THE ARCHIVES 1st annual guide to Free agency (A must read!)

[HEY BRO! WHAT UP?]

Alright guys, I wish we could be talking about the superbowl instead, but I just wanted to share my knowledge with everyone on who the Pats should go after this offseason. Word on the street is that the Pats have about 30 million going into free agency this offseason so they do have some money to spend. Finally, by following this blueprint for success will help the Pats compete for a championship next season. Let's do this!

First and foremost, the FA's I would like the Pats to bring back are: Asante Samuel and Daniel Graham.

Second, the focus in this Free Agency is to get quality depth on defense because it was clearly exposed this season and during the title game against the Colts. The team depended too much on their starters staying healthy, when they were out, the backups didn't do very well in their place. (Feel free to argue here)

Third, the Pats desperately need a player that can consistently rush the passer. Colvin was relied on too heavily to supply the outside rush which made him a little inconsistent this year and the D-line is too slow ala the title game against the Colts and the regular season.

Fourth, they need speed at LB! The Pats LB’s are too damn slow! It was exposed time and time again when teams ran too the outside to avoid the Pats D-Line. However, running up the middle against the Pats was nearly impossible because of their massive D-Line. Also, need to find a LB that can cover the tight end, too many tight ends were getting wide open due to lack of speed or scheme/game plan.

Lastly, a playmaking safety would be nice. Ed Reed would be the most sought after free agent this spring but he re-signed with Baltimore.

A reminder to everyone: I’m listing players who the Pats should go after, I don’t expect them to sign everyone, however at least one person from each category would be nice. Now here are the players position by position of priority:


Priority:

Linebacker (in no particular order):

Lance Briggs -Will probably command a lot of money and would be a great sideline to sideline LB that brings speed.

London Fletcher-Baker – may be a little small for the Pats liking but plays big, good tackler and has speed.

Boss Bailey – Big disappointment given his ability, give him the benefit of the doubt because it is hard to succeed in Detroit, says he is faster than his brother Champ, would infuse much needed speed at OLB, only con is that he is injury prone.

Adalius Thomas – A player that I would really like to have, however, he is close to 30 years old and this is his pay day. Would be the most difficult to sign. Some other team will over pay for his services.

Antwan Peek – Hybrid type of player that can rush the passer and play LB in the Pats scheme.

Safety (in no particular order):

Michael Lewis (S) – A position that desperately needs an upgrade. Hawkins did ok at times, Eugene Wilson seems to regress every season at FS.

Deon Grant (S) – Would be a nice addition at FS, good tackler, has range, should come at a reasonable price.

Ken Hamlin (S) – Good player that has some speed and good in coverage. Shouldn’t command too much money.

Gibril Wilson – Good tackler, nice range, can break up passes.

Cornerback (in no particular order):

Ricky Manning Jr. (CB) – I thought he signed a big deal with Chicago, don’t know how he is a free agent, physical corner, tackles well, would be a starter with Pats.

Nate Clements (CB) – Will command lots of money, gambles on plays, great tackler, I only see the Pats going after him if they can’t get a deal done with Samuel.

Reggie Howard (CB) – Should come at a reasonable price, would be great at nickel and dime packages.

Wide Receiver (in no particular order):

Dennis Northcutt (WR) – shouldn’t command a lot of money and could be one of the pickups like Patten in ’01. Would provide good depth at receiver.

Donte’ Stallworth (WR) – Eagles will probably get a deal done with him but would be a great addition to the Pats, might be injury prone, would be a starter.

Mike Furrey (WR) – Lions will make it a priority to re-sign him, gashed the Pats in receiving yards in their match-up this year, would be a great addition and would start.

Drew Bennet (WR) – A very underrated WR, shouldn’t command a lot of money, Huge target that can stretch the field, would be a bargin if the Pats can grab him.

Bethel Johnson? (WR) – Great on special teams, but I doubt the Pats would go after him.

Travis Taylor (WR) – Good receiver that would provide nice depth and would be another receiver from the University of Florida.
Kevin Curtis – Good #3 receiver for the Rams, would provide nice depth.

Michael Lewis (WR/ST) – Would be a nice addition on kickoffs to help set up field position. Would help keep starters off field to get some rest.

