The possibility of a "middle class" spending spree?

[DaBruinz]

no CAP means only JAG's and guys looking to get over paid will be available. witch is the biggest reason why the pats should sign there own guys like wilfork. bodden. TBC. and fill out the roster in the draft.

No Cap can also mean CUTTING guys that teams feel are being way over-paid since there won't be any cap amortization for this year. This is just one way to bring down salaries, btw.

 

[DaBruinz]

here is a list of unrestricted free agents if there is not cap and they don't get the tag ill list the top 5 at each position

QB

Chad Pennington,


David Carr,


Kyle Boller,


Daunte Culpepper,


Rex Grossman,

RB


Leon Washington - Is an RFA, not a UFA, unless they chose not to tender him. He's only been in the league 4 years.


Chester Taylor,


Willie Parker,


Kevin Faulk,


Adrian Peterson, ( from the bears )

WR

Antonio Bryant,


Terrell Owens,


Kevin Walter,


Derrick Mason,


Ronald Curry,

TE

Ben Watson,


Alge Crumpler,


Randy McMichael,

Leonard Pope,

Matt Spaeth - Will be a RFA, not a UFA. Only has 3 years in the league.

OL

Chad Clifton,

Bobbie Williams,


Kevin Mawae,

Ben Hamilton,

Stephen Neal,

DE

Julius Peppers,


Aaron Kampman,

Leonard Little,

Adewale Ogunleye,

Jarvis Green,

DT

Vince Wilfork,


Kendrick Clancy,

Jason Ferguson,

Tank Johnson,

Fred Robbins,

LB

Karlos Dansby,

Gary Brackett,

Keith Bulluck,

Jason Taylor,

TBC.

S

Darren Sharper,

Sean Jones,

Roy Williams,

Tyrone Carter,

Hiram Eugene,

CB

Leigh Bodden,

Dunta Robinson,

Dre’ Bly,

Walt Harris,

Deshea Townsend,



im sure there will be a few small market teams cuting some big names but all the good FA are RFA


NFL network said Darren Sharper, and wilfork will get the tag

so the #1 FA TE will be watson, the #1 FA OLB will be TBC the #1 FA corner will be bodden,


so after peppers and Karlos Dansby, all the top FA's are from the pats

Not a bad list, thought you have a couple incorrect.

As for only the good UFAs are from the Pats, that just isn't true.. Also, with the potential of teams to cut players without cap amortization, teams could wait until after the start of free agency to cut ties with people. Much like the Phins have to do with Joey Porter...

 

[JoeSixPat]

Good post JoeSixPat. Like most things, a strong middle class is a determining factor in the relative strength of an organization, a country or a team for that fact. Sprinkle in a few X-Factors and that's when sparks happen.

I believe the pieces are in place for the Patriots to reach elite status sooner than anticipated, but for the Patriots to do that, a few chess pieces need to be accumulated.

I think in recent years more teams have caught on to the Patriots MO in this regard and there's more competition for these quality middle class players than ever before....

Just the coaches leaving the Belichick tree alone make this so.... but while the previous MO might have been for Belichick to hang back a bit, let the initial free agency rush go by and then get the cheap value character players he covets, this year, given the competition for such players and the lack of a cap, my gut feeling is that Belichick will move quickly to sign the Middle Class guys he truly wants.

My guess would be that he'd make an offer lucrative enough to get them to sign quickly - letting agents know that the lucrative offer on the table needs to be acted on or it's pulled - even with no cap I don't think Belichick has any interest in getting into a bidding war over Middle Class players.

In doing so Belichick gets the Middle Class guys that he wants before others can grab them... it'd be a different tactic than previous years of waiting to see who is available for some bargain prices - but without a cap it'd be penny wise and pound foolish for him not to move quickly to get the guys he most wants.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

A blog from the Examiner in reference to this thread....

Patriots need to forget about value and go buy themselves some talent

 

[JoeSixPat]

A blog from the Examiner in reference to this thread....

Patriots need to forget about value and go buy themselves some talent

If there was a reference to this thread in the Examiner article then I must have missed it.

The article I read seemed to suggest that the Patriots should be big spenders for big names.

I don't have a problem with some of the big names but my point is that the real bread and butter for the Patriots has been the quality character guys who are effectively role players who play their roles well.

Overpaying for these guys is a drop in the bucket compared to overpaying for the big names - but if they have to spend $500k to $1 million more to land a quality "middle class" player with upside and leadership qualities, I'm all for that - and think it's money well spent.

It just seems to me that in an uncapped year, if one treats free agency with that in mind, the Pats can potentially get their full wish list of Middle Class free agents whereas in the past they've lost out on guys they likely coveted because of cap concerns and the need to wait and hope for bargains.

Overpaying for a middle class free agent isn't going to haunt them if and when a new cap is implemented. Overpaying for Julius Peppers or Tom Brady or Wilfork absolutely could.

 

[convertedpatsfan]

We've got a lot of contracts to take care of within the team, so I don't know how much we'll spend on free agents, but I think we'll make some good value signings. I don't think it will constitute a "spree" though. And I don't think we're going to spend a ton on free agents simply because Kraft is going to follow the NFL's line. Can't claim they're bleeding money and then throw around huge contracts.

It really sounds like a lot of owners are eager to really cut back on payroll, so we might end up as one of the highest-payroll teams if we stay around our current level.

 

[JoeSixPat]

We've got a lot of contracts to take care of within the team, so I don't know how much we'll spend on free agents, but I think we'll make some good value signings. I don't think it will constitute a "spree" though. And I don't think we're going to spend a ton on free agents simply because Kraft is going to follow the NFL's line. Can't claim they're bleeding money and then throw around huge contracts.

