Pats Sign Brandon Browner!

[PatsWickedPissah]

Mr Peabody's Wayback Machine took me back to when we last had a physical corner who could bump wideouts at the LOS. It was the much shorter but muscular 5' 11" Ty Law. So what did BB do with Law when facing Peyton in the playoffs? He had him go all CB/safety hybrid. Ty lined up all over the defensive backfield, all over...because he just could. What happened? Law picked Manning 3 times, holding the Colts to low single digits.

With Browner maybe BB has designs to radicalize pass defense. We saw hints of that last season with Talib face up on TE/WR Graham. 2014 is gonna be fun to watch for us football fans. Screw the fantasy fanboys and their gaudy #s.

 

[50-yard-line]

Again, I would welcome Browner at SS but imagine this...

CB1: Revis
CB2: Browner
Nickel: Dennard
Dime: Arrington/Ryan
FS: McCourty
SS: Pryor (trade up)/Bucannon/Exum/McGill

The SS position then gives you size, physicality, range, and can be covered up until the rookie comes along.

if the Pats use one of their first two picks on a d0back, I think they're crazy. DL and OL and TE are their clear needs right now.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

Again, I would welcome Browner at SS but imagine this...

CB1: Revis
CB2: Browner
Nickel: Dennard
Dime: Arrington/Ryan
FS: McCourty
SS: Pryor (trade up)/Bucannon/Exum/McGill

The SS position then gives you size, physicality, range, and can be covered up until the rookie comes along.

I would love Calvin Pryor, but we are woefully thin at DT. Only henry Melton is worth pursuing and he likes the cowboys.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Just imagine what Alfonzo Dennard must be thinking. He goes to jail for 35 days, and within the first 2 weeks Aqib Talib is a Bronco and the Pats have signed Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner.

We need Denard to Do More Time!!!

 

[Kontradiction]

You know I'm fine with drafting the safety, but that would mean losing out on the DL, and that DL is going to need, probably, 3 legit young players in the next couple of years.

Take a gander at next years class and include the underclassmen that you can be sure will declare. It looks pretty good, IMO.

 

[mayoclinic]

We need Denard to Do More Time!!!

Get the judge to make him serve the full 70 days and we'll probably end up with Jared Allen and Alex Mack.

 

[Joker]

We need Denard to Do More Time!!!

just call up the sheriff in Lincoln, Nebraska... Kenny Kurt Kaykaykayerson...tell him you're an off duty cop and Dennard punched you last year...you swear...he'll get another 2 years....

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

They should just put Nate Ebner at strong safety and let him run around and lay people out.

I love the guy (binky) but a safety has to be in the correct zip code. Not sure Ebs has that badly needed clue. I would love to see him as a hitter though.

 

[Brady6]

I love the guy (binky) but a safety has to be in the correct zip code. Not sure Ebs has that badly needed clue. I would love to see him as a hitter though.

I agree, I was thinking we line him up 40 yards up field and let him approach every play like a punt return.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

just call up the sheriff in Lincoln, Nebraska... Kenny Kurt Kaykaykayerson...tell him you're an off duty cop and Dennard punched you last year...you swear...he'll get another 2 years....

That'll work. People always guess that I was a cop.

 

[Kontradiction]

By the way, I love Pryor but I'm not totally advocating going SS in the first. The Pats could draft DT/DE in the first, TE in the second, then go after one of the many big bodied CB to safety conversions after that. Pryor is my binky, I'll admit, but I'm also realistic.

 

[Bobs My Uncle]

I'm going to think of Browner as BB's Queen chess piece. Like the Queen in chess, BB will move Browner all over the field, in a variety of positions, looking for the best matchup. Getting someone with Browner's flexibility should pay HUGE dividends if used right. And, we know who is the best ever at using player's to their strength's.

I am unbelievable stoked at the additions of Revis and Browner and I can't wait to see how BB and Patricia decide to use them.

 

[mayoclinic]

I'm going to think of Browner as BB's Queen chess piece. Like the Queen in chess, BB will move Browner all over the field, in a variety of positions, looking for the best matchup. Getting someone with Browner's flexibility should pay HUGE dividends if used right. And, we know who is the best ever at using player's to their strength's.

I am unbelievable stoked at the additions of Revis and Browner and I can't wait to see how BB and Patricia decide to use them.

Yup. Browner will sort of be the Jamie Collins of the secondary.

 

[Deus Irae]

By the way, I love Pryor but I'm not totally advocating going SS in the first. The Pats could draft DT/DE in the first, TE in the second, then go after one of the many big bodied CB to safety conversions after that. Pryor is my binky, I'll admit, but I'm also realistic.

