Would you trade Maroney for Marshawn Lynch?

I've always been a fan of Maroney, but Maroney for Lynch straight up, I'd probably have to take Lynch. I think he's got better vision and is a more assertive/decisive runner. He's been running behind one of the worst OL in football.

I put a lot of stock in what Bruschi says because he was on the team and knows BB better than any of the reporters or draft experts. You can tell by the way he started talking about the RB position that he didn't want to take a shot at his former teammate, but was basically saying he hasn't lived up to expectations and hasn't developed into what everyone thought he was going to be.

I'd be happy to keep Laurence, but if the Bills offered me Lynch for Maroney straight up, I'd make the trade. Both guys could probably use a change of scenery.

Maroney is signed through 2010 for 825k plus a 107k workout bonus.

Lynch is signed through 2012, for 885k this year, 1.14 in 2011 and 1.14 in 2012.

As far as contracts go the plus with Maroney you can either try to extend him or get a compensatory pick in 2012. On the other hand you have Lynch under contract for two more years than Maroney is; a bigger plus.

I'd say trading for Lynch is the way to go in this scenario.

Lynch is an idiot, he just can't stay out of trouble. I wouldn't want him anywhere near here.

I'm still backing Maroney, all these Maroney bashers sicken me, the guy gives his all everytime he is on the field. If the guy was an UDFA you would all love him, its just that he was a first rounder and you expect him to be a superstar.

Its just ridiculous the amount of dislike there is for a good, honest pro on this board.

eagle eye said:

Lynch is an idiot, he just can't stay out of trouble. I wouldn't want him anywhere near here.

I'm still backing Maroney, all these Maroney bashers sicken me, the guy gives his all everytime he is on the field. If the guy was an UDFA you would all love him, its just that he was a first rounder and you expect him to be a superstar.

Its just ridiculous the amount of dislike there is for a good, honest pro on this board.

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This is ridiculous. The Patriots didn't draft Maroney in the first round and gave him millions so he could be a "good, honest pro". That's the absolute least he should be as a professional football player.

The team invested in him to be a feature back and produce, he didn't achieve any of these goals. He might give his best, but if that's the case he is simply not very good, in light of where he was drafted. Of course his draft spot influences the way people judge him, that happens to every player.

RodThePat said:

This is ridiculous. The Patriots didn't draft Maroney in the first round and gave him millions so he could be a "good, honest pro". That's the absolute least he should be as a professional football player.

The team invested in him to be a feature back and produce, he didn't achieve any of these goals. He might give his best, but if that's the case he is simply not very good, in light of where he was drafted. Of course his draft spot influences the way people judge him, that happens to every player.

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Nobody said otherwise: obviously Maroney isn't what I'm sure the Pats envisioned/hoped for when they drafted him. Seriously though, some of you folks need to just get over that already and learn what a sunk cost is. Just because an asset hasn't performed as you hoped it would doesn't mean it's time to dump it: you still have to evaluate its present and future prospects relative to other available assets. If Maroney's the best path forward, when you consider the costs and risks of acquiring someone more talented, then that's that, and the fact that he didn't become the all-pro that everyone hoped for is irrelevant. Dwelling over the fact that you wish he was something that he wasn't is exactly what Belichick wouldn't do, because it's a waste of time, and you shouldn't either.

Bottom line, Maroney is what he is, and Lynch is what he is (FWIW, Lynch has been a significant disappointment too, which is why they're apparently willing to trade their first round RB for a third-rounder). Neither's perfect, and neither has lived up to their draft billing, so just get over it.

The question is: would a Maroney-for-Lynch swap upgrade this Patriots team? It very well might, but it's far from a sure thing. He's a character risk, there's the risk of translating him to a new team where he won't get 250-280 chances to get the 1,000 yards that you guys are so obsessed with, and you're banking on last year just being a down year, and that he'll suddenly grow up and not get himself suspended for a year by continuing to act like the idiot that he's shown himself to be. With Maroney you know you've got a hard worker who will do his job, work to get better, and won't disrupt the locker room. Since I'm not entirely even sold on the idea that Lynch is better than Maroney, there's no way in hell I'd make that trade.

RodThePat said:

This is ridiculous. The Patriots didn't draft Maroney in the first round and gave him millions so he could be a "good, honest pro". That's the absolute least he should be as a professional football player.

The team invested in him to be a feature back and produce, he didn't achieve any of these goals. He might give his best, but if that's the case he is simply not very good, in light of where he was drafted. Of course his draft spot influences the way people judge him, that happens to every player.

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I can't remember, what were his cotract details?

The guy could be much better for the Patriots if they had somebody to open holes for him or block for him but he never has a blocker and he usually runs into a brick wall at the line. If we improve our offensive line then Maroney will get better and I'm certain of that. I wouldn't mind either but he has 750 yards last season and 9 tds, its not like he was bad. He was way ahead of that idiot that some people want to trade him for.

BradyFTW! said:

Nobody said otherwise: obviously Maroney isn't what I'm sure the Pats envisioned/hoped for when they drafted him. Seriously though, some of you folks need to just get over that already and learn what a sunk cost is. Just because an asset hasn't performed as you hoped it would doesn't mean it's time to dump it: you still have to evaluate its present and future prospects relative to other available assets. If Maroney's the best path forward, when you consider the costs and risks of acquiring someone more talented, then that's that, and the fact that he didn't become the all-pro that everyone hoped for is irrelevant. Dwelling over the fact that you wish he was something that he wasn't is exactly what Belichick wouldn't do, because it's a waste of time, and you shouldn't either.

