Let's talk about the Hightower situation.

[patsfanincleveland]

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.

Even with this signing the Browns still have something like $100 million in cap space so "overpaying" is all relative.

Besides management here is under intense pressure following a 1-15 season. Danny Shelton played well this year and a Miles Garrett and Hightower/Collins dynamic would really upgrade their defense.

I wouldn't be suprised if Collins isn't recruiting him now to be over paid.

Cleveland had advantages:

Back with best friend

Over paid

Work only 17 weeks.

 

[BradyMoss812]

Get it done. He's a playmaker. You can never have too many of those types on defense.

 

[dafoe2016]

I would be absolutely stunned if Bennet is back next year. He seems very focused on money.

Besides dealing with their own free agents on defense I think their biggest need is shoring up the middle of that offensive line. It was exposed yet again against a pass rush that has just one above average player. We hae to fix that.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Using hindsight every team regrets every contract that didn't work out ever.

Mayo had no real injury history apart from missing 3-4 weeks with a MCL injury in 2009. The only two major injuries he had were the pec in 2013 and the patellar tendon in 2014. I don't see how anyone could anticipate this. If you are proposing to put in injury offsets into every contract you will soon have an issue signing anyone to an extension.

I don't really get your point.

My point is simple.

They shelled out a ****load of money for a player who didn't play up to it.

Of course they couldn't predict it but that doesn't mean in the final analysis the decision was still a great one

 

[ScottishPatriots]

They're going to have to pay Hightower and he deserves it, he has no reason to take a cheap deal he's won 2 rings and New England isn't the only place in the NFL where you can win games.

It's going to take a Collins like deal to get it done.

 

[luuked]

Of course they couldn't predict it but that doesn't mean in the final analysis the decision was still a great one

So what can they learn from this ? Don't sign core players to extensions because they could get end up in IR 2 years later ?

I assume you are implying they should add more insurance language into their contracts but there has to be a balance with that otherwise you will have players refusing to sign extensions. Where there is history add the language, where there is none they will have a hard time negotiating it in..

 

[JarOfMayo51]

People forget how good Mayo was when healthy.

Without him the 09-12 defenses allow 28ppg and not 20.

Its super frustrating to see how many people have turned on Mayo.. he was a tremendous player for us and an astounding leader/captain of the team

As soon as a player suffers an injury, retires or leaves via FA they become trash to some posters almost immediately

 

[mike_usagisan]

Unless they franchise Hightower, I see this playing out like McCourty. Give HT a number the Pats are comfortable with, he shops it around at the start of free agency. If he finds a better number he comes back and BB decides whether it's worth it to go over that.

 

[PP2]

We will at the very least, franchise Hightower. Look for us to draft or sign a high profile backer, to at least replace Collins, if not Hightower himself. I think we'll keep Roberts as a run-stopper, but Mingo and McClellan are good as gone.

 

[RobertWeathers]

So what can they learn from this ? Don't sign core players to extensions because they could get end up in IR 2 years later ?

I assume you are implying they should add more insurance language into their contracts but there has to be a balance with that otherwise you will have players refusing to sign extensions. Where there is history add the language, where there is none they will have a hard time negotiating it in..

I didn't say not to resign players.

I agree there needs to be a balance and the NEP need to be competitive with the market

Yes more offset language or pay higher than market if they play 14 games. If the player plays then maybe convert future earnings into a bonus.

Of course they run the risk of not resigning the player as other teams will pay big guarantees. I think we've seen the team navigate those waters pretty well.

 

[Love The Drake]

We will at the very least, franchise Hightower. Look for us to draft or sign a high profile backer, to at least replace Collins, if not Hightower himself. I think we'll keep Roberts as a run-stopper, but Mingo and McClellan are good as gone.

Shea is unde contract not a free agent.

 

[mosi's man]

Its super frustrating to see how many people have turned on Mayo.. he was a tremendous player for us and an astounding leader/captain of the team

As soon as a player suffers an injury, retires or leaves via FA they become trash to some posters almost immediately

It's not about trashing Jerod Mayo. He was a fantastic player, as is Hightower. But we all know that BB doesn't pay for past success. When healthy HT has played a pivotal role on the defense and been integral in several championships. The question, however, is health. He has had a series of injuries over the last several years and has missed at least three games a year in four of the last five seasons. Like Gronk (although to a lesser degree) he's a difference maker when on the field. The question is whether he will hold up/wear down over the next couple years. If the risk of that happening is substantial, the Pats will likely move on. BTW, I expect them to do the same with Gronk. That's just their history.

No one is calling HT trash; it is and forever will be a question of allocation of resources when you play for BB. It's a calculation that he will make, and if he deems it unfavorable then he'll go in another direction. HT knows this and that's probably one reason he'll test the market. He knows it's not about love and respect at Patriot Place; it's about business.

 

[Bill Lee]

5/$47.5m/$28.5mgtd

Was the largest contract for a Safety at the time.

Very true, but LB money is bigger. Franchise tag at $15M. Jamie Collins got similar numbers as above but four years not five, and since we kept HT whilst dealing JC he can make the argument that he's worth much more.

I agree. We need some Dynastic long term Pats on the D, like we did with Willie, Bruschi, Law, Vince, and others. I feel like at least Butler and Hightower should be our stalwarts. They wanted Mayo for that but injuries wrecked him. Ninkovich is kind of in that role too.
EDIT: McCourty too

Yet HT has missed multiple games each of the last three seasons due to knee injuries. It's going to be hard to make the argument that he can be that leader for the long term, despite his great knowledge of the game and on-field leadership.

 

[condon84]

People forget how good Mayo was when healthy.

Without him the 09-12 defenses allow 28ppg and not 20.

Mayo was good and was accountable, but High to me makes more impact plays as well as always also being accountable.

If you had both of them in their prime, which player would you want on this defense?

 

[RobertWeathers]

Mayo was good and was accountable, but High to me makes more impact plays as well as always also being accountable.

If you had both of them in their prime, which player would you want on this defense?

I'll take 2010-2012 Mayo.

 

[BlueThunder]

I don't see an ILB early in the draft with measurables that BB normally likes..... Could he go with converting an OLB like McKinley, Williams or Anderson? Just a thought...

 

[FreeTedWilliams]

I think that re-signing Hightower should be the #1 off-season priority for the Pats. He is the QB of the defense. If anything, they need to draft another LB to help him.

He has earned his money, to quote the infamous KGB, "Pay that man his money".

 

[Ring 6]

Dont'a Hightower on not attending parade: "I had enough cold, snow, rain, sleet during the season."

"Been there, done that," Dont'a Hightower said, also noting he didn't go to White House in 2014 w/ Pats. Had previously been with Alabama.

He said that on Sports Center according to Reiss

I read yesterday (Jeff Howe??) that Hightower didn't go to the parade in 2014 either

 

[GoBlue]

Belichick is not going to want a guy that doesn't want to be there.

 

[JMC00]

Belichick is not going to want a guy that doesn't want to be there.

Source of Hightower saying he didn't want to be here?