Speculation:Patriots will try to lure free agent Ed Reed with a 5 million/yr contract

Re: Speculationatriots will try to lure free agent Ed Reed with a 5 million/yr cont

slash83 said:

It's funny hearing people complain about how much the Patriots should pay Reed, like the Pats are asking you to help chip in lol. Let them pay what they want whatever there comfortable with.

Click to expand...

Stinko got 6 mil per. Lloyd has a 3 mil option plus his salary.

5 mil per for a HOF Safety is a bargain.

Re: Speculationatriots will try to lure free agent Ed Reed with a 5 million/yr cont

5 million a year for Reed is a no brainer. He is 34 years old. He could play for another 2 years, that is two years that the Patriots defense would be significantly better.

Re: Speculationatriots will try to lure free agent Ed Reed with a 5 million/yr cont

I'd rather have Reed and Talib than overpay for Welker (which the Pats wouldn't do anyway.) A weak against the pass, finesse defense is what has cost the Pats the past several years in the playoffs. Reed's presence alone, even if he is past his prime, gives the Pats defense an identity they've been lacking since the Harrison/Bruschi/McGinest days.

Re: Speculationatriots will try to lure free agent Ed Reed with a 5 million/yr cont

Belichick is the man if he can pull this off.

Re: Speculationatriots will try to lure free agent Ed Reed with a 5 million/yr cont

borg said:

The best center fielder on a team vulnerable to the long ball. Where's the problem?

Pats were ranked #32 on 20+ yard completions against with 74..........The WORST.
Ranked #29 in yds yielded thru the air.

If the teams wants to improve this deficiency now, they have to hit the FA market and target legit starting caliber safeties.

Click to expand...

Obviously that was solely Reed's fault.

Re: Speculationatriots will try to lure free agent Ed Reed with a 5 million/yr cont

Somewhat torn on this one.

Even though he's not the player he once was, signing Reed takes safety off the board as a need. Despite it being our biggest need on paper at the moment.

And anytime you can go into the draft with less needs, that is good. We would really be drafting for short-term need if you draft safety, provided you believe Tavon will be a starting safety at some point.

It's also a short-term commitment financially, and it allows Tavon another year - which he needs - to get starter-ready, and/or give the team time to evaluate him.

I'm torn b/c apparently safety is strong in this draft, and nothing beats youngsters outperforming their rookie contracts. But from a team-building standpoint, if signing Reed lets you focus your draft efforts so as to go get a real WR prospect in the draft or a DT who can play 3 downs - you do it.

Re: Speculationatriots will try to lure free agent Ed Reed with a 5 million/yr cont

I like it. Even if Reed's physical skills have eroded a bit with age, he's still one of the most respected and admired players in the game. His mentoring would be invaluable, and he still gets even the best QBs second guessing themselves.

My only concern is that his skillset overlaps too much with DMac at safety. Hasn't the trend been to pair Reed's centerfielder type with a tougher, more in the box safety, ala Pollard? That's how all the best safety combos seem to go (Goldson and Whitner in SF, Thomas and Chancellor in Sea).

Re: Speculationatriots will try to lure free agent Ed Reed with a 5 million/yr cont

Shouldn't he be banned for mentioning....POLLARD !!

Re: Speculationatriots will try to lure free agent Ed Reed with a 5 million/yr cont

I'm not a huge fan of this move, though I certainly wouldn't be despondent were it to happen.

Just not thrilled at the prospect of paying that much quid for a player whose best days are behind him and whose skills are clearly diminishing. Would rather pay less for a younger player like Phillips or fill the hole in the draft.

Regardless, this seems like one of those "conventional wisdom" rumors that won't end up panning out.

Re: Speculationatriots will try to lure free agent Ed Reed with a 5 million/yr cont

BradyManny said:

It's also a short-term commitment financially, and it allows Tavon another year - which he needs - to get starter-ready, and/or give the team time to evaluate him.

Click to expand...

I do like the idea of Reed as a bridge to either Wilson (who, let's face it, has proven zero so far) or, preferably, a rookie this year.

Re: Speculationatriots will try to lure free agent Ed Reed with a 5 million/yr cont

JackBauer said:

Regardless, this seems like one of those "conventional wisdom" rumors that won't end up panning out.

Click to expand...

