Pats need to re-sign Matt Light to avoid domino effect to OL

[Ring 6]

Probably because they had an offseason in which to prepare themselves under Belichick and Scarnecchia's guidance. If it's going to be late July or early August before players and teams are allowed to have contact with each other, then I'll be surprised if any of the non-RBs make significant contributions for the Pats this year.

Also, I think the rookies will make a typical contribution (injury issue aside) this year as they have in other years. Obviously we are both guessing here so it is silly to argue, but lets revisit after the season, I think it will be interesting to see which result was the right one.

 

[patsfan-1982]

ima big Matt Light fan i think think he's one of the better LT's in the NFL but the pats have the best G in the NFL who needs to be re-signed and they give the 17th over all pick on a LT so if bring back Light for one more year means Mankins does not get a new contract then i dont want him back,

he will find a nice new home in KC for about 7 million a year, he helped the pats win 3 rings and protected a hall of fame QB for 10 years i wish him the best of luck but the pats are going with the bigger younger OL

 

[ausbacker]

ima big Matt Light fan i think think he's one of the better LT's in the NFL but the pats have the best G in the NFL who needs to be re-signed and they give the 17th over all pick on a LT so if bring back Light for one more year means Mankins does not get a new contract then i dont want him back,

he will find a nice new home in KC for about 7 million a year, he helped the pats win 3 rings and protected a hall of fame QB for 10 years i wish him the best of luck but the pats are going with the bigger younger OL

If he ends up at the Chiefs that really will make Kansas City New England-Light.

 

[supafly]

ima big Matt Light fan i think think he's one of the better LT's in the NFL but the pats have the best G in the NFL who needs to be re-signed and they give the 17th over all pick on a LT so if bring back Light for one more year means Mankins does not get a new contract then i dont want him back,

he will find a nice new home in KC for about 7 million a year, he helped the pats win 3 rings and protected a hall of fame QB for 10 years i wish him the best of luck but the pats are going with the bigger younger OL

Wow...just wow!! Are you sure that you are not a Matt Light agent in disguise?

If any team gives Matt Light a 7 million dollar per/annual contract, I will be extremely shocked. If anyone gives him anything more than about 5 per yr (which he'll never get here), I would be absolutely stunned.

I could be off-base, but if those are the kinds of numbers we'd expect for re-signing Light, then he was gone many, many months ago.

I certainly agree that signing Logan Mankins is the #1 FA priority of this team, and if anything would stop that, I'd be terribly against it. I think we all would.

 

[Greg]

Bill Belichik apparently believes he is good enough to protect Tom Brady's neck, that carries some weight. How someone can say "he isn't that good" based on NOTHING is beyond me.

Based on how he absolutely gets abused by speed rushers. Which has been an issue for a few years and he is only getting older. Light has been overrated for a while.

I am not guaranteeing that Solder will start at LT. But, It's not the Patriots MO to overpay an aging OT. Something like 2yr/4-5 mil total seems about right for Light. If someone is willing to pay him more then let him walk and sign someone else.

 

[ausbacker]

Based on how he absolutely gets abused by speed rushers. Which has been an issue for a few years and he is only getting older. Light has been overrated for a while.

I am not guaranteeing that Solder will start at LT. But, It's not the Patriots MO to overpay an aging OT. Something like 2yr/4-5 mil total seems about right for Light. If someone is willing to pay him more then let him walk and sign someone else.

If I was Light's agent I'd slap you with a glove for that offence. There is no way a LT of his quality despite age would take that deal. It's preposterous.

 

[BlueThunder]

The Mankins deal getting done will probably be BB's #1 priority...Can't see BB letting an OG get paid $10mil against the cap...I don't care WHO the guy is.....

Light is probably a goner unless he gives a hometown discount or Solder gets injured.....

BB is all business when it comes to doing what's best for the team.....( See Milloy,Seymour,Moss, et al)

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

The Mankins deal getting done will probably be BB's #1 priority...Can't see BB letting an OG get paid $10mil against the cap...I don't care WHO the guy is.....

Light is probably a goner unless he gives a hometown discount or Solder gets injured.....

