If I were in a Patriots press conference, I would ask

If I could ask the New England Patriots salary cap questions, I would ask these two questions
1.) In the end of May your cap space increased by $79,200. Why?
2.) Did you borrow cap space in 2011 and/or in 2012?
Background - As part of the transition to the new CBA teams were allowed to borrow 3 million in cap space in 2011 and $1.5 million in 2012. Teams could then pay back the borrowed cap space in any manner they wanted to do as long as all of the borrowed money was paid by the 2017 season (examples - 4.5 million over 4 years or in one year. Teams could start to pay back the money in 2014. This year the Jets paid back their borrowed $4.5 million in one shot. The Ravens and the Steelers paid back $1.125 million this year so it appears that they intend to pay back $1.125 million in 2015/2016/2017. If the Patriots had borrowed cap space in 2011/2012, I know that they did not pay any back this year. If they did borrow $4.5 million, that means sometime in 2015/2016/2017 they have to pay it back.

I would ask how the pre eminence of sub packages has changed his approach to team building?

here is one question that desperately needs to be asked, Miguel, and that's, "what's the true story about "spygate" and why hasn't the team defended itself over the last 8 years".

I know I'm tired of listening to the inaccurate, incorrect and uninformed crap we get from the haters all the time. I'm tired of defending my team. I want to know when is the ORGANIZATION going to stand up and defend its fans.

And if I got to ask a football question, I'd ask where I should expect Jamie Collins and Dante Hightower to line up most of the time this season.

BTW- This is a great topic, Miguel

I would ask BB if there are many/any truly new offensive or defensive schemes still being developed or waiting to be developed. Many of the recent innovations, whether Wildcat for a couple of years, the running/option quarterback, the 3/4 hybrid, two tightend package, etc, all seem to have their roots in earlier concepts, are combos of previous concepts, or are actually football concepts from decades ago that come back again.

Is there anything that hasn't been developed or tried to this point? Is there anything actually new or is that even possible?

I know the question of "where are your rings" already been asked, so will go big.

After he answers the spygate question in detail I would ask:

What were the real reasons that Seymour and Milloy were let go???

I'd ask how you and the other 31 owners thinks it's ok for the NFL to be called a non-profit organization when all I hear is "This is a business" "This is a business" "This is a business" "This is a business" "This is a business".

Like seriously?

I would ask for updates on Gronkowski's and Easley's knee, you gotta ask the questions you know he likes if you want straight forward answers.

Wheelman said:

I'd ask how you and the other 31 owners thinks it's ok for the NFL to be called a non-profit organization when all I hear is "This is a business" "This is a business" "This is a business" "This is a business" "This is a business".

Like seriously?

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Because the NFL IS a not for profit organization.
The TEAMS however are for profit.
You misunderstand the dynamic that the not for profit organization is the league, not the teams that make up the league.
In other words 32 businesses subscribe to one not for profit service to handle affairs among and between them, and to help the 32 units maximize profits.

I would ask if he coached the 2000 season with the first priority being winning, or if he knew there just wasn't enough talent and he coached 2000 for 2001.

He'd never answer any of the questions I'd want to ask, so I'd just ask him something about some epic game in the 1950's and how it influenced coaching, just to hear him ramble on with a smile on his face.

Wheelman said:

I'd ask how you and the other 31 owners thinks it's ok for the NFL to be called a non-profit organization when all I hear is "This is a business" "This is a business" "This is a business" "This is a business" "This is a business".

Like seriously?

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Because the NFL doesn't turn a profit. All profit is distributed to the teams, who are taxed as for-profit enterprises.

As a sort of similar example, I own an LLC. I do some contract work for clients, and they pay my LLC instead of paying me directly. The LLC is not taxed on that money, because it is passed through to me, where it is taxed as income for me. If the government were to tax the money when it was paid to the LLC, then tax it again when the LLC paid it me, it would be taxing the same transaction twice.

The money that the NFL makes is taxed, it's just not taxed when the NFL makes it. And it's not an uncommon arrangement at all. Lots of businesses are set up this way.

patfanken said:

here is one question that desperately needs to be asked, Miguel, and that's, "what's the true story about "spygate" and why hasn't the team defended itself over the last 8 years".

I know I'm tired of listening to the inaccurate, incorrect and uninformed crap we get from the haters all the time. I'm tired of defending my team. I want to know when is the ORGANIZATION going to stand up and defend its fans.

And if I got to ask a football question, I'd ask where I should expect Jamie Collins and Dante Hightower to line up most of the time this season.

BTW- This is a great topic, Miguel

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Ken, you stole my thunder. All I want to know is why BB and the Krafts have forever adopted a eunuch's approach to this topic and left all of us holding the bag.

