Who's the next to get a long term deal

[supafly]

McCourty is my bet, Spikes is gone, he is going to want much more money than they will ever pay him. I think Ninkovich re-signs.

Yeah, Spikes talks a good game now about putting rings above money, but I'm interested in hearing how much his attitude changes come next Feb/March.

 

[jmt57]

Wilfork has an $11.6 million cap figure in 2014 per both Miguel and Jason.

It would make sense for the Pats to work out a new deal with him by the end of this upcoming off season that will lower that number.

Also the longer you wait to sign a new deal, the older Wilfork will be towards the end of that contract. At that point the team wants to risk fewer years, but offering a shorter (e.g., two-year) contract can be a tough sell for a player of his caliber.

Wilfork will turn 32 this fall; even though he is an elite player his age is something that has to be taken in to consideration when discussing long term contracts.

 

[mgteich]

I agree with Wendell as the top choice. I would think Ninkovich would be next. The other two are Spikes and Talib. I don't expect a contract with either of them anytime soon.

I wouldn't wait very long on Wendell. If he's agreeable. I'd get an extension sign before the season starts or during the bye week.

I think that the next player to get a long term deal will be Ryan Wendell.


With the exception of Brandon Spikes, none of the other players mentioned thus far will be a free agent after this season. That means that the Patriots have a longer time period to work something out with those other players; that is not the case with Wendell.

Unless you are comfortable with Wendell walking, it makes sense that he would be next. If that is the case, then who is his replacement? Back to Connolly, who will be 32 at the start of next season?

As far as Spikes goes, the writing is on the wall for him. With early picks being used on two linebackers in the last two drafts the Pats are willing to let him walk in free agency next spring.


For what it is worth, here is a list of players on the Pats roster whose contracts expire next March:

Aqib Talib
Rob Ninkovich
Zoltan Mesko
Michael Hoomanawanui
Leon Washington
Ryan Wendell
Jermaine Cunningham
Brandon Spikes
Will Svitek
Julian Edelman
LaGarrette Blount
Jake Ballard
Marcus Benard
Dane Fletcher
Niko Koutouvides
Marquice Cole
Michael Jenkins
Danny Aiken
Jeff Tarpinian
Kevin Haslam
Mike Rivera
A.J. Edds

 

[JFK]

I say McCourty.

 

[jmt57]

I agree with Wendell as the top choice. I would think Ninkovich would be next. The other two are Spikes and Talib. I don't expect a contract with either of them anytime soon.

I wouldn't wait very long on Wendell. If he's agreeable. I'd get an extension sign before the season starts or during the bye week.

Ninkovich is a player that is certainly worth mentioning; he is, after all, a starter.


It seems as if he has been around forever, considering his bouncing around before the Pats signed him. In reality he will still only be 29 years old when the AFCCG is played.


Perhaps another question should be asked: what is the definition of a long-term contract? Realistically expected to stay for three years, based on the specifics, without consequences (i.e., cap hit)?

 

[PatriotReign]

In regard to Ballard I thought we got him for two additional seasons since he spent the year on PUP.

 

[Fencer]

Wendell will probably be affordable. So he's a good candidate.

Talib probably wants to break the bank.

I don't think McCourty wants to sign until he's proven he can play a position at a consistently high level, which he hasn't yet but I think soon will.

 

[goheels22002]

I think that the next player to get a long term deal will be Ryan Wendell.

For what it is worth, here is a list of players on the Pats roster whose contracts expire next March:

Aqib Talib
Rob Ninkovich
Zoltan Mesko
Michael Hoomanawanui
Leon Washington
Ryan Wendell
Jermaine Cunningham
Brandon Spikes
Will Svitek
Julian Edelman
LaGarrette Blount
Jake Ballard
Marcus Benard
Dane Fletcher
Niko Koutouvides
Marquice Cole
Michael Jenkins
Danny Aiken
Jeff Tarpinian
Kevin Haslam
Mike Rivera
A.J. Edds

Great work. This is very reassuring for the long term. Talib is someone who has to prove he's worth a multi-year commitment. Ninkovich deserves some security but he'll turn 30 in February, so his best move is to test the market.

