Shea McClellin signs with Patriots.

TheBostonStraggler said:

Show me a group of fans whose team sucks, especially the better part of multiple years in a row, and I'll show you a group of bitter fans down on an array of players -- some of who are in fact good players. It's just the nature of the fandom beast. But they may be right and this guy may be/end up a negative even though bitter fans opinions are rightly viewed with some skepticism.

Bottom line: If this guy is focused on his job and willing to work Patriot hard at improving (fair chance of it)? And if BB and staff well define what his responsibilities are and put him in proper positions to succeed (good chance of it)? This is SM's prime moment to succeed at least at a modest level. It's now or it's likely never. But if he does succeed, our potency at LB is sweet along with our flexibility to deal with injury improved. If he doesn't succeed? Hopefully the contract is structured that he can be let go with little dead money blowback (3 year for SM? I'm assuming the contract is heavy on incentives).

Click to expand...

I agree, although I would change that first line to say all fans period. We're no different. We hated Dola initially. And we turned on LaFell so quickly after he helped us win a championship. Ninko was considered a JAG by many for quite a long time. McCourty was rookie of the year, a team captain, but struggled when the scheme changed to man and everyone bashed him until he converted into a Pro Bowl caliber safety. Not even going into the calls to cut Gronk as a rookie or keep Cassel over Brady in 2009. Let's just say all fans are fickle.

But quite frankly, I don't give a **** what Bears fans think. Mini Ditka is not beating Jesus.



And I really don't think opinions from other fan bases are particularly relevant. It's rare the guys they love are made available, and if so, we usually can't afford them or won't pay what their teams or the players think they're worth. So we often end up with the undervalued guys, or the guys with question marks, or the guys they don't want anymore.

Few Raiders fans cared about Moss leaving. Dolphins fans didn't know what they had in Welker. No Jets fans were crying over Woody getting cut. No Titans fans cared about trading away Ayers. Browns fans didn't seem too upset over losing Sheard. Fan opinions aren't that good to begin with, but fan bases of ****ty football teams are even worse because they don't even know what good football players should look like anyways unless they're watching the road teams.

I'd like to see the full contract details before making a call on this but he obviously had talent, he's still young, didn't cost us any assets, and adds flexibility and depth at multiple spots. He's a typical buy-low candidate, and there's probably very little risk, with a high potential reward. Again, unless the final contract details are absurd, this looks like another great off-season deal.

Well for those of us old enough to remember our asses frozen to those aluminum benches at Sullivan stadium can tell you about what it's like to be a fan of a losing franchise. Watching the guy who supposed to be our savior wins Suprbowl for the Raiders. The roughing the passer call. The 2-14 seasons. It's all about loyalty! But more importantly what do all the winning and losing NFL teams have in common? Ownership. The Sullivan's were a joke, they had no idea what they were doing. Kraft inherited a great coach and promptly ran him out of town, but I think that lesson showed him the proper amount of intervention he needed to have. Yes, let the football people run the football, but never let anyone forget who is really in charge.

Woody is an idiot, he basically was told never to show up at the family business again. I think the Bills will eventually turn it around under this new ownership. Ross showed his true colors when he was interviewing Harbaugh while Sporano was trying to get the team ready for a game!

And of course, you need a QB, without one, your screwed! We have been lucky to have a great starting QB since Parcells drafted Bledsoe.

And oh, love the McClellin signing.

another talented player who perhaps failed due to scheme fit that belicheck can turn around into a productive cog?

I.M. Fletcher said:

Thought this would be coming. He was drafted just ahead of Jones/Hightower, and was referred to as a vrabel clone. It's not surprising that they have interest in him, but the production hasn't always been there with him in Chicago. They tried him all over the defense, and really struggled to find where he fit best..

Click to expand...

That means he is a fit here.

I.M. Fletcher said:

Having a few different defensive schemes didn't help either. With Ninko coming up on a new deal soon, this seems like a natural progression plan, but McClellin has a lot of work to get to that level.

Click to expand...

They wont need him for every down so its a good signing for depth purposes.

Brady6 said:

We have added a #2 overall pick, a #7 overall pick, a #19 overall pick, and a #27 overall pick in the past 24 hours.

Click to expand...

