Rapoport: Hightower expected to sign deal with NE, NYJ, or PITT TODAY

[Soul_Survivor88]

Figured it'd be appropriate to start a new thread for this

 

[BradyFTW!]

At least it'll be over finally. Encouraging that everyone seems to expect him to stay.

 

[Dexter]

 

[irishfanatic]

Yes, it looks like Hightower will remain which in my humble opinion is crucial for the "D". With regard to Butler, obviously would love for him to stay also, but that situation is looking like a new meaning to "Malcolm Go".

 

[goheels22002]

Dont'a, don't forget......

 

[resdubwhite]

Or tomorrow

 

[Soul_Survivor88]

 

[PatsBoy12]

I thought he couldn't sign with Pitt if he left town? It'd be down to NE or NYC if those reports are true in that case, no?

 

[thecore762]

I can overlook those after the plays he made in the last two Super Bowls....
But going forward I hope he can stay above the 75% mark if we going to be paying him top dollars. I'm sure his new contract and bonuses might revolve around how much he is on the field.

With that said I hope he returns to NE, I'd be sick to my stomach if he were to join the Jets, I'd never forgive him!

 

[maineman209]

I can overlook those after the plays he made in the last two Super Bowls....
But going forward I hope he can stay above the 75% mark if we going to be paying him top dollars. I'm sure his new contract and bonuses might revolve around how much he is on the field.

With that said I hope he returns to NE, I'd be sick to my stomach if he were to join the Jets, I'd never forgive him!

I don't think that being a bit of rotational LB is necessarily a strike against him in the Pats' defensive approach.

 

[pdangle]

Those numbers don't factor that for games HT was in (13 of 16) he played 83.5% of game snaps. Not quite a 3 down player. But like a 2.5 down out of 3 player. For example he'd play 2 downs one series, 3 downs the next. Better than I expected. Not a 2 down LB at all. Probably out in dime type situations? (Anyone have those details PF?) Anyway 83% rates him at 80% percentile (top 20 of every 100) LB in plays% per game.

Also, if I remembered correctly HT could of played 2 or even all 3 games he missed this season. NE was babying him, keeping him healthy and saving him for playoffs. They did that with every one of the core players this year at one point, IIRC.

Last year and before, he was legit hurt. But came back and was available fast it seemed for type of injuries. But no data. Memory only. Not sure if we needed him or big games. Was he hurt leading up to game he got hurt in the Den(i think?) playoff game?

 

[PatriotDynasty99]

If he chooses NE, I pity the rest of the league.

 

[Tony2046]

I wonder what percentage of playing time was due to injury and what percentage was due to BB getting him rested up.

 

[maineman209]

Those numbers don't factor that for games HT was in (13 of 16) he played 83.5% of game snaps. Not quite a 3 down player. But like a 2.5 down out of 3 player. For example he'd play 2 downs one series, 3 downs the next. Better than I expected. Not a 2 down LB at all. Probably out in dime type situations? (Anyone have those details PF?) Anyway 83% rates him at 80% percentile (top 20 of every 100) LB in plays% per game.

Also, if I remembered correctly HT could of played 2 or even all 3 games he missed this season. NE was babying him, keeping him healthy and saving him for playoffs. They did that with every one of the core players this year at one point, IIRC.

Last year and before, he was legit hurt. But came back and was available fast it seemed for type of injuries. But no data. Memory only. Not sure if we needed him or big games. Was he hurt leading up to game he got hurt in the Den(i think?) playoff game?

Agree. Snap percentages really need to be based on the number of games that a player was legitimately able to play. Otherwise, you're judging Brady based on him having played only 73% of the offensive snaps in 2016.

 

[pdangle]

He's going to re-sign here. He just thought BB had his value wrong. Who wouldn't with what those recent OLB just got. And you'd be stupid not to check for yourself. I'm sure BB said, hey look, go get a second opinion, maybe I'm wrong. But I think it's fair. Then once we're all happy the number is league competitive, then we can talk turkey. And now that HT knows the bidding starts at 10M (or whatever), they'll get a deal done. Big difference when he assumed he was getting 13M. They are both on same page to start.

He's still trying to squeeze a little bit more out of NE. Hence the keeping NYJ and PIT in the mix in the tweet or whatever .

 

[Sicilian]

Just remember Donta... if you sign with the Jets, you instantly suck by default.

 

[nabwong]

So he has to choose between cupcakes, a cupcake coach and football?

 

[hypotherion]

 

[zoostation]

Dont'a, don't forget......

Obviously I want him back but if he heads to cupcake land in NJ its just an indication he's tired of the 10 year "commitment to excellence" grind it takes to compete at the highest level playing for Saban & BB. Take the owners $$ (and baked goods), say nice things about the fans and the city, maybe even win a couple playoff games.....and then coast. Revis wrote the playbook.

 

[Kontradiction]

I thought he couldn't sign with Pitt if he left town? It'd be down to NE or NYC if those reports are true in that case, no?

They were probably taking a hard liner approach to coerce him to stay. They seem to want him so I highly doubt they would truly pull the deal off the table of Hightower ended up choosing them.