AzPatsFan
Veteran Starter w/Big Long Term Deal
- Joined
- Sep 15, 2004
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Time for some more happy talk, to cheer the pessimists.
Some have said that BB/SP are losing the touch. They are unable to duplicate the Free Agent and trade pickups of 2001 -2003. Every one remembers Cox, Pleasant, Hamilton, Vrabel and Phifer and the trade fro Ted Washington. They complains we aren't getting FA players like that anymore.
Well I'd agree; Its tough to find another Vrabel.
Think of some of the FAs from last year, Chad Scott, Monty Beisel, Chad Brown, Artrell Hawkins, Mike Wright, Mike Stone and Hank Poteat. All were brought back except Stone and he elected to sign elsewhere. From them we have two sometimes starters (Beisel & Hawkins) and a couple of others who are prime reserves, (Brown, Wright, Scott).
This years additions have not settled in yet but indications are positive.
Reche Caldwell has had a great camp, so far.
Mel Mitchell went IR but he looked to be winning a ST job.
Tebucky Jones is a solid addition to both the Safety and ST ranks.
Jonathan Sullivan is a salvage possibility, with talent but no heart.
Fred Roach, and Pierre Woods have both flashed at times, already.
Ross Tucker has already fetched a draft pick for us. Already a win.
Barry Gardner started in the first pre-season game at ILB but was brought in essentially as a ST. Already a win.
Who is the real Patrick Cobbs?
Is there a WR hidden among Childress, Stone or Mushinski?
We forget the strikeouts that BB/SP had in those early years. Ron Lyle, Steve Martin, Big Nickle SS wahizname. There were many other forgettable ones.
The Patriots have augmented themselves with at least six valuable additions from the FA ranks in the last two years. Almost the equivalent of another draft class of talent.
I submit the proposition that Pioli and Belichick don't seem to have lost the touch.
Some have said that BB/SP are losing the touch. They are unable to duplicate the Free Agent and trade pickups of 2001 -2003. Every one remembers Cox, Pleasant, Hamilton, Vrabel and Phifer and the trade fro Ted Washington. They complains we aren't getting FA players like that anymore.
Well I'd agree; Its tough to find another Vrabel.
Think of some of the FAs from last year, Chad Scott, Monty Beisel, Chad Brown, Artrell Hawkins, Mike Wright, Mike Stone and Hank Poteat. All were brought back except Stone and he elected to sign elsewhere. From them we have two sometimes starters (Beisel & Hawkins) and a couple of others who are prime reserves, (Brown, Wright, Scott).
This years additions have not settled in yet but indications are positive.
Reche Caldwell has had a great camp, so far.
Mel Mitchell went IR but he looked to be winning a ST job.
Tebucky Jones is a solid addition to both the Safety and ST ranks.
Jonathan Sullivan is a salvage possibility, with talent but no heart.
Fred Roach, and Pierre Woods have both flashed at times, already.
Ross Tucker has already fetched a draft pick for us. Already a win.
Barry Gardner started in the first pre-season game at ILB but was brought in essentially as a ST. Already a win.
Who is the real Patrick Cobbs?
Is there a WR hidden among Childress, Stone or Mushinski?
We forget the strikeouts that BB/SP had in those early years. Ron Lyle, Steve Martin, Big Nickle SS wahizname. There were many other forgettable ones.
The Patriots have augmented themselves with at least six valuable additions from the FA ranks in the last two years. Almost the equivalent of another draft class of talent.
I submit the proposition that Pioli and Belichick don't seem to have lost the touch.