Re: 5 weeks into FA season, PATS approach still makes no sense
Those who read this board know that Toys and myself usually find ourselves at opposite ends of most debates, but looking at this one by one, I have to say he has presented several decent proposals. Some, I personally wouldn't love, but certainly they all deserve at least and honest look
1-RFA Brandon Marshall WR (hate the person, love the player but he will cost) He makes the Pats better in one signing. He costs us our #22 but he is insurance for Moss and 26 years old.
This would make sense, though I doubt it will happen because Denver will likely get a better pick than 22, like trading Marshall for Seattle's first round 2nd pick. There is no questioning Marshall's talent. If you make this deal, you do it with the understanding that as he gets older, Marshall could mature. That is the risk, but the reward, even when he HAS been a ****, has been superior production. All our players don't have to be heart warming stories.
2-RFA Ray Edwards DE/OLB. He costs us our #22. He will be money to resign but I don't expect too bad. Don't give me baloney that he is good because he played on a good D Line unless you are telling me Warren and Wilfork are a weak link here.11 sacks in his last 11 games and only 25. There is absolutely not one player in this Draft at #22 or down better. No one will disagree with me. Biggest no-brainer move for the Pats in 2010.
I agree. I would love this scenario. IF one of our main objects is to upgrade the DE position for the next 4-5 years. Edwards would make a great pick, over the "POTENTIAL" of any prospect that may be available at 22. My only reservation would be if the Pats FO have determined that his skills don't "fit" in our system.
3-Greg Olsen TE. We need a move TE, He is also 25 and 70 receptions last year. It has been stated (and not by me Mr. DeB) that the Bears have interest in James Sanders. Yet we are throwing about the idea of going for Gronkowski, McCoy or Pita (same age). How the hell does that make sense if you can get Olsen for Sanders and or a lower pick? The Bears picked up another vet TE anyway
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This idea has merit, though I wonder if a "pass catching" TE would have great value....IF the Pats vastly upgrade at WR. If they don't, than something like this wouldn't be a bad idea. Olsen is a proven commodity, Pita, McCoy, and Gronk AREN'T
4-Steve Smith WR (Panthers). I have thrown this out there not by fact but reason. Smith is 31. Older WR has never been a problem for the Pats. Smith can still stretch the field. He has a present reasonable contract until 2013. He has indicated that they need to dial up someone else to take #1 WR duties. They have basically a rookie QB. They will run more with this kid which can't make Smith happy. At big issue, the Panthers do not have many Draft choices nor a #1 pick and they are in rebuilding mode. One of our second should look attractive. Smith still plays at a high level and again insurance for Moss if he leaves. Also less double teams for Moss and Welker (et al). Smith could catch 80 here in 2010. He is also a highly emotional, gung ho presence in the locker room and plays with attitude.
This idea appeals to me. Smith is an absolute gamer. The best WR under 6' in the league. A perfect fit to play opposite Moss, and at this stage of his career mentally prepared to the the 2nd or 3rd option
5-Adam Carriker DE. He is being sought by many Teams because he was miscast as a DT by the Rams and added 20lbs and got hurt. He had a decent rookie season and has been dinged. Now over surgery I see him as the best DE "On the Board" at one of our lower seconds or mid round picks. He is only 26 and has NFL experience. His measurables are better than any DE in the second round or lower. My thought is the Rams need an DT in trade etc, so they can go after Bradford. Would our last year second rounder who was miscast as a NT, Brace be enough with a lower rounder to get Carriker? Sorry to all you non Carriker fans who doth protest. He is being sought by many NFL Teams so one would think they are smarter than you or I. Lose the 20lbs and he will be a great 3-4 DE. Also some of you actually would have us Draft Ordick (including El Presidente)....why?
This is outside the box, but I'm not confident about Brace's development, and Carriker SHOULD be and upgrade. So if that's the cost why not.
