Interesting offseason cuts around the league thread

[PatsWickedPissah]

Overall, there have been some moderately interesting cuts this offseason, and it just increases the depth of talent in the crapshoot that is free agency.

If I had to categorize the classes of free agents now and rank them I would say our priority should be...

1) Patriots free agents
2) Released free agents
3) UFAs

Maybe I'm being overly conservative, but I still have compensation picks for 2014 in the back of my mind as a way to recoup some of the lost mid round picks in the various trades we made in the last couple years. No one on the UFA market blows me away more than a guy who has been recently cut. Maybe you get one guy, DRC or Reed or Kenny Phillips. But we're probably going to lose out on Vollmer, and maybe Talib, and those two could sign for contracts that would award us decent comp picks, should we not find UFAs we love. Arrington and Thomas might go elsewhere and we can move on from them and survive, too.

But everybody out there is in the same ballpark. I think some smart signings of cut guys, coupled with bringing back some of our FAs, coupled with smart drafting and somehow grabbing a couple more Day 2 picks, and rolling over some of our $$ to next year, and the Pats are in great shape.

Disagree with your philosophy, not the part about signing Pats FAs but end of 3rd (at best) and later picks in 2014 who might turn out to be backups or developmental guys in 2015 are so low on my and I hope BB's priority list vs signing the best FAs available this spring that can come in and fix obvious deficiencies the 2013 squad.

 

[BradyManny]

Disagree with your philosophy, not the part about signing Pats FAs but end of 3rd (at best) and later picks in 2014 who might turn out to be backups or developmental guys in 2015 are so low on my and I hope BB's priority list vs signing the best FAs available this spring that can come in and fix obvious deficiencies the 2013 squad.

Understood - I hope it's low on BB's priority list, as well. I don't think he should really weigh comp picks as he goes into the offseason, I just think it's a convenient thing that may organically come about, and as a fan, I'm hoping it plays out that way.

Other than the 3 UFAs I listed, there isn't one guy who really interests me. The cut guys are just as crap-against-the-wall as the ones who have fit free agency. If I felt differently, then most certainly I wouldn't even sweat the comp picks.

Although, I'm completely open to the possibility that I'm being nuts.

 

[Deus Irae]

Disagree with your philosophy, not the part about signing Pats FAs but end of 3rd (at best) and later picks in 2014 who might turn out to be backups or developmental guys in 2015 are so low on my and I hope BB's priority list vs signing the best FAs available this spring that can come in and fix obvious deficiencies the 2013 squad.

I'm with you. If I were BB, I'd be more inclined to trade picks from 2014 into 2013 than I would be to worry about low end or compensatory 2014 picks.

 

[BradyManny]

I'm with you. If I were BB, I'd be more inclined to trade picks from 2014 into 2013 than I would be to worry about low end or compensatory 2014 picks.

The 2013 draft is purportedly pretty deep - I'm not against that either.

My reasoning was that they wouldn't be low end comp picks. Originally, I thought Welker, Vollmer & Talib would all walking, and you're maybe talking a couple 3rd round and one 4th round comp picks at that point. To me, that was worth weighing in a free agency in which very few UFAs interest me.

Now, I definitely see Welker back, and I am hopeful a nice cautious, careful contract can be made for either Vollmer or Talib (but likely not both), so admittedly, it's much less a factor in my mind. And maybe shouldn't be at all. And maybe never should've been.

 

[Deus Irae]

The 2013 draft is purportedly pretty deep - I'm not against that either.

My reasoning was that they wouldn't be low end comp picks. Originally, I thought Welker, Vollmer & Talib would all walking, and you're maybe talking a couple 3rd round and one 4th round comp picks at that point. To me, that was worth weighing in a free agency in which very few UFAs interest me.

Now, I definitely see Welker back, and I am hopeful a nice cautious, careful contract can be made for either Vollmer or Talib (but likely not both), so admittedly, it's much less a factor in my mind. And maybe shouldn't be at all. And maybe never should've been.

I hear what you're saying, and I don't have an issue with it as a general theory. I just think that this is a year where it's more important to stack the top of the team than it is to fill out the bottom of the roster, and that the Patriots should be looking to load up high as a result.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Abraham and Robinson are intriguing options if the price is right.

John Abraham, Dunta Robinson, Michael Turner all cut by Falcons | Audibles - SI.com

 

[JarOfMayo51]

Abraham and Robinson are intriguing options if the price is right.

John Abraham, Dunta Robinson, Michael Turner all cut by*Falcons | Audibles - SI.com

Yea I wouldn't mind having Abraham as a situational pass rusher. He had 10 sacks last year but hes getting up there, I think he would excel in obvious pass downs.

Robinson could be good insurance for the Dennard/Talib situation as well, as long as hes not looking for top corner money.

 

[supafly]

Well...you thought wrong. Atlanta is in cap hell.

Atlanta is almost 20 million under the cap.

I love people's versions of "cap hell." I highly doubt Dimitroff would allow them to be in cap hell.

They released some overpriced bums, that's all.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/03/01/dimitroff-a-lot-of-thought-goes-into-these-decisions/

 

[JackBauer]

Yea I wouldn't mind having Abraham as a situational pass rusher. He had 10 sacks last year but hes getting up there, I think he would excel in obvious pass downs.

