Patriots Decide Not To Use Franchise Tag

[PatsFans.com Article]

Patriots Decide Not To Use Franchise Tag
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The NFL Franchise Tag deadline has come and gone. The New England Patriots decided not to use the franchise tag on Monday, paving the way for Aqib Talib to become a free agent. ...

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[Kontradiction]

I'm hoping they already have a deal worked out with Talib and are just waiting for him to accept it. Otherwise, this is mighty risky.

 

[supafly]

I'm hoping they already have a deal worked out with Talib and are just waiting for him to accept it. Otherwise, this is mighty risky.

I would've bet as much money as anyone would have taken that they wouldn't have used the tag, Kontra.

Talib is hardly worth getting stuck with almost 12 million dollars for, and the same goes with Edelman and the one year salary for WRs.

No value in the tag whatsoever this year in my opinion. I actually didn't see any CBs or WRs getting it, aside from maybe one player total. No one there, really.

 

[Kontradiction]

I would've bet as much money as anyone would have taken that they wouldn't have used the tag, Kontra.

Talib is hardly worth getting stuck with almost 12 million dollars for, and the same goes with Edelman and the one year salary for WRs.

No value in the tag whatsoever this year in my opinion. I actually didn't see any CBs or WRs getting it, aside from maybe one player total. No one there, really.

I agree that $12M is a lot but, if Talib rides off, they need to have a back up plan firmly in place because the back end pretty much falls apart without him. Sam Shields maybe? Vontae Davis? We shall see.

 

[supafly]

I agree that $12M is a lot but, if Talib rides off, they need to have a back up plan firmly in place because the back end pretty much falls apart without him. Sam Shields maybe? Vontae Davis? We shall see.

Not that we'd ever do it, but after watching Darqueze Dennard the past couple of yrs, I'd be inclined to consider moving up to snag him just as well.

Obviously, it'd be too expensive in terms of what it'd take to do so though.

 

[Huckleberry1]

I agree that $12M is a lot but, if Talib rides off, they need to have a back up plan firmly in place because the back end pretty much falls apart without him. Sam Shields maybe? Vontae Davis? We shall see.

I think their back up plan is Ryan, vet FA's and a draft pick.However I couldn't see them giving Talib over 10 million, let alone over 11. I doubt they go over 7 and they won't be caught off guard if he leaves.

 

[supafly]

I think their back up plan is Ryan, vet FA's and a draft pick.However I couldn't see them giving Talib over 10 million, let alone over 11. I doubt they go over 7 and they won't be caught off guard if he leaves.

We'll have the usual panic stricken posts for months about the future of the team etc, but the reality is that life will go on and Belichick will have some ideas about how to replace him. Hell, we went to the SB and almost won it again with a rag tag group of misfits back there, so there's more than one way to do it.

Reiss' article today really put things into perspective and was a small, but good read. No INT's in the last 9 games of the season, very inconsistent play at times, the worst CB in the league in terms of yds per attempt, and can't be depended on to see the field at times (unfortunately, the most important times).

I think we all want him back due to what he does when everything lines up well, and the fact that we have no capable replacement at this time---but there's got to be a firm price on that too. He can be good/very good, so I'm not meaning to dispute that, just the fact that we "need" to give him 8 million per season etc.

 

[Kontradiction]

I think their back up plan is Ryan, vet FA's and a draft pick.However I couldn't see them giving Talib over 10 million, let alone over 11. I doubt they go over 7 and they won't be caught off guard if he leaves.

Well, we don't know what Talib wants just yet. But, if it's over $10M per year, I would be on the phone with Verner's agent and have him on the next flight to New England. Talib's great, but not for $10M per year when you can all but guarantee that he's not going to play a full 16 games. Still, I prefer to wait and see what he wants. Shouldn't be long now before the reports begin the leak out.

 

[Huckleberry1]

It's strange with Talib imo as at times he looks like he makes all the difference in the world and at others no difference at all, and he can't be counted upon. Even though their defense looks significantly better when he is playing well I think Belichick is looking well beyond that and much more critically at it. It is going to be really interesting to see where they come down on his worth and the gulf could end up being similar to the Welker negotiations the past couple of years. Really good player, we'll give you 5-6 million but no can do to the big deal.

 

[Huckleberry1]

Well, we don't know what Talib wants just yet. But, if it's over $10M per year, I would be on the phone with Verner's agent and have him on the next flight to New England. Talib's great, but not for $10M per year when you can all but guarantee that he's not going to play a full 16 games. Still, I prefer to wait and see what he wants. Shouldn't be long now before the reports begin the leak out.

I don't think Talib is looking for over 10 million a season but i would guess his agent isn't starting any lower than 8+ with significant guaranteed money. he may get that somewhere else but i doubt the Patriots would go there, and they will just move on and deal with it.

And i agree that the news around the league on many deals is going to really start heating up. At a minimum I would have expected the Mallett to Houston for their #33, Julius Peppers released, signs with the Patriots, and Red Bryant Looking Good in Patriots Blue headlines to have come across the wire by now. Any minute i would guess?

 

[Huckleberry1]

We'll have the usual panic stricken posts for months about the future of the team etc, but the reality is that life will go on and Belichick will have some ideas about how to replace him. Hell, we went to the SB and almost won it again with a rag tag group of misfits back there, so there's more than one way to do it.

