Seriously - did Moss re-sign? Did I miss it?
People want to cut Stallworth leaving us just with Welker and Chad Jackson, and assuming they don't cut him too Washington?
Until Moss is signed sealed and delivered, how can we even contemplate cutting him?
And even if he is signed and gets injured next year would people really expect us to be just as effective with only Welker, Jackson and Washington if he tweaks a hamstring? If that's a question of spending $4 million for JAG or $6 million on Stallworth for "Moss Injury Insurance" I'm feeling pretty good about spending that additional $2 million.
Someone seems to get my point. If Moss was to go down to injury I'd have confidence in Stallworth and Welker to go out and get it done. Maybe not on the same level as Randy, but he is currently the Patriots only other #1 WR. Welker gets #1 WR reception totals, but he's not going to play on the edge all game, like Moss and Stallworth. Now, I've had a lot of hopes for Chad Jackson, and I think he has the physical tools to be a very good WR in the NFL, but I wan't to see him get it done before I'd cut Stallworth in his place.
Also, it seems a small number of the posters on this board are slightly confused about Stallworth's contract, his cap hit, and what NE would have to do in order to lighten that cap number.
1) Stallworth's total contract ($33.1M) is basically the same contract NE offered Deion Branch, and Stallworth has better career numbers than Branch without Brady as his QB.
2) Stallworth's 2008 base salary is $1M. He has a $6M option bonus, a $2M roster bonus, another $1.6M roster bonus (based on playing time), and a workout bonus of $400K. That's $11M total when including all his bonuses.
3)Really, all that bonus money is like a delayed signing bonus, should NE use the option, and it doesn't all count against his 2008 cap figure.
4) His 2008 cap hit is slated for $6.37M, and his 2009 cap hit is slated for $4.87M
5) With a simple conversion of the bonus money (mentioned above) you could lower that 2008 figure to something just over $4M. A cap hit just over $4M is perfectly reasonable for his services, and it wouldn't take an extreme backload of his contract. This could also be done without Stallworth having to lower his salary.
6) Stallworth is still a young guy (26), so by the last few years of the contract you could extend him in order to lower the cap hit. Also, by the time those last few years come up the salary cap is going to be huge, and his cap hit would be considered more than fair for his services.
IF the Patriots want to keep Donte, I don't see any reason why they can't.
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OT: Wow, one of the guys on Pro Football Weekly (the TV show on FSN) just said the two long PI calls against NE were bogus. Ha, didn't think I'd see any of these guys admit it on TV. Funny, none of the mediots on ESPN will admit it...