ironwasp
Rotational Player and Threatening Starter's Job
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I ask this, genuinely, in the spirit of seeking the wisdom and guidance of the board, rather than get into a protracted discussion about Samuel/Graham.
I have been trying to get my head around the salary cap and our post season moves in the light of the excellent debate in another thread about whether the Pats might go after Lance Briggs.
It seems to me, and I could be a million miles off target, that we will have a lot of space to play with again next year, for the following reasons.
1 There is a (well documented) mass of cap space this year, that turns into the same next year.
2 The cap is being extended generously next year by the CBA.
3 There are only two UFAs - Samuel/Graham - that present particular re-signing problems this year. Many of the others are either a) expendable or b) if the Pats want them, available at reasonable prices
4 There are only a couple of players who may need resigning for after the 2007 season - Tedy and Geno are the highest profile players signed through to end of 2007 season - and none of them are in the Seymour/Brady range and probably not even in the Dan Koppen range.
If my reasoning is therefore correct there should be quite a bit of cash for BB and Scott Pioli to play with and even within the relatively narrow limits of their structure for spending money in these situations, we may be at one of those points where the Patriots feel they can go out and make a significant investment.
It appears from most reports that the Pats were prepared to pay relatively generously for Deion Branch or Ty Law, and even factored their signings into the now under-utilised 2006 cap space, which consequently suggests that the money for two (at least) second-tier free agency acquisitions remains available.
The debate is made more complicated by the relative paucity of the 2007 free agent class. Having checked out who's going spare at Football Futures there's not a wealth of choice and ability out there, which may mean the bidding gets too hot for BB. (Lance Briggs may just be the best player out there - Chris Simms is the top UFA QB, Ahman Green the RB, Drew Bennett the WR etc etc)
But I do wonder if they look at what they have available in the cap, and at what they need on the team - most pressing IMO is DB/CB, LB and WR - and feel that there is an opportunity to load up again for another massive tilt at the SB. And I'm not saying we're not in one right now - but we are loaded in most areas and short of the help in one or two positions that could send us right over the top and make the Pats look like a great prospect for 2007.
Drop into the mix the fact that we have two first rounders this year - albeit relatively low ones - and I believe that BB and the FO are playing with a full hand in the post-season, and that if ever there was a moment to go and make another Colvin type, this might be it.
I have been trying to get my head around the salary cap and our post season moves in the light of the excellent debate in another thread about whether the Pats might go after Lance Briggs.
It seems to me, and I could be a million miles off target, that we will have a lot of space to play with again next year, for the following reasons.
1 There is a (well documented) mass of cap space this year, that turns into the same next year.
2 The cap is being extended generously next year by the CBA.
3 There are only two UFAs - Samuel/Graham - that present particular re-signing problems this year. Many of the others are either a) expendable or b) if the Pats want them, available at reasonable prices
4 There are only a couple of players who may need resigning for after the 2007 season - Tedy and Geno are the highest profile players signed through to end of 2007 season - and none of them are in the Seymour/Brady range and probably not even in the Dan Koppen range.
If my reasoning is therefore correct there should be quite a bit of cash for BB and Scott Pioli to play with and even within the relatively narrow limits of their structure for spending money in these situations, we may be at one of those points where the Patriots feel they can go out and make a significant investment.
It appears from most reports that the Pats were prepared to pay relatively generously for Deion Branch or Ty Law, and even factored their signings into the now under-utilised 2006 cap space, which consequently suggests that the money for two (at least) second-tier free agency acquisitions remains available.
The debate is made more complicated by the relative paucity of the 2007 free agent class. Having checked out who's going spare at Football Futures there's not a wealth of choice and ability out there, which may mean the bidding gets too hot for BB. (Lance Briggs may just be the best player out there - Chris Simms is the top UFA QB, Ahman Green the RB, Drew Bennett the WR etc etc)
But I do wonder if they look at what they have available in the cap, and at what they need on the team - most pressing IMO is DB/CB, LB and WR - and feel that there is an opportunity to load up again for another massive tilt at the SB. And I'm not saying we're not in one right now - but we are loaded in most areas and short of the help in one or two positions that could send us right over the top and make the Pats look like a great prospect for 2007.
Drop into the mix the fact that we have two first rounders this year - albeit relatively low ones - and I believe that BB and the FO are playing with a full hand in the post-season, and that if ever there was a moment to go and make another Colvin type, this might be it.