Patriots claim TE Jake Ballard

[patchick]

There's no need to feel bad for the guy. He's going to get paid half a million dollars plus to rehab for a year, and he's going from last year's Super Bowl Champion to this year's Super Bowl Champion.

Heck yeah! But I'm also curious whether there are any tangible benefits at all to being on the active roster vs. IR. E.g. do players on injured reserve receive the standard camp per diem (something like $1500/wk)?

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Sounded like he was pissed at the GM, he caught himself before he said too much.

That's what I figured from reading the quotes, they tried to spin it like he was angry at NE within the article and in the title.

 

[DaBronxPats14]

I'm not underestimating him at all, just defining his skillset. His skillset for what he does is excellent. Like most players his skillset for a position he doesn't play isn't so great.
Logan Mankins is one of the few best Gs in the NFL. He has tremendous G skills and some of them overlap to the skills required at LT. He has measurables, and could play there in a pinch without embarrassing himself, and in fact would be an outstanding run blocker at LT. But he isn't a LT. Saying that is not underestimating or diminishing him.

I Hear Ya! Your points are well taken.

 

[JoeSixPat]

I assume this thread has addressed the various upsides to this signing... for $500k apparently the Pats now hold the exclusive rights to match any offer Ballard gets in 2013.

I think that's the last year of Hernandez's contract too (coincidentally or not) and gives Belichick some added leverage with Hernandez on a contract extension, as well as insurance in case one of his main TEs suffers an injury...

AND he also weakened a rival - albeit an NFC rival.

Even if Belichick cut Ballard tomorrow its unlikely he'd slide back to the Giants - someone else would certainly take a flyer this time, ensuring for a $0 investment Belichick weakened the Giants.

Super Bowl retribution - if there were any at all - was way down the priority list for Belichick on this one. That being said - seeing how upset Giants fans are, I may break my long standing rule against wearing the Jerseys of grown men and get myself an Official New England Patriots "Ballard" Jersey!

 

[ausbacker]

I assume this thread has addressed the various upsides to this signing... for $500k apparently the Pats now hold the exclusive rights to match any offer Ballard gets in 2013.

I think that's the last year of Hernandez's contract too (coincidentally or not) and gives Belichick some added leverage with Hernandez on a contract extension, as well as insurance in case one of his main TEs suffers an injury...

AND he also weakened a rival - albeit an NFC rival.

Even if Belichick cut Ballard tomorrow its unlikely he'd slide back to the Giants - someone else would certainly take a flyer this time, ensuring for a $0 investment Belichick weakened the Giants.

Super Bowl retribution - if there were any at all - was way down the priority list for Belichick on this one. That being said - seeing how upset Giants fans are, I may break my long standing rule against wearing the Jerseys of grown men and get myself an Official New England Patriots "Ballard" Jersey!

Given the Patriots inability to beat the Giants more recently, Ballard will bring a Giants perspective to the Patriots. That should be interesting enough for Bill Belichick.

 

[Armchair Quarterback]

I assume this thread has addressed the various upsides to this signing... for $500k apparently the Pats now hold the exclusive rights to match any offer Ballard gets in 2013.

Exclusive rights FA means only the Patriots can negotiate a contract with him, no other teams can offer him a contract.

Ballard was on the practice squad year one and did not get an accrued season. Year two (2011) was his first accrued season. Whether on IR or the active roster he will get his 2nd accrued season this year. In 2013, he will only be going into his third accrued season and would not be eligible for restricted free agency (3 accrued seasons required) or unrestricted free agency (4 accrued season required). So while is contract may be up at the end of this year, the Patriots are the only team that can negotiate a contract with him next year (exclusive rights free agent).

As long as the Patriots want him back he will be on the team in 2013.

 

[Ring 6]

Exclusive rights FA means only the Patriots can negotiate a contract with him, no other teams can offer him a contract.

