What would be your ideal outcome this offseason?

[drpatriot]

Within reason, of course.

My ideal offseason would involve the following:

#1: Resigning Givens. Givens has played extremely well with the Patriots and is our main priority as a signing. If we approach him immediately with a great offer, as many on this board have suggested, he will not refuse it.

#2: Signing Will Allen. Allen is a good cornerback who will improve with the Patriots. Although Gay, Hobbs and Samuel are all good, we need a presence with more experience and talent.

#3: Signing Antwan Peek. Peek is a RFA with the Texans who played as a 3-4 OLB. The Texans are switching to a 4-3 under Kubiak and Peek has lost a lot of value to the Texans. If he is given any tender, it would likely be the minimum tender, which would require a third-round pick, which we have two of. Peek is a good player who will eliminate the need for a McGinest heir apparant and, in my opinion, is worth a 3rd round pick if he receives the minimum tender. I see Peek gradually becoming more involved in the defense as the year goes on.

#4: Restructuring McGinest's contract. I would love to see McGinest finish his career in New England, but his current cap hit is too high to keep him around. If he will not restructure, we will have to release him.

#5: Resigning Davis, Dwight, Neal and Vinateri. These four players will come reasonably cheap and are important parts of our team.

#6: Drafting a safety or an OL in the first round. Ko Simpson, Winston Justice or Darnell Bing would be a good pick here. We need to improve our OL and find a future replacement for Rodney. The position left over should be drafted in the second or third round.

#7: Cutting Duane Starks, Tyrone Poole, Dan Klecko and Bethel Johnson. These players have little or no value for their roster spot and cap space and should be released.

#8: Find an eventual replacement for Dillon. If Lendale White fell to us in the 1st round, we'd have to take him. Other options in the draft are Joseph Addai, Mike Bell and Dontrell Moore. Najeh Davenport is an option in free agency. More expertise here would be helpful.

#9: Resign Heath Evans, Artrell Hawkins, Troy Brown and Chad Scott. These players are low-priority, but I still would like to see them make the cut to next year.

#10: Find a KR/PR. Drafting a player like Skyler Green or Devin Hester in the later rounds is definitely an option. Willie Ponder and Eddie Drummond are both FA options.

 

[Patsfanin Philly]

Within reason, of course.

My ideal offseason would involve the following:
of.

#5: Resigning Davis, Dwight, Neal and Vinateri. These four players will come reasonably cheap and are important parts of our team.
s.

Most of your points are valid but I think people will disagree as to "reasonably cheap" as applied to AV. Is $3 million a year cheap for one of the clutchest kiskers ever?? I guess we won't know unless the PAts don't resign him and his replacement pulls a Scott Norwood come playoff-time......
Get that cap number to $2.0 -2.3 million ad that is reasonably cheap......
Just my $.02,

 

[pats1]

Field the best team possible and trust fully in BB's/SP's decisions.

 

[patsfan13]

My ideal would be the Pats hiring a voodoo doctor who could cast a spell and drive away the injury demons for a season.

 

[patsox23]

Extending Seymour should be on any list.

 

[Chevy]

1 - A Free Agent OL retires at the start of camp

2 - Rodney comes back ready to play

3 - After these, In BB We Trust

 

[DaBruinz]

All of these are minor in comparison to getting a CBA extension done. THAT would be MY ideal off-season.

After that, anything is possible for the Pats.

 

[Feep_FLA]

Sign T.O. to a one year incentive-laden contract........ I just wanna see Tom Brady throwing passes to him. Call me kooky! :rocker:

As to all the ohter issues: In BB/SP we trust!

 

[stinkypete]

1) Keep Richard Seymour in New England! Alot of players want to be paid like the best at their position, Seymour is one of the few to show he's worth it.

2) Add 1 significant, playmaking vet to the secondary, weather at CB or at SS. Experience take precedence over age here.

3) Add 1 high-upside, multipositional offensive lineman to add to the rotation (Kaczur could be that guy should we draft a stud LT).

4) Bring back Adam V. Not to dis him as priority #4, he would be missed if replaced. Even after an off year, I feel a confidence in Adam to make the clutch kick that I wouldn't feel in any other kicker.

5) Start the season with a proven #2 receiver. I hope to see Givens back, but don't think we'd see much offensive dropoff if Jeruvicious or Moulds were in his place.

 

[DarrylS]

1) Keep Richard Seymour in New England! Alot of players want to be paid like the best at their position, Seymour is one of the few to show he's worth it.

2) Add 1 significant, playmaking vet to the secondary, weather at CB or at SS. Experience take precedence over age here.

3) Add 1 high-upside, multipositional offensive lineman to add to the rotation (Kaczur could be that guy should we draft a stud LT).