A fair number of the CW rumors do end up happening, too--Thomas, Ocho, etc. Feels like 50/50 to me.

Re: Speculationatriots will try to lure free agent Ed Reed with a 5 million/yr cont

aluminum seats said:

A fair number of the CW rumors do end up happening, too--Thomas, Ocho, etc. Feels like 50/50 to me.

Click to expand...

True, but Bedard's reporting directly contravenes this rumor so...we'll see.

Re: Speculationatriots will try to lure free agent Ed Reed with a 5 million/yr cont

My problem with Reed is not his football skills, it is his heart which I think will always be with the Ravens. BB you messed up when you traded up for Daniel Graham when I thought you were trading up for Reed.

Rodney Harrison had a huge chip on his shoulder and he wanted to prove everyone wrong. I don't see the same with Reed and no one is questioning his skills it is coming down to they can't pay him what he is worth.

Re: Speculationatriots will try to lure free agent Ed Reed with a 5 million/yr cont

BradyManny said:

Somewhat torn on this one.

Even though he's not the player he once was, signing Reed takes safety off the board as a need. Despite it being our biggest need on paper at the moment.

And anytime you can go into the draft with less needs, that is good. We would really be drafting for short-term need if you draft safety, provided you believe Tavon will be a starting safety at some point.

It's also a short-term commitment financially, and it allows Tavon another year - which he needs - to get starter-ready, and/or give the team time to evaluate him.

I'm torn b/c apparently safety is strong in this draft, and nothing beats youngsters outperforming their rookie contracts. But from a team-building standpoint, if signing Reed lets you focus your draft efforts so as to go get a real WR prospect in the draft or a DT who can play 3 downs - you do it.

Click to expand...

Agree that nothing beats youngsters performing at above avg to probowl level. But you also can't rely on it happenning -- and you also can't expect rookies to get to that level immediately.

If we get Talib back and Reed, I think it's a huge win.
It allows our younger players -- Dennard and Tavon time to develop. And we only need one of them to actually improve immediately.
If Dennard improves, our secondary is set.
If Tavon improves, we move McCourty back to CB and our secondary is set.
If the both improve, we've got a good nickel package

Re: Speculationatriots will try to lure free agent Ed Reed with a 5 million/yr cont

Tunescribe said:

Sometimes I wonder a bit about BB falling in love with certain guys (re., Ochocinco). Maybe two or three years ago throwing $$$ at Ed Reed would've made sense, but you've got to wonder what he has left. I hope the report is false.

Click to expand...

You're right.. I'd rather have pat Chung or Gregory back there...

Kidding me?

Re: Speculationatriots will try to lure free agent Ed Reed with a 5 million/yr cont

MossWelkowski said:

You're right.. I'd rather have pat Chung or Gregory back there...

Kidding me?

Click to expand...

Terrific point! Because clearly the only alternatives to Reed are Chung or Gregory.

Re: Speculationatriots will try to lure free agent Ed Reed with a 5 million/yr cont

JackBauer said:

Terrific point! Because clearly the only alternatives to Reed are Chung or Gregory.

Click to expand...

Who else is out there on FA?

Re: Speculationatriots will try to lure free agent Ed Reed with a 5 million/yr cont

MossWelkowski said:

Who else is out there on FA?

Click to expand...

Kenny Phillips, for one. Moore and Byrd, though I'm fairly certain they'll be priced out of the Patriots' range. Also plenty of quality prospects in the draft.

Re: Speculationatriots will try to lure free agent Ed Reed with a 5 million/yr cont

JackBauer said:

Kenny Phillips, for one. Moore and Byrd, though I'm fairly certain they'll be priced out of the Patriots' range. Also plenty of quality prospects in the draft.

Click to expand...

I'm sorry but the patriots "value" range hasn't worked since 2004.

Due to that.. They've had a bunch of squids running around back there for 5 years

Re: Speculationatriots will try to lure free agent Ed Reed with a 5 million/yr cont

MossWelkowski said:

I'm sorry but the patriots "value" range hasn't worked since 2004.

Due to that.. They've had a bunch of squids running around back there for 5 years

Click to expand...

Considering they've enjoyed sustained success and been to two Super Bowls since that time...kind of a dumb thing to say.

That's not to say they haven't made their fair share of FA/draft blunders, but I still trust this FO and their methodology over any other in the league.