Anyone surprised about Dan Connolly?

@JennaLaineBucs: Patriots OG Dan Connolly visit with the Bucs continues this morning. Would bring some solid leadership. Team will need that with a rookie QB

The only real news about him this offseason was he visited the Bucs a few days ago. It appears we've showed no interest in resigning him.

I understand letting Ridley walk, but is anyone else surprised about our lack of interest in bringing Connolly back? He was the OL captain and miles better than Kline/Devey.

Even if we plan to upgrade him, he's useful G/C depth and a veteran presence for cheap money, no?

It's all about the Benjamins....

They may see the concussion issue as one that makes bringing him back to much of a risk. If not I would guess they have an offer on the table but he isn't interested in it and won't be unless he can't better it.

I'm not terribly surprised. He'll be 33 years old when the season starts. It's a rare talent who is still productive in the NFL at age 33. I don't think Dan Connelly is a rare talent.

I think the Pats are trying to avoid the trap of ending up with an old slow team. They are definitely trying to get younger and more athletic on both lines.

This team let Revis walk. After that, I won't be surprised by anyone they let get away this offseason. Hell, I'm not sure if cutting Brady would surprise me at this point.

I'd like to see them bring Dan back. I'd like to see them drat 2 OG's ,and see how they work out. But you do need someone to protect the franchise in the middle of the line.

Deus Irae said:

This team let Revis walk. After that, I won't be surprised by anyone they let get away this offseason. Hell, I'm not sure if cutting Brady would surprise me at this point.

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lol you act like the Pats had any shot at keeping Revis outside of picking up the option.

But then again that's your schtick. Hey did you know the Pats won the SB? Because it almost seems like you don't.

Or how about that terrible bust of a pick Jamie Collins. They better keep whatever drugs BB was on when he made the pick away from him this draft.

Deus Irae said:

This team let Revis walk. After that, I won't be surprised by anyone they let get away this offseason. Hell, I'm not sure if cutting Brady would surprise me at this point.

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You can't really mean that?

I'm not that surprised. He isn't very good. He's an old guy in football years, and I think he's had a couple of concussions. Not really the guy you rush out to get.

Their not signing Connolly has been a bit of a surprise to me, given he's likely to come cheap, has been productive and would be the starter Week One if the roster looked as it does right now.

The fact that they've made no move means, to me, that they're committed to spending an early pick at the position on a player that can step in right away. That usually means a first rounder (like Mankins). But Koppen started right away as a rookie, and Stork took over in a starting role as soon as he was healthy-- and they were both mid-round picks.

If it weren't for the fact that the need at DL is at least as urgent, I would say OG at #32 was a sure thing.

They need two guards IMO and Wendell can start then back up G/C once someone takes those positions.

Any thread about Dan Connolly needs the obligatory fan salute:


Other younger players have unfortunately made Dan expendable as a KR.

Umm, who plays Guard on the other side of that line? Maybe that could be a factor? Just throwing it out there.

We need a starting LG. Kline is an OK backup. We could also use a much better young prospect at the end of the bench than Devey.

Sure, I'd like to have the man of many talents and many concussions. Perhaps, it is the money. Perhaps, Belichick has simply chosen to move on.

Whether we bring in a veteran or not, we will need to draft a future starter at OG. I would expect to draft two guards. After all, had Connolly, Kline and Devey. There are three positions.

Danger Zone said:

Any thread about Dan Connolly needs the obligatory fan salute:


Other younger players have made Dan expendable as a KR.

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Beat me with the edit.

OhExaulted1 said:

Beat me with the edit.

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Between my natural inclination and just how horrible and slow my Kindle is at handling text input (no spell checker and a tiny, uncooperative, buggy edit box where I can't even read an entire sentence at a time) I tend to be pretty bad about editing my posts long after is probably considered polite. I apologize.

As a rule of thumb it's never quite safe to quote me unless any particular post has been unchanged for a good 3-5 minutes.

Maybe they're planning on a rookie starting like another Stork and Connolly wants more of a guarenteed starter spot?

Froob said:

Maybe they're planning on a rookie starting like another Stork and Connolly wants more of a guaranteed starter spot?

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I think it's more of a case that Belichick knows 33 year old journeyman JAG guards will always be available between the draft and opening day. It's just not a high-demand, big ticket slot.

He also knows that starting caliber guards are avialable in second day rounds of the draft (2nd, 3rd, 4th) where the Pats have a lot of picks. Very few guards, no matter how promising, even get drafted in the first round. It's just not a high-demand, big-ticket slot.

It isn't just money. what if connolly play all 16 games? that means our starter of the future would have one year less experience. I'm sure Connolly or Wendell would have been vbetter than stork the first couple games, but he needed to play NFL games, make a few mistakes and have confidence for the end of the season.

Yes, I do feel we will be looking at Guard in the draft. , and has been previously stated, there will be plenty in the mid rounds. i think most of us knew this was likely Connelly's last season...he is hardly getting any younger.