Fantasic4x50x54x59x55
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CLICK HERE to Register for a free account and login for a smoother ad-free experience. It's easy, and only takes a few moments.It wouldn't bother me to see Dillon back at a greatly reduced cap hit. Taking his agent at his word, it doesn't sound as though that's going to happen at least as of now. Things do have a way of changing, however. This we do know, he's not worth 4.4 million.
I'd like to see BB go after a RB iat some point in the draft regardless. That is more appealing than bringing a FA in to replace Dillon IMO.
I don't think he'll renegotiate. There's no reason to, not with how our cap is right now. The Pats will pay him the money, bring him to camp along with some other backs, and there will be competition.
I say the locks are Evans, Maroney, and Faulk. Pass and Mills are in there, not to be forgotten. There will be some rookie free agents, perhaps a Patrick Cobbs type. And one or two shot-in-the-dark free agent running backs, maybe a day two draft choice if he's BPA. If Evans, Maroney, Faulk, Pass and Mills made it over Dillon I woundn't kill myself.
I appreciate that's you're paying attention Sooner, but Mills has to go SOMEWHERE if he makes the roster. I don't think BB puts him at tight end - he likes classic tight ends too much - so he gets put in with the fullback group, which is the other half of the hybrid back geneology.
In the preseason they had Mills primarily coming out of the backfield, usually as a c.ocked fullback, but more often as an I-form fullback than as either a c.ocked wingback or an weak-side tight end. That tells me he's running with the running back pack when camp comes around again.
I would not be shocked! if they renegotiated Dillon, you are right, he's not worth 4.4 million. But there's a good chance they just leave him alone. Its likely his last year and we're not up against the cap, and unless we're planning on throwing silly money around in FA or sliding many other players some sizable bonuses, there's no reason for the front office to perpetuate the "Pats are cheap" mantra that circulates out there in the Land of the Uninformed, such as player agent offices.
I think he'll renegotiate because nobody else in this league, at this point in his career, will pay him $4.4 mil. Dillon wants to come back according to a paysite (via BelichickFan).
http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/showpost.php?p=323205&postcount=6
Draft-niks: Does anyone think Brian Leonard could be groomed as a Dillon replacement? I know Kolby Smith from Louisville has a body and running style similar to Dillon's but Smith didn't produce the numbers in college.
$4.4M is his projected cap hit, not what we will pay him. He is due $2.5M in salary and then there is the matter of his $3M option bonus that was due in 2006 but he agreed to postpone until MARCH 2007. If they can make the option bonus go away again, or redo it as 3 roster bonuses, he is still affordable when you consider that's what we pay Faulk as a third down back and that Maroney is inexpensive for 3-4 more years. I could see paying him $2.5-3.5M in 2007, but not $5.5M irrespective of cap room.
Problem is it appears if we cut him or he retires, we only save $900K (and take another dead cap hit in 2008) and we don't have a legitimate short yardage pile driver (whom I assume would cost more than $900K to secure because you generally can't bank on a rookie to be legit for 19 weeks). And absent the option bonus money he may decide that while he isn't necessarily worth it, it also isn't worth it for him to go through what it entails at his age and in obviously deteriorating condition to try to gear up for one more (of what for him are becoming increasingly difficult) season.
Something wasn't right with him again this season, and it wasn't just saving him for later by design by splitting carries with the rookie. Don't know if it was a specific injury or simply inability to maintain condition/stamina as a result of aging. There were long stretches in games where he was simply MIA, only to return much later and be briefly effective before heading to the bench again. It was truly bizarre.
I think he can be Bettis, and I think the money is not an overwhelming concern given the cap space we likely won't be able to spend again this season. But Bettis was running for a ring, and Corey already has his. He is on the fringes of a HOF career though and maybe passing another HOF'er or two and adding a ring will make it all more enticing to him once he decompresses. He told reporters off the record after the game "I'm done", but that could have been emotion talking. I know the guys from PFW seem to think he is done one way or the other, but for all their access their insight isn't any more reliable than my magic 8 ball. The media doesn't like him, but BB and his teamates seem to. He wore the black practice jersey a couple of times this season, which is the other thing that doesn't jive with his inconsistent availability and performance over the course of the season.
I appreciate that's you're paying attention Sooner, but Mills has to go SOMEWHERE if he makes the roster. I don't think BB puts him at tight end - he likes classic tight ends too much - so he gets put in with the fullback group, which is the other half of the hybrid back geneology.
In the preseason they had Mills primarily coming out of the backfield, usually as a c.ocked fullback, but more often as an I-form fullback than as either a c.ocked wingback or an weak-side tight end. That tells me he's running with the running back pack when camp comes around again.
I would not be shocked! if they renegotiated Dillon, you are right, he's not worth 4.4 million. But there's a good chance they just leave him alone. Its likely his last year and we're not up against the cap, and unless we're planning on throwing silly money around in FA or sliding many other players some sizable bonuses, there's no reason for the front office to perpetuate the "Pats are cheap" mantra that circulates out there in the Land of the Uninformed, such as player agent offices.
Voice your opinion!
Do we take the cap hit? let him go? If he goes, do we stick with our guns or draft, sign his replacement..
I'd hate to see him go, Really, but I just dont see them breaking from their trend..
I hope i am wrong.
The only ones who care about the 'Pats are cheap mantra' are fans. The front office doesn't care what the media/fans say. Don't look for the Pats to spend money to avoid perpetuating a fan/media misconception.there's no reason for the front office to perpetuate the "Pats are cheap" mantra that circulates out there in the Land of the Uninformed, such as player agent offices.
I don't think he'll renegotiate. There's no reason to, not with how our cap is right now. The Pats will pay him the money, bring him to camp along with some other backs, and there will be competition.
I say the locks are Evans, Maroney, and Faulk. Pass and Mills are in there, not to be forgotten. There will be some rookie free agents, perhaps a Patrick Cobbs type. And one or two shot-in-the-dark free agent running backs, maybe a day two draft choice if he's BPA. If Evans, Maroney, Faulk, Pass and Mills made it over Dillon I woundn't kill myself.