Dion Lewis signed to two year, $2.6M (+ incentives) extension

"They gave me a chance," Lewis said. "That’s all I can ask for. They gave me a chance, so it’s on me to repay them as well. They showed a commitment to me, and now I’ve got to honor that, keep going out there and making it right. They gave me a chance. That’s how I’ll repay them."

Yup, he's one of us alright

The Brandon Five said:

If Brady and Gronk aren't All-Pro so far, I have no idea what it would look like.

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Actually I did forget Gronk, so apologies to him. Dion has a partner on the team.

But this is an all pro team so there is only one QB and that is going to be Aaron Rogders this year, it is already been determined. It looks to me that the media is going to work very hard to make sure that Rodgers gets his unanimous MVP....if only because Brady has one.

Now I have never had a problem when Rodgers is compared to Brady like I ALWAYS had when he was compared to Manning. Rodgers is certainly comparable to Brady, and someday he might even be considered as good or better. BUT not this season or the next. because he hasn't built up the body of work that Brady's compiled. If he's lucky someday in the future after a few more Lombardis we'll see.

But in a sense it's like Manning, in that I don't hate the player, I hate the media who over hypes him. Only unlike Manning, Rodgers is a worthy comparison. I just wish that the media wasn't so insistent in making it's case like he's like at another level.

Urgent said:

Relatively tight.
Miguel has the Patriots at $147mm. Big asterisk on Mayo, as he has an $11mm cap charge, and a lot of guaranteed money. He could restructure, or the Patriots could save over $7mm with a straight release (if after June 1 - over $5mm if they need the space to get to their cap limit in March).

The 2015 league cap is $143mm.

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The Patriots will default on Mayo's 3.6 million roster bonus and he will become a free agent subject
to compensation like Wilfork.

Great News! He seems like a mature, humble young man who bought into 'Patriots Way' and is committed to making himself better. He's not taking anything for granted and wants to pay back to BB/Pats for giving him a chance to play.
Read More...........
http://itiswhatitis.weei.com/sports...howing-faith-in-him-by-agreeing-to-extension/

I do hope his incentives are good. If he stays healthy and gains a lot of yards through the air and ground I want him to be paid for if. Looks like he can get up to 5 M and if he keeps this up I hope he gets every penny.

He is on pace to have over 1700 total yards for us this year.

Also just wanna say i think BB and JMcD really love the offense they have right now and made sure to keep it together. This is a top unit that is match up proof and they have it at a very good price.

Give them any kind of D and they have a good chance to win.

Jimke said:

The Patriots will default on Mayo's 3.6 million roster bonus and he will become a free agent subject
to compensation like Wilfork.

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IMHO, when looking at 2016, it is useful to think of Mayo as a free agent. As with the UFA's, he will not be on the 2016 roster with the current contract, and unless a new contract is signed, he will be a UFA when the season officially ends.

I like him because I like players with cat-like quickness.

Oswlek said:

And yet it still took him three years to develop into a top shelf player. You just never know.

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All too true. Hightower's profile (four year starter at Alabama, two National Championships) is very similar to that of former Alabama linebacker Rolando McClain. McClain only won one National Championship, but he was perhaps even more highly regarded (four year starter, Butkus award winner, Lambert award winner, drafted 1st Round Number 8 by Oakland). And, McLain completely crashed and burned. So, as you say, you never really know.

zydecochris said:

All too true. Hightower's profile (four year starter at Alabama, two National Championships) is very similar to that of former Alabama linebacker Rolando McClain. McClain only won one National Championship, but he was perhaps even more highly regarded (four year starter, Butkus award winner, Lambert award winner, drafted 1st Round Number 8 by Oakland). And, McLain completely crashed and burned. So, as you say, you never really know.

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McClain crashed and burned due to off the field issues. The talent has always been there. After a few years away to clear his head, he has played relatively well since his return. Watch for him sunday, it will be his first game back from suspension.

woolster22 said:

McClain crashed and burned due to off the field issues. The talent has always been there. After a few years away to clear his head, he has played relatively well since his return. Watch for him sunday, it will be his first game back from suspension.

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True. It is funny you mention that, I was just wondering what would have happened if McClain had been drafted by a super-professional organization like the Pats. I wonder if it could have all been different early on?

Plus, I guess he is only 26, plenty of time for a productive career.

From the article:

“I kinda knew,” Gronkowski said. “I’ve been telling a couple of my friends all the time, ‘Man this new guy we picked up, he can move.’ His quickness, the way he makes guys miss is just unreal. I wish I had those moves.”

What your teammates say about you speaks volumes as a person an an athlete. Good on Dion. Cheers!

Great news. Hold on to the ball and stay healthy, Dion.

patsinthesnow said:

Brady: 14 million
Lewis: 2 million (max)
Gronk: 8 million
Chandler: 2.3 million
Edelman: 4.75 million
Lafell: 3 million

This offense will go down as one of the best in league history and is all signed for 2016. Every player besides Chandler is at a bargain price.

