Lot Of Decisions This Week
 

We need to decide regarding our RFA's and ERFA's. I presume Hoyer will get a 2nd, Lockett nothing and Love will get a contract a bit above the ERFA limit.

We also need to decide whether to put any offers in on RFA's.

Also, it will be most interesting to see which of our free agents are re-signed before free agency starts. We usually have several. Some are low-cost no-brainers (e.g. Slater and White). Even if they are later cut, it is low cost insurance to sign them now for camp.

Obviously, some of the players will wait to see offers from other teams. However, we should see some signings.

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

DE Anderson
WR Branch
DE Carter
OL Connolly
DE Ellis
RB Faulk
RB Green-Ellis
LB Guyton
S Ihedigbo
DB Jones
C Koppen
LB Koutovides
CB Molden
ST Slater
DL Warren
WR Welker
ST/LB White

Re: Lot Of Decisions This Week
 

I could see us giving Hoyer a 3rd round tender. Especially if we have faith in Mallet and would rather have a pick than Hoyer.

Ideally we sign Anderson, Green-Ellis and Connoly before FA. I want Branch, Carter, Ihedigbo, Slater and White back as well but I don't see them being pursued aggressively by other teams.

Re: Lot Of Decisions This Week
 

You can cross Welker off the list. That's one down.

The more I think about it the more I think Hoyer will get the 2nd round tender, but if they get an offer for a 3rd or even a 4th rounder they may take it to save the cap rooom.

Re: Lot Of Decisions This Week
 

I didn't think there was such a thing as a 3rd round tender. Can someone confirm?

Re: Lot Of Decisions This Week
 

Here is a better calendar from patriots.com. There are not a lot of decisions that have to be made this week. Just some. Teams must tender their RFA by Tuesday. Teams apparently can't sign RFA's to offer sheets until the 17th. RFA then have until April 21 to take with other teams and or sign offer sheets. Thereafter they can only re-sign with their team. Teams have until June 1 to replace tenders with 110% offers if the player hasn't accepted the RFA tender.


Key dates on the 2012 NFL calendar

Re: Lot Of Decisions This Week
 

I think you have the key 3. M. Anderson, LawFirm and Connolly. I doubt we make a big splash. I'm thinking B. Lloyd - wr, Reggie Nelson - FS and Kendall Langford - 2Gap DE. Allows us to go into the draft without any holes in the starting lineup. My priorities would be a 2-gap de to rotate with Deaderick/Langford like D. Still. An olb to push Anderson. Maybe a guy like Mercilus, Perry or Branch. A wr we can develop. A cb to push the guys we have. In the 2nd could be Chase Minnifield and Marvin Jones.

Re: Lot Of Decisions This Week
 

Must resign/extend:

WR Welker
DE Anderson
WR Branch - Many may disagree but even if Welker is retained, he would be the only proven wideout on this team w/o Branch. Despite whatever draft/FA are brought in, I think we need Branch on the roster next year at the very least for leadership and insurance.
DE Carter
OL Connolly
ST Slater

For the right price:

RB Green-Ellis
S Ihedigbo
C Koppen
LB Koutovides
ST/LB White

Re: Lot Of Decisions This Week
 

There isn't. It's a first, a second or orignal round, which for Hoyer is no compensation since he was an UDFA... There used to be a super tender of a first and third, but the new CBA eliminated that. The NFLPA wanted to force teams to use the tag on those players who warranted more than a first. There is also a rule that you cannot tag a former first round pick with the original round tag and receive compensation, you must tag him at the first round level or you will not receive any compensation if you lose him.

Re: Lot Of Decisions This Week
 

Welker is tagged. I think all the rest belong on the at the right price list. Carter and Branch will probably be easy because they want to be here and Branch has little value outside the system (again KC maybe). Slater too. Anderson may not, nor may Connolly. There are lots of OL options in FA and the draft, that can work either way. They reportedly have an offer on the table for Benny. Just not one he is willing to accept for now. I think unless he gets offered substantially more (and guaranteed) he will be back where he at least knows he is wanted and he is used. Koppen could land in KC, as could Connolly, because of the system. Other than that his size works against him. His brain is worth more here or in KC than elsewhere. Connolly isn't a standout C, and other teams may see his value tied to this OL and system. Ihedigbo probably prefers to come back to a place where the HC plugs in situational players.

And the whole KC fit for some may be moot since true Parcell's disciples don't tend to mess with each others UFA's unless they get the nod that they aren't targets to be retained.

Re: Lot Of Decisions This Week
 

thanks for this. Sorry for the minor threadjack/tangent but what does this mean?

April 16: Teams with returning head coaches may begin offseason workout program.

It seems to suggest that there is another schedule for teams with new head coaches?