It really sounds like a lot of owners are eager to really cut back on payroll, so we might end up as one of the highest-payroll teams if we stay around our current level.

"spree" maybe isn't the right word - but my working theory is that Belichick will move to secure the Middle Class free agents early - not wait for "bargains" later in free agency (though if there are any to be found I'm sure he'll take them too) - and be agressive in securing the players he wants the most, rather than waiting for the bargains among the leftovers.

 

[convertedpatsfan]

"spree" maybe isn't the right word - but my working theory is that Belichick will move to secure the Middle Class free agents early - not wait for "bargains" later in free agency (though if there are any to be found I'm sure he'll take them too) - and be agressive in securing the players he wants the most, rather than waiting for the bargains among the leftovers.

Yeah, I could see that. With teams able to cut players without cap ramifications, I'd expect there to be a lot more players available earlier than usual.

 

[Kontradiction]

I'd like to see the same guy I wanted last season to fill the other ILB spot, Larry Foote, brought in. He still has some game left in him and would be a viable upgrade over Guyton. I'd also love to see Antonio Bryant and/or Domenik Hixon brought in as well. Hell, I'd even go for Branch, if the team feels he's healthy.

 

[RobertWeathers]

I'd like to see the same guy I wanted last season to fill the other ILB spot, Larry Foote, brought in. He still has some game left in him and would be a viable upgrade over Guyton. I'd also love to see Antonio Bryant and/or Domenik Hixon brought in as well. Hell, I'd even go for Branch, if the team feels he's healthy.

Larry Foote is certainly worth a look. Good vs the run. Nice veteran presence. Not a coverage guy. I do wonder if his 32 year old 235-240 frame can hold up to the pounding. 25-30 snaps a game maybe?

 

[Kontradiction]

Larry Foote is certainly worth a look. Good vs the run. Nice veteran presence. Not a coverage guy. I do wonder if his 32 year old 235-240 frame can hold up to the pounding. 25-30 snaps a game maybe?

Guyton is a coverage guy and would still be on the roster. So your theory could work well.

 

[convertedpatsfan]

I'd like to see the same guy I wanted last season to fill the other ILB spot, Larry Foote, brought in. He still has some game left in him and would be a viable upgrade over Guyton. I'd also love to see Antonio Bryant and/or Domenik Hixon brought in as well. Hell, I'd even go for Branch, if the team feels he's healthy.

I haven't seen Foote play since he went to Detroit. Is he a viable upgrade over Guyton, or someone like Seau who could play some snaps but not on a full-time basis? We've also got McKenzie, who can hopefully contribute this season.

Hixon would be a nice addition, and could contribute on special teams as well if Tate isn't 100%.

 

[patsfan-1982]

I'd like to see the same guy I wanted last season to fill the other ILB spot, Larry Foote, brought in. He still has some game left in him and would be a viable upgrade over Guyton. I'd also love to see Antonio Bryant and/or Domenik Hixon brought in as well. Hell, I'd even go for Branch, if the team feels he's healthy.

im with you on Antonio Bryant, foote. would be a upgrade over seau, but not over guyton. he would play seau's roll of 10 to 15 snaps on running downs. im realy not a big fan of all the 30 somthing LB's brandon spikes in the 2th round sounds better to me. but if they can get foote. at a good price why not.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Guyton is a coverage guy and would still be on the roster. So your theory could work well.

I have not given up on Guyton at all. Needs to get a little stronger at the point of attack though. He has the physical tools to be good LB. Not sure if he is a starter though. He did play a ton last year. Can do nothing but help a 2nd yr player.

Foote would be a nice fit and good insurance if McKenzie struggle to see the field on a regular basis in essentially his rookie year.

 

[patsinthesnow]

Does anyone know Foote's leadership skills? If he could be out their for 20 snaps and be the vocal leader of the defense, I'm all for it.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Does anyone know Foote's leadership skills? If he could be out their for 20 snaps and be the vocal leader of the defense, I'm all for it.

My buddy who is a Steelers die hard said that the team missed his leadership and intensity last year. He may have something there.

 

[bigfandan]

We have not had success with Michigan LBs. But on other hand, we had success with former steeler LBs.

My buddy who is a Steelers die hard said that the team missed his leadership and intensity last year. He may have something there.

 

[woolster22]

I have not given up on Guyton at all. Needs to get a little stronger at the point of attack though. He has the physical tools to be good LB. Not sure if he is a starter though. He did play a ton last year. Can do nothing but help a 2nd yr player.

Foote would be a nice fit and good insurance if McKenzie struggle to see the field on a regular basis in essentially his rookie year.

I'd expect good things from McKanzie as long as he healed up well (we wouldn't know of course). The coaching staff was calling him the steal of the draft last year before he was injured...

 

[jczxohn1]

A blog from the Examiner in reference to this thread....

Patriots need to forget about value and go buy themselves some talent

I quit reading this when this nobody started talking about the Yankees payroll---

 

[Kontradiction]

im with you on Antonio Bryant, foote. would be a upgrade over seau, but not over guyton. he would play seau's roll of 10 to 15 snaps on running downs. im realy not a big fan of all the 30 somthing LB's brandon spikes in the 2th round sounds better to me. but if they can get foote. at a good price why not.

The problem is that Guyton was playing as an every down LB last season. Foote is the better run stuffer of the two. He could be brought in for a low dollar amount and improve the first and second down interior defense while Guyton can be our third down specialist.