Clayton calls us losers...

[Harrison37]

The year before, Dillon.

Not quite.

Dillon was acquired via trade...AND- the trade didn't happen until April. So, he's not a great example, but I certainly see where you are coming from...

 

[IcyPatriot]

The fact of the matter is that the Pats haven't been as active in Free Agency this year as they have in the past. Last year, they picked up Flutie, Terrell, and Starks. The year before, Dillon. The year before Harrison. The year before Colvin. There was usually always one big name to excite the Patriot fans. This year, nothing. I don't think Reche Caldwell counts. Maybe the Pats just feel burned by last year, when the free agents didn't pan out at all.

My strong opinion is that, like the draft they look for players that will fit their system. Free agents need to pick up the system faster than draftees. Like you say..."The Pats feel burned by last year"...ohhh so true.

So, they have to overpay in years to sign a FA who will learn the sytem at some point in time. I would stick with the draft myself and just use FA's to bring in a high impact player here and there or a reserve player. It seems everyone in the middle end up getting overpaid in years.

 

[stcjones]

we shall see

I think the point is if McGinest and Washington help the Browns win a SB this upcoming season then it matters very little what value they hold to the team in seasons beyond.

FTR, I think Caldwell is as overpaid as JJ is.

"FTR, I think Caldwell is as overpaid as JJ is."

Time will tell on this one. my initial reaction to this signing was....not favorable.....But maybe the guy, in a new atmosphere will flourish....have to wait and see on this one.....I have a funny feeling we are going to make some kind of move on J. Walker (GB)before it is all said and done....

 

[Irish Hooligan]

Clayton isn't alone in the FA name calling...

http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/9349733

 

[Sorboni]

The fact of the matter is that the Pats haven't been as active in Free Agency this year as they have in the past. Last year, they picked up Flutie, Terrell, and Starks. The year before, Dillon. The year before Harrison. The year before Colvin. There was usually always one big name to excite the Patriot fans. This year, nothing. I don't think Reche Caldwell counts. Maybe the Pats just feel burned by last year, when the free agents didn't pan out at all.

Hey InBillITrust! I was wondering. Did you start the website: Inbillwetrust.com?
Very Cool!

 

[GayBrady]

Screw Clayton. I remember hearing him on ESPN radio, and I believe he's a Steelers fan. Well, he grew up there but now lives in Seattle. That other ESPN clown (Len Pastabelly) is also from Pittsburgh. Those two "analysts" are the most clueless of ESPN's staff. Although brain-dead Merrill Hoge is giving them a run for their money (he still thinks Cutler is better than Leinhart).

 

[Kdo5]

Claytons a fool, he'd problably tell you that teams that got probowl players are the winning teams, even if they fill up the cap space very quickly.

 

[cubedoggy]

In the interest of historical accuracy the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. The Germans were busy bombing England and taking on Russia........ :rocker:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077975/

 

[spacecrime]

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077975/

"What?! Over? Did you say over? NOTHING is over until WE decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? HE!!, NO!"

 

[Jacky Roberts]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/06/Garrison_South_Park.jpg
http://espn.go.com/i/columnists/clayton_john_m.jpg

-"I hate the Patriots offseason. What do you think, Mr. Hat?"

 

[T-ShirtDynasty]

"What?! Over? Did you say over? NOTHING is over until WE decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? HE!!, NO!"

Spacecrime's right. Psychotic, but absolutely right.

 

[JR4]

I hope your optimism is justified. All you have to do is look at

our additions and subtractions to date to see where SI and ESPN

are coming from.

Jimke and BMU, please explain how you see PATs as losers by looking at
the additions and subtractions?????????

I did this before but here it is again
PATS offseason losses ( one way or another )
--------------------------------------------------------------
OT Tom Ashworth; LB Chad Brown; LB Matt Chatham; WR Andre' Davis; WR Tim Dwight; TE Christian Fauria; WR David Givens; WR Cedric James; LB Willie McGinest; CB Tyrone Poole; CB Duane Starks; PK Adam Vinatieri.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

PATs offseaon gains
----------------------------------------------------------------
WR Reche Caldwell; PK Martin Gramatica; S Tebucky Jones; S Mel Mitchell; CB Eric Warfield.
also rookies:
RB LoMo Maroney, WR Chad Jackson, TE David Thomas, TE/FB G.Mills,
OLB Jeremy Mincey, PK Stephen Gostkowski, OT Ryan O'Callaghan

-----------------------------------------------------------
Was:Ashworth
Now: Gorin, Kaczur or O'Callaghan - no loss here - could better

Was: C.Brown, W.McGinest, Chatham
Now: Banta Cain, Claridge, Mincey ( maybe others ) ---Potential Loss here

Was: Vinatieri ( clutch kicking wins about 2/5ths of a game per season)
Now: Granmatica or Gostkowski - no big loss here

Was: Givens, Davis, Dwight, C. James ( Givens only real big loss )
Now: Caldwell, Jackson, Childress - could be better but no worst

Was: Poole and Starks ( who weren't even playing at end of year)
Now: Warfield and C.Scott(back from iIR) - better here for sure.

Was: Fauria ( dropping passes - getting slower)
Now: Thomas - better here

Plus PATs got younger and several positions will be better this year due
to experience from last year.
Plus if Maroney and Jackson are as advertised this will be a huge gain
for the PATs.

So tell me again where SI and ESPN are coming from?

