Patriot Whispers from Profootballweekly

[PonyExpress]

For what it's worth.

The Patriots are really starting to sour on rookie DB Brandon Meriweather. Not only is he looking mentally lost in trying to grasp the Patriots’ playbook, but he is looking physically overmatched, as well. If he is to play safety, which the Patriots want him to play over cornerback, the 5-11, 200-pounder needs to gain at least 10-15 pounds. However, because he is just a rookie, the Pats remain hopeful that he will eventually develop into a quality player.

Expect to see Kevin Faulk as the Patriots’ running back when they go to four-wide alignments. Faulk has better open-field quickness than Laurence Maroney, and the Pats are growing increasingly less fond of giving Maroney a full workload. We hear they’re beginning to doubt Maroney’s toughness and don’t see him as a 20-plus-carry running back.

Asante Samuel has always been a very good cornerback, but his outstanding play this season makes it very likely that the Patriots will go to great lengths to lock him to a long-term, lucrative deal this offseason. Making this more important is the recent regression of Patriots CBs Ellis Hobbs and Randall Gay. It was formerly believed that Samuel would demand too much money for the salary-cap-conscious Pats to pony up to, but we hear they no longer view him as a “system guy” and now see him as an elite talent.

http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/The+Way+We+Hear+It/Whispers/2007/whispers120107.htm

 

[cavtroop]

The first two should get a certain crowd here on Patsfans completely incensed.

 

[primetime]

The "recent regression of Randall Gay and Ellis Hobbs"... as in, they looked bad in one game? I would think the Patriots front office would be a little less reactionary than that.

 

[BelichickFan]

The "recent regression of Randall Gay and Ellis Hobbs"... as in, they looked bad in one game? I would think the Patriots front office would be a little less reactionary than that.

Yeah, they've generally been pretty good although Hobbs hasn't really stepped up this year. Regardless, I do hope they find a way to spend a lot on Samuel and with his age they should be able to do it by giving him a massive bonus that could be spread over 6-8 years.

 

[SWelker]

Hobbs has looked bad for a lot longer than 1 game.

 

[danny88]

For what it's worth.



http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/The+Way+We+Hear+It/Whispers/2007/whispers120107.htm

No!!! Maroney and Meriweather are not playing a lot because they dont need to!!! Right?

Maroney is a top five back according to some on this board

I love the Meriweather excuse makers more. " Meriweather is behind Baker on the depth chart because the pats want it that way"! Yea right!

 

[Remix 6]

Hobbs has looked bad for a lot longer than 1 game.

so has Randall Gay. go back to Cleveland game. Hobbs worse but he plays more..however i would not be comfortable with them at starters next year. Im sure they'll improve but keep them #2 and nickel

 

[bradmahn]

I wonder who's whispering these "whispers."

I was concerned with Merriweather's size when I saw him at the combine, but that's something that can change with a good offseason regimen. His playbook troubles are to be expected, he is, afterall, a rookie. Some here will jump on this "whisper" and use it to skewer the front office, despite the fact that he's a rookie.

 

[PonyExpress]

Some thoughts on these whispers...

1) I have a feeling this may come close to the mark re: Meriweather.

2) IMO the reason Faulk plays in 4 WR sets has nothing to do with his "quickness" and everything to do with his pass protection, excellent hands and experience. The notes about Maroney's "toughness" and future as a 20 carry back IMO are passing observations from non-Patriot sources with no inside knowledge, along the lines of what many fans have been speculating. I do not agree with them. IMO Maroney will become an excellent 20+ carry back.

3) The Samuel whisper sounds more like outsider guesswork about what the Pats may do. I don't agree with them either. IMO the Pats will let Samuel go.

 

[ClevTrev]

PFW, right about everything. A great source. Their source of "whispers": Patfans.com, Michael Felger & Michael Ventre.

Hey, PFW has to stay in business, too.

HeHeHe!!!!!!

 

[BritPat]

How could they learn anything from the most secretive Franchise in football?

What a load of garbage.

 

[fnordcircle]

I was against signing Asante to a big contract last year because he had only played like one of the top 5 corners in the league in 2006. Prior to that he had been playing merely 'ok'. Good enough to start and cover a #2.

Too many times we've all seen players play lights out in a contract year and then never follow-up on it. At this point I think Asante has proven that 2006 wasn't an aberration and I'm hopeful they find a way to lock him up longterm along with Randy. And Rosie. And Wilfork. And everyone else.... T_T

 

[jman924]

Didn't PFW let us know that the Pats were "concerned" and "displeased" with Moss, and if we didn't cut him, he would certainly not be the number 1 wide-out, and certainly wouldn't make a "large" impact to the team?:singing:

It's good to know that PFW can smell a bust before the front office can.

 

[Mogamedogz]

I'm hopeful they find a way to lock him up longterm along with Randy. And Rosie. And Wilfork. And everyone else.... T_T

Not going to be possible. They just cant afford to sign both Moss and Samuel. Look at the deal Nate Clements got, and then ask yourself "would Assante take LESS??

I think we all know the answer (unfortunately).

 

[Deus Irae]

Not going to be possible. They just cant afford to sign both Moss and Samuel. Look at the deal Nate Clements got, and then ask yourself "would Assante take LESS??

I think we all know the answer (unfortunately).

Clements has a bogus deal. Samuel will either take a bogus deal with bigger numbers in the back that will never be seen, or he'll take a more sensible deal where he'll actually end up getting paid the contract. Clements' deal shouldn't be any sort of bar to getting Samuel re-signed.

 

[Remix 6]

Not going to be possible. They just cant afford to sign both Moss and Samuel. Look at the deal Nate Clements got, and then ask yourself "would Assante take LESS??

I think we all know the answer (unfortunately).

Clements wont get $80 million in 8 years..its esentially a 6 year deal i believe with less than that

and Asante never said "i want the deal he got"

plus..Samuel is more important than Moss..and Moss probably wont even demand money so he'll resign for less than hes worth.

 

[PonyExpress]

Didn't PFW let us know that the Pats were "concerned" and "displeased" with Moss, and if we didn't cut him, he would certainly not be the number 1 wide-out, and certainly wouldn't make a "large" impact to the team?:singing:

It's good to know that PFW can smell a bust before the front office can.

No. Profootballtalk said that. Profootballweekly is a print publication with a more reliable reputation.

 

[BlitzFritz]

does anyone else think this sounds like a bunch of made-up crap??

who are these whispering sources? this sounds more like a bunch of hypotheticals that any troll coulda come up w ffs
:bricks:

 

[jman924]

does anyone else think this sounds like a bunch of made-up crap??

who are these whispering sources? this sounds more like a bunch of hypotheticals that any troll coulda come up w ffs
:bricks:

Some trolls are very good at turning whispers into gospel.

 

[Remix 6]

does anyone else think this sounds like a bunch of made-up crap??

who are these whispering sources? this sounds more like a bunch of hypotheticals that any troll coulda come up w ffs
:bricks:

especially when its "Patriots whispers"..were so low profile..maybe its just our media whispering