Official (not rumors) 2013 NFL Free Agency Thread

[Brady_to_Moss]

sounds like falcons are going hard after osi...so say they get him that would leave dumervil, abraham and freeney....sure hope the pats can land one...becasue MIA, Pats, Denver, Maybe Balt and Pitt all need the help...

 

[JMC00]

Supposedly Condon's ideal scenario is to have Dumervil sign with Baltimore, Freeney sign with Denver and Umenyiora sign with the Falcons.

Also I count Miami out on being in on Abraham because supposedly they don't think he is a fit for their scheme. http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/03/20/3295745/armando-salguero-more-free-agents.html

So if Condon gets his way it would be down to Pitt and NE and if Pitt was to overpay to get Abraham it helps NE if they really want to get Sanders

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

So if Condon gets his way it would be down to Pitt and NE and if Pitt was to overpay to get Abraham it helps NE if they really want to get Sanders

This. If pats want Sanders over Abraham..then it may be a smart move to let him go there and then go after sanders. That is if they want him or think pitt wil overpay. Pats play pitt, denver balt and ATl this year...sure we will see all of these pass rushers this season

 

[captain stone]

I don't know why PitsDirt would be interested in Abraham; he doesn't seem a fit in their scheme.

Understanding that Elvis will be too expensive, I would rather have Osi, and even Freeney,
ahead of Abraham, if the price is the same.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

I don't know why PitsDirt would be interested in Abraham; he doesn't seem a fit in their scheme.

Understanding that Elvis will be too expensive, I would rather have Osi, and even Freeney,
ahead of Abraham, if the price is the same.

Yeah. No to freeney over abraham in my book...but if dumervil leaves denver..one of those two will go there and we, MIA, or balt may get the cast off...

 

[captain stone]

Not that Freeney would be the answer to our pass-rush prayers, but as a younger player,
he might not be as close to falling off the cliff as the 35-in-May Abraham, who I fear could
become our next version of Shaun Ellis.

Bill should've signed Michael Bennett and be done with it.

 

[Brady2Moss]

Not that Freeney would be the answer to our pass-rush prayers, but as a younger player,
he might not be as close to falling off the cliff as the 35-in-May Abraham, who I fear could
become our next version of Shaun Ellis.

Bill should've signed Michael Bennett and be done with it.

Yup 1 year deal would've been perfect. That 4 million dollars blown on Shaun Ellis was horrible. I want as young as possible, Freeney will see a jump in sacks since he'll be in a 4-3 again.

 

[ausbacker]

Not that Freeney would be the answer to our pass-rush prayers, but as a younger player,
he might not be as close to falling off the cliff as the 35-in-May Abraham, who I fear could
become our next version of Shaun Ellis.

Bill should've signed Michael Bennett and be done with it.

I do wonder what the reasons against signing Bennett were (or even if they had an interest).

 

[Brady2Moss]

I do wonder what the reasons against signing Bennett were (or even if they had an interest).

Maybe Schiano gave BB some inside info, always a possibility. Or Seattle just recruited him harder, it does seem like the "fun" "it" team for next season.

 

[supafly]

I do wonder what the reasons against signing Bennett were (or even if they had an interest).

That's the question of the year so far for me, or at least very high up on the list. I think that was a wasted opportunity, unless they somehow feel that they only need somewhat of a vet presence in there at DE at the moment, and are happy with their chances in the draft or with a guy like Bequette (hard to imagine) or even Francis (also hard to imagine).

Believe it or not, Bennett also has had some success sliding inside at DT in subs, as SEA originally had him pegged as a DT for their scheme when they first used him in the preseason of '09, despite his 275 size.

 

[supafly]

Not that Freeney would be the answer to our pass-rush prayers, but as a younger player,
he might not be as close to falling off the cliff as the 35-in-May Abraham, who I fear could
become our next version of Shaun Ellis.

Bill should've signed Michael Bennett and be done with it.

I think Abraham is clearly the best fit of the bunch. I understand your worries due to age, but I don't think we have much to go on in terms of him not being able to play another year at a decent level.

Last year he had 10 sacks, 6 forced fumbles, and 7 passes defended--so he would be a much better fit as a 3 down player in most situations. It would also allow Ninkovich to see a more rotational role, and one would imagine that Belichick would also continue to use him as effectively as possible. Most of all it would guard us in case of injury while improving our starting talent and depth.

 

[Claremonster]

Maybe Schiano gave BB some inside info, always a possibility. Or Seattle just recruited him harder, it does seem like the "fun" "it" team for next season.