Could also upgrade or use depth at:

Offensive Line (in no particular order):

Leonard Davis (OT) – Has talent but didn’t live up to hype. Shouldn’t ask for too much money. Massive player that would compete with Matt Light. A change of scenery might help.

Kris Dielman (OG) – Let’s face it, the run blocking sucked! This was one of the guys that helped pave the way for Tomlinson’s record breaking season. Would compete with Neal.

David Diehl (OG) – Would compete with Neal at RG, shouldn’t command lots of money.

Rick DeMulling (OG) – Succeeded with Colts but didn’t seem to do much with Lions, sounds like our boy Damien Woody when he was with the Pats. Would compete with Neal.

Derrick Dockery (OG) – Young, massive, and nasty at the line is what the Pats need at OG. Very underrated, helps open holes for Portis and Betts.

Running Back (in no particular order):

Dominic Rhodes (RB) – He will probably stay with the Colts but would be a great addition if Dillon leaves.

Sammy Morris (RB) – Filled in nicely for Ronnie Brown this year and Pats missed out on him two years ago when Morris was close to signing with the Pats. He can run, catch the ball and play special teams. Sounds like a Patriots kind of guy.

Justin Griffith (FB) – Fullbacks are a dying breed in the NFL, but teams that have good blocking fullbacks have pro bowl running backs. Could help open holes for Maroney.

Ahman Green (RB) – He will probably command more money than he is worth, but would fill in great if Dillon retires or gets cut.

LaBrandon Toefield – buried on the depth chart and will most likely leave the Jags, tough runner that would be a nice change of pace for Maroney.

Tight End:

Reggie Kelly (TE) – Only if the team doesn’t re-sign Daniel Graham, regarded as one of the best blocking TE’s in the league.


Well, I hope you enjoyed the 1st annual guide to free agency by yours truly. Did I forget anybody that you would like to see the Pats go after?

 

[wdkantro2]

Detroit already re signed Furrey.

Don't go after Michael Lewis, he is possibly the worst pass coverage safety in the league. I also don't see them going after Deon Grant...he is one of the few players I believe Belichick genuinely dislikes.

 

[mavfan2390]

Nice list, a couple of things, Furrey was re-signed by the Lions to a 3 year deal.

I don't believe Stallworth will be a target for the Pats, we need a possesion reciever who will consistently get open and get yards. Stallworth is best when he has time to run his routes, not to mention he doesn't go over the middle well, and he isn't exactly the most sure handed reciever in the league.


My list goes like this...


1. Ricky Manning Jr.
2. London Fletcher Baker
3. Gibril Wilson
4. Drew Bennett
5. Travis Traylor
6. Justin Griffith
7. Ken Hamlin
8. Derrick Dockerey/ Leo Davis

My ideal offseason would be signing a combination of two or three of those guys.

 

[Sean Pa Patriot]

Boss Bailey a free agent??? Wow , i thought he was locked up the long term..

 

[unoriginal]

I'm gonna weed out some losers:

Michael Lewis (S) – A position that desperately needs an upgrade. Hawkins did ok at times, Eugene Wilson seems to regress every season at FS.

No. Eagles benched this guy for Sean Considine, who is their equivalent of Je'Rod Cherry. You thought Rodney was a run-first safety? This guy should be a Will linebacker in the Tampa Two.

Mike Furrey (WR) – Lions will make it a priority to re-sign him, gashed the Pats in receiving yards in their match-up this year, would be a great addition and would start.

So much so they've already resigned him.

Michael Lewis (WR/ST) – Would be a nice addition on kickoffs to help set up field position. Would help keep starters off field to get some rest.

I think Maroney and Hobbs have shown enough that we need not waste a roster spot on a return specialist. Chad Morton didn't last too long here as I recall.

Offensive Line

No. They won't find a tackle, and they don't need any guards, but they especially don't need...

Rick DeMulling (OG) – Succeeded with Colts but didn’t seem to do much with Lions, sounds like our boy Damien Woody when he was with the Pats. Would compete with Neal.

