A lot of stupid money being thrown out there

[Rob0729]

Ok, I know a lot of people are disapointed that the Pats haven't been active in free agency yet, but have you really looked at some of the deals being thrown around out there?

Stallworth - 5 years, $35 million with $10 million guaranteed for a guy who was demoted to our fourth WR in many games

Bernard Berrian - 6 years, $42 million with $16 million guaranteed for a guy most people think is a great #2 WR, but not a primary WR

Erik Coleman - 4 years, $10 million with a $3 million bonus for a guy who was benched on a bad Jets team.

Billy Volek - 3 years $9 million with a $3 million bonus for a back up QB

Alan Faneca - 4 years, $32 million with $23 million guaranteed for a declining guard.

Gabril Wilson - 6 years, $39 million with $16 million guaranteed.

Madieu Williams - six-year, $33 million contract that includes just under $13 million in guarantees.

Tommy Kelly - 7 years, $50 million with over $18 million guaranteed. OK raise your hand if your first reaction when you heard this news was "Who is Tommy Kelly?" Come on, you know it was.

This year's free agency class was weak overall, but these guys are getting paid like they are top flight free agents. Apparently, many teams feel that eventhough there is no one worth signing to big contracts, they are going to do it anyway just because they want to get the best of a bad lot.

Other than not resigning Moss, I am not upset the Pats have not made any moves. I can honestly say that there was not one player signed in the last two days that I am really upset that someone else signed.

I would say my biggest free agent target that I hope the Pats get is Calvin Pace and based on what he is probably going to get I am definitely not going to be upset if the Pats pass on him. He is not as desirable of a free agent as Adalius Thomas and he may get more money.

 

[ATippett56]

Lance Briggs looks like the best value so far at $36 million for 6 years.

 

[slash83]

Ok, I know a lot of people are disapointed that the Pats haven't been active in free agency yet, but have you really looked at some of the deals being thrown around out there?

Stallworth - 5 years, $35 million with $10 million guaranteed for a guy who was demoted to our fourth WR in many games

Bernard Berrian - 6 years, $42 million with $16 million guaranteed for a guy most people think is a great #2 WR, but not a primary WR

Erik Coleman - 4 years, $10 million with a $3 million bonus for a guy who was benched on a bad Jets team.

Billy Volek - 3 years $9 million with a $3 million bonus for a back up QB

Alan Faneca - 4 years, $32 million with $23 million guaranteed for a declining guard.

Gabril Wilson - 6 years, $39 million with $16 million guaranteed.

Madieu Williams - six-year, $33 million contract that includes just under $13 million in guarantees.

Tommy Kelly - 7 years, $50 million with over $18 million guaranteed. OK raise your hand if your first reaction when you heard this news was "Who is Tommy Kelly?" Come on, you know it was.

This year's free agency class was weak overall, but these guys are getting paid like they are top flight free agents. Apparently, many teams feel that eventhough there is no one worth signing to big contracts, they are going to do it anyway just because they want to get the best of a bad lot.

Other than not resigning Moss, I am not upset the Pats have not made any moves. I can honestly say that there was not one player signed in the last two days that I am really upset that someone else signed.

I would say my biggest free agent target that I hope the Pats get is Calvin Pace and based on what he is probably going to get I am definitely not going to be upset if the Pats pass on him. He is not as desirable of a free agent as Adalius Thomas and he may get more money.

the market has changed, salary caps are goin up, so now the players are going to get paid more money yeah its seems like alot but in BB's words ... it is what it is

 

[ATippett56]

I would say my biggest free agent target that I hope the Pats get is Calvin Pace and based on what he is probably going to get I am definitely not going to be upset if the Pats pass on him. He is not as desirable of a free agent as Adalius Thomas and he may get more money.

Calvin Pace is not worth $20 million guaranteed for a one year wonder.

 

[ATippett56]

the market has changed, salary caps are goin up, so now the players are going to get paid more money yeah its seems like alot but in BB's words ... it is what it is

Funny how a number of AFC playoff teams have abstained from the insanity:

New England Patriots
Indianapolis Colts
San Diego Chargers
Pittsburgh Steelers

 

[WTE]

And the teams that have been throwing these huge contracts at these average players have been the bottom of the barrel for several years. It almost seems like desperate time require desperate measures.

The majority of the elite teams have shied away from over-paying thus far.

Teams like Buffalo, Oakland, Minnesota, Cleveland, etc. will wish they never made these stupid mistakes a year from now.

 

[fgssand]

This thread is dead on.....of course we all want Moss....but not at 10MM or 12MM plus huge guarantees. Simply cannot be paying a WR that kind of money. Not even Randy Moss.

No other FA is worth what they are getting.

Best bet is to sign our own FA's, extend guys like Wilfork & Mankins and then work the hell out of the draft.

