Let's talk about the Hightower situation.

[I.M. Fletcher]

Frankly those dudes in our 4-2-5 defense would be decent.
The issue with Hightower is more that he can do so many things, and really be a weapon on defense.
We lose a lot of that versatility. We would have capable LBs but we wouldn't have the guy who can line up at DE and rush like a probowl DE, play in the middle and stuff the run like a pro bowl MLB, play coverage, get to the corner, blitz inside or outside, and be someone that you can put in many different roles to make your defense more varied and unpredictable.

Hightowers stripsack was a huge play. BB asked him to be Von Miller on that play. If he asked him to be Von Miller every play, there is no doubt he would have a dozen sacks. But he also does all of those other things, and that is where his real value is.

That's exactly it. There just aren't any guys out there that are 6'2 265lbs that can run like he can, and play as smart as he does.

Take him away, and our defense looks awfully vanilla as far as the different looks we can play.

 

[Two Eight]

Pay him he's earned it...I tho0ught that was the reason we let Jones and Collins go so we could keep High?

 

[neuronet]

I trust BB to make the right decision and am not going to worry about it.

 

[brdmaverick]

I certainly wouldn't blame the guy for keeping his options open.

After all, he already has two Super Bowl championships. Now he has the opportunity for a big payday I think that might be more important to him going forward than the championships (again, since he has 2). This is based not on anything he has said but just my take on nature human logic.

 

[JMC00]

They ended up paying McCourty, they will end up paying Hightower

 

[The Gr8est]

Well the fates say the Pats are winning the Superbowl next year, so I'm thinking BB franchises him for one year, a la Welker, and then lets him walk for a comp pick.

BB buys himself a year to work on replacing him.

Hightower has been great, but him being butt hurt about the Collins trade, as well as having a body breaking down from the NFL rigors says he won't be a long term Pat.

 

[PatriotsPimp136]

So whose the next best LB in free agency after him? I notice melvin ingram

 

[deroc5050]

Collins got 50 mil and 26 guarenteed? I was under the impression that Collins was the superior more versatile player. So he should get a touch under that unless things have changed since last season. Plus you have to figure Collins was going to be a little more expensive to keep in Cleveland. But maybe Jamie likes going 2-14 or worse.

 

[Love The Drake]

Would love zach brown

 

[PatriotsPimp136]

Would love zach brown

What about melvin ingram?

 

[PatriotsPimp136]

Would love zach brown

The titans have alot of cap space. They could resign him but maybe he would love to play for a winner.

 

[Pessimistic Pete]

"We can let Hightower go then use the 1st we get from Jimmy G to get a new LB"

Which basically nets you the loss of Jimmy G and Hightower for a LB that will most likely not be as good as Hightower. Awful plan.

 

[I.M. Fletcher]

What about melvin ingram?

Injury concerns, expensive and likely tagged.

Might as well keep Hightower.

 

[farn]

That's exactly it. There just aren't any guys out there that are 6'2 265lbs that can run like he can, and play as smart as he does.

Take him away, and our defense looks awfully vanilla as far as the different looks we can play.

SB Champs

 

[102 Pat]

SB LI isn't even 72 hours old and people are moving into FA mode...first world Pats fans problems eh?

 

[PatriotsPimp136]

Injury concerns, expensive and likely tagged.

Might as well keep Hightower.

I want him back but he should know how we operate. A tag would be expensive.

 

[RIpats88]

He will be back. They got rid of collins and jones.. and bb paid mccourty. This idea bb doesnt pay players is a myth.

Ge doesnt pay players he feels he can replace. Hightower is the leader of the defense with mccourty and butler

 

[PatriotsPimp136]

SB LI isn't even 72 hours old and people are moving into FA mode...first world Pats fans problems eh?

Thinking about number 6 already lol. Should be a fun offseason with many possibilities. Alot of free agents.

 

[Kargetina]

We went 17-2 without Chandler Jones, traded Collins mid-season, and lost Gronk for the last 3 months.

If anyone decided to suggest such a thing at the beginning of the season, he would have been laughed out of the thread. And yet here we are.

If Hightower decides to play hard ball with Bill and continues to ignore the fact that trading his buddy turned the defense around and helped us win the SB, he'll be gone and we'll continue chugging along like we always do.

I really hope we sign him, he's a great player but like this season showed, everyone but TB12 is replaceable.

 

[PatriotsPimp136]

He will be back. They got rid of collins and jones.. and bb paid mccourty. This idea bb doesnt pay players is a myth.

Ge doesnt pay players he feels he can replace. Hightower is the leader of the defense with mccourty and butler

Yes but he has these nagging injuries. How much? I would pay a little under collins but with much more guarantee money.