I don't know how the Colts did it, but somehow they made this stiff look good. Last year he was so atrocious, on the Lions mind you, that he got benched for Ross Verba, who was recently arrested for bouncing checks in Nevada. He started out this year as a backup on a line that allowed 63 sacks, taking over for an injured Woody before being benched in December in favor of a practice squad callup named Steve Peterson. Its 50/50 whether or not he's in the NFL next year.

 

[Sean Pa Patriot]

Denis Northcut would be a nice additon as well....

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

that list looks like santa's wish list.

i don't see them getting briggs or a. thomas- too expensive.

i see them getting london fletcher and i think bobby engram would be a prime candidate, sort of a poor man's deion branch.

i like seattle's dj hackett but he a restricted free agent.

i agree on a pass rush specialist. if they could get one in the 3rd or 4th whereby that's the best thing and only thing they do that would be great to bring him in on 3rd down or obvious passing situations.

as many have posted prior. i see this as an offseason after 2002 where BB knew he needed to add speed and got rid of milloy, tebucky, drafted warren, brought in ted washington, and brought in rodney and colvin. that is quite a turnover, injection of youth even though colvin got injured.

this year they need to add speed as stated, especially at linebacker and it would be awesome to get a playmaker safety.

this offseason is gonna be interesting, but i think that the pats will be well prepared to make a run at the bye week and make it to the superbowl as the offense will get better, alot of first year players should make a jump entering their second year and mcdaniels should get better, plus peas should get some new weapons in the defensive arsenal.

 

[dhamz]

You can take Ricky Manning Jr off any list of possible Patriots. Bob Kraft is not bringing this guy in here, not after an incident like this and especially with the taunts attributed to him in the police report.

"On April 23, 2006 Ricky Manning, Jr. attacked a man, Soroush Sabzi [1], in a Denny's restaurant after teasing him for working on a laptop computer.[2] He was charged with assault with a deadly weapon after allegedly fighting a man and eventually pled no contest to felony assault. Manning faced up to four years in prison because of a previous assault charge in 2002, for which he received probation.

According to the police report, Manning and former UCLA teammates, Tyler Ebell and Maurice Jones-Drew bullied a student sitting at another table. Manning confronted the student with "Are you a ***got?", "You f---ing Jew," and then called him "an ugly f---ing Jew" and a "***got." The student asked to be left alone and the football players beat him unconscious."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricky_Manning,_Jr.

 

[HEY BRO! WHAT UP?]

No. They won't find a tackle, and they don't need any guards, but they especially don't need...

So you think that although the O-Line struggled with run blocking, the Pats shouldn't even look into an upgrade? Light was inconsistant, Mankins and Neal are nothing special and the RT situation is still a question mark. If the running game is going to get any better, it needs an upgrade somewhere.

 

[DaBruinz]

I would rather have Kevin Curtis or Drew Bennett over Dennis Northcutt.
Also, its pretty much a given that Briggs is going to be Franchised. Rumor has it that Clement will also be franchised.

I really don't believe that the Pats are going to look at the O-line. I believe ALL of the starters, Hochstein, Kaczur, and O'Callaghan are all signed through 2009. That is 8 O-linemen. There might be ONE spot open, but the Pats have Bubin, Britt, and Yates for that position.

Now, unless the Pats feel that Neal was the weak link, I don't see them signing a guard at all.

 

[unoriginal]

So you think that although the O-Line struggled with run blocking, the Pats shouldn't even look into an upgrade? Light was inconsistant, Mankins and Neal are nothing special and the RT situation is still a question mark. If the running game is going to get any better, it needs an upgrade somewhere.

Oh, I never said don't look, but they won't find anything that's an upgrade. I think the length of contracts everyone on the line (except Yates and Britt) has been signed to indicate that the management is happy with that department.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

So you think that although the O-Line struggled with run blocking, the Pats shouldn't even look into an upgrade? Light was inconsistant, Mankins and Neal are nothing special and the RT situation is still a question mark. If the running game is going to get any better, it needs an upgrade somewhere.

has to make you wonder why they are so inconsistent. i honestly think alot of it has to do with the rb's. In the colts game faulk was getting good yardage on draws. if faulk can do that...why can't maroney? well my honest opinion is corey was either hampered with leg injuries or too old. and maroney has the speed but just doesn't have the vision to see the holes. you look at a back like LT and he sees the hole immediately. maybe the game is still moving quick mentally for maroney and it will develop in time, but as of right now his vision is hampering him more than blocking. and an added note the offensive lineblock scheme may need to be revamped, but i'll leave that to the coaches.

