Patriots 2015 Off-Seaon Free Agency Rumors

Bruins29 said:

Dosent surprise me that you are not concerned about winning. Winners get addicted to winning. Losers...well......

Click to expand...

As Belichick says, stats are for losers.

slash83 said:

Keenan Lewis restructured his contract with NO.

Click to expand...

Good for him.

slash83 said:

Wrong again, go ahead try again Andy Johnson.

Click to expand...

Nope, I'm good with that one.

AndyJohnson said:

I'm not sure Wilfork will be replaced.
Last season it was Wilfork and Siliga with Branch backing them up and Jones and Easley playing in more obvious passing downs.
Wilfork played in all situations.
I think Siliga and Branch play early downs and do not play at all in passing downs with Jones, Easley or Sheard/ChandlerJones playing inside.
Vince is replaced by Branch on early downs and the others on passing downs.
We will no doubt add a big guy for depth, but I think those taking most of the snaps are already on the roster.

Click to expand...

AND Connolly is being replaced by Cannon....Connolly will not return for Wendell money, so Wendell will hold down RG with competition from a third round pick...

part-timer said:

AND Connolly is being replaced by Cannon....Connolly will not return for Wendell money, so Wendell will hold down RG with competition from a third round pick...

Click to expand...

I think Connolly may be back, I think we may get a different veteran. I think Fleming is in the mix. I think Wendell is not at all a lock. I think Cannon will not be playing G.

AndyJohnson said:

I think Connolly may be back, I think we may get a different veteran. I think Fleming is in the mix. I think Wendell is not at all a lock. I think Cannon will not be playing G.

Click to expand...

I do not believe Cannon would have gotten his current contract if he was to remain a back up.....I also expect us to get a guard in the third, hopefully putting Wendell back in the back up position....and truthfully this is the only remaining change for the offence this off season...

part-timer said:

I do not believe Cannon would have gotten his current contract if he was to remain a back up.....I also expect us to get a guard in the third, hopefully putting Wendell back in the back up position....and truthfully this is the only remaining change for the offence this off season...

Click to expand...

I disagree on Cannon. Why would they refuse to play him at G all season, and then give him an extension to play G.

AndyJohnson said:

I disagree on Cannon. Why would they refuse to play him at G all season, and then give him an extension to play G.

Click to expand...

I believe the difficulty was with the rookie center being introduced to the line....Having veteran centers on both sides of Stork eased the transition....Now we will have an entire off season for Cannon and Stork to sinc up...Besides Connolly was our most experienced vet to fill in for Mankins...

part-timer said:

I believe the difficulty was with the rookie center being introduced to the line....Having veteran centers on both sides of Stork eased the transition....Now we will have an entire off season for Cannon and Stork to sinc up...Besides Connolly was our most experienced vet to fill in for Mankins...

Click to expand...

I think the issue was the Cannon played like crap. I'm not killing him for Connolly and Wendell playing ahead of him.
When Connolly was out, and when Stork was out they played Kline instead. And Kline is not good.
While they were playing Kline instead at G, they extended Cannon. If the point of extending him was to make him a starting G why was he sitting on his butt while Kline played G?

Also Fleming replaced him too before getting hurt, so there were at least 4 players, including 2 with little experience playing ahead of him.

AndyJohnson said:

I disagree on Cannon. Why would they refuse to play him at G all season, and then give him an extension to play G.

Click to expand...

I think you are right on this one. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I remember reading somewhere that having a competent swing OT is key in having quality offensive depth. I'm not sure if that's a BBism, or some other expert, but I believe in it.

This is hard for me to say, because, I've been the leader of "the move Cannon to RG movement for years". I still believe it could work, but not without committing to it right from the OTA's, as opposed to throwing him in at OG for a play or two, or a day or to. like they did last year.

My current uniformed guess would be that Flemming would get the first shot at unseating Wendell. In an ideal world, our LG would be some first or 2nd round pick. However, given the tough DL's we are going to face in our own division, I'd have a problem having starting the season with an interior OL with just 2 years of NFL experience combined. That's why I think its important for Connolly to come back (or Mathis).

