Phase III is upon us...
 

Phase I Early Free Agency, and Phase II the Draft, have come and gone.

Its time for Phase III of Player acquisition. Trades (and late veteran cuts). Each phase has a certain rythm in Patriotland. Phase I is a time to shudder and watch guys walk amidst tearing of clothes and gnashing of teeth, while the Redskins delight thier fans in February and March.

Phase II is a build up and then let down: The draft speculation builds to a crescendo until Draft day then: " Who the h*ll izzat? Why'd did they pick him?? Belichick and Pioli must me senile, not to take..." The next few days there is a re-consideration into: "Gee it looks like its not too bad..."

This is when BB steps back and takes an overall assessment of what he has lost, what he has aquired in FA and the draft, and then seeks to address the last weaknesses as the coaching staff perceives them. This is sometimes different that what fans perceive, since they don't see the non-playing youngster getting closer to being ready in the daily practices that the Coaches do.

Phase III is here. Who does BB go get? a CB? a LB? a WR? a NT?

Remember that Trades are not all that common in the NFL due to the acceleration of contract accounting; something NOT corrected in this CBA. BB has only done one or at most two per year. So who will the ONE guy be?

Of course BB could cross us all up, as is his wont, and swing for the fences. He could decimate next years draft for talented additions this year, if he thought we were Super Bowl bound.

And he just might. I could give you reasons but thats another post...

Discuss.

Totally agree with you that the off-season is far from done. I know the rumblings and whispers is that players won't be cut because of the new cba. But the fact is players will still be cut because they never worked in a certain scheme or philosphy and will be sent packing..

I am still hoping we bring Ty back.. And if we need LB help, I believe the chargers were going to dump Donnie Edwards. He would be coming for a 3-4 and has averaged 109.5 tackles for the past four years.

Players will be available.. And I'm sure the pats will bring in one of them.. Not sure what position but it will definitely be defense.

Antwan Peek anyone?

Peek is a 3-4 OLB on the Texans but, with the new 4-3 defense over there, he doesn't really fit anywhere. If the Texans send him packing I'd love to give him a look.

Peek was one of the pre-draft visits way back when. Maybe we still have some interest...

I don't think our secondary is horrible, and I do think that improving a secondary by plugging in a "next level" guy is usually disproportionately expensive. We'll see if Ty comes at a price within reason... and how BB grades his "next level" quality. I doubt it. As for a solid lunch-pail gang - we've got that. I don't think Champ Bailey is looking to come back east for a third his current salary.

At linebacker...

I'd take Mike Barrow, c. 2003, just not now.

I'd take Donnie Edwards, now, as a trade. Just don't know that BB needs an undersized guy that "plays big," and I don't know what the chargers want in return...

I wouldn't pay the first round pick for Peek. Come on. He hasn't shown first round production. I'm not going to be Houston's "oh thank God they went for it" safety valve. Classic "need" thinking. Dude, we don't need Peek with a first rounder as the price.

I don't see anybody else's current FAs being that appealing at linebacker... now the world of trades is another matter, starting with Edwards. Thing is, you really don't know who is trade fodder - you just see the malcontent tip of the iceberg.

We shall see. The key is not to let "need" make you stoopit, in both these cases. I'm also sure that when somebody comes up who is worth swinging a megadeal for, I will be as surprised as anybody at who it is and for which position ("Really? McNair to backup Brady?") It's quite possible the brain trust likes what they see out of Hobbs, Beisel, TBC, Gay, et al., and don't mind going to war with that group. Possible they'd like to do some deals and make some payouts now, when the money is there.

Of course, I can't imagining them not being happy with a Donnie Edwards to throw into the mix too.

Always interesting,

PFnV

My previous post was assuming he was released, as he doesn't seem to have any value to the Texans anymore, or traded to us for a late Day 2 pick. Sorry for the lack of clarity.

Okay, Doc. I'd give 'em a six, sure.

I'm NOT sure this is really phase 3 yet...Phase two also has UDFAs...and while some will be signed soon, mini-camp has to pass before the real Phase 3 starts. They need to evaluate and to have an idea what they have and what they need.
I agree..there is a LOT more to be done..BB doesn't just find ONE solution to a problem..he finds many..and the best one will work its way out...I do think the team is far from over searching for FAs...

I agree... I do think that the "impact" guy everybody is looking for might just not look like that "need filler giant killer" we like to get all hot and bothered by. Let's see we have just south of 5 million out of 16 (last I looked) for our rookies... so call it 11 under the cap, when all is said and done with the rooks. Let's put away 3 mill for in-season replacements, and call it 8. I can see most of it going toward this year's bonus on Deion and any other "keepers" they do, assuming they see the available talent as "thin"... and the FAs being small names rather than big ones.

Or I could DEFINITELY see Edwards making his way to Foxboro. It's just one of those things that seems like a good idea to Fandom, so probably doesn't in reality.

Law I just don't see getting so humble so fast.

PFnV

It could be an Edwards..OR a player as good as an Edwards..but less expensive..who knows?? There are a TON of good rookies out there..GOOD football players..we only need a FEW more vets..let's see what happens..why take an Edwards now when someone of better value could drop!! It may be less about the cap and money and more about who to keep on the roster...