Actions speak louder than words...

[Get it shawtaay]

Mallett's status is a peculiar case indeed. He's merely a back-up with limited film to gauge his progress as an starting caliber QB at this point. Until he's thrown into the fire we won't know how far he's come along. Even if he has great practice habits and all that until he's in the games in pressure situations, we don't know how he'd react to that.

By the same parallel we didn't know what was there with Brady. He stepped in and never looked back. Some guys excel in these situations while others fold pretty quickly. The great part about the NFL is that it exposes either traits fairly early in the process.

The thing to keep in mind is that anyone is replaceable, even first ballot HOFers can be replaced. Brady's not immune to this reality. His age is definitely a factor at this point and he's closer to the end than the beginning. If his play starts to dip and decline rapidly then you cannot seriously expect a coaching staff as rigid as Belichick's wouldn't plan to move on from him if they have a better option in place whether its Mallett or otherwise. There's no room sentiments in a cut-throat business like the NFL, just ask Peyton Manning or Joe Montana.

The good thing is that this hasn't occured, yet, though one day it likely will. Hopefully sooner rather than later. And perhaps Mallett could be the answer if that's the case. This training camp/preseason will be big for him. If he ever expects to earn a starter's job here or elsewhere now's the time to show it.

The bolded is very true, and its why I don't understand why teams hang on to bad quarterbacks who were ostensibly good prospects. How often does a QB who doesn't show the ability to be a top quarterback within their first year go on to become a good quarterback? Practically never.


As for Mallett, I hated it at the time because I really wanted someone else. But it was a prudent idea to try and squeeze him into draft picks - the climate after the Kolb/Cassel trades really turned and made it impossible.

 

[TheBostonStraggler]

Interesting speculation from the OP. Ultimately, speculation aside, I guess we will see what BB's thinking is when it comes time to re-sign RM (or not). I think that is the only time you really know what BB's thinking is. However, I think the speculation is focused on C when A and B are more germane/first up. No matter how much BB is planning, TFB being around and effective for let's say 4 more years.....it makes the Mallet speculation moot. Mallett, I doubt, will want to continue to be a backup for 4 more years. This answers the question of what will happen with Mallett. And if BB thinks Brady will be around for 4 more years, we probably will see a QB selected with an upper pick next year. Mallett appears to have come just a few years before the window will be open for the Patriots' QB spot.
As I see it the speculation that comes first is how long does Brady want to continue playing? On top of that is Brady's effectiveness level? It is hard to imagine but what if Brady is outplayed/skills are obviously eroding in 2015 camp/season? Even harder to imagine than that but what if it happens even quicker and it starts to become evident in the 2014 season? Cap limitations aside, question 1 is whether Brady is the guy until he decides he is going to hang them up, or do the Patriots start committing to Mallett/a new guy and we start seeing him get more time/attention?

 

[AzPatsFan]

TBS,

The transition from one proven QB to another is never easy.

Unless there is a clear career ending injury, the most likely case is just a constant erosion of the skills of the present occupier of the position. That makes the call on replacement a very unclear situation with lots of debate. Belichick certainly went through just as vociferous but lighter case when trying to replace a seemingly healthy, but no longer quite as effective, home town hero, Bernie Kosar.

What do you expect the fan reaction to be to sitting down a certain future HOF QB? Or the media commentary complete with the divisive Felger-like jackals to lead it on? Could even a Bill Belichick withstand the fan fury?

Everyone seems to assume Brady will play out his contract through and until 2017. He may, but he won't be the Tom Brady the fans have deified. At best he may share time, but I am not convinced that such a course is even feasible, or desired. BB certainly didn't try timesharing, with Kosar or Bledsoe. Nor would TB likely be amenable to such a situation, even if it would extend his career by a few years. OTOH, Tom Brady recognizing reality, chose a contract that would make a time sharing or platooning situation, an economic possibility.

That transition is coming, and probably a lot sooner than some fans will want to acknowledge. Like Montana, Manning has already gone to his retirement home, while extending his career a few more years, taking the money and running, as the Colts made the transition to Andrew Luck.

It is not certain by any means that Ryan Malett will be, or will succeed, as the successor. But the team is getting stronger, as it has been rebuilt top to botom under Belichick. Whoever is the successor is, he will have a team around him able to compete and contend.