And Bill would say "let's party"

With passing yards on the rise every year and more team becoming prolific passing teams every season. Teams are building for the pass, to execute and defend it. Teams are adding big fast WRs, big athletic olines, and pass rushing edge rushers and inside rushers. NTs are no longer run stuffers, they occupy blockers to free up explosive pass rushers. Its becoming Tougher for Players with athletic deficiencies to play at a high level. 2 down LBs are becoming more of a liability because teams are passing more and more on first and second down. Elite passrushers and ferocious team pass rush can turn a bad defense into top 5. Sf traded Haley to Dallas and it proved the difference in the teams. Sf went from a top5 defense to mediocre after struggling to get to the qb. Dallas went from mediocre defense to the best.Dallas leaped over Sf and many point to that. Air Coryells chargers had a historical offense and respectable defense. They traded Fred Dean over "One millin dollars" ad the defense gave up record points. A great pass rush was behind every breast Defense.

With that said I would ask why the terrible pass rush wasn't addressed much sooner. Why was it ignored in 2011when the draft was loaded with pass rushers instead of waiting til their backs were to the wall and trading up in 2012 when there was far less prolific talent. Because although Chandler Jones may become a pro bowler but he lacks the talent of Quinn, Aldon Smith,Watt, or Houston and struggles at times while not really showing to be pass rushing menace of the 2011 class. However I wouldn't include that in the question. I would simply ask with pass rush being important to a dominant defense why it wasn't addressed sooner in drafts loaded with dynamic passrushers like Matthews,Quinn,smith, Watt, Houston,Casey,Johnson,Dunlap,Atkins, or in FA with players like Avril,Bennett,Johnson, or Melton. All feared passrushers who didn't cost $60million+. Melton is a beast and bargain. As ferocious as Atkins,McCoy,Suh or Casey.He is everrything we're hoping Easley to become but a proven talent. So I would just ask with the passrush being the weak link why it wasn't addressed sooner through draft, Fa or trade and name those players. I would finish my question with a sack on eli would have been nice in the superbowls, he had a comfy pocket on both drives. He wouldn't probably answer but it would be interesting to bring up and ask.

DarrylS said:

I know the question of "where are your rings" already been asked, so will go big.

After he answers the spygate question in detail I would ask:

What were the real reasons that Seymour and Milloy were let go???

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While you're at it, also ask him why Randy Moss was such a headcase and what they tried to do about it, if he has anything "special" planned against Wes Welker this year, and whether Linda Holliday's are real.

Wheelman said:

I'd ask how you and the other 31 owners thinks it's ok for the NFL to be called a non-profit organization when all I hear is "This is a business" "This is a business" "This is a business" "This is a business" "This is a business".

Like seriously?

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I'll answer that for you: There is a general misperception that "not for profit organization" means "charitable organization." It has nothing to do with charity. The league office itself is a not-for-profit organization because nobody owns it, no profits are paid to individuals or shareholders, etc. Like many not-for-profits, including charities, the people that work there make a ton. But there are no profits distributed.

Tunescribe said:

While you're at it, also ask him why Randy Moss was such a headcase and what they tried to do about it, if he has anything "special" planned against Wes Welker this year, and whether Linda Holliday's are real.

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They are real. I know first-hand.

If Bill could put one game plan in the football hall of fame, which would it be?

patfanken said:

here is one question that desperately needs to be asked, Miguel, and that's, "what's the true story about "spygate" and why hasn't the team defended itself over the last 8 years".

I know I'm tired of listening to the inaccurate, incorrect and uninformed crap we get from the haters all the time. I'm tired of defending my team. I want to know when is the ORGANIZATION going to stand up and defend its fans.

And if I got to ask a football question, I'd ask where I should expect Jamie Collins and Dante Hightower to line up most of the time this season.

BTW- This is a great topic, Miguel

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We know the reasons. The whole thing was completely botched by Goodell. I don't think the true story gets told while he is the commissioner, or until Belichick retires.

But we all generally understand what happened.

Fans of other teams will NEVER give up deluding themselves unfortunately.

Jackson 2 said:

Ken, you stole my thunder. All I want to know is why BB and the Krafts have forever adopted a eunuch's approach to this topic and left all of us holding the bag.

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I truly believe that Belichick kept quiet because if he really told the truth, the public would be aware that this has been something that's gone on across the league for many years, which other coaches have touched on as well. He took one for the team and took one for the NFL as a whole.

In other words, while Belichick may have chosen to keep quiet and allow the public to come to their own conclusions, I believe that he gained the respect of many coaches and owners by taking 100% blame with no further explanation.