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Lewis: 2 million (max)
+ Gronk: 8 million
+ Chandler: 2.3 million
+ Edelman: 4.75 million
+ Lafell: 3 million
________________
= 20 million.

Suh 2016 = $23.5 million.

BobDigital said:

I do hope his incentives are good. If he stays healthy and gains a lot of yards through the air and ground I want him to be paid for if. Looks like he can get up to 5 M and if he keeps this up I hope he gets every penny.

He is on pace to have over 1700 total yards for us this year.

Also just wanna say i think BB and JMcD really love the offense they have right now and made sure to keep it together. This is a top unit that is match up proof and they have it at a very good price.

Give them any kind of D and they have a good chance to win.

Click to expand...

And Lafell hasn't joined the party yet.

Great news. I was concerned that it may be difficult to project an extension which worked for both sides so early in his time here, but am pleasantly surprised that things went so smoothly.

Urgent said:

Relatively tight.
Miguel has the Patriots at $147mm. Big asterisk on Mayo, as he has an $11mm cap charge, and a lot of guaranteed money. He could restructure, or the Patriots could save over $7mm with a straight release (if after June 1 - over $5mm if they need the space to get to their cap limit in March).

The 2015 league cap is $143mm.

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The most recent expectation per my understanding (last spring) is that the 2016 cap is expected to increase by 10m or so. So the league wide cap would be 153m. Then the Pats would adjust for carryover and for incentives actually earned in 2015 versus expected/not expected. Actual cap hit in 2016 itself will adjust based on the latter, too.

Bottom line is that the Pats should be fine bringing current roster back. If looking to add mid-level free agents, some moves will have to be made in some form (cuts or restructuring). The obvious low hanging fruit are Mayo and Amendola.

zydecochris said:

True. It is funny you mention that, I was just wondering what would have happened if McClain had been drafted by a super-professional organization like the Pats. I wonder if it could have all been different early on?

Plus, I guess he is only 26, plenty of time for a productive career.

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I'm not sure. The start in Oakland probably did not help anything, but he spent either a year and change or a partial year in Baltimore before his sabbatical. While Baltimore isn't exactly a bastion of stability, it's not like they were the dumpster fire that is the NYJ, or this year's Rex led Bills.

Also, that Patriots have had their share od malcontents come in and flame put. Haynesworth, Adalius Thomas, Spikes (to an extent), Randy didn't exactly leave on a positive note, the murderer...
While the team has a better reputation than most, it still comes down to what the player in question wants for themselves. From what I've read I'd wager he would have had issues with any organization. As he had mentioned in an interview prior to his return, he needed to make get his head straight, and he felt he could not do that while playing football.

And yes, he still has plenty of time to put together a solid career. While he is behind the eight ball, he is still a large, athletic, talented lb.

http://nesn.com/2015/10/rob-gronkowski-have-to-be-super-smart-to-play-tight-end-for-patriots/

Rhodey said:

From the article:

“I kinda knew,” Gronkowski said. “I’ve been telling a couple of my friends all the time, ‘Man this new guy we picked up, he can move.’ His quickness, the way he makes guys miss is just unreal. I wish I had those moves.”

What your teammates say about you speaks volumes as a person an an athlete. Good on Dion. Cheers!

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....OK, OK, I've been a bit of a late arrival to the Dion Lewis bus. Part of it was that the bus was only a one year rental until today. However, I guess this guy is the real deal, if Gronk thinks he is special then he would be the one who would know.

I am someone who thinks that Gronk's "goofiness" is more of a "brand" than anything else, I think he is a very smart, perceptive, hardworking player who knows football in and out. If Gronk is driving the Dion Lewis bus I'll see if there are any seats remaining at the back.

EDIT: Just after posting this I saw this article talking about how Smart Gronk is. http://nesn.com/2015/10/rob-gronkowski-have-to-be-super-smart-to-play-tight-end-for-patriots/

At least I'm not a latecomer to the "Gronk is a very smart player" bus, I've been on the front row of that bus for a long time.

BelichickFan said:

CapSpace=$3,329,763 ‏@patscap 22s23 seconds ago
Wendell, Blount, Gibson, Ebner, Tarell Brown, Tavon Wilson, Dane Fletcher are the only Patriots scheduled to be UFAs after this season.

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Nice, that's not bad at all. I'd like to see Brown back for sure, and wouldn't mind giving Gibson another one-year deal since I like him as a player and thought he looked good in the preseason. Wendell and Blount are solid players that I wouldn't mind having back, but it looks right now like losing either of them wouldn't be a huge loss or anything.

That's a great situation to be in with UFAs. Nobody critical, only one guy who I'd even view as a likely starter next year.