Robinson could be good insurance for the Dennard/Talib situation as well, as long as hes not looking for top corner money.

Again: Robinson sucks. He would be an able replacement for Arrington, and that's about it.

 

[Marqui]

Atlanta is almost 20 million under the cap.

I love people's versions of "cap hell." I highly doubt Dimitroff would allow them to be in cap hell.

They released some overpriced bums, that's all.

Dimitroff: A lot of thought goes into these decisions | ProFootballTalk

Reading comprehension, man. My point to him was they released Abraham (and others) because they had no cap space and needed money to resign other players, not because he just sucked.

 

[supafly]

Reading comprehension, man. My point to him was they released Abraham (and others) because they had no cap space and needed money to resign other players, not because he just sucked.

I'm not calling you out, bro. I agree with a lot of your thoughts. I just think the term "cap hell" is overused a ton, and that many people run with these misconceptions.

We see vets and even some key players move on from teams all the time, in order to make way for younger players. One thing to keep in mind is that ATL will probably restock in the draft too, so I'm not seeing it as that big of a deal.

Atlanta is not a team that I'd consider in bad shape personally. You may feel differently though.

 

[Marqui]

I'm not calling you out, bro. I agree with a lot of your thoughts. I just think the term "cap hell" is overused a ton, and that many people run with these misconceptions.

We see vets and even some key players move on from teams all the time, in order to make way for younger players. One thing to keep in mind is that ATL will probably restock in the draft too, so I'm not seeing it as that big of a deal.

Atlanta is not a team that I'd consider in bad shape personally. You may feel differently though.

Fair enough, "cap hell" is probably too strong a word. I just meant ATL released Abraham because they were up against the cap. It had nothing to do with his on field performance like the other guy suggested.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Again: Robinson sucks. He would be an able replacement for Arrington, and that's about it.

At this point, Dunta is a dime DB w/o any positional flexibility. I know Arrington has been crapped on a ton on this board but as a slot DB/dime defender + special teams he has value to this team.

 

[Claremonster]

I'm intrigued by Abraham and Robinson, but also a little cautious. I didn't think Atlanta was in particularly dire straights cap-wise. If you were to ask me yesterday who needed a DE more, Atlanta or us, I'd have said Atlanta. For them to toss away Abraham when their cupboard is so bare is a little concerning.

As for Robinson, I don't know much about him. Atlanta had a pretty respectable defensive passer rating last year, even with a limited pass rush. How much was he a part of it?

He is older than dirt (Roman Phifer). Oh wait, BB might like him.

 

[Joker]

cap hell????...oh...right....Cap Hell...

 

[captain stone]

Feeney
Abraham
Osi

All fit the same category, old stars who could potentially add something as a pass rush specialist. The question really is how much they cost and if they're worth slowing the progress of a younger player ie Francis, Bequette, Cunningham, Benard.

Their cost is definitely a concern; as for slowing the progress of the aforementioned foursome,
however, those guys haven't proven a damn thing. If they can't beat out Abraham, Osi or Freeney,
then they don't belong on this team anyway.

 

[Deus Irae]

We'd mentioned Breaston earlier in the thread. Here's a item on him:

Former Arizona Cardinals and Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Steve Breaston is considering undergoing the Regenokine treatment in Germany in an effort to repair knee inflammation and early arthritic symptoms, according to sources.

Steve Breaston considering knee procedure-- sources - ESPN

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Understood - I hope it's low on BB's priority list, as well. I don't think he should really weigh comp picks as he goes into the offseason, I just think it's a convenient thing that may organically come about, and as a fan, I'm hoping it plays out that way.

IIRC, BB is aware of comp picks when he makes FA signing decisions. That doesn't mean it's an overwhelming concern, but it is a minor factor.

 

[Ring 6]

Atlanta is almost 20 million under the cap.

I love people's versions of "cap hell." I highly doubt Dimitroff would allow them to be in cap hell.

They released some overpriced bums, that's all.

Dimitroff: A lot of thought goes into these decisions | ProFootballTalk

Bums? Really?
Having to cut starters because the contracts you gave them tied your hands is certainly a cap management problem. Cap hell may be a bit strong, but they are certainly restricted by cap problems.
They also have yet to resign Grimes or Moore, so must either sign them and get replacements for the 3 cuts with what is left of the 20mill, just to stay even, much less address weakness, or they need 5 staters for 20 mill, replacing 5 players who were probowl or near probowl caliber.
That is not a team that just cut some bums.

 

[chasa]

Bums? Really?
Having to cut starters because the contracts you gave them tied your hands is certainly a cap management problem. Cap hell may be a bit strong, but they are certainly restricted by cap problems.
They also have yet to resign Grimes or Moore, so must either sign them and get replacements for the 3 cuts with what is left of the 20mill, just to stay even, much less address weakness, or they need 5 staters for 20 mill, replacing 5 players who were probowl or near probowl caliber.
That is not a team that just cut some bums.

Abrhams is a part time player
Turner was on the downside of his career who average less yard per carry that Lawfirm did his last year here
And dunta robinson was a liability in terms of big defensive penalties.

So yes, Bums.