RFA Emmanuel Sanders visits Pats 3/16; signs offer sheet 4/10, sheet matched 4/14

[SHOWTIME15]

Actually there IS a reason for the Pats to be waiting. The Steelers are currently 2.5MM uinder the cap and still have their rookies to sign. By waiting until the last minute (4/19) the Steelers might have to use that what little cap space they have on some minor signings. Even minor signings at this point could make it tougher to match any offer the Pats make.

The tougher it is for the Steelers to sign Sanders, the less it will take for the Pats to grab him and keep him. At this point there isn't a huge rush to do this deal. the Pats off season program doesn't start until the 15th.

That may be true, but it's also plausible the pats haven't done anything with sanders because they are not interested.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

There is exactly zero reason for him to sign his tender early.

Wrong, other teams may jump into the sanders' sweepstakes unless he badly wants to play in NE. Who's to say a team like SF with multiple picks wouldn't take a flyer on him?

 

[PatsFaninAZ]

Wrong, other teams may jump into the sanders' sweepstakes unless he badly wants to play in NE. Who's to say a team like SF with multiple picks wouldn't take a flyer on him?

Huh?

If he wants to sign with someone, why would he ever sign his tender before he has to? And if he signs his tender, he is under contract to the Steelers and cannot then negotiate with, let alone sign with, the 49ers or anyone else.

There is zero reason to sign a tender unless you have to. It converts you from a free agent to a player under contract.

 

[JMC00]

Wrong, other teams may jump into the sanders' sweepstakes unless he badly wants to play in NE. Who's to say a team like SF with multiple picks wouldn't take a flyer on him?

What? You're wrong and make no sense.

If the 49ers offered him a deal he can turn it down. If any team offers him anything he can turn it down.

If he signs his tender (the Steelers tender) early he signs for one year $1.3 million. Why would he sign early for one year $1.3mil when he could potentially get a deal from another team that pays him much much more.

And signing Sanders isn't taking a flyer. The deal it would take for him to sign isn't flyer money, he's not some 30 year old veteran that would be signing for no guaranteed money at a little bit more than the minimum

 

[Miguel]

Changed the subject in the hopes of clarifying the title.

 

[bagwell368]

Why must BB have but one goal with Sanders?

BB could be after Sanders, or we could be after tangling the Steelers budgeting/planning for the season. Or both.

I'm growing fond of the players that should be available for the Pats with the 3rd round selection. We have money to move on available WR's now, and during camp cut down. Given the general productivity of most drafted WR's in their rookie year (not great) and our own unique way of using WR's I doubt we even draft one inside the first 4 rounds. We can draft a DT or DE, S, and CB with the first 3 picks, come back with a G/C, WR and coverage LB with later picks/UDFA.

If BB does more or less what I predict draft wise, and signs Lloyd, drafts a project WR/ST guy, and adds another aging but useful WR via cuts, that's a receiving corps (TE, WR, RB) that will rank among the best Brady has ever had - and they'll do it cheap on the WR side since BB has spent big dough on TE's.

I have to say I'm surprised that so many of you alarmists survived to this point in time given what Brady had in 2005 and 2006. Must have been apoplexy galore...

 

[Jimke]

That may be true, but it's also plausible the pats haven't done anything with sanders because they are not interested.

There is a simple reason why the Patriots haven't done anything with Sanders. Robert Kraft would not permit it. There is an unwritten agreement
among the owners not to mess with other team's RFAs. This is why none of them changed hands last year. If the Patriots agreed to a trade with Pittsburgh (3rd round plus 7th round pick), that would be ok.

 

[dales804]

There is a simple reason why the Patriots haven't done anything with Sanders. Robert Kraft would not permit it. There is an unwritten agreement
among the owners not to mess with other team's RFAs. This is why none of them changed hands last year. If the Patriots agreed to a trade with Pittsburgh (3rd round plus 7th round pick), that would be ok.

How do you know about this unwritten rule? And so if the Patriots were willing to give up their 3rd but PIT didn't want to trade, the Patriots just wouldn't bother to improve their team because of this rule?