We are smart, and know what we are doing that IS the Patriot way.

 

[Rob0729]

the market has changed, salary caps are goin up, so now the players are going to get paid more money yeah its seems like alot but in BB's words ... it is what it is

That is the argument every year and every year teams overpay for free agents because the market has changed and people get paid more and they still end up with very expensive free agents bust. Paying a marginal player $10 million in guarantees is not going to make him play like a good player.

Sorry, but it is stupid money being thrown at marginal players. Yes, teams have tons of money, but does that mean that teams might as well overpay for an underperforming, malcontent like Jerry Porter? Paying Berrian elite WR money isn't going to make him an elite WR. Making Gibril Wilson the third highest paid safety in the league is not going to make him the third best safety in the league.

 

[WTE]

Best bet is to sign our own FA's, extend guys like Wilfork & Mankins and then work the hell out of the draft.

We are smart, and know what we are doing that IS the Patriot way.

It's going to be increasingly difficult to extend guys like Jarvis, Wilfork, Mankins et al when scrubs around the league are now getting 18 million guaranteed.

We almost need to extend them two years before their contract is due to expire.

 

[nittanylions52]

And the teams that have been throwing these huge contracts at these average players have been the bottom of the barrel for several years. It almost seems like desperate time require desperate measures.

The majority of the elite teams have shied away from over-paying thus far.

Teams like Buffalo, Oakland, Minnesota, Cleveland, etc. will wish they never made these stupid mistakes a year from now.

By all means, I'd like to know what stupid mistakes the Bills and Browns made. Who did they overpay for? From where I'm sitting, both made good solid moves to shore up weak points. Cleveland hasn't done much to bolster their secondary and both teams still have weaknesses. However, they could fill their holes pretty decently in the draft.

Besides, I'm not entirely sure how the 2nd place AFC East team and 10-6 Cleveland are the bottom of the barrel. Just because they didn't go 16-0 doesn't mean they're JV squads.

 

[Terry Glenn is a cowgirl]

One of the better threads among MANY foolish ones...

 

[Rob0729]

By all means, I'd like to know what stupid mistakes the Bills and Browns made. Who did they overpay for? From where I'm sitting, both made good solid moves to shore up weak points. Cleveland hasn't done much to bolster their secondary and both teams still have weaknesses. However, they could fill their holes pretty decently in the draft.

Besides, I'm not entirely sure how the 2nd place AFC East team and 10-6 Cleveland are the bottom of the barrel. Just because they didn't go 16-0 doesn't mean they're JV squads.

Trading for Marcus Stroud may be a mistake for the Bills. There are legitimate concerns how his ankle will hold up.

 

[Disco Volante]

I don’t think anyone’s upset about not getting the above free agents, about 90% of the negativity is coming from this period of silence concerning the Randy Moss situation.

 

[Terry Glenn is a cowgirl]

Cleveland and Buffalo did pick up some decent people... maybe at a high price, but nevertheless.

 

[Jimke]

Funny how a number of AFC playoff teams have abstained from the insanity:

New England Patriots
Indianapolis Colts
San Diego Chargers
Pittsburgh Steelers

The Colts, Chargers, and Steelers do a terrific job of drafting.

The Colts even filter thru the UDFAs and end up with a player

or two each year.

 

[ATippett56]

The Colts, Chargers, and Steelers do a terrific job of drafting.

I guess you don't put the New England Patriots in that category?

 

[slash83]

That is the argument every year and every year teams overpay for free agents because the market has changed and people get paid more and they still end up with very expensive free agents bust. Paying a marginal player $10 million in guarantees is not going to make him play like a good player.

Sorry, but it is stupid money being thrown at marginal players. Yes, teams have tons of money, but does that mean that teams might as well overpay for an underperforming, malcontent like Jerry Porter? Paying Berrian elite WR money isn't going to make him an elite WR. Making Gibril Wilson the third highest paid safety in the league is not going to make him the third best safety in the league.

Never said it wasnt, im just saying thats how the markets goin these days and your going to have to adjust to it some degree.

 

[mangenious]

Funny how a number of AFC playoff teams have abstained from the insanity:

New England Patriots
Indianapolis Colts
San Diego Chargers
Pittsburgh Steelers

A large reason for that is the lack of cap space for those teams

 

[ATippett56]

The Colts even filter thru the UDFAs and end up with a player or two each year.

The San Diego Chargers have done better lately with UDFA's than the Colts:

Eric Parker
Antonio Gates
Kris Dielman
Stephen Cooper

Originally, Wes Welker was a San Diego Charger as an undrafted free agent.

 

[ATippett56]

A large reason for that is the lack of cap space for those teams

The San Diego Chargers have plenty of cap space.