Does this spygate stuff affect how premiere Free Agents look at joining the Patriots?

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

It used to be where guys wanted to come here for less money and knowing that the team was well organized and coached and wanted to win,Not that the coaching or organization has changed much but with all this spygate and the team in negative view of the world whether its realistic or not,Will it affect the way Free Agents think about taking a cut and joining a team or will it have a limited affect on thier decision?.

While the team is successful and won 3 Super Bowls in this decade,maybe some premiere available FA guys in 2008 may be turned off by all the happenings going on in New England and might pass on playing for what appears outside of New England to be a controversional and scrutinized team in the media and now a bit of an interferrence with government inquiries thanks to specter.

Your thoughts? - Is it a disruption to a good FA player in deciding to come here or not?

Opinions should be based on being unbiased and not solely as a Patriots fan please to make this discussion not from the homer side.

 

[tobias funke]

Re: Does this spygate stuff affect how premiere Free Agents look at joining the Patri

NFL players give a **** about two things:

1. Money
2. Super Bowls

I can't see either of them being affected by this 'scandal', so as far as the answer to your question, I'd say no.

 

[eom]

Re: Does this spygate stuff affect how premiere Free Agents look at joining the Patri

It used to be where guys wanted to come here for less money

list, plz.

and no, players don't give a crap about this idiocy.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Re: Does this spygate stuff affect how premiere Free Agents look at joining the Patri

list, plz.

and no, players don't give a crap about this idiocy.

1) Randy Moss (Could have gone to Green Bay for more $$$)
2) Tom Brady (Is playing for LESS than Oaklands #1 pick last year)
3) Tedy Bruschi (could have played for much more)


and I am sure there are more who rather play for less money for a winning tradition,At least winning right now....

 

[tobias funke]

Re: Does this spygate stuff affect how premiere Free Agents look at joining the Patri

Two of those guys didn't "come here", they were drafted. I'm not trashing your point, but it's not like every year we get an influx of cheap talent because everyone wants to play for the Pats for peanuts.

The FA we got to bolster our defense didn't exactly come 'cheap', either.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Re: Does this spygate stuff affect how premiere Free Agents look at joining the Patri

Two of those guys didn't "come here", they were drafted. I'm not trashing your point, but it's not like every year we get an influx of cheap talent because everyone wants to play for the Pats for peanuts.

The FA we got to bolster our defense didn't exactly come 'cheap', either.

Those guys had contracts that expired and were resigned at less money than they would have received on the open market - Add Adalius Thomas who the team got cheap considering his talent level,Seymour got the biggest increase and is now playing at a level well below of what he once was.

 

[tobias funke]

Re: Does this spygate stuff affect how premiere Free Agents look at joining the Patri

As far as I know, AD got one of the richest contracts for a LB in history.

 

[sebman2112]

Re: Does this spygate stuff affect how premiere Free Agents look at joining the Patri

As far as I know, AD got one of the richest contracts for a LB in history.

While AD did get paid nicely, he could have signed for more elsewhere.

just for reference:

Adalius Thomas' contract with the Patriots is worth $35 million, with $20 million in guarantees.
He's signed through 2011 and gets $24 million in the first three years. Compared to the offensive linemen that signed this offseason, Thomas' deal is a relative bargain. He probably could have gotten more money elsewhere, but it sounded like he was sold on the Pats from minute one.

 

[eom]

Re: Does this spygate stuff affect how premiere Free Agents look at joining the Patri

1) Randy Moss (Could have gone to Green Bay for more $$$)
2) Tom Brady (Is playing for LESS than Oaklands #1 pick last year)
3) Tedy Bruschi (could have played for much more)


and I am sure there are more who rather play for less money for a winning tradition,At least winning right now....

that's a ****ty list.

 

[VJ11]

Re: Does this spygate stuff affect how premiere Free Agents look at joining the Patri

It could, but I don't really think so. They are far more interested in how much money they can earn on their contract, getting into a situation where they are the "missing piece to the championship puzzle" (or whatever other s**t they like to hear). For free agents, it's all about them.

The problem is, that the Patriots aren't looking for the next hotshot star, they are more likely to go after the lesser-known players who are more versatile, and don't ask for a big signing bonus. That has been their M.O. for most of their FA signings since 2000. They are ready to spend for someone who fills a need and adds a new dimension to the offense or defense, but I can't see anyone in that category for this offseason.

(However, the Miami Dolphins just dumped several veterans that just might be interesting enough to check them out, even just for one season.)

 

[bigjunk1]

Re: Does this spygate stuff affect how premiere Free Agents look at joining the Patri

I would hope that any of the FA's that would say this was a factor would be the type of player that we steer away from anyway.

 

[eom]

Re: Does this spygate stuff affect how premiere Free Agents look at joining the Patri

when tomlinson's 35 and looking for a ring we'll see if he comes here for a million for a year.