4) Bring back Adam V. Not to dis him as priority #4, he would be missed if replaced. Even after an off year, I feel a confidence in Adam to make the clutch kick that I wouldn't feel in any other kicker.

5) Start the season with a proven #2 receiver. I hope to see Givens back, but don't think we'd see much offensive dropoff if Jeruvicious or Moulds were in his place.

I agree completely, but also need to add either a developing linebacker(draft) or a high potential underused fa linebacker that fits into our system, probably both. My concern is and has been what happens this strength turns into a weakness due to injury as we are so reliant on this group.

I agree with the secondary acquisition, and need to continue to strengthen this group through the draft.

The O line continues to need to be strengthened by the same combinations mentioned above.

I really like Givens and hope he comes back, he and this offense fit very well.

 

[drpatriot]

Extending Seymour should be on any list.

Of course. How could I have forgotten that?

Extending Branch is also a priority.

 

[JR4]

For me, a great the two most important off season events for me would be

1. To be able to believe PATs Oline will be much better than any Oline
since Belichick got here and one of the best in the league.
One major Oline pick up could do it.

2. To hear Rodney is ready to go for Training Camp or at least pretty close.

-----------------------------------------------------------
add to that a physical CB with size that can go one on one with most
receivers in the league and to me that would cause for real excitment next year.

Everything else will get done one way or another. For example they'll resign
the FA of their own they want or get replacements. They'll draft for
youth and depth as needed.

 

[Mike the Brit]

I don't want to be the GM -- I can't tell whether disappointing performance is explained by factors I don't know about -- but there is no doubt that this was a disappointing season for a lot of players. Perhaps it's because I'm still hurt about the way that it ended, but I'd like to see BB as Mr Angry (as after 2002): prepared to cut players who have been around for a long time if they are not going to improve or if they can be replaced by younger, cheaper players with greater up-side. I think that there are a lot of players who might be "on the bubble" -- Bethel, Klecko, obviously (my goodness, it hurts me to say this) but also some of the special teams specialists. In my present mood, I would not mind seeing some well known names cut "pour encourager les autres".

 

[Michael]

What would be your ideal outcome this offseason?

The NFL uncovers a betting pool among the officials and decides to nullify the 2005 season.

 

[patpatriot]

My ideal FA moves

Release\Don't resign the following players:

Willie Mac (this one hurts but he's old and expensive)
Ashworth (unless he comes cheap)
Neal (ditto)
Starks (nuff said)
Poole (ditto)
T Brown (all good things...)
C Brown (too old and expensive)
Chatham (welcome to Cleveland!)
Poteat (welcome back to the shadow squad)
Givens (this one hurts)
Izzo (times up Larry)
Klecko (can't find a position)
G Scott (can't stay healthy)

Sign the following "cheap" free agents:

o Derek Smith - ILB (joins Bru inside - Vrabel to Willie's spot )

o Jonathan Wells - Big backup RB\ST (upgrade over "i bin shot!" Pass)

o Jerry Azumah - CB/KR (former starter-lost job to all pro)

o Brian Finneran - WR (big (6'5) - let's see what he can do with a real QB)

o Jon Runyon - Vet RT (move Kazur to guard-watch Cory smile)

Draft the following rookies:

o Manny Lawson\M Kiwanuka\R Carpenter (new Willie Mac)

o Richard Marshall\A Cromartie\J Allen (CB potential starters)

o A Whitworth\D Colledge\C Spencer (OL depth)

o DonTrell Moore\M Bell\Maurice Drew (Faulk insurance\replacement + KR)

I'd use all my second day picks to position myself to get the best combination of these players.

Add these players to the 05 injured (Light, Harrison, Gay, Koppen, Claridge)

Resign Dwight, Hawkins, C Scott, and possibly Evans and A Davis

combine these players, mix in a weaker schedule and a more experienced staff and 04 rookie class. Superbowl victory just about guaranteed!

 

[ilduce06410]

les autres may indeed need a kick in the head

I don't want to be the GM -- I can't tell whether disappointing performance is explained by factors I don't know about -- but there is no doubt that this was a disappointing season for a lot of players. Perhaps it's because I'm still hurt about the way that it ended, but I'd like to see BB as Mr Angry (as after 2002): prepared to cut players who have been around for a long time if they are not going to improve or if they can be replaced by younger, cheaper players with greater up-side. I think that there are a lot of players who might be "on the bubble" -- Bethel, Klecko, obviously (my goodness, it hurts me to say this) but also some of the special teams specialists. In my present mood, I would not mind seeing some well known names cut "pour encourager les autres".

bb as mr angry? could very well happen. but we won't know if it occurs.
we all know the mantra---the best-performing players play. that must have been the case.
i thought #53, whatsisname, had one helluva season on special teams.
klecko? tell me, who did he beat out, and for what position?
years ago i heard earl campbell's HC, one 'a' them 10-gallon hat, chaw in his lip, gut hanging' over the belt fellers, say "earl campbell's gonna have one helluva season if he don't get hurt. and if he gets hurt, i'll take the guy who hurts him."
if willie ray comes back, i'll take the swing player who beats him out.

some of those secondary players may find them on a bus trip.
and then, mruczowski and wesley britt, ryan krug, ross taylor, billy yates,
will see the pavement unless they beat out some rookie talent. some D-Line guys, santonio thomas, even marquise hill, mike wright, are gonna have to hit the weights.

