You guys will be thanking Bill in the future....

If he doesn't sign any of these "big name" FAs. In a couple years we will be able to offer Hernandez and Gronk (as well as others) contracts they won't have to walk away from. That is what may be most crucial to maintaining a great offense over the next 6-7 years rather than signing a V Jax or Mike Wallace right now. In the upcoming months they will make the necessary trades and acquire the necessary players through the draft to contend for another SB.

CheeseMonkeys said:

If he doesn't sign any of these "big name" FAs. In a couple years we will be able to offer Hernandez and Gronk (as well as others) contracts they won't have to walk away from. That is what may be most crucial to maintaining a great offense over the next 6-7 years rather than signing a V Jax or Mike Wallace right now. In the upcoming months they will make the necessary trades and acquire the necessary players through the draft to contend for another SB.

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I tend to agree with this. Folks here are just anxious for something to get excited about a la 2007, when Welker and Moss were brought in. Now, if those first four draft picks aren't used ...

but, but, we're nearing 24 hours into FA and we haven't even signed anybody! We're falling behind! We'll never win the East again, let alone get to a SB...

With the way teams have been throwing around money I would have to agree. I think there will be some good value later on that will hopefully fill some holes. I think the key to this offseason though will be the draft. It's even more important to draft well because its not economically viable to obtain key players through free agency.

CheeseMonkeys said:

If he doesn't sign any of these "big name" FAs. In a couple years we will be able to offer Hernandez and Gronk (as well as others) contracts they won't have to walk away from. That is what may be most crucial to maintaining a great offense over the next 6-7 years rather than signing a V Jax or Mike Wallace right now. In the upcoming months they will make the necessary trades and acquire the necessary players through the draft to contend for another SB.

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There's a big money jump expected in 2014. Besides, when did spending to the cap become problematic for the Patriots?

Tunescribe said:

I tend to agree with this. Folks here are just anxious for something to get excited about a la 2007, when Welker and Moss were brought in. Now, if those first four draft picks aren't used ...

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It's a given that a couple of those picks will be traded for next year or to move down.

I would be SHOCKED if they stand pat with those picks.

I'm not a big fan of chasing the big names, but you're not 100% correct.

who do the pats have under contract beyond 2014? mankins, mayo, solder?

who else?

on top of that, the cap is going up substantially at that point. they're going to have to pay somebody

I was definitely of the school of thought that this FA class was going to have an inflated market, but this puts A LOT of pressure on the draft to be an incredible one for us. We need some things that BB is not known for drafting well.

IllegalContact said:

I'm not a big fan of chasing the big names, but you're not 100% correct.

who do the pats have under contract beyond 2014? mankins, mayo, solder?

who else?

on top of that, the cap is going up substantially at that point. they're going to have to pay somebody

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The thread for the masses of the perpetually miserable is a little higher up, try that.

I'm not too worried about it.

its called managing the cap ....else you will have to do what the stillers are doing ...cut and renegotiate contracts ....you have to pay the piper sooner or later.....same with the Jest....there depth sux.... I am sure BB will find the right players ....

The system is designed so that no team can be solid top to bottom. Priorities get weighed....sacrifices result.
Looking at the Pats roster....it is top heavy....Brady, Welker, Mankins, Wilfork....about $45 mill there....with Mayo due to average $9.5 starting '13.
As the OP said....they need to get ready for the Gronk...though I suspect he will be franchised after '13....because the cap explodes and he could get the moon with all that new money available
Just keep this thought in mind ....the Pats have double the premium picks than most teams...and Dowling, Vareen, and Ridley to a lesser extent will be new additions as well

IllegalContact said:

I'm not a big fan of chasing the big names, but you're not 100% correct.

who do the pats have under contract beyond 2014? mankins, mayo, solder?

who else?

on top of that, the cap is going up substantially at that point. they're going to have to pay somebody

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I doubt there are very many players throughout the entire NFL signed beyond 2014. Regardless, here is the Patriots contract situation in regards to when contracts will expire for players that they have that are currently under contract. In addition there are the restricted free agents that were tendered (Hoyer, Love), and the player designated with a franchise tag (Welker).



