Wes re Gronk and hernandez...
 

Going out on a limb and calling it now. Either wes signs short term now (2 yr/3rd option) or hern gets the extension this year/next year while WW walks to a better contract after playing out the tag. Personally, I'm unfortunately favoring the latter. Double dip at wr in next years draft? Call me crazy...

Re: Wes re Gronk and hernandez...
 

I want Wes to remain a Patriot for this coming season and two more. I say BS to all those who think Wes should be gone after this coming season.

Re: Wes re Gronk and hernandez...
 

The problem with the WRs is the Patriots haven't drafted a good one in TEN years. Branch is who I'm referring to, and for all the glory, he's never topped 1000 yards. Yes, it's true, the Pats have never drafted a 1000 yard OR pro bowl receiver in the Brady era. I don't recall any studs drafted by Belichick in Cleveland either. They obviously have a problem evaluating young talent and how they fit with their philosophy. They've had better luck in free agency. Considering how critical it is to have financial resources for WR, the team is just being extremely careful with the Welker situation. I predict the former, where Welker caves in with a 2 yr, 20M deal.

In terms of Hernandez, I don't really think the Gronk extension is relevant. If anything, they now have more leverage on AH because they could tag him as a TE, similar to what the Packers did with Finley.

Re: Wes re Gronk and hernandez...
 

There are a lot of ways to acquire players, fortunately. Personally, I'll take Randy Moss for a 4th rounder, Welker for a 2nd and 7th, and Brandon Lloyd for the bargain salary that we're paying him. As long as there are good WRs on the roster, I don't particularly care how they get there.

Re: Wes re Gronk and hernandez...
 

The observation that the team has an apparent weakness in college WR evaluation does create a limitation with regard to how they get them. And that reduces the number of opportunities and likelihood of success. In the end, the Pats end up with fewer good players at that position, and having to use resources to make up for it that could have been used on other positions. It does matter that they haven't had success with the draft at that position.

Re: Wes re Gronk and hernandez...
 

Two thoughts
1) No question Hernandez is a mismatch nightmare for many defenses. On top of that, his effectiveness in the RB role late last season was jaw dropping (for me at least). I have to believe there are quite a few O coordinators that would line up to bid for his services. He's a special and unique talent.....and he's young.

The bigger question is....will BB just keep Hernandez on his rookie contract and risk discord? BB's no fool and he goes well beyond most to maintain a harmonious locker room. This locker room could get tested if Hernandez asks for his and gets stiff armed. I don't think BB will risk that.

2) I predict Welker's production will be diminished considerably this coming season and here's why...
...A) NFL defenses were not ready for the NFL passing game to start the 2011 season.....and Welker's numbers reflect that. First 4 games...40 catches, 600+ yds, 5 TDs. With a full offseason and preseason, I don't expect Brady to toss many 4-500 yd games and Wes' numbers should reflect this.
...B) LLoyd. If Brady gains confidence in this guy, then LLoyd should eat up some of Welker's catches
...C) McDaniels. Yes, Welker lit it up during the Moss/Welker era under Josh's stewardship. But here's the thing, McDaniels didn't have a Gronk or Hernandez back then. Lots of new toys. Add in this new dimension of blocking FB (Larsen) that has suddenly appeared and the Pats O may attempt to become more balanced. More running=less passing
...D) Time of possession. Best way to help the defense is to eat clock on offense. BB has to be conscious of the side effects of his pass first offense. We will see on this one, but again more running leads to less passing.

BB has never (in my eyes) reduced a player's role/participation in order to subdue a player's future negotiating value. Yet he won't cave to Welker's demands. Sure, there's only so much money and offense is getting a disproportionately high share of funds....but it is possible Bill sees a reduced output ahead for Welker and won't pay him premium dollars because of it. And if so, Belichick would be more than happy to begin the negotiating again next offseason when Welker won't have such frothy stats to support such a high asking price. A year older, another year entrenched in the community, another year as Brady's sidekick, another run at perfection :)....BB may just be tenderizing ole Wes

Re: Wes re Gronk and hernandez...
 

Can't see the Pats giving Wes more than what he is tagged for. Original offer was 2 yrs for $16 Mil I believe. I agree with giving him a 2-3 year contract but maybe in the $8 Mil/yr range. I'm hoping that both Wes and Aaron get extended to solidify the Offense for the next few years. BB seems to be a step ahead of everyone in building this team to compete for years. :rocker:

Re: Wes re Gronk and hernandez...
 

Just thinking out loud here....
Think back several weeks, before Welker signed his 1 year contract.....Wes was making the media rounds giving the "oh gosh, I'm not sure if I'll skip the offseason" interviews. Then soon after, he comes flying into Foxborough to put his X on the contract. Maybe, it's just a coincidence, or maybe he wanted to be with his team at OTAs, or maybe the latest reduced contract offer scared him off the couch......But just maybe Wes caught wind that the Gronk was getting his and he feared the Pats might remove the tag and the $9.5 guaranteed that comes with it. The Gronk contract is light huge dollars in the first few years, but Wes wouldn't know that.
Sure would love to be a fly on the wall as BB/Kraft and company strategize on retaining the surplus of talent the Pats have.

Re: Wes re Gronk and hernandez...
 

It just occurred to that the one who does the "open the safe and make it rain" dance after TD's is the one who might be looking to improve his rookie contract and the one who got the huge payday probably can't even balance a check book (Gronk). Irony...

Re: Wes re Gronk and hernandez...
 

Safe passes with high completion %ages (i.e., most throws to Welker) don't stop the clock. . . .

And the problem with TOP last year was that the D couldn't get off the field far more than that the O couldn't stay on it (despite the low TOP, the 2011 Patriots were still 10th all-time in scoring).