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Guys who it is often suggested should be restructured or cut include:
Revis. I think he now understands enough about building a championship team that a deal can be worked out.
Wilfork. The players want him to stay. I think something will be worked out.
Mayo. The argument against keeping him is that at >50% sub, who needs 3 top LBs? But Hightower and Collins both seem versatile enough to make me disregard that. I want him kept.
Arrington. Tough call.
Amendola. I think he'll be worth more to other teams.
Browner. Some people think his pay should be cut; I don't understand why.
Now comes the hard part.
OFFENSE
I suppose that depends on how much you think Amendola is worth to Belichick. IMHO, especially if Vereen goes, Amendola will be difficult to replace. I think that the offense will be significantly diminished if we replace either player with weaker ones.
DEFENSIVE SECONDARY
I do NOT think that Arrington and Browner are close calls. Why would even consider any change to our #2 and #3 corners. Didn't they do enough this year. With Revis and McCourty, these two were to core of
our secondary. Those who would cut these players (they should not take pay cuts) would be replacing their reps with more reps to Ryan, Butler and Dennard. Personally, I think that this would be really silly idea.
DEFENSIVE FRONT SEVEN
Yes, we want Mayo and Wilfork to stay at reduced compensation. Now, let's discuss reality.
We played all year with Collins and Hightower as our linebackers, with Casillas or Ayers as the backup. As we all know, we play 3 linebackers about 1/3 of the time. I believe that Belichick wants Mayo to stay. Perhaps a contract like Wilfork got last year will work. This would mean that Mayo would have an opportunity to earn the same amount as he is contracted for, at least in 2015. Of course, the cap would be helped because of the restructure.
The team negotiated long and hard with Wilfork last year. The current contract is what they agreed would be fair if Wilfork had a good year. Wilfork did all that was expected from him, and then some. I believe that Wilfork's contract will be restructured, but not reduced.
My BOTTOM LINE on both Mayo and Wilfork is that they will continue to get paid a lot until they stop being top players. This will likely mean a restructure every year. In the year when either does poorly, the pay that year will be too much, and the team will have significant dead money for the next year.