Bottom line, Maroney is what he is, and Lynch is what he is (FWIW, Lynch has been a significant disappointment too, which is why they're apparently willing to trade their first round RB for a third-rounder). Neither's perfect, and neither has lived up to their draft billing, so just get over it.

The question is: would a Maroney-for-Lynch swap upgrade this Patriots team? It very well might, but it's far from a sure thing. He's a character risk, there's the risk of translating him to a new team where he won't get 250-280 chances to get the 1,000 yards that you guys are so obsessed with, and you're banking on last year just being a down year, and that he'll suddenly grow up and not get himself suspended for a year by continuing to act like the idiot that he's shown himself to be. With Maroney you know you've got a hard worker who will do his job, work to get better, and won't disrupt the locker room. Since I'm not entirely even sold on the idea that Lynch is better than Maroney, there's no way in hell I'd make that trade.

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We understand how he is cost effective. Our P.O.V is why use a cost effective average RB when you can easily improve the position.

See, lets say I have a $20 Walmart driver, it's cost effective, but not very good. If I have the money to get a Taylormade (3 2nd round draft picks), than I go get it.

anybody they draft will be more cost effective than maroney --- doesn't mean they'll be effective, though.

patsinthesnow said:

No.

I want a fresh start at back,a player frm the draft.

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Another Maroney.

pats1 said:

Would the Bills trade Lynch for Maroney?!? No way.

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Of course they would. Equally talented players and one is a head case.
This board needs to learn that its cumulative opinion of Patriot players is about 43% of what GM's is.

Maroney has shown flashes of greatness as has Lynch. Both have had very similar careers as well. Maroney has a career YPG of 4.2 as Lynch has a career YPG of 4.0. Lynch does have a few more carries in his career than Maroney though but not by much and its only about 75. The thing that I like most about Lynch is he is 2 years younger and I think if he could get a fresh start with a contending team like the Patriots he could really shine, I also think if Maroney got a fresh start somewhere he could shine as well. I probably would pull the trigger though if Buffalo called and asked.

Why would Patriots want to make this trade? Lynch hasn't been any better than Maroney and he's a poor team guy.

Maroney will do just fine in the role we ask of our backs. We're never going to have a 1,500 yard guy when we give our backs 10-15 carries a game.

If his contract is at least comparable to Maroney's, I would do this. But there's no way Buffalo would

Would not make the trade. Lynch is another troubled player. Wouldn't take such unless they were a potential superstar (Moss) who credibly asserted to BB that his problem days were youthfully behind him. That's not Lynch.

Admitedly, Maroney has underachieved vs expectations of a 1st round pick, but not substantially. I look for him to address his single season fumble problem and continue to run hard as he did last year. I don't know if he'll ever become the pass catching threat and utilize his open field speed and moves or why not but he's a capable RB. No trade.

BillBelichickFan79 said:

I've always been a fan of Maroney

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Can I ask why?

PatsWickedPissah said:

Admitedly, Maroney has underachieved vs expectations of a 1st round pick, but not substantially. I look for him to address his single season fumble problem and continue to run hard as he did last year. I don't know if he'll ever become the pass catching threat and utilize his open field speed and moves or why not but he's a capable RB. No trade.

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Maroney is a bust and was a horrible pick. I wonder when Albert Breer is going to pen another article how Maroney is ready to breakout?

Weve been the through incessant injuries, the dancing, and now its fumbling like the ball like its a greased pig. He got himself benched in the Houston game after Welker got hurt.

That speaks volumes.

I wish the Pats would draft that RB out of Georgia Tech.

Triumph said:

I wish the Pats would draft that RB out of Georgia Tech.

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Either him or Toby Gerhart. It'd be nice for the pats to have a young power back. Gerhart is probably the safer pick since he played in a normal offense, is faster, and had better production.

Triumph said:

I wish the Pats would draft that RB out of Georgia Tech.

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O'Dwyer is the second coming of Ron Dane. 3rd or 4th rounder. I liked him too but I'm cool on him now.

Ben Tate is my new binky.

Triumph said:

Maroney is a bust and was a horrible pick. I wonder when Albert Breer is going to pen another article how Maroney is ready to breakout?

Weve been the through incessant injuries, the dancing, and now its fumbling like the ball like its a greased pig. He got himself benched in the Houston game after Welker got hurt.

That speaks volumes.

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First, Maroney isn't a bust. He hasn't been playing to his first round level, but he isn't a bust. A disapointment maybe, but not a bust. Maroney has performed at a high level, just not consistently. A bust would never show anything.

Him "getting benched" in the Houston game was reportedly because of an injury. He did start the playoff game against the Ravens, but because of the hole the Pats got themselves into no RB other than Faulk did anything (and most of Faulk's runs were from the shotgun in draws). If Maroney was benched because the coaching staff lost faith in him, no way they would have started him in the playoffs.

That said I don't see a trade of Maroney for Lynch. The Bills will never trade him in the division unless they got a sweetheart deal. Also, Lynch is a huge risk since he is this close to a year long suspension.