ATippett56
Pro Bowl Player
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- Oct 3, 2005
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Lloyd's of London just rejected Tom Brady's insurance application today.
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Lloyd's of London just rejected Tom Brady's insurance application today.
). It may be cliche, but what many people have pointed out is true. Better a year too early, than a year too late
Well I guess its time for me to weigh in on this surprising move. I haven't read the entire thread. Just the last few pages. I imagine the all the outrage and disbelief occurred in the first 10 pages, because the last 3 have been pretty level headed. Personally I believe that this was more of a cap move than anything else. Its simply a case of a highly paid player who is no longer playing at a level that justified his enormous cap number. That's not saying Mankins was playing badly, just not up to the same level that earned him that big contract.
The Bucs were clearly looking for an impact offensive lineman, as they also looked into the SF lineman who is holding out. And even at a reduced level, Mankins fits that bill. Wright and the pick are simply throw ins to balance the value. Unlike many, I was fine with the TE situation as it stood (Gronk, Hooman, and Devlin). But Wright would seem to be an improvement in receiving talent to the position. A player who might develop into a real threat, but right now isn't likely to make much of an immediate impact. The 4th round pick just is what it is.
Like many have already stated. Mankins is still playing at an above average level, but NOT to the level that justified his cap number. So in the end, this trade (at least to me) is more about trading a declining Mamkins so we can keep an ascending McCourty, plus one of the top 3 CB's in the league for the next 3 or 4 years. THAT alone makes this a fair trade. Wright and the pick are just potential bonuses.
So the mediots can rant all they want about the Pats being cheap, or Kraft getting even for a contract dispute that happened 3 years ago (
I saw this stat that makes the Wright acquisition understandable. Last season, with Gronk on the field, the Pats ranked 5th in red zone efficiency. Without him they ranked 30th.
Getting Brady some bigger GL targets seemed to be a goal this off season. Now between Dobson, LaFell, and Wright, to go along with Gronk; Brady will have no shortage of big red zone targets.
That's the thing, Fnord, we don't know if he's clearly better than any other interior lineman. Granted he probably is, even at a reduced level. But the real question is, "how much better". We have to infer that the answer to that is, "not much". Other wise, he doesn't make the trade.
