LeCharles Bentley released by Browns

[Deus Irae]

Even when Givens was released by the Titans in February or March people wanted the Pats to bring him in right away. His career is most likely over.

While I didn't see anyone saying they should bring him in even if he can't ever play again, maybe I missed that post. I'm pretty sure that the vast majority of people understand that the physical ability to actually play is a necessity implied in bringing the player into the fold, though.

 

[pats1]

Pacman, Henry and Thurman are all talented players. Just because you don't want them on the team, you think it's laughable for others who do want them? Each of these three players would have raised the physical talent level of the team considerably. Again, it's evaluation and opinions will differ. Individual players mentioned might be 'laughable', as you put it, but the concept surely isn't.

I wouldn't touch Pacman with a 10-foot pole, and I don't think the Pats would either. Physical ability isn't everything.

And for the record, I was pissed when the Pats brought in Sauerbrun (I remember watching the press conference; they announced the signing right before it). That one didn't work out to well either (remember the Titans game?)

 

[pats1]

While I didn't see anyone saying they should bring him in even if he can't ever play again, maybe I missed that post. I'm pretty sure that the vast majority of people understand that the physical ability to actually play is a necessity implied in bringing the player into the fold, though.

Right here. But anytime a player is released, someone wants him here. I swear that if we let this board GM the team, we'd have a team of 10-year veteran retreads right now.

 

[Deus Irae]

Right here. But anytime a player is released, someone wants him here. I swear that if we let this board GM the team, we'd have a team of 10-year veteran retreads right now.

You pulled a link to a thread with nobody saying what we were talking about. The closest was the O.P. who said he'd be interested if the team weren't so deep at WR. However, that 'if' looms mighty large.

As for what the team would look like, go back over the past, say, 3 years, and I'd bet you could field a decent team, or at least a decent portion of one, using those 'retreads'.

By the way, how has that 'Rodney Harrison' guy worked out?

 

[pats1]

You pulled a link to a thread with nobody saying what we were talking about. The closest was the O.P. who said he'd be interested if the team weren't so deep at WR. However, that 'if' looms mighty large.

As for what the team would look like, go back over the past, say, 3 years, and I'd bet you could field a decent team, or at least a decent portion of one, using those 'retreads'.

By the way, how has that 'Rodney Harrison' guy worked out?

My argument isn't that the Pats shouldn't bring in guys who are considered to be over the hill, because that does sometimes work out (although most of the time it doesn't). Instead, it is this board's insistence to, almost whenever a big-name veteran is released, implore the Patriots to sign the guy. No matter the circumstances of his release. No matter his legal trouble. No matter his injury trouble. No matter his character trouble. It does get laughable after a while, because whenever someone starts a thread on a notable released player, you can predict exactly what the first five posts are going to read. Or, the same is true for when guys are on the trading block. Lito Sheppard. Jason Taylor. Jared Allen. Fans on this board are the most indiscriminate shoppers. And then, the best part is when someone else signs or trade for these players and the fans on this board act like it was a big let-down and the front office screwed up.

 

[Deus Irae]

My argument isn't that the Pats shouldn't bring in guys who are considered to be over the hill. Instead, it is this board's insistence to, almost whenever a big-name veteran is released, implore the Patriots to sign the guy. No matter the circumstances of his release. No matter his legal trouble. No matter his injury trouble. No matter his character trouble. It does get laughable after a while, because whenever someone starts a thread on a notable released player, you can predict exactly what the first five posts are going to read.

But why would you expect otherwise on any 'board'? You're going to get one of two possible threads. You'll either get "sign this guy!" or "don't sign this guy!" threads. It's inherent in the discussion. Again, the same thing will happen in every front office in professional sports.

 

[Alk]

I think what we have learned in this thread is that not only is pats1 a moderator at patsfans.com but he also either IS the GM of the Patriots or should be.

 

[patchick]

It was bring it Pacman, then it was bring in Henry, then it was bring in Thurman. Fans on this board are getting reckless. They forget that not every player is a Dillon or Moss.

It's interesting...before Dillon, the steady refrain on this board was that any player with a troublemaker reputation was "just not a Patriots kind of guy." Everybody talked a lot about the premium placed on "character" in Foxboro. Now after Dillon and Moss, the board sentiment has turned 180 degrees. Today, when a guy with a troubled past is cut there's a predictable clamor that he's a "classic Pats rehabilitation project" like Dillon and Moss. As if the troubled past were almost a positive.

The truth is doubtless somewhere in the middle. They did a lot of homework with Dillon and Moss -- both players met with Kraft before signing, etc. And both were veterans with a long record of outstanding play who were hungry to win. That's a far cry from a Thurman or Benson.

 

[Patriotic Fervor]

Not only is it not laughable, it's the process that the teams go through, and not just in football. A player is released and the other teams take a look at him to see if he might fit their situation and needs. They then proceed from there. Obviously not all players fit all teams but, also obviously, there are going to be differences of opinions about some players.