BB is all business when it comes to doing what's best for the team.....( See Milloy,Seymour,Moss, et al)

BB needs to get creative here. Throw in a new combine with GPS, A/C, 200W stereo, wireless internet and autonomous steering and Logan will sign ASAP.

 

[BlueThunder]

Agree...appeal to the farmer in Logan

 

[SanAngeloState]

Wow...just wow!! Are you sure that you are not a Matt Light agent in disguise?

If any team gives Matt Light a 7 million dollar per/annual contract, I will be extremely shocked. If anyone gives him anything more than about 5 per yr (which he'll never get here), I would be absolutely stunned.

I could be off-base, but if those are the kinds of numbers we'd expect for re-signing Light, then he was gone many, many months ago.

I certainly agree that signing Logan Mankins is the #1 FA priority of this team, and if anything would stop that, I'd be terribly against it. I think we all would.

Light is a guard playing tackle at this point...i'd move himi inside for about 4m/year for 2 year deal. Mankins, bye bye.

 

[townes]

This kind of baseless speculation has been proven wrong over and over again. The Pats have started rookie OTs on SEVERAL occasions during the BB era. Assuming there is a full 6 week training camp there is NO reason to believe Solder couldn't be ready to start from day one. Its not like he's sitting out on a lawn chair during the lock out. The kid has been living with his strength coach. He HAS the playbook. He is learning the offense. As of this moment all he has missed is 5 OTA sessions. Minus the 3 sessions he had with Brady.

.

There's a big difference in this particular case, whereas guys like Mankins and Light had played OL extensively during their college careers Solder only transitioned from TE to LT in his senior year and one year at LT in college hardly qualifies as enough experience at the position to take over immediately protecting Brady's blindside, especially with a radically shortened offseason. I like the pick and think he will develop into a really good LT over time but i don't believe for a second that he is ready right out of the gate and don't believe we will see him for at least half the season and then only on a part time basis unless he is forced into action by injuries.

 

[BlueThunder]

Light playing OG is probably more likely than Light playing OT for another year....you don't let a high draft pick sit on the bench for long.....

 

[Ron Sellers]

I have to laugh at some of the responses.

First, the people that are commenting that Light should take a pay cut. Did any of you that wrote that bother to find out what Light is making? His last contract was six years for $27 million; that works out to $4.5 million per year, which was also his cap number for last season. If the Pats can get him back for that amount they should jump all over that and do it in a heartbeat, if for no other reason than insurance and depth.

Second, what is with the suggestions of letting Light go and starting Kaczur? Light is far superior to Kaczur, and Kaczur is going to cost $3.4 million in real money and almost $4.5 m in cap space. He has already said that he won't take a pay cut; why would the Pats be willing to pay him but not Light?

As far as Mankins goes, I say go ahead and pay him the money Kirwan was talking about. But the thing is, that doesn't have to be the first thing the Pats do even if it is the most important. Since he was franchised, he can't sign anywhere else; Light on the other hand can sign elsewhere as soon as free agency begins.

Light and Mankins are two separate issues, and it's not a case of either one or the other. Assuming the numbers Curran wrote about are reasonably close to being correct, there should be plenty of room to sign both Light and Mankins if that is what the Patriots want to do. Don't forget releasing Kaczur will save more money and free up additional cap space too.

 

[BlueThunder]

Ummm...pay a backup $4.5 mil ?

Doesn't seem cost effective...sorry

If Solder is injured ..NP...but you don't pay a BACKUP $4.5 mil


Don't think BB would consider that cost effective use of cap space...

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

I have to laugh at some of the responses.

First, the people that are commenting that Light should take a pay cut. Did any of you that wrote that bother to find out what Light is making? His last contract was six years for $27 million; that works out to $4.5 million per year, which was also his cap number for last season. If the Pats can get him back for that amount they should jump all over that and do it in a heartbeat, if for no other reason than insurance and depth.

Second, what is with the suggestions of letting Light go and starting Kaczur? Light is far superior to Kaczur, and Kaczur is going to cost $3.4 million in real money and almost $4.5 m in cap space. He has already said that he won't take a pay cut; why would the Pats be willing to pay him but not Light?