Tom Brady ever the realist, accepted that he couldn't or wouldn't be paid at the same rate as his glory years and accepted a guaranteed contract to ensure that there was little monetary push, to send him elsewhere. But that still makes him a very expensive backup, when the transition begins.

Peyton Manning did that transition at the same age that Tom Brady will be, this season. He chose to take the money and run though, so he had to move on.

 

[Gumby]

Bill Belichick often does differently than what he says. You have to see what he does, or doesn't do, to ascertain his own current and future plans.

I think Belichick's actions are leading to but one conclusion. He views Ryan Mallett as THE current qualified candidate to be the Brady successor. All the attempts by draftnik desires to secure another #5 or #6 draft pick, via trading him have come to nothing.


I......

I think NOT. :snob:

I stopped reading where I left off- and just skimmed the rest. ARGUMENT FAIL. To quote you: "I THINK NOT"

ACTIONS: BB just extended TB at the cost of $57M out til TB is 40.

SITUATION:
a. RM will be a RFA or UFA come next year (i forget which).
b. So long TB has not had a CATASTROPHIC injury he has missed about 20 snaps, and probably not that many minutes in almost 10 years (blatant exageration intended).

RESULT: Either which way - if Mallet has ANY KIND OF BURNING ITCH to be a STARTER; he will KNOW, so long TB is healthy it AINT HAPPENING IN NE.

So, either he is willing to bide his time for 4-5 years and earn pennies on the dollar of what he is worth - (IF HE THINKS HE IS GOOD ENOUGH to start) which is HIGHLY UNLIKELY, Or he will NOT be interested in talking to NE about being a clipboard holder, or he doesn't have the confidence to be a STARTER - in which case WHAT DO WE WANT HIM FOR LONG-TERM????

Mallett may very well have been a good successor for TB, but he came 2 years too early.

IMO BB just thinks his value as a BACKUP with experience in the system in the event TB goes down for 2-4 games is MUCH GREATER than any rd 2-4 pick that someone is willing to toss his way. And most posters here seem to think a Rd 2 pick would be highly unlikely.

So, using the evidence that BB wouldnt take a trade is IMO - NO INDICATION of RM's long term outlook -tenure with the team.

 

[goheels22002]

Belichick and the Krafts operate like Bill Walsh and Eddie DeBartolo in SF during their heyday. I would not be surprised if they pick up a guy like Steve Young who was elite coming out of college and played in unsuccessful situations for a few years, but has experience and smarts to do the job here. Steve Young was acquired pre-salary cap.

I thought they might make a move for Alex Smith but his price was too high. Ryan Fitzpatrick is interesting to me. There aren't many other guys like that. Could he work out with this team better than the Bills? Tough to say.

 

[The_Riddler]

Great post. I agree, I think BB knows Mallett is the future. I believe he is also and I think he is going to show this in a big way when he gets his chance in the pre season.

He has a tremendous work ethic. I remember him staying voluntarily after camp sessions ended working on his game with the WRs.

He has all the physical tool and film knowledge he needs at this point. Now he just needs the reps to fine tune his game.

Mike Lombardi is a great, great talent evaluator, so the fact that he was linked to a serious Mallet interest speaks volumes to what he sees in Mallet's future.

I am in the #KeepRyanMalletInFoxboro camp

 

[Gumby]

Riddler, I could have sworn I have seen that post before, DID you copy it from someone else?

oh, here it is:

I agree, I think BB knows Michael Bishop is the future. I believe he is also and I think he is going to show this in a big way when he gets his chance in the pre season.

He has a tremendous work ethic. I remember him staying voluntarily after camp sessions ended working on his game with the WRs.

He has all the physical tool and film knowledge he needs at this point. Now he just needs the reps to fine tune his game.

.....

(Apologies to Riddler for making up the 'archive')- but I have heard this tune/lived through this before - about how guys who have thrown practically 0 nfl-REAL SEASON passes are going to be the next coming of Dan Marino or Fran Tarkenton.

Michael Bishop - Bledsoe
Rohan Davey - Bledsoe
Kliff Klingsbury, etc etc....
.... WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Apologies to RM too, he COULD BE GOOD - Point is - nobody KNOWS, at this point I would say BB doesnt even KNOW and won't until RM has to CARRY THE LOAD as an ACKNOWLEDGED STARTER. pre-season MEANS JACK and TB will not give him a chance - hell not even in blowouts.

