draft picks.

5) Asante Samuel. He is an elite corner. The Pats know it. He will command probably around 20 million guaranteed. I would like the Pats to resign him. I honestly don't know what will happen. The Pats could pay or let him walk. But they never seem to let talent walk away. With that said, I am guessing he stays unless another team offers him Nate Clements money.

Asante is just not willing to accept a discount to play for the Patriots. He is gone. Hopefully we can re-sign Gay or Wilson before they walk out the door. But this is Asante's swan song.

I wish him luck and hope he stays out of the AFC East.

 

[carolinatony]

Asante will leave for the $$ and I believe we can work out a deal for Moss.

I agree; lets worry about this year and winning another SB first.

 

[amazinPats]

man what is wrong with you, the pats are enjoying possibly their best season and your worried about next year??? get a clue man, get a clue, if needed go take a long walk by yourself and leave us alone

Ease up buddy. One thing that makes this organization as great as it is has to do with it's long range planning. We Pats look ahead because we have to stay a step ahead of everyoe else.

 

[mgteich]

This is kind discussion that we always have during the bye week. For example, I would like to see us extend Wright this week, or Gay.

BTW, I find these posts more interesting than those guessing how many TD's Brady will have.

For the record, I do not expect Samuel, Washington or Wilson to be back. I do expect Moss, Stallworth, Colvin, Wright, Bruschi and Gay to be on the team.

Gaffney is a toss-up. I would keep him if he'll stay. However, if all works out he is the inactive #5 receiver.

Izzo may retire. He can certainly come back if he wishes.

 

[mcbee]

TO signed a 3 year deal worth $25M.

I don't see Moss signing for less than that. Pats will want Roster bonuses and lots of incentives, but this year he could break both the single season yardage and touchdown record. Be hard to argue he needs to be about the 10th or 20th highest paid WR with that kind of track record.

I would guess 6M signing bonus, total cap hits with incentives could average 8-10M per over 4 years.

Stallworth will be gone unless he's willing to play for 3-4M per year.

Samuel, gone.

Colvin, I don't know. They've paid this guy really well over the past few years...he's been good, but not great.