Ballard was on the practice squad year one and did not get an accrued season. Year two (2011) was his first accrued season. Whether on IR or the active roster he will get his 2nd accrued season this year. In 2013, he will only be going into his third accrued season and would not be eligible for restricted free agency (3 accrued seasons required) or unrestricted free agency (4 accrued season required). So while is contract may be up at the end of this year, the Patriots are the only team that can negotiate a contract with him next year (exclusive rights free agent).

As long as the Patriots want him back he will be on the team in 2013.

ERFAs get tendered. They really don't negotiate a contract with the team, they are given a contract. The team could choose to extend them (as the PAts have done in some cases) but the player is stuck with the tender or sitting out otherwise.

 

[Armchair Quarterback]

ERFAs get tendered. They really don't negotiate a contract with the team, they are given a contract. The team could choose to extend them (as the PAts have done in some cases) but the player is stuck with the tender or sitting out otherwise.

The term negotiate was used in order to explain that the Patriots are the only team allowed to discuss a contract with the player.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

I assume this thread has addressed the various upsides to this signing... for $500k apparently the Pats now hold the exclusive rights to match any offer Ballard gets in 2013.

I think that's the last year of Hernandez's contract too (coincidentally or not) and gives Belichick some added leverage with Hernandez on a contract extension, as well as insurance in case one of his main TEs suffers an injury...

AND he also weakened a rival - albeit an NFC rival.

Even if Belichick cut Ballard tomorrow its unlikely he'd slide back to the Giants - someone else would certainly take a flyer this time, ensuring for a $0 investment Belichick weakened the Giants.

Super Bowl retribution - if there were any at all - was way down the priority list for Belichick on this one. That being said - seeing how upset Giants fans are, I may break my long standing rule against wearing the Jerseys of grown men and get myself an Official New England Patriots "Ballard" Jersey!

Ballard is now under the NEP control thru 2014 if they choose to tender him as a ERFA in 2013 and RFA in 2014. An original level tender would not protect the asset since he was an UDFA but would give them the option of matching. A 2nd on the other hand...would likely protect the asset or make it solid trade bait. Fells is also signed thru 2014 but at just a little less than second round RFA tender salaries and at a minimal dead cap cost. So Ballard is also (perhaps moreso) Fells insurance after this season as well as a little leverage in the Hernandez contract discussions. And while what he's making now is pretty decent rehab money, his circumstances also make him a good target moving forward for the kind of deal Fells inked this season. 3 years, <$6M with $2M guaranteed.

 

[Ring 6]

The term negotiate was used in order to explain that the Patriots are the only team allowed to discuss a contract with the player.

Yeah, I was just adding to your comments that he is pretty much stuck with the ERFA tender.

 

[BAM!]

Without reading the entire thread to see if this angle was already brought up... is this BB looking at the future of Wes? I know some people feel that this move means that Hernandez may be the guy who loses out next year if Ballard can come back healthy but I think it could spell the end of Wes instead.

Wes is being franchised this year, they tried to sign him for two years, he wants more years. If Ballard can come back healthy in 2014, the Pats could release Welker, sign Hernandez and Ballard long term. Move Hernandez to the slot receiver position and essentially have him fill Wes's role. That would leave Gronk, Ballard, and possibly Fells or Scaife as their TE's with Hernandez still on the roster to continue play a WR/TE hybrid role. I beleive this will be Wes's last year with the team.

Versatility... BB has set himself up for any situation that may play out at the end of this year. BB, the master chess player, thinking 10 moves ahead of anyone else.

 

[mayoclinic]

Without reading the entire thread to see if this angle was already brought up... is this BB looking at the future of Wes? I know some people feel that this move means that Hernandez may be the guy who loses out next year if Ballard can come back healthy but I think it could spell the end of Wes instead.

Wes is being franchised this year, they tried to sign him for two years, he wants more years. If Ballard can come back healthy in 2014, the Pats could release Welker, sign Hernandez and Ballard long term. Move Hernandez to the slot receiver position and essentially have him fill Wes's role. That would leave Gronk, Ballard, and possibly Fells or Scaife as their TE's with Hernandez still on the roster to continue play a WR/TE hybrid role. I beleive this will be Wes's last year with the team.

