Because of the cap, it really doesn't matter how much you spend year to year. Tampa has decided to bite the bullet for a couple years instead of patching with free agents, but that's more philosophy. Glazers not cheap, there just isn't a core so letting the youngsters play and losing might make sense. The Skins make big splashes and fall aprt and have to cut players.
The Pats came into the decade with the worst payroll to performance future in football according to a survey of the league by Joel Buschbaum. They gave big contracts to Law and Milloy, Bledsoe and some crap linemen etc., yet had no depth and their record was going downhill.
As they cut some of that BB and co, just looked to find guys to fill roles and look what happened.
That's all that matters, finding guys to do the jobs your style of play requires. That's it. Every team. Doesn't matter if you spend only half the cap. that may seem an exaggeration, but look at that team.
Pretty much, they had a great LB corps and one cornerback in his prime as something they could put in the bank.
Offensive line, they largely had scraps and Damien woody and good coaching. Once Brady came, the short, quick passing game allowed them to prosper with less than all pros (in fact some UDFAs). Receiver? One great overachiever and a good cheap pickup. Etc. Etc. Guys who could do a job showed that all the contract stuff means less than thorough scouting and evaluating what you need to make your style work.
The Colts. Top QB, get him some receivers and keep them. Get one good RB. Get a fierce pass rush and re-sign them. Go to home depot and find the fastest guys you can that are linebacker size.
Seriously, in their championship year, Denver ran through the middle of their defense like they were a girls high school team. They worked and patched with Booger McFarland and tried to scheme away any team that chose to predictably run up the gut and hid their weakness. Sure they choked in the big one, but they still were there, had the ability to play offense and rush the passer and patched elsewhere (obviously they're better when sanders is healthy).
Do I care how the Pats spend their money, not really if they're filling the jobs. Do I care they spend (including picks) big on the line? Not if it doesn't detract elsewhere. do I care they can't re-sign them all? well they made good business with Seymour, though i hate to lose him. I think losing Wilfork would blow a hole in the defense, but I'm not a scout.
My quick evaluation of how the Pats have filled the jobs that I think their best style dictates.
O-Line, they needed better, Brady throws longer now and no one was going to spend less than Woody and the castoffs from 2001. I like what they've done and hope they keep drafting low rounders, though it hasn't borne a lot of fruit. They aren't the Chiefs line from earlier in the decade, but getting a Volmer through great scouting is killer. Seems like good work, reasonable dough, they'll get the job done.
QB, RB they either get lucky or no. Skill positions, you'll pay sooner or later so it's judgment of production.
Receiver. I'm fine with paying Moss, he was an incredible gift as a trade, contract reasonable for his skills. Welker they went out and got. Great so far. Two problems. the easy part, finding ham and eggers to fill the empty spaces.
They crapped out big time with Galloway and the Philly guy (I'm old and it isn't worth looking up). scouting gets an "F" for filling out the receiver corps with a couple average guys who can run routes.
TE? again TE?. They draft them high and low, free agents, guys in front of home depot. Seem to need guys who can block and catch the occasional pass, yet they spend #1's then don't use them. This is where you'd like to take out the game plan and realty decide what do you really need, what will it take to nail it down?
Offensive philosophy- Good spot for this after the TE? section. Do we have one? If we do, what players do we need to execute it? If we have Moss for one more, do we acquire transitional receivers for now and later?
Defense
Secondary BB got by with one great cornerback and Rodney. he got by without one great CB for a year. Face it, he knows DBs.
We've had injury problems and less than stellar play despite hitting big on a 4th, but BB knows how to get the jobs done at this position. Give him some picks and a good free agent in Bodden and I'm excited. Putting resources where you know how to use them.
Defensive Line Hey. First round picks cost money to re-up. BB says this is a position you pay and his picks have been golden. Like the secondary, he knows what he wants here.
Linebacker? Did you say Linebacker?
I'm going to be honest here and just let everyone dump on me. Keystone cops. I really don't know what the plan is, was, will be. Are we close? Obviously this will depend on a large part on our DK. Pryor adds to Green and wright in great backups that can play 4-3, but still play our base D. Again, they seem to know want and how to spend there.
I'll risk ridicule and say I'm not really sure if we have any of the jobs filled at LB. Mayo is a fine player and worth the pick. In a 4-3 he's a solid starter at two positions, in a 3-4, probably a WILB but playing SILB. Why is such a fast guy stuck in a position you least need speed? Guyton seems a nice find, probably a versatile back up, or an OLB in the 4-3. In the 3-4 he plays the position Mayo should be IMO and neither of them is a SILB, so why don't we get one?
Woods is a career back up and special teamer, nothing wrong with that. TBC is a fine pass rusher that doesn't set the edge well enough. If Burgess improves his pass rush and learns the OB position he'll be our one complete OLB, but that's two ifs, and is true only because the guy we out all our chips on hates it here and wants out.
Nincovich seems like a nice pickup for nothing. I don't want to be accused of being negative.
I do have some bad news, Eric Alexander was picked up by police in broad daylight and arrested for impersonating a linebacker. Apparently he's sharing a cell with Monty Beisel.
Since I'm already going to get it, let me propose we hire Bill Parcells as a consultant and have him show BB some pictures of the old Giants and Patriots linebacker corps. He and Pepper can perform some group therapy on him. Really don't care how much we spend on this position, but in terms of identifying what we need done and what players we need to get it done. Been a big pile of fail, in my opinion.:bricks:
Thoughts, bricks, small arms fire?
