What's the big deal, you sign 90 players so you can pick the best 53. It is what it is. Those left earned it.
This.
I strongly disagree with the OP, which I think reflects a lack of understanding of how the Pats do business and run their organization. Obviously, none of us has a crystal ball into BB's thinking, but we've discussed some of what apparently drives the personnel and organizational moves:
http://www.patsfans.com/new-england...uncertainty-theory-how-pats-do-business.html
I think a lot of the Pats offseason moves fall into the "uncertainty theory" model. Sign a lot of guys and hedge your bets. Keep your options open. Let guys compete, and assume that competition will build the strongest roster regardless of who is left standing at the end. None of the guys listed was signed with the expectation that he would be a foundational player, or even an obvious starter.
Let's look at some of the positional shake out:
- QB: Hoyer regressed, Mallett progressed, and the team moves on.
- RB/FB: Addai was a stopgap option in case the youngsters didn't progress. He didn't pan out, and the young kids have looked good so far, including UDFA Bolden. I'm ok with that. I never really wanted Addai on the team, anyway. Neither Larsen nor Fiammetta was ever a lock to make the roster.
- TE: Gronk's injury status was still unknown. He looks healthy, and he and AHern are now signed long term. It's too early to judge the Fells and Shiancoe signings.
- WR: Branch, Ochocinco, Gaffney, Stallworth and Gonzalez were all brought in to compete, but none was considered a lock, and it was assumed that at most only 2 would make the team. Lloyd has looked good so far. The team hasn't necessarily burned bridges with Garffney or Branch at this point.
- OL: Gallery was an insurance policy against Mankins not starting the season or Waters retiring. No one expected that he would decide his body can't take anymore. Koppen was never a lock, and if Wendell, McDonald and Thomas beat him out then it makes the roster stronger, younger and more versatile IMHO.
- DL: Fanene was obviously a big disappointment, but Forston was apparently a nice surprise, and Brace as outperformed expectations.
- DE/OLB: Scott made the team. Chandler Jones looks to be a huge addition.
- LB: Dane Fletcher getting hurt was a bummer. No one would have predicted that Mike Rivera would have beaten out Bobby Carpenter, Jeff Tarpinian and Niko Koutouvides, but he did. Are you questioning BB's off-season moves, or his ultimate decision on who makes the roster?
- DB: Same as with LB. Marquice Cole made the team. I'm not crying that Alfonzo Dennard and Nate Ebner beat out 33 year old Will Allen and journeyman James Ihedigbo.
The Pats hedged their bets, and so far the youngsters appear to have outperformed many of the vets. We should be happy, not bemoaning a "lost opportunity" from the offseason. The purpose of the majority of the FA signings was to provide veteran depth, training camp competition, and above all security to not have to rely on rookies developing. Those signings appear to have met those goals, regardless of the ultimate roster outcome.
