Pats sign Chargers FA safety Steve Gregory

We won't know how much of an upgrade any of the new FA's or draftees are until we see them play....I am cautiously optomistic so far...nothing flashy, but looks like a couple of lunchpail type guys signed.....I'll take that over Sergio and a concussed Mike Wright anyday. Sounds like a couple of upgrades and BB didn't break the bank to do it.....

Color me happy :singing:

patsinthesnow said:

Yep, posted in other thread, with that contract he might be our starting FS. He was a backup to a very good safety (Weddle), betterthan Ihedigbo, who knows.

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He started in SD.

Deus Irae said:

I certainly hope that they don't think Gregory's solved their safety woes.

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I am getting that sick feeling where we overpay a guy (Ocho, Ellis) to fill a need but that guy leaves it empty. I really hope Mr. Gregory can play significant downs on Defense.

Four other teams after him and he's a heady free safety type. Something wrong with that, given what we needed last year?

Deus Irae said:

I certainly hope that they don't think Gregory's solved their safety woes.

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Why not? If that's what they are thinking, then it means that they see him as being a better player than is commonly thought, which is a good thing.

good for steve!

he's gonna impress you guys

betterthanthealternative said:

Why not? If that's what they are thinking, then it means that they see him as being a better player than is commonly thought, which is a good thing.

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The guy's 28, not 23. The odds are that he is what he's been, which is not particularly good.

PittPatriot said:

I am getting that sick feeling where we overpay a guy (Ocho, Ellis) to fill a need but that guy leaves it empty. I really hope Mr. Gregory can play significant downs on Defense.

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I'm trying to take the "It's him or the stiffs they already had" position, but his salary number is making that difficult.

yeah..not a fan of this..

zipster9 said:

I'd really prefer ReggieNelson, as he is better in pass coverage, which Patriots were killed on.

Landry is not very good at pass coverage and gets beat. Plus he is major injury prone.

I dont know why Patriots just ask Reggie for a visit. Doesnt hurt...

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I think Reggie Nelson is going to be grossly overpaid. He was good last year, but he has been below average for most of his career. Now there are three or four teams chasing him in a weak safety market. If people think Gregory is overpaid, we may think he is a bargain after we see Nelson's contract.

Deus Irae said:

As long as they use a high pick for a rookie WR as well, I'd be fine with that, although I'm not at all thrilled with this Gregory signing.

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Agreed. I think they need to start cultivating someone at WR, and I expect them to draft just that person.

I'm pretty agnostic on Gregory. Can't say I've seen much, if anything, of him on the field. It's one of those IBBWT moves in that respect. It's slightly optimistic to know that the Chargers wanted him back, as well as the interest from Houston (pretty good personnel shop they've got going). And then, of course, knowing that he'd been used out of position, and seems to be on the light side to be playing SS. Wouldn't really surprise me if he turns into a Leonhard type player

BB thinks he's an upgrade over the stiffs that were there.....Ras-I was IR and still not sure if they play him as a CB or a S....Barrett IR also...McCourty playing OOP.....Brown a disaster...and Dig another ST only player....

I'd say Gregory will be playing the position he has been playing for a few years now.....That's ok with me

I like the signing, interested to see him play in a free safety role as others have mentioned. Could be a diamond in the rough with high upside. Solid imo, people wanted us to improve at the position and I think we did.

Can he tackle receivers before the ball arrives?

Deus Irae said:

I certainly hope that they don't think Gregory's solved their safety woes.

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That's a given considering there are five months left in the offseason. They'll have opportunities to add more DBs and I'm sure they will.

Gregory's a solid nickel safety. Clear upgrade over Ihedigbo/Brown. The deal is a little rich, but everyone on the market's been getting overpaid.

Gregory is one of the better DBs in a weak market. Either you pay him or you settle for what you have.

Deus Irae said:

The guy's 28, not 23. The odds are that he is what he's been, which is not particularly good.

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Gregory is only a year and half older than Vrabel when he became a Patriot. Not that I am expecting him to become an impact player like Vrabel, but Vrabel shows that giving Gregory a chance to prove himself in his natural position could produce a solid starter.

Other guys who were around the same age when they came to the Pats as journeymen (I included their age the first year they were a Patriot in parentheses) include David Patten (27), Dan Connolly (26), and Bobby Hamilton (29). other guys who were slightly younger who came here and turned into decent to good players include Joe Andruzzi (26), Jabar Gaffney (26), and Rob Ninkovitch (25).

MP-Logick said:

8.5m over 3 years, 3.5 guaranteed. Not backup money.

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Ochocinco and Albert Haynesworth say Hi !

Hey Pats Fans,

Gregory is a smart player and a hard worker but don't confuse this pickup with the last SD safety you guys grabbed (#37) - I would expect though that BB will have a role for him and he'll probably end up being more productive than he was in SD. He's a little too slow and undersized to be a game-changer but I doubt that's the intent.

I view the Gregory signing, coupled with interest in Landry, as sign that McCourty is viewed as CB by staff

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Twitter / Mike Reiss: @JaimeO22 I view the Grego ...

My god people, I swear there is always one poster who compares a new signing to Vrabel. Hate to brake it to you folks, but Vrabel was signed 10 years ago, and still no new Vrabel. The career special teamers that we sign tend to be exactly career special teamers. Maybe Ninkovich is a slight acception