He's a restricted free agent after this year
I think he's an exclusive rights free agent after this year, as he'll only have 2 accrued years. That means we definitely have him for 2013 if we pay the 3rd year minimum salary.
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That's true, but with there now being a 90-man roster (including everyone) rather than the old 80-man roster (not counting unsigned draftees), does that matter? Don't players placed on IR still count against the 90-man roster limit?
He became a pretty solid TE during the season, if he returns to form in 2013 that's one hell of a 3rd TE, and him and Gronk on the field at the same time would provide many options with both being 6'6 265ish.
Big TEs on the field could make the possibility of losing Welker next season not as bad as it seems right now.
Brady will still have an arsenal of talent in 2013,with or without Welker.
Of course we all want Welker back though.
Giants 2, Patriots 1. Take THAT ************s!!!
Fwcking Giants have had our number these last few years.
I have watched a few giants games and he is pretty good. But somehow i feel like we just did something wrong taking him. Something only the patriots would stoop low enough to do or something the media would say like that.
The Pats did the same thing 2 years ago with Josh Barrett. That move hasn't worked out so far, but it still could, and was worth the gamble. I like this move - Ballard was very productive last year, and could be a really nice addition. Ballard is only 24. He reminds me of Alabama's Michael Williams - a huge (6'6" 275#) guy who is a great blocker but who has enough athleticism to stretch the field. Williams was on my short list of guys for 2013. Now the Pats have a guy in that mold with NFL experience without having to use a draft pick.
This kind of move is like having extra draft picks. It's a roll of the dice, and not all such moves work out, but it's a low risk move that has the potential to yield high dividends.
That's true, but with there now being a 90-man roster (including everyone) rather than the old 80-man roster (not counting unsigned draftees), does that matter? Don't players placed on IR still count against the 90-man roster limit?
I'm not entirely sure but if that's the case, why would the Giants risk waiving him now if they don't gain a roster spot if they could IR him later without waivers? They could have just kept him on the roster and IR'ed him when waivers weren't necessary.
I have watched a few giants games and he is pretty good. But somehow i feel like we just did something wrong taking him. Something only the patriots would stoop low enough to do or something the media would say like that.
You are correct; I was mistaken in thinking that everybody counts against the 90-man roster.
Clarifying Ballard roster situation - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston
When the New York Giants waived/failed physical tight end Jake Ballard on Monday, they did so with the likely intention of placing him on the Reserve/Physically Unable Perform list as soon as he claimed waivers, which would have moved Ballard off their 90-man roster.
The Patriots put a wrench to those plans on Tuesday, claiming Ballard off waivers. He now is on the team's active roster, and counts against the 90-man limit.
Going forward, the most likely option for the Patriots appears to be to keep Ballard on their active roster, placing him on the Active/PUP list at the start of training camp. At the final roster cut-down to 53 players, Ballard would then be placed on Reserve/PUP, keeping him out for at least the first six weeks of the season, and allowing him to return to the active roster as late as Week 13.
If the Patriots want to clear Ballard off their 90-man roster prior to roster cut-downs, he would have to first be either waived/injured or waived/failed physical, which would expose him to waivers and a likely re-claim by the Giants.
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If the Patriots want to clear Ballard off their 90-man roster prior to roster cut-downs, he would have to first be either waived/injured or waived/failed physical, which would expose him to waivers and a likely re-claim by the Giants.