6-Washington could move Cooley and Santana Moss. They need picks for Shanny. I think Shanny prefers his old buddy Sheffler the TE who the Broncos want to move. Some Patriots picks for these two make sense. Moss has a decent contract and for only this year is you want to do the now infamous Patriots "test drive". He is just 30 and 70 receptions from Campbell last year. Cooley is only 27 and recovered from a broken ankle. There is your pass catching TE who can split out like Clark. He ain't Watson! In fact he had as many receptions as Watson did the whole year, in 7 games. Here is something I have thought about. The Skins could be a player for AD. Why on earth? They have no picks, need an OLB to play opposite Orapko and are switching to a 3-4 and have no players on that Defense let alone LBs with 3-4 experience. Snyder would be able to pay AD.
I'm no fan of SMoss, and I wonder if Cooley would be effective in this style of offense where the slot WR is getting most of the Patterns that Cooley generally runs. I am also one of the few here that hopes AD is back for another year. IMHO he's one of those players who isn't as good as we hoped, but not as bad as it appears.
7-Speaking of the Skins. Would I take Haynesworth at $16m (9 million guaranteed) for three years only? Yep for a lower second rounder, why not? He is only 29. They say he takes plays off. Seems we had an ALL PRO DE that did some of that and we kept him for a while because when they want to play both players could dominate. When is the key.
Now this is one that I recently was thinking about. He could be a BEAR at DE for us, and the 3 year money is VERY reasonable for a guy with that kind of talent. A second rounder for a pick starved team could be a fair trade, for a former DPOY, who would be playing for his last contract.
(7a? How about Haynesworth, Cooley and Santana Moss for a couple of seconds perhaps #47 and #53 and AD who is really a need for them? If fills needed positions with quality. Yep they are not 21 and yes they will cost more, but this Block Buster still gives us some decent Draft picks to get younger and makes the Pats a front runner for the Super Bowl over what we have now and some kid Draft choices versus a trio of experienced Pro Bowl players (2) in their prime.....just sayin)
8-I am no fan of Merimman, but the Chargers would move him and could he make the defense any better? Will he come back form his injuries (or roids)? You can trade not a #1 pick for him I am sure. Gamble yes. Younger yes.
OK now we are getting up into fantasy land.
9-Jared Gaither OT Ravens. What? Not sexy? This guy could be had for a second or third and is only 24. He's got to be an upgrade on Kcazur who is now 30. This allows us to see if Volmer can take over LT. Maybe we pick up something then for Light (and he is one of my all time Pats but at the end of his contract and we know what has been the climate of the Pats FO if they have a capable replacement in line). The Bears, Redskins and Seahawks could be a landing spot.
How do we know if he'd be an upgrade over Kaczur. I'm happy with our OL for this year. Don't you have to ask the question, of WHY would the Ravens be shopping a 24 year old quality OLman?????
10-T.O.? I don't know but he is an upgrade on anything we have at #3. The reports on Mr. Tate suggest good KR and mediocre WR so why are we all hyped about him. Aiken? A 5 catch per year guy ST player. Patten?........Makes me feel young. I think that although I am not a big T.O. fan he wins at least a few games for us in 2010. Look at it that way when you critique some of these players. ...Can they win a game or two?
I'm on the record for being on board if we signed TO, but I think that "reports" about Tate being a "mediocre" WR are way too premature.
So ramon isn't all wrong. He is not whining. He speaks the truth. Hopefully some of these ideas or similar the Pats might have in the works. Only a homer would day we have had a great off season so far. Everyone said patience yet some decent players have come and gone that could have helped this team like Boldin, Wimbley and Gocong (not your Peppers or Dansby so you Madden lovers back off). I am not buying into Murrell, Crumpler or an short squat 32 year old DT as making this a great off-season and the Draft is great but we need way more Cousins.
DW Toys
What was wrong with ramon post was his tone and the insinuation that all is lost and we are going to hell in a handbasket. Gocong WAS NOT any answer. Wimbley might have been because BB is on record for liking him, but for some reason didn't pull the trigger. You have to ask why, but we don't have the full data for any of these moves. And I'm happy we didn't spend to get Boldin.
The point Toys, is that some people are going chicken little on us, when the reality is that ALL 10 of your propositions could STILL happen. And we know that only one or 2 would satisfy most of us. Its just TOO early to even BEGIN to project a good or bad off season. MAYBE when training camp starts, you can begin to think about it, but we all know that it isn't until September that you can really begin to assess what the FO has done, and even then it won't be until Feb that we REALLY will know how they did.