Expiring after 2012: Light, Waters, Arrington, Woodhead, Brace, Chung, Barrett, Vollmer, Polite, Thomas, Edelman, Underwood, Pryor, Fletcher, McDonald, Kopa, Ventrone, Davis, Moore, M Carter, Rivera, Lavarias, Hix, Kettani, Silvestro, Cox, Hartline


Expiring after 2013: Ochocinco, Ninkovich, Gronkowski, Wendell, Cunningham, Hernadez, Spikes, Mesko, Deaderick, Brown, Aiken, Tarpinian, Williams


Expiring after 2014: Brady, Wilfork, Gostkowski, Solder, McCourty, Dowling, Vereen, Ridley, Mallett, Cannon


Expiring in 2015: none


Expiring in 2016: Mankins


Expiring in 2017: Mayo

CheeseMonkeys said:

If he doesn't sign any of these "big name" FAs. In a couple years we will be able to offer Hernandez and Gronk (as well as others) contracts they won't have to walk away from. That is what may be most crucial to maintaining a great offense over the next 6-7 years rather than signing a V Jax or Mike Wallace right now. In the upcoming months they will make the necessary trades and acquire the necessary players through the draft to contend for another SB.

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Everyone with this attitude realizes that Tom Brady only has a few good years left, right? If Mario Williams or Julius Peppers was on our defense the last 2 seasons we probably have 2 more Lombardi trophies. You really want to penny pinch another season with one of the greatest QBs of all time to fall short once again in the playoffs? Sorry but I would rather load up and really go for it the next 2 seasons than try to make sure were not in "cap jail" the first season after Brady is gone. And lets be real, there is no such thing as "cap jail", name me one player either the Jets or Steelers have cut that they wanted to keep? No one, they have both just cut guys past their prime who do not have much left. Even if Pitt loses Mike Wallace, and it looks like they are gonna keep him, they get a 1st rd pick back, doesn't sound like jail to me.

It's so funny. Many of us have been on this board for a very long time. EVERY year, people whine and complain 8 minutes into free agency about why the Patriots aren't doing anything, and why is Kraft so cheap, and on an on.

The Patriots end up signing folks/making trades that make more sense. The masses are happy, and the whining and complaining ceases until the following year. It is so predictable.

to me it comes down to the fact that they need a legit deep threat WR, and the chances of them getting one in the draft are very small considering this teams track record and the fact that there's only a few guys each year that make an immediate impact in that department.

I'm never one to advocate spending for the sake of it, but this is one of the most lush FAs I can remember, and the Pats are in good financial shape in terms of contracts and have glaring needs that it's foolish to expect them to solve entirely in the draft.

CheeseMonkeys said:

If he doesn't sign any of these "big name" FAs. In a couple years we will be able to offer Hernandez and Gronk (as well as others) contracts they won't have to walk away from. That is what may be most crucial to maintaining a great offense over the next 6-7 years rather than signing a V Jax or Mike Wallace right now. In the upcoming months they will make the necessary trades and acquire the necessary players through the draft to contend for another SB.

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Oh please, why would they want to resign here isn 2 years? Brady could be gone, Welker is getting a lesson in the "Patriot Way" that I am sure is going to rub off on Gronk and Hernandez.

Wilfork#75 said:

With the way teams have been throwing around money I would have to agree. I think there will be some good value later on that will hopefully fill some holes. I think the key to this offseason though will be the draft. It's even more important to draft well because its not economically viable to obtain key players through free agency.

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I am sorry but when was the last time "Value" made a catch, picked off a pass or tackled a RB?

I thought about this as well and i have decided we need to keep gronk and hernandez no matter what. If it came down to it i would cut any player on the defensive side(mayo,wilfork,etc) to keep them. We can still win with a defense fielded by all udfa's lol.

chicowalker said:

but, but, we're nearing 24 hours into FA and we haven't even signed anybody! We're falling behind! We'll never win the East again, let alone get to a SB...

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If we don't sign any free agents by this time tomorrow I believe we're facing contraction.....or even worse, we'll have to join the CFL