Versatility... BB has set himself up for any situation that may play out at the end of this year. BB, the master chess player, thinking 10 moves ahead of anyone else.

No, no one's discussed that yet. :violent:

 

[Off The Grid]

OTG has clearly got hold of BB's phone and made all these TE signings, it's the only answer!

My friend, I am in HEAVEN!! :rocker: :rocker:

I honestly haven't got over the utter SHOCK of this Epic Coup.

 

[BAM!]

No, no one's discussed that yet. :violent:

Which is why I prefaced my comment the way I did, richard.

 

[Off The Grid]

The Pats did the same thing 2 years ago with Josh Barrett. That move hasn't worked out so far, but it still could, and was worth the gamble.

I like this move - Ballard was very productive last year, and could be a really nice addition. Ballard is only 24. He reminds me of Alabama's Michael Williams - a huge (6'6" 275#) guy who is a great blocker but who has enough athleticism to stretch the field. Williams was on my short list of guys for 2013. Now the Pats have a guy in that mold with NFL experience without having to use a draft pick.

This kind of move is like having extra draft picks.

It's a roll of the dice, and not all such moves work out, but it's a low risk move that has the potential to yield high dividends.

PREACH it, Brother Mayo!! :rocker:

As everyone knows, I have been dreaming about 3 and 4 Tight End Sets for Centuries.

Incredibly, the Dream actually seems to be coming true.

 

[mayoclinic]

Which is why I prefaced my comment the way I did, richard.

I know, your post was completely innocuous. It's just that that particular theme had been beaten to death.

 

[Off The Grid]

Forgot to comment on this part...

He reminds me of Alabama's Michael Williams - a huge (6'6" 275#) guy who is a great blocker but who has enough athleticism to stretch the field. Williams was on my short list of guys for 2013. Now the Pats have a guy in that mold with NFL experience without having to use a draft pick.

This kind of move is like having extra draft picks.

It's a roll of the dice, and not all such moves work out, but it's a low risk move that has the potential to yield high dividends.

GREAT point.

And this isn't any 7th Rounder equivalent he's talking about, Ladies and Laddies.

With High Grade Flex Ends and Wing Backs in short Supply and HUGE demand, this Coup ~ besides being utterly mind-boggling!! ~ is delivering into our hot little hands a Commodity whose current Market Value is approximately that of an early 2012 2nd Rounder!!

 

[Ring 6]

Forgot to comment on this part...



GREAT point.

And this isn't any 7th Rounder equivalent he's talking about, Ladies and Laddies.

With High Grade Flex Ends and Wing Backs in short Supply and HUGE demand, this Coup ~ besides being utterly mind-boggling!! ~ is delivering into our hot little hands a Commodity whose current Market Value is approximately that of an early 2012 2nd Rounder!!

Sorry, but either you are overestimating Ballard of 31 other teams are clueless.
If Ballard's value were equal to an early 2013 2nd, every team would have claimed him, and the Giants would have protected him.
We were the only team in the NFL that thought his value was 540k of payroll. The other 31 chose to not have him if they had to pay him that amount to wait until 2013.

 

[supafly]

Damn, OTG...

Somebody's in a crabby mood today

I hope that you are correct about the possibilities of Ballard. At any rate, I know that you are happy about the implementation of more TE's, so good call on that aspect.

 

[Off The Grid]

Sorry, but either you are overestimating Ballard of 31 other teams are clueless.
If Ballard's value were equal to an early 2013 2nd, every team would have claimed him, and the Giants would have protected him.
We were the only team in the NFL that thought his value was 540k of payroll. The other 31 chose to not have him if they had to pay him that amount to wait until 2013.

Sorry, but your condescension is no substitute for accuracy.

Sorry, but you don't know what Mad Bill was thinking, much though you clearly enjoy fantasizing otherwise.

Sorry, but making a mistake does not make a team "clueless."

It just means that they lack Mad Bill's deadly combination of Testicular Fortitude and Vision.