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You can see where I'm at with Connolly on the above post (right with you, it seems), but I completely agree that it'd be a mistake to enter the season with him as the starter. If Cannon can be the starting RG, then I'd be fine with counting on him with Connolly as a backup. If the coaches aren't sold on Cannon, then I think they need to bring somebody else in.I find it interesting that so many seem to be piling on Wendell (which I agree with on some level), but then in the same breath seem to ignore the fact that Connolly did not play well either throughout 2013, and was seen by the majority of fans and media to be the weakest link on the line in 2012 by far.
In other words yes, Wendell could use replacing, but I'm not as sure as some that Connolly doesn't too. He's now had 2 very sub-par seasons in a row, and is approaching a big cap hit for 2014. I'd rather see him stay for depth purposes, but he's going to need to get that cap hit down in order to do so.
It just seems like Connolly's problems are getting overlooked in this whole "chase Wendell out of town" thing, and that seems odd. The reality is that they both need upgrading, and that Connolly did not look good at all in 2012 OR 2013...
One thing that I've realized just lately, though, is that if Wendell is let go in free agency and Connolly is cut, then the Pats are really in need of a starting C, starting RG, and backup C, who we never saw because of Wendell's health (probably his best attribute), but I think we can safely assume would have been Connolly. We saw Kline play over a full game at LG this season, but I think it's a lot harder to expect a deep reserve like that to play center. If Connolly is back at the starter or back as a backup with his current contract, then I'd be disappointed. If he's gone without the addition of a viable starting RG and backup C, then I'd be disappointed as well. If he's gone but the Pats adequately replace him in both roles or he's back for cheaper, then great.