No Trade - No Free Agency
 

It really is that simple. We would be OVER the cap today if we hadn't traded Cassel. Vrabel was gone before his March 1st bonus was due in any case.
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The team is doing well as we start free agency. We have decisions our ERFA and RFA's. We have added TBC, Baker and Taylor. We have lost a couple of free agents and re-signed one. Most importantly, we have significantly improved the offense with the addition of Baker and Taylor.

There is a lot of work to do, but we now have the cap and draft resources to get it done. The open question is how much of the cap money will be used on extensions. I expect a trade the week before the draft (when such things are announced), hopefully for Holt.

OFFENSE
We still need to acquire a couple of wide receivers and a guard to possibly replace Neal in 2010. Hopefully the offense can get to use one of the Day One picks.

DEFENSE
I expect us to add a couple of linebackers, one in free agency and one in the draft. We will add a corner or two in free agency and we will draft a safety in the first three rounds (or acquire another in free agency).

The hard work will come regarding the defensive line. None have long-term contracts except for Warren. Wright is a free agent now. The team is working on extending Wilfork (although he could be franchised for a couple of years). I expect that Green is next. It would seem that we need a defensive lineman or two if we don't re-sign Wright.

Re: No Trade - No Free Agency
 

I agree completely. I thought the same thing in a thread that got merged into one that had nothing to do with the same point you just made.

The Pats had major time pressure and that really is the simple reason why we dealt without waiting for maybe another 3rd or higher pick from someone else.

Vrabel's bonus was due an hour from now (3/2/09), and Cassel's cap was killing us from doing anything in FA or possibly resigning our own higher profile guys.

Re: No Trade - No Free Agency
 

I was against franchising Cassel because of the adverse effect

it would have on free agency. By dealing him quickly, the Pats

were able to enter the market before all the good free agents (their's

included) were gone. That 34th pick will be a very good football

player.

Re: No Trade - No Free Agency
 

So the 18 free agent signings they've made since the trade would have been impossible?

Re: No Trade - No Free Agency
 

Exactly. We signed only Sanders, right?

Re: No Trade - No Free Agency
 

Taylor, Baker?

Re: No Trade - No Free Agency
 

Pats have made 7 signings up till today and yes, we'd be over the cap if we still had Cassel

Re: No Trade - No Free Agency
 

Agreed before the trade. There was pressure, but I see nothing acute. It looks like they had a couple of days.

Re: No Trade - No Free Agency
 

I love the Fred Taylor signing but the money has me puzzled. Morris is clearly our #1. Faulk our 3rd down back. I hoped Maroney could at least be our #2 back. At $3 million per year BB clearly isn't looking at Taylor as a #3 RB or injury backup. ( does this mean Maroney is in jeopardy ? )

PS I also like BJGE

Re: No Trade - No Free Agency
 

I would not be surprised to see Maroney get shipped out in some kind of deal.