As far as Mankins goes, I say go ahead and pay him the money Kirwan was talking about. But the thing is, that doesn't have to be the first thing the Pats do even if it is the most important. Since he was franchised, he can't sign anywhere else; Light on the other hand can sign elsewhere as soon as free agency begins.

Light and Mankins are two separate issues, and it's not a case of either one or the other. Assuming the numbers Curran wrote about are reasonably close to being correct, there should be plenty of room to sign both Light and Mankins if that is what the Patriots want to do. Don't forget releasing Kaczur will save more money and free up additional cap space too.

Agreed.
My wish is I'd love to see both L&M signed with Kaczur (back issues!!!) a FA employed elsewhere.

If Mankins is not signable even with a new combine thrown in, I'd like to see Light extended 3 years probably around his current annual deal or a bit more.

 

[Ron Sellers]

Ummm...pay a backup $4.5 mil ?

Doesn't seem cost effective...sorry

If Solder is injured ..NP...but you don't pay a BACKUP $4.5 mil


Don't think BB would consider that cost effective use of cap space...

Yeah, that's an excellent point. My initial response was directed mostly towards those that seemed to be acting as if Light was making $7- or $8 million a year; he was not.

And though I do agree that you certainly don't want to pay a backup that much, there are multiple unique circumstances in this case. The lockout means the Pats have had zero opportunity at this point for the coaches to work with Solder. In addition, since he transitioned to LT only after he had already been a TE at Colorado, he has a relatively limited amount of experience at the position. So even though he is a first round draft choice, it seems to me that there is a good chance that the Patriots may be inclined to not want to start him right away.

In this scenario Light would be the starter and Solder the backup. He too would be making a lot of money as a backup - last year the #17 pick, SF OL Mike Iupati signed for 5 years/$18.25 million with $10.8m guaranteed, which averages out to $3.65m per year - but rookie pay for first round picks may be lower this year depending on what the two sides agree on.

 

[SanAngeloState]

Light is a guard playing tackle at this point...i'd move himi inside for about 4m/year for 2 year deal. Mankins, bye bye.

My prescient comments are ignored...OK maybe 6M/2 years. No one is paying him LT money at this point. Too old!

 

[HomerSchooled]

There's a big difference in this particular case, whereas guys like Mankins and Light had played OL extensively during their college careers Solder only transitioned from TE to LT in his senior year and one year at LT in college hardly qualifies as enough experience at the position to take over immediately protecting Brady's blindside, especially with a radically shortened offseason. I like the pick and think he will develop into a really good LT over time but i don't believe for a second that he is ready right out of the gate and don't believe we will see him for at least half the season and then only on a part time basis unless he is forced into action by injuries.

Solder started a full three seasons in college at LT, and missed exactly 1 out of 2541 total offensive snaps during that period. He was also a first team All American and a first team All Big 12 player. That's a way longer and more promising resume than most drafted linemen, including Light and Mankins.

People are underestimating Solder. I've already said I wouldn't be surprised to see him start the season. I'll go one further. I think he'll prove an upgrade, and maybe even a significant one, over Light by the end of the 2011 season.

 

[BlueThunder]

Solder started a full three seasons in college at LT, and missed exactly 1 out of 2541 total offensive snaps during that period. He was also a first team All American and a first team All Big 12 player. That's a way longer and more promising resume than most drafted linemen, including Light and Mankins.

People are underestimating Solder. I've already said I wouldn't be surprised to see him start the season. I'll go one further. I think he'll prove an upgrade, and maybe even a significant one, over Light by the end of the 2011 season.

Good stats to know...I don't think that there will be much missed for Solder if TC starts near end of July....according to some, he's got a playbook (how I don't know) and camp normally starts around July 27 or so in a normal year.

He probably has to work on his technique with Dante and other OL, but it seems the kid has the work ethic and the physical attributes to take the next step to the NFL...going to be fun watching him grow into a starting OT .....

Here's hoping he's a solid bookend to Vollmer !

 

[Ring 6]

There's a big difference in this particular case, whereas guys like Mankins and Light had played OL extensively during their college careers Solder only transitioned from TE to LT in his senior year

That is a completely incorrect statement.
All of your opinion that follows is based upon that incorrect fact.