 

[Fencer]

Mallett will be a FA at some point. If he's good enough for there to be any consideration of dumping Brady for him, he's also good enough to get a lot better deal in FA than being Brady's backup.

 

[Miguel]

Just curious, what kind of contract do you expect Mallett to sign in 2015?

 

[tonyto3690]

This is the same exact idiocy we heard with Kevin O'Connel, and Brian Hoyer, and so on. He's a decent backup who hasn't shown ANYTHING, let alone shown he can be a franchise QB.

This is akin to saying Trevor Scott is going to be an elite DE next season.

Just ridiculous homerism and overvaluing of our players.

If we ended up getting a high 3rd round pick for him I'd be ecstatic.

 

[Snake Eyes]

If we ended up getting a high 3rd round pick for him I'd be ecstatic.

Why would BB trade him for so little? He's serving a purpose as a backup, if BB were to trade him he'd simply have to replace him. Unless BB gets good value for him it makes no sense to trade him.

 

[xlcjw72]

Why would BB trade him for so little? He's serving a purpose as a backup, if BB were to trade him he'd simply have to replace him. Unless BB gets good value for him it makes no sense to trade him.

Because if brady goes down we are done.... i think mallet is a good qb and hes proven to not be a head case... but what makes brady so good is fire, his passion, his heart... i dont think mallet has it

 

[ctpatsfan77]

a. RM will be a RFA or UFA come next year (i forget which).

Neither. He is under contract for the next two seasons, and becomes a UFA after 2014.

 

[supafly]

Just curious, what kind of contract do you expect Mallett to sign in 2015?

I think this would be the million dollar question, and also likely the biggest obstacle into making this a reality.

It'd be tough for the Pats to warrant spending as much to keep him around, and it'd be tough for Mallett to accept something "reasonable" for a backup if he thinks he'd be eventually starting. Both sides would have arguments as to why it may not be worth it financially.

Like I said, I'd be all for it, but I just see it as quite a challenge.

 

[patsfan13]

You left off B Farve, A Rodgers....

Riddler, I could have sworn I have seen that post before, DID you copy it from someone else?

oh, here it is:



(Apologies to Riddler for making up the 'archive')- but I have heard this tune/lived through this before - about how guys who have thrown practically 0 nfl-REAL SEASON passes are going to be the next coming of Dan Marino or Fran Tarkenton.

Michael Bishop - Bledsoe
Rohan Davey - Bledsoe
Kliff Klingsbury, etc etc....
.... WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Apologies to RM too, he COULD BE GOOD - Point is - nobody KNOWS, at this point I would say BB doesnt even KNOW and won't until RM has to CARRY THE LOAD as an ACKNOWLEDGED STARTER. pre-season MEANS JACK and TB will not give him a chance - hell not even in blowouts.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Why would BB trade him for so little? He's serving a purpose as a backup, if BB were to trade him he'd simply have to replace him. Unless BB gets good value for him it makes no sense to trade him.

Kafka is a backup QB on the roster. Trade The Hammer for a 3rd plus conditional 2014

A decent 3rd is useful. We could use our 3rd or the better one to trade up in round 2.

 

[eagle eye]

People getting a bit carried away here. I remember even Belichick saying that you really don't know what sort of QB you have until you see him start in a regular season game.

I really do hope he is that good but I really don't ever want to find out tbh. I want Brady playing at the level he has for the last couple of years to just keep on going.

 

[Jackson 2]

Because if brady goes down we are done.... i think mallet is a good qb and hes proven to not be a head case... but what makes brady so good is fire, his passion, his heart... i dont think mallet has it

I don't know how anyone could possibly even begin to know if Mallet "has it" or not.

 

[supafly]

Kafka is a backup QB on the roster. Trade The Hammer for a 3rd plus conditional 2014

A decent 3rd is useful. We could use our 3rd or the better one to trade up in round 2.

I think that a trade for a 3rd rd pick would be fantastic. I'm not seeing it as a realistic possibility myself, but it's certainly debatable.

The issue I'd have with Kafka is that he has absolutely no experience in our system whatsover, whereas Mallett is going into his 3rd training camp this summer. While Kafka may be a viable option as a backup QB, I think we may be in an area of unknowns at the moment with him.