If Browner's not going to safety, safety is a definite need. The problem is that there's only so much money in the kitty, and only so many draft picks available. With the amount of "top 20" talent this year, and the reasonable likelihood that some of it reaches the Patriots, I'm not sure BB is going to want to do the drop down thing with the round 1 pick.

This is a year where I expect some decent WRs to spring loose, so I'm not worried about that position right now.

This is a year where I can see TE in round 2 and C in round 3, so I'm not worried about those positions right now.

That leaves S/DT/DE/LB, Blount/RB and possibly OG. Assuming Browner stays at CB, maybe getting Chris Clemons would be a nice finishing tough to the secondary. The tackling would suffer a bit, but

Revis
McCourty
Clemons

would cover a lot of ground, and Browner could beat the hell out of the WR2s while Dennard and Arrington do the same to the slot guys. That would leave that round 1 pick for the DL.

Then, the interesting question (to me) comes up if it's one of the CBs that falls.

 

[PATS16N0]

Love this comment from a Bills forum

No, I'm thinking about Browner - the 6'4" 225lb CB that is regarded as the most physically intimidating press corner in the league. His departure from Seattle had nothing to do with his performance, it was because the man could not stop smoking weed. Yes, he does get flagged a lot (no prob in NE), primarily because he plays the position like a professional wrestler. He's a vicious hitter that loves contact, and his signing would give NE the best secondary in the AFC

lololol.
Reading AFC Rivals panic about our off season moves is definitely going to hold me over until Game of Thrones comes back on

 

[RayClay]

If you’re curious: Browner told friends he had a 2-year, $10M deal last night. Thanks maybe to today’s shenanigans, it became 3 years, $17M

Rap sheet

So did Rappaport cost the team money, or did they restructure it to make it look better so his agent could save face?

 

[DefenseRules]

If Browner's not going to safety, safety is a definite need. The problem is that there's only so much money in the kitty, and only so many draft picks available. With the amount of "top 20" talent this year, and the reasonable likelihood that some of it reaches the Patriots, I'm not sure BB is going to want to do the drop down thing with the round 1 pick.

This is a year where I expect some decent WRs to spring loose, so I'm not worried about that position right now.

This is a year where I can see TE in round 2 and C in round 3, so I'm not worried about those positions right now.

That leaves S/DT/DE/LB, Blount/RB and possibly OG. Assuming Browner stays at CB, maybe getting Chris Clemons would be a nice finishing tough to the secondary. The tackling would suffer a bit, but

Revis
McCourty
Clemons

would cover a lot of ground, and Browner could beat the hell out of the WR2s while Dennard and Arrington do the same to the slot guys. That would leave that round 1 pick for the DL.

Then, the interesting question (to me) comes up if it's one of the CBs that falls.

I like the way you think my friend.

 

[pdangle]

A few things.

Seems a bit higher than I expected NE would pay. But who knows in the current market with his skills. That said...

Does anyone have any advanced metrics on the guy? QBR thrown his way, passes defended, PFF stats, etc. Anything. Everyone just says he's good, he's big. Or links to good sites work too. I can't seem to find a NFL stat site that isn't fantasy football driven these days. But I did stop looking in frustration a couple years ago.

Also, the devil is in the details in the salary I'd imagine. The 4 game suspension for example. But moreso, the tons of space NE has next season. I'd say 30-40% of it as bonus, spread out something of a ratio of 2,8,7 per each season. A little bonus and salary in year 1, a HEAVY amount in year 2, all salary year 3, with NE able to cut/restructure without much fuss in year 3.

Interesting to see.

 

[DaBruinz]

I really hope the Pats put a clause in Browner's contract that would nullify it in the event that he tests positive again.

I am leary of this signing because of Browner's history. If he keeps his nose clean, then great. The Pats scored a big coup here.

I could see Browner being the Left Safety to McCourty's Right Safety with Revis and either Ryan or Dennard as the Starters. This could be the year we see Arrington demoted to 5th CB.

 

[RayClay]

I'm impressed if he wrote this. Classy and intelligent.

Today, I am proud to announce that I am a New England Patriot. I am honored
that the Patriots are making me part of their legendary organization, and am
grateful for the opportunity Mr. Kraft, Coach Belichick, Nick Caserio and
the entire team have given me. I intend to diligently work with the same
passion and dedication that I have displayed since coming into the NFL to
uphold the great traditions and qualities that are embodied by the Patriots.
I would be remiss if I didn’t thank the Seattle Seahawks for giving a CFL
player the once in-a-lifetime opportunity to return to the NFL, making a
young boy's dream come true. To Coach Pete Carroll, GM John Schneider, John
Idzik, Coach Richard, Rocky Seto, the LOB, my teammates, the training staff, the equipment guys the Seahawks organization as a whole and most importantly the 12th Man, I say thank you for everything you have done for myself and my family.
I am a truly blessed person.