Hightower faces a long healing; recovery span 6-7 months

Hightower faces a long healing

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/...2015/02/dont_a_hightower_faces_a_long_healing

He can polish that ring. A warrior this year.

back early in the season works for me !!

Someone call Ray And get Donta in touch with his deer antler supplier.

I knew it was serious but not seven months serious. Damn. He played at a very high level with an effective one arm.

If he can get back by early August I doubt there will be any issues. This does magnify the need for good LB depth though.

Hightower was a great pick. I loved the fact that the Ravens wanted him bad and we got him. He's paid off in a big way

If he needs to miss a few games so be it. Worst case he starts on the PUP and sits 6 weeks.

The question is how this affects the contract negotiations with Mayo, with Casillas and with Ayers.

mgteich said:

The question is how this affects the contract negotiations with Mayo, with Casillas and with Ayers.

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It's another reason why Ayers is important. He can play inside or out at LB and at DE, and start at all 3 positions. He's a valuable chess piece, whether he gets a ton of snaps all the time or not.

I think this further underlines the importance of a Mayo restructure/return to health.

I loved Hightower : the pick and the emerging talent. He was a beast in Mayo's absence. While I very much saw him coming on, I did not see him playing at the level we just saw this season. He is 24... awesome.

Not that I'm saying one play defines a player but Ayers really screwed up contain on the play where Chandler Jones surged up into the backfield and Wilson avoided him and ran for about 15 yards. If Ayers doesn't lose contain Wilson has no where to go. That was the drive after Brady's 2nd int. If Ayers asks for too much let him go.

Are people still on the Mayo needs to go train or do they now realize that a restructure and depth is of critical importance?


If it's possible, the Patriots need to keep Mayo, Ayers and Casillas with Collins and Hightower. That unit has the potential to be one of, if not the best LB crew in the NFL.

Yeah I'd love for Jerod to be able to go a full season next year. Feel terrible for him, glad he gets a ring for contributions in the past.

We've been saying it might be OK to skimp at edge rusher depth if we have enough LBs, because Hightower or perhaps Collins could fill the role. The same is somewhat true in reverse; if we have enough edge rushers, than Ninkovich becomes reasonable depth at LB.

This upcoming year is a contract year for Hightower, correct?

Sorta off-topic (& thinking pretty far ahead) but I hope the Pats sign him over C Jones.

TBR said:

This upcoming year is a contract year for Hightower, correct?

Sorta off-topic (& thinking pretty far ahead) but I hope the Pats sign him over C Jones.

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Before May, the patriots will announce that Hightower and Jones are picked up for their 5th year (2016) at a set contract price. As with Solder this year, that does NOT mean that the team has to sign either to a long-term contract. They could even cut one of them after the season. Of course, that is unlikely.

mgteich said:

The question is how this affects the contract negotiations with Mayo, with Casillas and with Ayers.

Click to expand...

Mayo cannot be renegotiated until he is able to pass a physical, so it's looking like this won't happen until June/July. It does not appear as though restructuring Mayo can give the team any relief for quite some time.

According to Howe: "Of Mayo’s $6.25 million base salary, $4.5 million is guaranteed for injury until he passes a physical. So if the Pats cut Mayo before he passes his physical, they would owe him $4.5 million. As soon as Mayo passes his physical, the injury guarantee disappears, and that’s when the Patriots could really approach Mayo to restructure his deal, if that’s the route they choose."

mgteich said:

Before May, the patriots will announce that Hightower and Collins are picked up for their 5th year (2016) at a set contract price. As with Solder this year, that does NOT mean that the team has to sign either to a long-term contract. They could even cut one of them after the season. Of course, that is unlikely.

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Hightower and Chandler Jones--you mean.

Jamie Collins has only played 2 years, and will be under contract for both 2015 and 2016. Since he was a 2nd round pick, he is not eligible for the 5th year option.

ausbacker said:

Are people still on the Mayo needs to go train or do they now realize that a restructure and depth is of critical importance?


If it's possible, the Patriots need to keep Mayo, Ayers and Casillas with Collins and Hightower. That unit has the potential to be one of, if not the best LB crew in the NFL.

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I'm doubting that Ayers is kept, myself. I think not only is he going to be too pricey to keep, but he'll also likely want to play somewhere where he competes for a starting role; after all, he saw very limited snaps once Chandler Jones returned down the stretch. I like what he added here, but I have a hard time seeing Belichick justify paying him 2m dollars+ or so per year as a depth option/role player.

If what Jeff Howe is saying about Mayo's pact is true, then the Pats can't even begin to think about restructuring him until he's healthy enough to pass a physical. Since everyone agrees that he won't be able to participate in OTAs or mini-camp, that may not happen until at least the start/middle of the summer.