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....acutally not so "idle" since there has been a lot of sh!t going on the last few days. Plus its been a while since I just sat down to the computer to "expound" on all things Patriots.
1. Mike Vrabel - It was a shocker, at first that they'd trade him....then it was a stunner that they essentially gave him up for nothing. However after a lot of thought and a review of a few games last season, I've come to believe that the Pats just did a $3MM+ favor for a future HOF Patriot.
Yeah, I STILL would like to think that they could have gotten a 5th or 6th for him, but to what end. Given all the choices the Pats have this year, AND a limited amount of positions, and a ton of guys coming back from the IR, what would an extra pick at the end of the draft actually mean in the great scheme of things.
The hard truth of the matter is that Mikes game had slipped some in 2008. Clearly the stats weren't there. Your eyes told you what your heart didn't want to hear. He was no longer a consistant pass rush threat. He was no longer a cover LB you could count on. And while he played 85+% of the plays last season, that was more of a function of the fact that, for most of the season we was the only OLB who could be counted on to know where he was supposed to be. Mike was still excellent vs the run game and still is the hallmark to what it means for an OLB to "set the edge". BUT he carried a $4MM cap number and a salary that wasn't likely to match his production in 2009.
Also don't forget that the Chiefs not only took him, they took his salary PLUS his $1MM bonus. That to BB might have been worth more that a late draft pick, when the alternative was to simply let him go.
2. Now all this week on the radio, you hear about how the Pats now have a "HUGE" gap at OLB. I beg to differ. The fact is that last year the Pats played MOST of the season with an OLB tandem of Vrabel and Woods, (and after Woods went down, Colvin and Vrabel). Some how with a "suspect" secondary, made worse by a rash of injuries, they managed to win 11 games in a touch division, with those OLB tandems. Personally I think that a tandem of Woods in his 2nd year of starting, and AThomas, who was the Best defensive player on the field before he was hurt, is a better pairing. When you add those 2 to Crable, Tully, a 2nd round draft pick, and (in my dreams - playing the role of Junior Seau in 2009 - Jason Taylor)
We have all been looking to develop young LBs over the last few years. Well we have several on the roster RIGHT NOW - Guitan (sp), Crable, Woods, Alexander, all fit the description. Who knows who will end up being the next Mike Vrabel. Who knew who James Harrison was before the Steelers ditched Jerry Porter?
3. Now we all have had a few days to discect and analyze "the trade" ad nauseum, yet today D&C set a new record for pissing me off and forcing me to turn them OFF. Callahan using the his tired strategy of using half truths, inuendo, along with the usual snide and smarmy remarks and asides was STILL putting out there that the Pats were snookered by the Chiefs, and that some how BB was to blame for the sorry state of the franchise.
So for that reason I'd like to attempt to set down the why's and wherefores of this transaction and attempt to separate the rumor from the truth (at least as we know it) in a definitive way. Then I hope the wise readers here will review it and point out any mistakes or mistated remarks, with the end result we can put this to bed...finally. And have something to email Callahan as see how he spins it, because the THRUTH with NEVER get in the way of a Callahan opinion.
a. FACT - Cassel was traded to the Chiefs for the 34th pick in the draft - (I'll get to the Vrabel part later.
b. ISSUE - Did the Pats get the BEST offer available, and if not why?
c. On the surface it seemed that the Pats DID get short changed and could have gotten more, IF they had waited a few more days for several more substantial trades to evolve.
d. Rumors that have been stated as facts and continue to be so, even after they have been disproven.
1. The most common is the Pats could have gotten a !st and 3rd out of a three way deal with the Broncos and Bucs. This is plain wrong in so many ways. First it has come to light was the BUCS that would have gotten the 1st and 3rd for J Cutler, and Then the Broncos would send the Pats THEIR 2nd round pick (middle) and perhaps and additional lower pick (not confimed) for Cassel. This show a couple of things. First that a 2 time pro bowler w/40 NFL starts is worth a 1st and 3rd, not a guy who has 15 starts since HS. (though for the record given a choice, I'd take cassel, but it has more to do with Cutler's recent pouting than actual ability). Second there would be several risks involved with waiting for this deal to develop. Both Cutler AND Cassel would have had to agree with long term deals with BOTH teams before the tarde could go through. Even if it were possible it would have taken a week or more to put THOSE deals together.
An Important aspect of this deal is that KC took Cassel AND his cap number. If he doesn't like his deal, he can get paid $14+MM and be a FA NEXT year. Thats a risk KC took on with this deal. Both Denver NOR Detroit wanted LT deals in place BEFORE they would do the deal and that .... AGAIN.... would take time and more than a couple of days...which the Pats didn't have.
2. Detroit - offered the 33rd pick in the draft straight up, but like I said wanted a LT deal in place BEFORE they finalized the trade. Now what is the likelihood that the "LIONS" could put a deal in place in a day or two...week or two...more likely MONTH or two
3. Other players in the market like SF, Chicago, Panthers, etc, all were in no hurry to make a deal
BOTTOM LINE, and there is a bottom line - The Pats "might" have gotten a low pick for Vrabel if they held Pioli's feet to the fire, but they weren't going to get significantly more for Cassel, especially within the time limits they were being held to.