 

[JackBauer]

If BB does more or less what I predict draft wise, and signs Lloyd, drafts a project WR/ST guy, and adds another aging but useful WR via cuts.

Gross.

I think BB will draft a WR in the 1st or 2nd round, or tender Sanders for the 3rd round pick. Anything less would be a huge lapse in judgment, IMO.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

It's just a gut feeling...i hope im wrong. With the limited number of picks this year, belichick is going to hold into them for his dear life. If he had an extra thirs rounder then maybe he gets sanders.

Why? Is there late a 3rd round WR with better demonstrable NFL prospects than Sanders? The pick gets used on a player regardless. Why not Sanders?

 

[DW Toys]

There is a simple reason why the Patriots haven't done anything with Sanders. Robert Kraft would not permit it. There is an unwritten agreement
among the owners not to mess with other team's RFAs. This is why none of them changed hands last year. If the Patriots agreed to a trade with Pittsburgh (3rd round plus 7th round pick), that would be ok.

Exactly. Mentioned this a few weeks ago. Same thing Kraft did with Welker in Miami. Throw in a seventh and the deal can be done. It also prevents an end run like with SF.
I think it has to be a sign and trade.
DW Toys

 

[Sciz]

Exactly. Mentioned this a few weeks ago. Same thing Kraft did with Welker in Miami. Throw in a seventh and the deal can be done. It also prevents an end run like with SF.
I think it has to be a sign and trade.
DW Toys

The issue with Welker was that the Pats were prepared to use a poison pill, which was very frowned upon. Now they can't use a poison pill, because it's explicitly disallowed now. The Welker situation isn't really relevant at all, and there's no reason to trade for him rather than sign him to an offer sheet except to lower the contract, which doesn't really seem to be an issue considering Pittsburgh's lack of cap room.

 

[ALP]

Thanks to whoever changed the thread title finally

 

[Coach42]

Emmanuel Sanders, a RFA, visited the Pats. Has not signed a tender

Is nobody considering the possibility that sanders came here, talked contract and was never in the same ball park as the team? Maybe now that Wallace is gone he sees playing in a familiar offense in Pitt for one year before hitting FA as a better opportunity than getting a longer term lower money deal in NE.

 

[signbabybrady]

Is nobody considering the possibility that sanders came here, talked contract and was never in the same ball park as the team? Maybe now that Wallace is gone he sees playing in a familiar offense in Pitt for one year before hitting FA as a better opportunity than getting a longer term lower money deal in NE.

You didn't get the memo?

Board by laws rule 3 section 21 article 2 Any player who visits, is rumored or is otherwise moving forward with some sort of tie to the patriots is ours until they are signed with another team.

 

[captain stone]

Why? Is there late a 3rd round WR with better demonstrable NFL prospects than Sanders? The pick gets used on a player regardless. Why not Sanders?

Sanders will be more expensive than the 3rd-round WR. The question to be asked, therefore, is:
Will the anticipated difference in production in Sanders' favor outweigh the difference in cost
in the rookie's favor?

 

[FoxboroFlyer]

Sanders will be more expensive than the 3rd-round WR. The question to be asked, therefore, is:
Will the anticipated difference in production in Sanders' favor outweigh the difference in cost
in the rookie's favor?

Answer: absolutely not.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Sanders has played in the NFL. Pats round 2 & 3 WRs after Branch have been disasters. So, who knows?

 

[FoxboroFlyer]

Sanders has played in the NFL. Pats round 2 & 3 WRs after Branch have been disasters. So, who knows?

So, clearly we should pay a guy 5-7 mill. A year who has chronic feet, and knee issues who has yet to put up respectable numbers warranting those #'s. Not to mention throw away a 3rd. Round pick on top of your cap issues that will follow.

Genius!

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

So, clearly we should pay a guy 5-7 mill. A year who has chronic feet, and knee issues who has yet to put up respectable numbers warranting those #'s. Not to mention throw away a 3rd. Round pick on top of your cap issues that will follow.

Genius!

So we should waste a needed defensive draft pick on another non-productive WR at round 2 just like the several failed WRs drafted before him

Genius

Yes, 2 can play your silly game