Wallace, Bostic, McClellin....its interesting how the Pats have been picking at the carcass of the Bears these last two seasons. Reason? Phil Emery was GM of the Bears from 2012-2014. Prior to that he worked for Pioli in KC and Dimitroff in ATL.

Clearly Emery looks for the same players and value the same qualities as the Patriots do.

One-If-By-Sea said:

Bostic was a 2nd round linebacker from The Bears who never emerged.

Click to expand...

Bostic had 84 tackles and 3 PDs in 2014. If that isnt emerging I dont know what is. Fox and Pace didn't want him. Thats it.

One-If-By-Sea said:

Doubt McClellin is any different. Same Bears coaches, same situation - 1st round JAG.

Brown, Cooper, and McClellin are just really athletic 1st round JAGs. Nothing more. Nothing to see here.

Click to expand...

Cooper is a physically gifted JAG. McClellin is another 81 tackle, 1 FF player that never emerged.

One-If-By-Sea said:

Marcellus and Chris Long both had great years at some point so I am sure they can contribute, but it doubtful they will be great again. ;-).

Click to expand...

Bennett is still a Top 15 TE. Long I agree with but they don't need him to be great.

ausbacker said:

I absolutely love the move and to be perfectly honest, I love the way the Patriots have handled this offseason, especially knowing they've been screwed by a corrupt commissioner.

Click to expand...

Oh c'mon now.....many on the board wanted BB to pay $8m a year for Sanu. They were right y'know...

PatriotsPimp136 said:

How about a wr Bill?

Click to expand...

He needs to be reinstated first.

robertweathers said:

That means he is a fit here.



They wont need him for every down so its a good signing for depth purposes.

Click to expand...

Its definitely a fit here, he just may take some time to find his fit, like Ninko did. That's why I was pleasently surprised that it was a three year deal, since it may be a bit of a learning curve.

Marqui said:

don't know how they commit to this guy before Collins and Hightower are locked up.

Click to expand...

Takes two sides to make a deal. Maybe Hightower and Collins want to hit Free Agency

This is unrelated to Collins and Hightower, plenty of time to get them done. Not plenty of time to sign FA as they can sign with anyone. We needed depth at LB, we got it.

ChrisR2223 said:

We have to keep High for sure

Click to expand...

Well, sure...Why wouldn't we??

JMC00 said:

Takes two sides to make a deal. Maybe Hightower and Collins want to hit Free Agency

Click to expand...

I wouldn't blame them one bit for doing so.

eom said:

I think belichick is sending goodell a message

Click to expand...

Owl ****.

Great Men and Revolutionaries never waste their Time ~ much less poison their own Actions are you are suggesting ~ by giving a Second's thought to how they might be perceived by Scum.

I.M. Fletcher said:

Its definitely a fit here, he just may take some time to find his fit, like Ninko did. That's why I was pleasently surprised that it was a three year deal, since it may be a bit of a learning curve.

Click to expand...

That and they might have been in a somewhat competitive situation and needed to up the signing bonus or guaranteed money. Adding a year allows them to spread it out a little..

Off The Grid said:

Owl ****.

Great Men and Revolutionaries never waste their Time ~ much less poison their own Actions are you are suggesting ~ by giving a Second's thought to how they might be perceived by Scum.

Click to expand...

True that.....

I think this is a steal. I loved him college, when i saw him play i liked him. He's been on a bad team with injuries, hopefully this resurrects his career

McCellin seems to be best when you make his job simple. Ask him to hold a zone or cover this guy or rush the QB. Don't get him too many options or he will think too much and be late. He has the athletic ability to make plays when he commits to a job but his mind slows his body too much sometimes.

I can't help but think of the Alternate Reality, in which the Bears drafted Chandler Jones at #17 and the Pats took Shae McClellin at #21.

Jones goes on to struggle playing under three defensive coordinators in four years and never emerges as much of an NFL player. His morale suffers, he loses interest in football and decides to go into pro wrestling.

Meanwhile, widely viewed as the second coming of Mike Vrabel coming out of college, Shae doesn't really play much as a rookie. But over the course of three years establishes himself as a solid bookend to Rob Ninkovich, and finally in his fourth year establishes himself a Pro Bowl pass rusher with versatility to play in pass coverage in the flexible defensive front the Pats like to feature. Ultimately, McClellin gets traded to the Arizona Cardinals for Jonathan Cooper + a 2nd round pick in the 2016 draft.