Shea McClellin signs with Patriots.

Marqui said:

I mean the guy has been in the league and sucked for 4 years. Putting on a Patriots jersey is going to magically make him a good NFL player now?

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Typical over-reaction. You totally ignore that this guy has had 3 different DCs in 4 years. He's been asked to play 3 different positions in 4 years. He's also been asked to add weight and drop weight. How good do you think you'd be if your boss kept changing what he wanted from you?

Chiuba E. Obele said:

I'm not dissing Belichick. I don't know the slightest thing about building a team. But at this point, I think getting a high-impact player like Forte would've been tantamount to the Corey Dillon signing...and he came pretty cheap too!

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Chiuba - 9M guaranteed isn't cheap by any account.

Marqui said:

I agree, my thing is Shea McClellin hasn't shown he can provide that level of play.

I think it's way more dangerous to pay a guy before he's done anything.

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That is your opinion and that is fine. IMO he was more than competent at ILB in CHI and a clear upgrade over Freeney but ok to disagree.

Both Ayers and Hicks were dismal failures before joining the Pats.

Jimke said:

Both Ayers and Hicks were dismal failures before joining the Pats.

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Both Ayers and Hicks had at least one good season before.

Jonathan Casillas got $3m guaranteed from the giants last year

Marqui said:

Over 4 years he's shown he doesn't have any in the NFL.

Nope...

The problem is why do we have to pay this guy $4 mil/yr to do that? You can draft an LB in the 3rd round to do that.

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Not sure where you get that McClellin isn't fast. He is. He's also pretty agile. You're claims that he wasn't fast on the football field don't hold water.

The last LB who the Patriots drafted who could ws a big improvement over the depth LBs we had and could occasionally provide the starters with a breather was a 2nd round pick named Jamie Collins..

Marqui said:

Both Ayers and Hicks had at least one good season before.

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Could you please provide which year that was for Hicks??

When it comes to FA, Bill has a way of getting guys who were underperforming and making them quality operators. Maybe we should just trust him and not run down a player before he has even started.

DaBruinz said:

Could you please provide which year that was for Hicks??

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2013

Marqui said:

I agree, my thing is Shea McClellin hasn't shown he can provide that level of play.

I think it's way more dangerous to pay a guy before he's done anything.

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Well they haven't paid him yet. $3.5 million guaranteed is nothing for free agents this offseason. The rest of it won't be paid unless he earns it.

If we offered a multi year deal near the minimum, he'd have no incentive to take it. His best move would have been a 1 year prove it contract. And if he proved it? He becomes much more expensive than what we have him for and he's probably gone, considering who else will be free agents.

JMC00 said:

But I been told he sucks so why would the best team in the NFC over the last 3 years also been interested in this bum?

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Keep in mind they signed JMarcus Webb recently.

Marqui said:

2013

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I remember that. It was the year the Saints had a pretty stout D. I remember him being a big part of that.

Marqui said:

This passes Arrington and Cannon as the worst Patriots contract in recent years. Good Lord.

The Patriots chose this bust over Matt Forte...think about that.

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I wanted Forte more than anyone else in free agency but I don't see how you can evaluate this deal with almost no information about it. The Patriots staff has literally watched every snap McClellan has played and they definitely have a plan for how to use him, and their track record in that regard is exceptional. You could be right in the end and he could bust here, but they could also know how to use him and be getting a productive player at a reasonable price, that can't be determined for a season or two.

robertweathers said:

You are trolling.

Spending $4m on a player who provides starting-caliber play in a 4/3, 3/4 and 4/2/5 package is a solid deal for the team.

He is a substantial upgrade over Freeney, Fleming, etc.

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McClellin has not shown that he provides starting caliber play in any NFL defensive package. If you want to talk trolling, talk about posters who claim he has done so. THAT is trolling.

Deus Irae said:

McClellin has not shown that he provides starting caliber play in any NFL defensive package. If you want to talk trolling, talk about posters who claim he has done so. THAT is trolling.

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He had 82 tackles and 11 starts last year. That is starting caliber.

If you want to say he sucks then that is your prerogative.

Best Thread Ever!!

FWIW... My buddy at work Mike, who is a HUGE bears fan, and lives amongst us heathen Patriot fans and has for his entire life.. Said this pickup (and Bennett) were both great additions and definitely should make the pats SB favorites at the current moment.
He respects, but hates the patriots with a passion, seemed really annoyed that we got not one, but 2 good bears players.. Said McClellin is physical, quick, has size and versatility. Thinks Gronk+Bennett will be better than Gronk+Hernandez

robertweathers said:

He had 82 tackles and 11 starts last year. That is starting caliber.

If you want to say he sucks then that is your prerogative.

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Try doing something besides looking at numbers. McClellin had 53 tackles last year, with 28 assists. That's more than Hightower put up, in each category. so, using your logic of pointing to the numbers as the justification, McClellin must be better than Hightower, right?

McClellin could turn out to be the greatest LB in NFL history, as early as tomorrow, and he's certainly shown flashes of talent, and the possibility that he'll be a starting caliber LB is absolutely there. That wouldn't, and doesn't, change the reality that he hasn't been a starting quality NFL LB in his career to date.

Deus Irae said:

Try doing something besides looking at numbers. McClellin had 53 tackles last year, with 28 assists. That's more than Hightower put up, in each category. so, using your logic of pointing to the numbers as the justification, McClellin must be better than Hightower, right?

McClellin could turn out to be the greatest LB in NFL history, as early as tomorrow. That wouldn't change the reality that he hasn't been a starting quality NFL LB in his career to date.

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You are assuming that I haven't seen him play, watched highlights or read about him. Hell Gary Guyton had a good 2009 numbers wise but started because he had to.

Gimme a little more credit that that.