 

[Mike the Brit]

bb as mr angry? could very well happen. but we won't know if it occurs.
we all know the mantra---the best-performing players play. that must have been the case.
i thought #53, whatsisname, had one helluva season on special teams.
klecko? tell me, who did he beat out, and for what position?
years ago i heard earl campbell's HC, one 'a' them 10-gallon hat, chaw in his lip, gut hanging' over the belt fellers, say "earl campbell's gonna have one helluva season if he don't get hurt. and if he gets hurt, i'll take the guy who hurts him."
if willie ray comes back, i'll take the swing player who beats him out.

some of those secondary players may find them on a bus trip.
and then, mruczowski and wesley britt, ryan krug, ross taylor, billy yates,
will see the pavement unless they beat out some rookie talent. some D-Line guys, santonio thomas, even marquise hill, mike wright, are gonna have to hit the weights.

Was that Bum Phillips? I love those Texas one-liners.

 

[Brady#12]

on the subject of losing Givens waht about this guy Brandon Lloyd he makes some pretty good catches http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6920312372504230735&q=Brandon+Lloyd

 

[drew4008]

Great list drpatriot. Except I might put "CUT STARKS" #1... he was abysmal.

 

[mgteich]

Overall, I like your approach to free agency and the draft.

IMHO, your list list doesn't pass the reasonableness test you suggested. What you stated is your wish list (which is fine). For example,

1) Why is reasonable to give a "great offer" to Givens?

3) It is not reasonable to believe that we will pick up an RFA that will contribute. We haven't done this yet. RFA's switches are rare. Successful ones are even rarer.

5a) Why will Davis come reasonably cheap? He likely will.
5b) Why will Neal come reasonably cheap? Is he better than Hock?
5c) Why will AV come reasonably cheap? This is not very likely.

10) I think Davis, Hobbs and Dwight are fine as returners. I don't think that there is room for Davis, Dwight, Brown and a returner. Perhaps so with Branch and Givens/replacement as #1 and #2.

Within reason, of course.

My ideal offseason would involve the following:

#1: Resigning Givens. Givens has played extremely well with the Patriots and is our main priority as a signing. If we approach him immediately with a great offer, as many on this board have suggested, he will not refuse it.

#2: Signing Will Allen. Allen is a good cornerback who will improve with the Patriots. Although Gay, Hobbs and Samuel are all good, we need a presence with more experience and talent.

#3: Signing Antwan Peek. Peek is a RFA with the Texans who played as a 3-4 OLB. The Texans are switching to a 4-3 under Kubiak and Peek has lost a lot of value to the Texans. If he is given any tender, it would likely be the minimum tender, which would require a third-round pick, which we have two of. Peek is a good player who will eliminate the need for a McGinest heir apparant and, in my opinion, is worth a 3rd round pick if he receives the minimum tender. I see Peek gradually becoming more involved in the defense as the year goes on.

#4: Restructuring McGinest's contract. I would love to see McGinest finish his career in New England, but his current cap hit is too high to keep him around. If he will not restructure, we will have to release him.

#5: Resigning Davis, Dwight, Neal and Vinateri. These four players will come reasonably cheap and are important parts of our team.

#6: Drafting a safety or an OL in the first round. Ko Simpson, Winston Justice or Darnell Bing would be a good pick here. We need to improve our OL and find a future replacement for Rodney. The position left over should be drafted in the second or third round.

#7: Cutting Duane Starks, Tyrone Poole, Dan Klecko and Bethel Johnson. These players have little or no value for their roster spot and cap space and should be released.

#8: Find an eventual replacement for Dillon. If Lendale White fell to us in the 1st round, we'd have to take him. Other options in the draft are Joseph Addai, Mike Bell and Dontrell Moore. Najeh Davenport is an option in free agency. More expertise here would be helpful.

#9: Resign Heath Evans, Artrell Hawkins, Troy Brown and Chad Scott. These players are low-priority, but I still would like to see them make the cut to next year.

#10: Find a KR/PR. Drafting a player like Skyler Green or Devin Hester in the later rounds is definitely an option. Willie Ponder and Eddie Drummond are both FA options.