 

[AzPatsFan]

Everybody did...13 - 14 point underdogs. Clayton is one of the more cerebral of the ESPN analysts (see Sean Salisbury). He'll have time and reason to change his opinion of the Patriots, IMO.

I didn't; and what's more my wagers paid off real well...

 

[AzPatsFan]

Clayton's wrong and badly wrong.

10101101011010101010101

 

[zippo59]

I don't know if this has already been said but the problem with outsiders grading a team's offseason moves is that they don't know the inside info about what young guy is developing and is ready to step into a bigger role. People just look at a peice of paper that says -McGuinest + No one and they say, "bad free agency period." But perhaps there is another player who is going to step in like TBC, or Ryan Claridge. This is even more the case for a team like the Patriots that has built a dynasty by taking no name, unheralded players and turning them into good football players.

 

[Born_a_Patriot]

Well, it's kinda tough to argue against anyone who calls the Pats "losers" at this stage of the game. Does it mean it's over and we outta close up shop? Not a chance. "It's not over until the Patriots say it's over. Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!"

The Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?

First the Japanese Now the Germans...

 

[fgssand]

Jimke and BMU, please explain how you see PATs as losers by looking at
the additions and subtractions?????????

I did this before but here it is again
PATS offseason losses ( one way or another )
--------------------------------------------------------------
OT Tom Ashworth; LB Chad Brown; LB Matt Chatham; WR Andre' Davis; WR Tim Dwight; TE Christian Fauria; WR David Givens; WR Cedric James; LB Willie McGinest; CB Tyrone Poole; CB Duane Starks; PK Adam Vinatieri.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

PATs offseaon gains
----------------------------------------------------------------
WR Reche Caldwell; PK Martin Gramatica; S Tebucky Jones; S Mel Mitchell; CB Eric Warfield.
also rookies:
RB LoMo Maroney, WR Chad Jackson, TE David Thomas, TE/FB G.Mills,
OLB Jeremy Mincey, PK Stephen Gostkowski, OT Ryan O'Callaghan

-----------------------------------------------------------
Was:Ashworth
Now: Gorin, Kaczur or O'Callaghan - no loss here - could better

Was: C.Brown, W.McGinest, Chatham
Now: Banta Cain, Claridge, Mincey ( maybe others ) ---Potential Loss here

Was: Vinatieri ( clutch kicking wins about 2/5ths of a game per season)
Now: Granmatica or Gostkowski - no big loss here

Was: Givens, Davis, Dwight, C. James ( Givens only real big loss )
Now: Caldwell, Jackson, Childress - could be better but no worst

Was: Poole and Starks ( who weren't even playing at end of year)
Now: Warfield and C.Scott(back from iIR) - better here for sure.

Was: Fauria ( dropping passes - getting slower)
Now: Thomas - better here

Plus PATs got younger and several positions will be better this year due
to experience from last year.
Plus if Maroney and Jackson are as advertised this will be a huge gain
for the PATs.

So tell me again where SI and ESPN are coming from?

I feel this is an accurate asessment of what has happened here so far, in now way do I see ANY doom & bloom.

 

[fgssand]

Jimke and BMU, please explain how you see PATs as losers by looking at
the additions and subtractions?????????

I did this before but here it is again
PATS offseason losses ( one way or another )
--------------------------------------------------------------
OT Tom Ashworth; LB Chad Brown; LB Matt Chatham; WR Andre' Davis; WR Tim Dwight; TE Christian Fauria; WR David Givens; WR Cedric James; LB Willie McGinest; CB Tyrone Poole; CB Duane Starks; PK Adam Vinatieri.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

PATs offseaon gains
----------------------------------------------------------------
WR Reche Caldwell; PK Martin Gramatica; S Tebucky Jones; S Mel Mitchell; CB Eric Warfield.
also rookies:
RB LoMo Maroney, WR Chad Jackson, TE David Thomas, TE/FB G.Mills,
OLB Jeremy Mincey, PK Stephen Gostkowski, OT Ryan O'Callaghan

-----------------------------------------------------------
Was:Ashworth
Now: Gorin, Kaczur or O'Callaghan - no loss here - could better

Was: C.Brown, W.McGinest, Chatham
Now: Banta Cain, Claridge, Mincey ( maybe others ) ---Potential Loss here

Was: Vinatieri ( clutch kicking wins about 2/5ths of a game per season)
Now: Granmatica or Gostkowski - no big loss here

Was: Givens, Davis, Dwight, C. James ( Givens only real big loss )
Now: Caldwell, Jackson, Childress - could be better but no worst

Was: Poole and Starks ( who weren't even playing at end of year)
Now: Warfield and C.Scott(back from iIR) - better here for sure.

Was: Fauria ( dropping passes - getting slower)
Now: Thomas - better here

Plus PATs got younger and several positions will be better this year due
to experience from last year.
Plus if Maroney and Jackson are as advertised this will be a huge gain
for the PATs.

So tell me again where SI and ESPN are coming from?

I feel this is an accurate asessment of what has happened here so far, in no way do I see ANY doom & gloom.

 

[SuperPatriot33]

John Clayton should worry about falling off that wall.

 

[JoeSixPat]

John Clayton says we are one of the biggest losers in Free Agency so far.. Thank god we dont give rings out in March...

In previous seasons, Buffalo was thought by many to be one of the biggest winners in free agency.

'nuff said