Chris Price: 20 Best FA Signings in the Belichick Era

I see Randy Moss not being mentioned so I have to believe that was some kind of trade also...thought he was a FA.

Jabar Gaffney should probably be borderline top-10. And Dan Connolly should be up there as well. Agree on Hamilton and Fauria, too. Mike Compton and Joe Andruzzi were also around for a lot longer than some of these guys. Heck, Pat Chung Redux should be up here too.

363839 said:

I see Randy Moss not being mentioned so I have to believe that was some kind of trade also...thought he was a FA.

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They traded for Moss. He came from Oakland.

Malcolm Butler

bbobbo said:

Malcolm Butler

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List doesn't include UDFAs.

primetime said:

List doesn't include UDFAs.

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i read the rules for inclusion, didn't say anything about excluding UDFAs

bbobbo said:

i read the rules for inclusion, didn't say anything about excluding UDFAs

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Seems pretty clear that, since there are no UDFAs on the list, the author did not consider UDFAs for inclusion.

primetime said:

Seems pretty clear that, since there are no UDFAs on the list, the author did not consider UDFAs for inclusion.

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not that clear to me, since there weren't really any other UDFAs worthy enough to be on the list during the belichick era. only other one i could think of was Stephen Neal, except that the Patriots cut him and then he was re-signed off of the eagles practice squad.

Galeb said:

They traded for Moss. He came from Oakland.

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Randy Moss was a free agent back in 2008, and then re-signed with the Pats. If Edelman is eligible for this list, then so should Moss.

RDS11 said:

Randy Moss was a free agent back in 2008, and then re-signed with the Pats. If Edelman is eligible for this list, then so should Moss.

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Good point. I think the list would be better if it was just FAs who came from other teams.

Poor list, Lewis is ridiculously high in the ranking. As are Carter, Sheard, Crumpler and probably Thomas. As others have mentioned, if you're counting their own FA (Edelman) that I guess tested the market, than how is Bruschi (2000) not included? McCourty last year? Probably others too.

Neal, Andruzzi and Hamilton should be on the list, too. Hell, Blount, Connolly and Fauria possibly too. Maybe 2014 Wilfork, Traylor, Mark Anderson and Brandon Browner if you're counting Lewis, Carter and Sheard so high after only one year.

Without putting a ton of thought into it:

1. Harrison
2. Bruschi
3. Vrabel
4. Revis
5. Neal
6. Moss
7. Edelman
8. Woodhead
9. Ninkovich
10. Phifer
11. Andruzzi
12. Colvin
13. Seau
14. Pleasant
15. Hamilton
16. Cox
17. Carter
18. Waters
19. Lewis
20. McCourty

Edelman should be on there 2x then really, right? He only signed a 1-year deal for 2013 and hit FA again the next spring.

I get that's just a list for fun and off-season conversation, but I think including anything other than the initial acquisition of the player is kinda dumb. (Unless the player left in the interim, which I don't think applies to anyone that would make such a list)

Gronk said:

(Unless the player left in the interim, which I don't think applies to anyone that would make such a list)

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Chung has been better the last two years than a substantial number of players on the list. If Carter is 10th, then Chung would have to be above him.

bbobbo said:

not that clear to me, since there weren't really any other UDFAs worthy enough to be on the list during the belichick era. only other one i could think of was Stephen Neal, except that the Patriots cut him and then he was re-signed off of the eagles practice squad.

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Bolden, Green-Ellis, Wendell, Paxton, Arrington, Gay, and Wright would all be players who would either be on the list or near it.

My list would go something like this (without UDFAs or players who never played for another team in between):

1) Vrabel
2) Harrison
3) Revis
4) Ninkovich
5) Woodhead
6) Seau
7) Connolly
8) Gaffney
9) O. Smith
10) Chung
11) Sheard
12) Patten
13) Waters
14) Lewis
15) Amendola
16) Colvin
17) Carter
18) Andruzzi
19) A. Smith
20) Fauria

primetime said:

Chung has been better the last two years than a substantial number of players on the list. If Carter is 10th, then Chung would have to be above him.

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Agreed...he totally slipped my mind.

I'm highlighting the players that weren't on the Chris Price list. Also, I'm not counting players who were UDFA, or FA signings who were originally drafted by the Patriots (even Chung). Pretty tough list to sort through; especially because I went to 40. Dug up some interesting names because I wanted to list players who I think did more than Bryan Cox (and certainly Alge Crumpler).

KontradictioN said:

Why is Edelman on that list? Yeah, he was a FA signing, but he was already in house. If he can make that list, shouldn't Brady be at the top? How about Wilfork? I agree with the top three. After that, the list has a lot of problems.

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Agreed, letting a guy shop around and come back on his own is not the same.

OTOH, Patrick Chung belongs on this list.

fnordcircle said:

I love Dion but you got to put Seau, Waters, Woodhead, Antowain, Cox, Sheard, Pleasant and Amendola ahead of him for now.

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Amendola ahead of Lewis ?
Absolutely Not !

Lewis is a weapon & Amendola is a jag (13 touchdowns in 7 season is a jag).

I know Amendola is a big time Binky on Patafans, but the stats don't lie.

cupofjoe1962 said:

Amendola ahead of Lewis ?
Absolutely Not !

Lewis is a weapon & Amendola is a jag (13 touchdowns in 7 season is a jag).

I know Amendola is a big time Binky on Patafans, but the stats don't lie.

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2 TD vs Ravens in 2014 AFC divisional playoff
1 TD vs Seahawks in SB XLIX

that's why

bbobbo said:

2 TD vs Ravens in 2014 AFC divisional playoff
1 TD vs Seahawks in SB XLIX

that's why

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Lewis played 7 games in 2015 & had over 600+ yards & 4 touchdowns.

Amendola's 13 touchdowns in 7 years is pathetic for a starter. He did have a good playoffs in 2014, but LaFell had a far better 2014 season & they cut him.