Reiss' article today really put things into perspective and was a small, but good read. No INT's in the last 9 games of the season, very inconsistent play at times, the worst CB in the league in terms of yds per attempt, and can't be depended on to see the field at times (unfortunately, the most important times).

I think we all want him back due to what he does when everything lines up well, and the fact that we have no capable replacement at this time---but there's got to be a firm price on that too. He can be good/very good, so I'm not meaning to dispute that, just the fact that we "need" to give him 8 million per season etc.

I agree SUP, they aren't going high for him, too many concerns even though he alleviated most of the ones he came with. They would like to keep him but it will be at their price, that's my guess on it.

 

[Deus Irae]

We'll have the usual panic stricken posts for months about the future of the team etc, but the reality is that life will go on and Belichick will have some ideas about how to replace him. Hell, we went to the SB and almost won it again with a rag tag group of misfits back there, so there's more than one way to do it.

They've been trying to fix that defensive backfield since the end of the 2007 season, so talking about life going on and the rest really runs counter to the reality of the situation. A decent back 4 and this team probably has more SB appearances and victories.


Any "usual panic stricken posts" have been justifiable for a long time.

 

[50-yard-line]

If Talib is too pricey, I'd consider Ryan and a cheaper vet - and instead, I'd look to upgrade the safety position with Byrd or Ward, particularly Byrd.

The other thing is that strengthening the DL can make the D-backs look a whole lot better. Cases in point: San Fran and Seattle.

 

[Kontradiction]

I don't think Talib is looking for over 10 million a season but i would guess his agent isn't starting any lower than 8+ with significant guaranteed money. he may get that somewhere else but i doubt the Patriots would go there, and they will just move on and deal with it.

And i agree that the news around the league on many deals is going to really start heating up. At a minimum I would have expected the Mallett to Houston for their #33, Julius Peppers released, signs with the Patriots, and Red Bryant Looking Good in Patriots Blue headlines to have come across the wire by now. Any minute i would guess?

You're wanting Julius Peppers for his name value alone. Watch some Bears games from last season. He's clearly lost a step. I would give Talib that contract, but I would love it with incentives as well. If he moves on, they need to take a serious look at Verner. Verner is the one FA left (now that the deal with Grimes is done) that is capable of replacing Talib.

 

[Love The Drake]

Captain Munnerlyn

 

[supafly]

They've been trying to fix that defensive backfield since the end of the 2007 season, so talking about life going on and the rest really runs counter to the reality of the situation. A decent back 4 and this team probably has more SB appearances and victories.


Any "usual panic stricken posts" have been justifiable for a long time.

My example of the panic stricken posts were for the future of the team in general, but I agree with you about the instability in the secondary.

Unfortunately, I'm not as certain as some that Talib is the answer for a high priced, long term pact to settle those concerns.

We have our differences with how we see Talib's worth on a new deal, which is understandable, but again--I wouldn't expect it to be as high as Grimes' myself.

If Talib wants to accept something a bit lower than that, fine; if not, the world will keep spinning, and they'll have to explore other options. I agree with you that we eventually will need to pay a little more to keep a solid CB, but I don't know if Aqib Talib is going to be that guy.

 

[supafly]

If Talib is too pricey, I'd consider Ryan and a cheaper vet - and instead, I'd look to upgrade the safety position with Byrd or Ward, particularly Byrd.

The other thing is that strengthening the DL can make the D-backs look a whole lot better. Cases in point: San Fran and Seattle.

I agree with both of those statements, and those 2 possibilities is what I'd expect Belichick to pursue.

 

[Deus Irae]

My example of the panic stricken posts were for the future of the team in general, but I agree with you about the instability in the secondary.

Unfortunately, I'm not as certain as some that Talib is the answer for a high priced, long term pact to settle those concerns.

We have our differences with how we see Talib's worth on a new deal, which is understandable, but again--I wouldn't expect it to be as high as Grimes' myself.

If Talib wants to accept something a bit lower than that, fine; if not, the world will keep spinning, and they'll have to explore other options. I agree with you that we eventually will need to pay a little more to keep a solid CB, but I don't know if Aqib Talib is going to be that guy.

I've mentioned Shields and Davis as potential alternatives, and I wanted Grimes over Talib last year. I'm not all about Talib. I just see that he's earned a high paycheck based on his play last year. If the Patriots can get him on a reasonable deal, I'm all for it. I just don't want to see another Welker situation play out. Losing out on top talent that's already in house because you'd rather screw them over than pay them what they've earned is something BB has to evolve past as a GM.

 

[patsfan-1982]

I don't think Talib is not going to sign any offer from the pats until he hears with other teams are going to offer and if its not much more then what the pats are offering he will be back

 

[SB39]

I'm hoping they already have a deal worked out with Talib and are just waiting for him to accept it. Otherwise, this is mighty risky.

If that were the case, then they should have franchised him anyway. Now other teams can jump into the fray. (well, technically they can't jump into the fray yet, but we all know they will)

I reserve judgment because I don't know what is going on behind the scenes, but if they lose Talib and don't find a suitable replacement, then this was a major blunder IMHO.

If, however, they are closer to Revis than we realize (for example) then obviously this isn't a big deal.