Plus despite the issues Devey and Kline had as very young OLmen, who is to say what they will become in the next few years. There have been a LOT of offensive lineman who took 2 or 3 years in the league before they became quality players. Steven Neal, Connolly, and Wendell to name just 3 off the top of my head, just from the Pats

patfanken said:

Plus despite the issues Devey and Kline had as very young OLmen, who is to say what they will become in the next few years. There have been a LOT of offensive lineman who took 2 or 3 years in the league before they became quality players. Steven Neal, Connolly, and Wendell to name just 3 off the top of my head, just from the Pats

Click to expand...

This is where we drift apart in thinking. Sure, a nobody who has done nothing and looked bad when they play could turn into a good player but for every one of them there are 1000 that continue to not be any good. Having a guy like Devey or Kline around because you percieve and upside they may be able to surprise everyone and reach is fine, but you cannot rely on it. Having a plan that says someone will probably get better is not good.

I am very excited to see the OG battle in camp. Lets not forget that Wendell is a FA next season and I anticipate that the Pats will try and replace him as a starter this year. As I recall, Cannon did not get any reps at G last off season and then was thrown into that position during the season.

Right now we have Kline, Wendell, Cannon, Fleming, Barker, Hauptmann and possibly Devey. I am guessing that we bring in at least 2 more via the draft. Aside from a better pass rush I think the best way to make up for any weakness in the secondary is by strengthening the OL and running the ball.

The only viable opinion is that the TEAM see's Cannon as the third most valuable OL on the team and that spot is not reserved for a back up...We do not over pay for starters, need less back ups.....And everyone thought Cannons contract was over market....Soon it will be a below market contract for a starting LG...

AndyJohnson said:

I think the issue was the Cannon played like crap. I'm not killing him for Connolly and Wendell playing ahead of him.
When Connolly was out, and when Stork was out they played Kline instead. And Kline is not good.
While they were playing Kline instead at G, they extended Cannon. If the point of extending him was to make him a starting G why was he sitting on his butt while Kline played G?

Also Fleming replaced him too before getting hurt, so there were at least 4 players, including 2 with little experience playing ahead of him.

Click to expand...

I don't disagree that Cannon played like crap at LG but he was thrown into a last minute role he had never played. Belichick may feel that with an entire offseason to make the transition inside Cannon can get it done. Or they could move Vollmer to LG to attempt to extend his career.

AndyJohnson said:

This is where we drift apart in thinking. Sure, a nobody who has done nothing and looked bad when they play could turn into a good player but for every one of them there are 1000 that continue to not be any good. Having a guy like Devey or Kline around because you percieve and upside they may be able to surprise everyone and reach is fine, but you cannot rely on it. Having a plan that says someone will probably get better is not good.

Click to expand...

No doubt, but on the other hand you can't dismiss them either because you just don't know. How many years did we all pretty much list Wendell as camp fodder, only to express shock every year he made it to the final 53.

Believe me, I'm all on board to draft at least one offensive lineman in the first 3 round. In fact if some top 20 CB or DT doesn't fall to us at 32, I'd do it earlier. Clearly the interior OL has been a key area of rebuilding for BB, and usually it takes at least 2 years to get done. So, I wouldn't be surprised to see at least 2 offensive linemen get drafted this April. I'd like nothing better to see Connolly and/or Wendell provide quality offensive depth as we upgrade the position with younger, bigger, and more athletic talent THIS season. However I'd still be concerned about a lack of experience in the interior OL if it turns out that way.

Brady6 said:

I don't disagree that Cannon played like crap at LG but he was thrown into a last minute role he had never played. Belichick may feel that with an entire offseason to make the transition inside Cannon can get it done. Or they could move Vollmer to LG to attempt to extend his career.

Click to expand...

Playing guard for a guy with a bad back seems very risky.

Brady6 said:

Or they could move Vollmer to LG to attempt to extend his career.

Click to expand...

Not a fan of moving Vollmer. He was excellent at RT last year.

AndyJohnson said:

I disagree on Cannon. Why would they refuse to play him at G all season, and then give him an extension to play G.

Click to expand...

Cannon was terrible at guard last year, and that is putting it lightly. He is however an above average tackle. I can't possibly see him at G in 2015. It's gonna have to be the draft where we upgrade the position

This thread is still adrift with stuff other than rumors.

Anything on Ridley? Heard maybe Cowboys last week, Atlanta would also be a good fit. The longer he goes without signing the better the chances he could end up back here. Not crazy about the RBs on the roster. Would like to see Ridley or a draft pick added.