 

[BionicPatriot]

So you think that although the O-Line struggled with run blocking, the Pats shouldn't even look into an upgrade? Light was inconsistant, Mankins and Neal are nothing special and the RT situation is still a question mark. If the running game is going to get any better, it needs an upgrade somewhere.

Mankins nothing special? Watch the games, please. We need help at tackle moreso then guard.

 

[DaBruinz]

So you think that although the O-Line struggled with run blocking, the Pats shouldn't even look into an upgrade? Light was inconsistant, Mankins and Neal are nothing special and the RT situation is still a question mark. If the running game is going to get any better, it needs an upgrade somewhere.

Umm.. Light was getting back into playing shape after last year's injury. Way too many people seem to forget that.

Your assessment that Mankins is nothing special is laughable. Mankins is damn near close to being an All-Pro.

Now, Neal is the only one who may or may not be an issue. I don't see the Pats doing anything much at RT because they have Kaczur, O'Callaghan, Bubin and Britt who will be fighting for that position. None of the players you mentioned will do anything there. Except maybe Davis, but I doubt the Pats are going to give up on Kaczur and O'Callaghan yet.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

Umm.. Light was getting back into playing shape after last year's injury. Way too many people seem to forget that.

Your assessment that Mankins is nothing special is laughable. Mankins is damn near close to being an All-Pro.

Now, Neal is the only one who may or may not be an issue. I don't see the Pats doing anything much at RT because they have Kaczur, O'Callaghan, Bubin and Britt who will be fighting for that position. None of the players you mentioned will do anything there. Except maybe Davis, but I doubt the Pats are going to give up on Kaczur and O'Callaghan yet.

It's funny when we say All-Pro... you would figure if he was all pro then running left would be easy and why wasn't it done in the colts game?

 

[DaBruinz]

It's funny when we say All-Pro... you would figure if he was all pro then running left would be easy and why wasn't it done in the colts game?

Well, the Pats were running the draw between Koppen and Mankins and Faulk was having a field day. If you want to go beyond that, you need to ask McDaniels and Belichick why it wasn't happening.

 

[BionicPatriot]

It's funny when we say All-Pro... you would figure if he was all pro then running left would be easy and why wasn't it done in the colts game?

Well, considering the fact Light was beat like a drum, you tell me. Freeney was making alot more plays then usual. Light's just so inconsistant. One day he kills Merriman, the next day a guy he always contains, Freeney, took it to him.

 

[mavfan2390]

According to the police report, Manning and former UCLA teammates, Tyler Ebell and Maurice Jones-Drew bullied a student sitting at another table. Manning confronted the student with "Are you a ***got?", "You f---ing Jew," and then called him "an ugly f---ing Jew" and a "***got." The student asked to be left alone and the football players beat him unconscious."

Wow I had no clue. Scratch him off my list. And M. Drew helped him? What a bunch of jerks. Wow.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

Well, the Pats were running the draw between Koppen and Mankins and Faulk was having a field day. If you want to go beyond that, you need to ask McDaniels and Belichick why it wasn't happening.

That's where I think Maroney doesn't have the vision quite yet.

Well, considering the fact Light was beat like a drum, you tell me. Freeney was making alot more plays then usual. Light's just so inconsistant. One day he kills Merriman, the next day a guy he always contains, Freeney, took it to him.

Hopefully a full offseason removed from his injury will bring him back to full strength. Same with Rodney.

 

[Aldogg]

I wouldn't mind adding Drew Bennett and London Fletcher-Baker to this team.

Bennett has always been a solid talent, and I believe he is tall, above 6 feet, maybe closer to 6-3 or 6-4. He seems like the overachiever type player who would fit in well here. Engram would be a nice pickup too, but he is up there in age, and would only be a taller version of Troy Brown IMO, without Brown's expierence in our playbook.

Fletcher-Baker is a machine, might be a cap casualty, and won't command the money Briggs and Thomas will command. I still want to see at least two LBs drafted, preferably at least one day one if there is some good talent out there in this draft.