Let's say McCourty walks. What is the plan?

fnordcircle said:

Well yeah. But I'm just trying to do a realistic assessment of what we can expect. We've waited since 2005 to field a superbowl caliber defense and if we lose both Revis and McCourty I think we'll struggle.

I trust in this team (how could you not) but they don't play the 'win now' game and so if they can't sign Revis and McCourty without feeling it hampers their ability to be competitive in the future then so be it. But it's gonna definitely be a huge step back for us.

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I think trying to make a "realistic" assessment of how they'll do in next year's first playoff game is a bit of an oxymoron. Will it be a fall off, of course, but there are plenty of ways to address it. Personally, I still think Revis is back next year. McCourty though is most likely gone.

I am just sick of the thought at having another leaky secondary. Ughh. Can TB help us here? Lol

fnordcircle said:

they can't sign Revis and McCourty without feeling it hampers their ability to be competitive in the future t.

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Or possibly another position on the team now.

BSR said:

Will it be a fall off, of course, but there are plenty of ways to address it.

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If there were 'plenty of ways to address it' we wouldn't have had a decade of overall awful secondary play.

You don't just replace guys like McCourty and Revis like it ain't no thang.

fnordcircle said:

superbowl caliber defense

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These terms aren't nearly as meaningful as people make them out to be. Had Welker caught the ball 2011 would have been a "super bowl caliber defense" despite being one of the worst groups during Bill's tenure. This past year's "super bowl caliber defense" allowed more points than both 2007 and 2011. The most "super bowl caliber" defense in team history allowed 29 points to a middling offense. Would they have been "super bowl caliber" this year had Seattle handed the ball off?

Precisely! I am not sure why people want to so broadly generalize and/or criticize and rewrite history over one play in a game.

There's so many horrible starting safeties in the NFL right now

You forget the only reception he allowed was aided by a vicious pick from the officiating crew and a savy move by the receiver.
Otherwise he was lights out you can't let that go especially when its very likely its to a rival.
You cut Wilfork Nink if need be it doesn't matter you can't let that man walk unless you are signing Suh or Hardy.

In don't want to have to walk out the room when its third down and the bottom of the barrel QBs are turned to clutch player of the week candidates. We all are thankful for Malcolm Butler but show of hands who wants him starting instead of Revis next season?

fnordcircle said:

If there were 'plenty of ways to address it' we wouldn't have had a decade of overall awful secondary play.

You don't just replace guys like McCourty and Revis like it ain't no thang.

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We've had a decade of overall awful secondary play? I don't think that's been the case at all, but even some of the worst secondary play has been with McCourty on it.

Basically, I think the more important part of this duo is Revis. I'll be a lot more concerned about it if they lose Revis regardless of whether they keep McCourty or not. That being said, if the Patriots feel that Revis is irreplaceable they can just pay him the $20M.

ChrisR2223 said:

You cut Nink if need be it doesn't matter you can't let that man walk unless you are signing Suh or Hardy.

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You dont cut Nink for christ sakes.

ChrisR2223 said:

In don't want to have to walk out the room when its third down and the bottom of the barrel QBs are turned to clutch player of the week candidates. We all are thankful for Malcolm Butler but show of hands who wants him starting instead of Revis next season?

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So that it? Its Revis or Butler?
Joke

ChrisR2223 said:

In don't want to have to walk out the room when its third down and the bottom of the barrel QBs are turned to clutch player of the week candidates. We all are thankful for Malcolm Butler but show of hands who wants him starting instead of Revis next season?

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What was our record against those bottom of the barrel QBs before getting Revis?

New England Pride said:

I prefer they keep Mccourtey on a reasonable long term deal. If his market is too high, I'll be alright if he walks. In that case, I'd hope they can draft a safety high and hope they don't miss. So basically, throw Wilson/Ryan/Rookie draft pick on the wall and see what sticks.

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This year's draft class at safety is horrible.

Bruins29 said:

You dont cut Nink for christ sakes.

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I know. I'm continually amused by the people who are /always/ on about 'an ungrade for Nink'. A guy who pretty much defines the phrase 'do your job'. Who makes big time plays. Who played more downs last year than any other DE in the NFL. JAG, amirite?

rochrist said:

I know. I'm continually amused by the people who are /always/ on about 'an ungrade for Nink'. A guy who pretty much defines the phrase 'do your job'. Who makes big time plays. Who played more downs last year than any other DE in the NFL. JAG, amirite?

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Yep, and more importantly you wouldn't even save that much by cutting him.

Then again, I have to consider the source of a lot of this nonsense.

Oswlek said:

These terms aren't nearly as meaningful as people make them out to be. Had Welker caught the ball 2011 would have been a "super bowl caliber defense" despite being one of the worst groups during Bill's tenure. This past year's "super bowl caliber defense" allowed more points than both 2007 and 2011. The most "super bowl caliber" defense in team history allowed 29 points to a middling offense. Would they have been "super bowl caliber" this year had Seattle handed the ball off?

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Yes...

Anything can get to a Super Bowl if the rest of the team can cover for it (See QB for Ravens in 2000 season). That's why most people understand that saying something like "championship caliber" is usually another way of saying "pretty darned good".

Conversely, it's also why the "They don't need ......... because they won without ..........." arguments don't really hold water.

If they cut/trade anyone to save for Revis and/or Dmac it would be Browner. Cutting/trading him now saves almost 5 million on the cap. After its 4.4 million. You get Revis back and you can use Dennard/Butler as your other guy. Arrington in the slot.

I'd take that any day.

ChrisR2223 said:

You cut Wilfork Nink if need be it doesn't matter you can't let that man walk unless you are signing Suh or Hardy.

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Considering the fact that Rob Ninkovich received the highest amount of defensive reps in the entire NFL this past year, I highly doubt that we'd be considering his release. It seems as though Belichick appreciates his versatility and experience in this system.

supafly said:

Considering the fact that Rob Ninkovich received the highest amount of defensive reps in the entire NFL this past year, I highly doubt that we'd be considering his release. It seems as though Belichick appreciates his versatility and experience in this system.

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Or that Bill secretly hates him and is setting him up for a post-NFL lifetime of debilitating discomfort.

It's one or the other.