In the case of Bentley, for example, some will point to his being out of football for 2 seasons. Others will point to the risk of signing him off of the injury. However, there will be those who point to his play prior to injury.

It's simple evaluation. In any large enough group, you will have some divergence of opinion. Perillo can laugh all he wants.

I'm with Deus on this.

Discussions of this nature are not only valid at this time of year, they can be therapeutic as well (for the fan base participating here on this board!).

It can never hurt to bring the guy in for a look-see. He may not be what the F.O. is looking for, or may be a bad fit. Who knows? But he could have something to offer, too, and if he does, it could only come to the fore if the team takes a look at him. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

As for that guy Perillo - he's a sports commentator! Need I say more?

 

[RayClay]

Three? I've only seen it twice, in '03 as a right guard (injured) and '05 as a center.

Bentley is listed at 6'2" 313 right now but has played around 330 and also has a questionable work ethic. He isn't very mobile and doesn't want to be a back up.

If we are to judge what they look for in a RG by Stephen Neal they want someone who is quicker and more adept at trapping and blocking for screens than Bentley. They already have a center in Koppen and it's probably stretching it to say that Bentley can start at right tackle. Not to mention the zone blocking system requires blockers to get to the second level and to do so quickly.

All that spells almost no chance of him coming to the Patriots.


My money would be on him getting gobbled up by the Steelers.

He was an alternate one year according to whatever site i was looking at. It really doesn't change the point.

The guy was a superior player, he had a serious knee injury with complications (staph). Now he's had two years to heal and being a non skill position player might be able to come back.

If he's healthy, that's more than Neal usually is. If he's limited, he can backup guard and center.

It's amazing how we can talk about scrubs that do nothing for years, or second day picks or UDFAs who have as much chance of making the team as I do, but we can't talk about proven players that are a little old or injured that become available.

 

[RayClay]

*Cough* Dan Morgan *Cough*

*Cough* Roman Phifer, Joe Andruzzi, Antowaine Smith, Mike Compton, David Patten, Junior Seau, Terrel Buckley, Christian Fauria, Heath Evans etc. etc.... *Cough*

 

[Alk]

*Cough* Roman Phifer, Joe Andruzzi, Antowaine Smith, Mike Compton, David Patten, Junior Seau, Terrel Buckley, Christian Fauria, Heath Evans etc. etc.... *Cough*

Psst...you misspelled Antowain. Just thought I would point it out since that will be the first shot that is fired.

 

[Patjew]

Is there a case of tuberculosis going around or what?? What's with all the friggin' coughing. It's like an AA meeting.

Can we please just get to signing Takeo Spikes and Ty Law and get it over with.

 

[Patjew]

Psst...you misspelled Antowain. Just thought I would point it out since that will be the first shot that is fired.

You, my friend, are about to hit 2000 posts.

I'm closing in on 3000. That's Yaz territory.

 

[Tunescribe]

Actually, no. It doesn't make any sense.

Paul Perillo makes fun of PatsFans because whenever a team releases a player (see: Odell Thurman, Takeo Spikes, etc. etc.), someone on this board thinks the Patriots should sign him.

I really don't blame him. It's laughable.

Screw Paul Perillo. That's what this board is for -- to examine the pros and cons of available (or possibly available) players and see how they might or might not fit on the Patriots roster. I seem to recall when the likes of Corey Dillon and Randy Moss were outlandish prospects as well.

 

[castlelong1]

Sign him. If he sucks, cut him. Geesh, sign anyone and everyone, as long as you can cut them scott free. The only concern is the rooster size, and right now we are at 79 by my count. (I'm counting drafted rookies.)

 

[Patjew]

Sign him. If he sucks, cut him. Geesh, sign anyone and everyone, as long as you can cut them scott free. The only concern is the rooster size, and right now we are at 79 by my count. (I'm counting drafted rookies.)

What are you, chicken?

 

[castlelong1]

What are you, chicken?

If Bentley lays an egg, cut him.

 

[RayClay]

Psst...you misspelled Antowain. Just thought I would point it out since that will be the first shot that is fired.

Damn! And you can tell I tried too. There just reaches a point where a player isn't relevant enough to look up the spelling of his name again. Oh well.:bricks:

 

[jmt57]

Actually, no. It doesn't make any sense.

Paul Perillo makes fun of PatsFans because whenever a team releases a player (see: Odell Thurman, Takeo Spikes, etc. etc.), someone on this board thinks the Patriots should sign him.

I really don't blame him. It's laughable.

Yes, true, any time an NFL player elsewhere is cut or holds out, a thread appears debating the merits of signing him (such as the new thread on Jason Peters). While some are flat out ridiculous to even consider and most ignore salary cap implications or even fitting in to the Patriots scheme and needs, I have a very strong feeling that the same thing happens at most other team's forums and message boards. From what I have seen the folks that post here tend to have a more intelligent opinion more often than the vast majority of other team's fans sites, and are light years ahead of those yahoos that dominate the comments on major national media web sites.