Other than that, none of these guys - other than Wendell - is someone they have to lock up long-term.

Stability in the secondary is built into the contracts according to this. If the Pats could get beyond the revolving door they've had since the mid-200s, it would be good for the defense overall. Talib has millions of reasons to keep out of trouble and play well. I hope he can stay focused on that.

 

[Nunchucks]

I know he is limited physically, but I would love to see Spikes get a long term deal here, the guy is a tone-setting beast. He adds a lot of attitude to that defense.

The other guy I would like to see signed long term is Talib. Patriots need a CB like that on the roster.

 

[Froob]

McCourty, good character guy and a team captain along with being a top safety and pretty good cornerback. Hopefully Spikes too but thinking he probably leaves.

 

[TB12_laser designator]

Would like to see Ninkovich sorted out, he had a damn fine season last year. Too often he's an unsung hero and is often overlooked. Spikes ability to intimidate is not enough to make up for his limitations as a players. I think this is his last year as a Patriot. Wilfork restructring would also be a sensible move towards generating some more cap space.

 

[jmt57]

In regard to Ballard I thought we got him for two additional seasons since he spent the year on PUP.

To clarify with Ballard:

He is indeed under contract only through the 2013 season.

However, in 2014 he will be an Exclusive Rights Free Agent, and in 2015 he will be a Restricted Free Agent. So even though he is only under contract through this season, the Pats virtually have him locked up for two more tears after that.


In addition, Aiken, Haslem and Edds will be RFAs in 2014, and Rivera will also be an ERFA in 2014.

 

[Kontradiction]

McCourty is going to get it first. He's the best safety we've had since Rodney by a mile. Solder, in my opinion, needs to become more consistent before he gets a long term deal. Hopefully, they extend Wilfork.

 

[borg]

Expecting BB to do early deals like the Gronk and AHern packages seems unlikely. Burnt on the AHern deal...getting toasty on Glasskowski's. Maybe never again.
This team does seem to be stacked with more young talent than I can ever remember....so it is inevitable that the team will be forced to let talent leave thanks to Mr. Cap.

 

[VrabelJr]

McCourty and then Solder once we get the rest of this AH deal off the books.

 

[ivanvamp]

I know he is limited physically, but I would love to see Spikes get a long term deal here, the guy is a tone-setting beast. He adds a lot of attitude to that defense.

The other guy I would like to see signed long term is Talib. Patriots need a CB like that on the roster.

I hate to say it, but Spikes would be a great Baltimore Raven. Brings a nastiness and attitude and physicality that they seem to just eat up.

 

[IllegalContact]

ryan wendell

 

[manxman2601]

I'm curious as to why so little mention of Talib. Is the assumption that he'll be here for one year only and that he'll bee too expensive to sign long-term considering the other needed future commitments already mentioned?

 

[Kontradiction]

I'm curious as to why so little mention of Talib. Is the assumption that he'll be here for one year only and that he'll bee too expensive to sign long-term considering the other needed future commitments already mentioned?

To be honest, Talib actually slipped my mind. I think they're waiting to see what happens with him this year injury/production-wise before they sign him long term. That being the case, I would still go with McCourty. Of course, I reserve the right to change my mind midway through the season.

 

[manxman2601]

To be honest, Talib actually slipped my mind. I think they're waiting to see what happens with him this year injury/production-wise before they sign him long term. That being the case, I would still go with McCourty. Of course, I reserve the right to change my mind midway through the season.

I'd resign McCourty over Talib every day of the week. i'm not clear on when the Hernandez money is no longer an issue (we're only on the hook this year?) but presumably that could be set aside for Talib