C@l is where he started his career. Maybe he still has friends there and in familiar territory.

I would like Dumerville. He is pretty darn good.

 

[Claremonster]

That's the question of the year so far for me, or at least very high up on the list. I think that was a wasted opportunity, unless they somehow feel that they only need somewhat of a vet presence in there at DE at the moment, and are happy with their chances in the draft or with a guy like Bequette (hard to imagine) or even Francis (also hard to imagine).

Believe it or not, Bennett also has had some success sliding inside at DT in subs, as SEA originally had him pegged as a DT for their scheme when they first used him in the preseason of '09, despite his 275 size.

Francis towards the end of the year looked at times to be pretty good. If Bequette plays well next year, that would be sweet. I wonder if his rookie year BB made his "red shirt"? He didn't do a lot as a rookie and didn't really show much.

 

[captain stone]

I think Abraham is clearly the best fit of the bunch. I understand your worries due to age, but I don't think we have much to go on in terms of him not being able to play another year at a decent level.

Last year he had 10 sacks, 6 forced fumbles, and 7 passes defended--so he would be a much better fit as a 3 down player in most situations. It would also allow Ninkovich to see a more rotational role, and one would imagine that Belichick would also continue to use him as effectively as possible. Most of all it would guard us in case of injury while improving our starting talent and depth.

Yeah, if Abraham's amenable to a one-year/$2.5M deal, then I'll have no problem with it.
Better than nothing.

 

[captain stone]

Francis towards the end of the year looked at times to be pretty good. If Bequette plays well next year, that would be sweet. I wonder if his rookie year BB made his "red shirt"? He didn't do a lot as a rookie and didn't really show much.

Got a bad feeling about Bequette. I thought that he was over-drafted by a full round, and nothing
he's done so far has dissuaded me from that opinion.
Francis & Cunningham are only a couple of notches better. All 3 are replaceable.
Heck, the Pats might be better-served to let Hightower continue eating his way into DE size;
he can't cover anybody as it is.

 

[Ring 6]

Got a bad feeling about Bequette. I thought that he was over-drafted by a full round, and nothing
he's done so far has dissuaded me from that opinion.
Francis & Cunningham are only a couple of notches better. All 3 are replaceable.
Heck, the Pats might be better-served to let Hightower continue eating his way into DE size;
he can't cover anybody as it is.

Most NFL backups are replacable. Many young players improve dramatically, some when you never saw it coming.
I'm not sure what you expected from a guy drafted at the end of round 3 or another not even drafted, but if it was a lot more than they got it wasn't a very realistic expectation.

 

[Patriot Missile]

Got a bad feeling about Bequette. I thought that he was over-drafted by a full round, and nothing
he's done so far has dissuaded me from that opinion.
Francis & Cunningham are only a couple of notches better. All 3 are replaceable.
Heck, the Pats might be better-served to let Hightower continue eating his way into DE size;
he can't cover anybody as it is.

You could actually say we got him at good value in some instances since he seemed to be moving up in a lot of 2nd rd mocks. This guy could surprise because he does have a ton of athletic ability. Off the charts good actually. But he does need to know that playbook and hopefully he studied his rear off the whole year. Not going to get into a Crable debate but it was only his 1st year and have no clue if it was injury related.. For whatever reason he was not on the 53 is unknown to me. Smarts? attitude? ability? No idea?

Still kind of a sleeper with some potential. Hopefully he gets a chance to to prove us right or wrong this upcoming season.

 

[captain stone]

Fair enough, though I would rather not depend or hope for a 2nd-year leap in order to improve
our pass rush.

 

[supafly]

Yeah, if Abraham's amenable to a one-year/$2.5M deal, then I'll have no problem with it.
Better than nothing.

I don't think it's going to be anything quite that low myself, but I agree with your point that as long as it's a reasonable deal we should be in better shape. I'm seeing a 4 million dollar number for these kinds of players, give or take a little. That's what we paid for Fanane last year--although the market wasn't as bad as it currently is. Either way, I think that a 4 million dollar deal would be fair, unless they offer one of them a 2/7 deal or something like that.

No matter what specific player out of Abraham, Freeny or even Osi comes in, the fact is that they will almost surely fill an area of weakness and need, and that is what we'll need to do to take that step in becoming a better defense.

Like I said, I share your same concerns about Abraham's age--but in all reality we're not signing any of these players with an eye towards the future. They are coming in to be a stopgap for a year or so in the same way that A.Carter was. If we get anything more than that it will probably be a bonus.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

2 year for 8 mill for abraham..would deff do that...but no more. Wonder what the pats offer was that he didn't like