Now please...
let us talk some Willie McG
I think all we can go on is what we have seen since the last weekend in February.
Through free agency and the draft, the Pats opted to focus on developing areas other than the outside linebacker spot across from Thomas. We can speculate all we want about this name player or that name player, but the facts to date seem to indicate the Patriots have quite different thoughts on the matter.
Those being, I think, that they intend to sink or swim with the players they already have. I think the draft of all things proved this. They believe they can compete for a championship with some combination of (most predominantly) Pierre Woods and Shawn Crable, and perhaps others, playing that position. Maybe they'll take TBC for another spin as a situation guy.
Yes, recent reports seem to indicate they tried to deal for Derrick Burgess as a situational pass rusher. To me, this is not inconsistent with the idea that they're standing pat; first, because even those of us who think this Peppers talk has been a giant waste of time recognize that any team worth its salt is always open to improving themselves, and second, because I don't think a transitioning DE would be an every down player at OLB anyway.
I was a big McGinest fan. I felt during the big run that no player aside from Brady and Vinatieri made more big plays at big times. We could fill this thread with them. That said, I don't see any logic in pining for his return to "fill" the perceived void caused by Vrabel's departure. Like Vrabel, McGinest has reached the end of his career, and has long since passed the point where he's any better gamble than a rotation of Woods, Crable, et. al.
And the upside is a damn sight better with the young guys.