4. Quickly - I think the Pats will move to improve first at the S position, it is a bigger need, even before OLB, and CB. Don't forget we have 2 rookie CBs coming off of IR, and I think Wheatly will be a significant player before the end of the seaons. Plus there are a lot of seasoned vets out there to trot out and hope you pick a winner. I want to see MORE SIZE in our secondary this season
1. Mike Vrabel - It was a shocker, at first that they'd trade him....then it was a stunner that they essentially gave him up for nothing. However after a lot of thought and a review of a few games last season, I've come to believe that the Pats just did a $3MM+ favor for a future HOF Patriot.
Yeah, I STILL would like to think that they could have gotten a 5th or 6th for him, but to what end. Given all the choices the Pats have this year, AND a limited amount of positions, and a ton of guys coming back from the IR, what would an extra pick at the end of the draft actually mean in the great scheme of things.
The hard truth of the matter is that Mikes game had slipped some in 2008. Clearly the stats weren't there. Your eyes told you what your heart didn't want to hear. He was no longer a consistant pass rush threat. He was no longer a cover LB you could count on. And while he played 85+% of the plays last season, that was more of a function of the fact that, for most of the season we was the only OLB who could be counted on to know where he was supposed to be. Mike was still excellent vs the run game and still is the hallmark to what it means for an OLB to "set the edge". BUT he carried a $4MM cap number and a salary that wasn't likely to match his production in 2009.
Also don't forget that the Chiefs not only took him, they took his salary PLUS his $1MM bonus. That to BB might have been worth more that a late draft pick, when the alternative was to simply let him go.
2. Now all this week on the radio, you hear about how the Pats now have a "HUGE" gap at OLB. I beg to differ. The fact is that last year the Pats played MOST of the season with an OLB tandem of Vrabel and Woods, (and after Woods went down, Colvin and Vrabel). Some how with a "suspect" secondary, made worse by a rash of injuries, they managed to win 11 games in a touch division, with those OLB tandems. Personally I think that a tandem of Woods in his 2nd year of starting, and AThomas, who was the Best defensive player on the field before he was hurt, is a better pairing. When you add those 2 to Crable, Tully, a 2nd round draft pick, and (in my dreams - playing the role of Junior Seau in 2009 - Jason Taylor)
We have all been looking to develop young LBs over the last few years. Well we have several on the roster RIGHT NOW - Guitan (sp), Crable, Woods, Alexander, all fit the description. Who knows who will end up being the next Mike Vrabel. Who knew who James Harrison was before the Steelers ditched Jerry Porter?
3. Now we all have had a few days to discect and analyze "the trade" ad nauseum, yet today D&C set a new record for pissing me off and forcing me to turn them OFF. Callahan using the his tired strategy of using half truths, inuendo, along with the usual snide and smarmy remarks and asides was STILL putting out there that the Pats were snookered by the Chiefs, and that some how BB was to blame for the sorry state of the franchise.
So for that reason I'd like to attempt to set down the why's and wherefores of this transaction and attempt to separate the rumor from the truth (at least as we know it) in a definitive way. Then I hope the wise readers here will review it and point out any mistakes or mistated remarks, with the end result we can put this to bed...finally. And have something to email Callahan as see how he spins it, because the THRUTH with NEVER get in the way of a Callahan opinion.
a. FACT - Cassel was traded to the Chiefs for the 34th pick in the draft - (I'll get to the Vrabel part later.
b. ISSUE - Did the Pats get the BEST offer available, and if not why?
c. On the surface it seemed that the Pats DID get short changed and could have gotten more, IF they had waited a few more days for several more substantial trades to evolve.
d. Rumors that have been stated as facts and continue to be so, even after they have been disproven.
1. The most common is the Pats could have gotten a !st and 3rd out of a three way deal with the Broncos and Bucs. This is plain wrong in so many ways. First it has come to light was the BUCS that would have gotten the 1st and 3rd for J Cutler, and Then the Broncos would send the Pats THEIR 2nd round pick (middle) and perhaps and additional lower pick (not confimed) for Cassel. This show a couple of things. First that a 2 time pro bowler w/40 NFL starts is worth a 1st and 3rd, not a guy who has 15 starts since HS. (though for the record given a choice, I'd take cassel, but it has more to do with Cutler's recent pouting than actual ability). Second there would be several risks involved with waiting for this deal to develop. Both Cutler AND Cassel would have had to agree with long term deals with BOTH teams before the tarde could go through. Even if it were possible it would have taken a week or more to put THOSE deals together.
An Important aspect of this deal is that KC took Cassel AND his cap number. If he doesn't like his deal, he can get paid $14+MM and be a FA NEXT year. Thats a risk KC took on with this deal. Both Denver NOR Detroit wanted LT deals in place BEFORE they would do the deal and that .... AGAIN.... would take time and more than a couple of days...which the Pats didn't have.
2. Detroit - offered the 33rd pick in the draft straight up, but like I said wanted a LT deal in place BEFORE they finalized the trade. Now what is the likelihood that the "LIONS" could put a deal in place in a day or two...week or two...more likely MONTH or two
3. Other players in the market like SF, Chicago, Panthers, etc, all were in no hurry to make a deal
BOTTOM LINE, and there is a bottom line - The Pats "might" have gotten a low pick for Vrabel if they held Pioli's feet to the fire, but they weren't going to get significantly more for Cassel, especially within the time limits they were being held to.
4. Quickly - I think the Pats will move to improve first at the S position, it is a bigger need, even before OLB, and CB. Don't forget we have 2 rookie CBs coming off of IR, and I think Wheatly will be a significant player before the end of the seaons. Plus there are a lot of seasoned vets out there to trot out and hope you pick a winner. I want to see MORE SIZE in our secondary this season
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