This forum really buggs me sometimes. A bunch of great posters, but only on this forum have i seen people look at bringing back a guy who has been the heart and soul of our defense... for a reduced contract, with only 3M garanteed as a negative.
It is his first major injury of his career. People keep throwing around diabetes issues, weight and recovery time issues without one single scerric of insight into how he is going with these issues. It's no better then the media agencies who throw out these rumours. Yes they are risks i dont argue that, but do you not think the pats have the most up to date info on his health?
The pats today just signed back an All Pro NT with very little financial risk (as first reported). We have lowered his cap hit to help the team. If he comes back to old form we have him for a good contract, if he truns out to play at a lesser level... it's basically a 1 year deal.
We even have great posters like Ken (sorry to single you out I respect you as a postser) who are saying good deal but couldn't this have been done earlier? we could have released him then resigned him to this deal, e.t.c 1.) if we realeased him he would be free to sign somewhere else, why take that risk? 2.) Negotiations are a 2 way street. I really think all of this is just nit picking. Do you not think if this could have been done earlier we would have?
This probably turned out a bit more ranty then i'd like. I am just a little disapointed some of the negative reaction to a deal that a.) lowers his cap hit b.) upside is it brings back a potential all pro NT and leader of our d c.) downside is it does it for very little risk and d.) actually extends him in the case his play returns back to the elite level.