Browns releasing Gary Barnidge

[Thelonious]

When possible, it is preferable for a number of reasons bearing on cost, upside, longevity, succession to have your backup be younger than the person he is backing up. Pass on this opportunity, if it is one at all.

 

[maineman209]

It's not a fit at all. And why the hell would someone like Barnidge agree to come here to be a third tight end? He can probably be the #1 TE on a crappy team.

Barnidge turns 32 on September 22nd. His options will be limited, especially with 20+ TEs in this class being given a draftable grade.

He was scheduled to earn $3.3M in base salary + $1M in roster bonuses from the Browns this year. Before it was announced that he was being released, the Pats were rumored to have been considering offering a 7th for him - meaning they may have been willing to take over his remaining contract ($4.3M total for 2017).

Barnidge isn't going to get close to that from another team.

So, his choices are ...
... finish his career playing cheaply for a crappy team?
- OR -
... finish his career playing cheaply for the team most likely to win the next SB?

 

[maineman209]

When possible, it is preferable for a number of reasons bearing on cost, upside, longevity, succession to have your backup be younger than the person he is backing up. Pass on this opportunity, if it is one at all.

He's going to be 32 shortly. He'd be playing on a 1-year deal, not getting permanently hitched to the Pats.

If he's better than the other, younger options the Pats currently have at their disposal, why wouldn't you take the opportunity to gain a solid contributor for this year and then revisit finding a younger player again next year?

 

[Soul_Survivor88]

Would prefer the Pats draft and groom a replacement for Gronk, but Barnidge offers valuable depth to a very crucial position

Former Browns TE Gary Barnidge could be an excellent signing for the Patriots

Barnidge still has gas left in the tank and could be a solid veteran addition to the Patriots roster, if they don’t feel the need to add a young developmental player to join Rob Gronkowski and Dwayne Allen(both under contract for three more seasons).

Barnidge is far superior to the current depth trio of Michael Williams, Matt Lengel, and Robert Housler and appears to be available at a reasonable price. If he wants a chance at a ring, he could come join the Patriots for an even cheaper deal- and he’d be an excellent fit.

 

[dafoe2016]

Unless he is willing to take a big pay cut to play for a contender I don't see it being a fit. It would be an awesome signing since I have zero confidence in Gronk to play 19 games. But I don't see it happening. He's going to want more playing time and money than we can give him. There are a few playoff caliber teams that could use a TE if he's sick of losing.

 

[VOODOOZF]

At best he’s mediocre...At worst, he just got cut by the Cleveland Browns. Nothing to see here.

 

[TennisBallHead]

Big play Barnidge? Sign that fool.

 

[rookBoston]

Barnidge is quality player and quality team mate. Browns are fools not to let him play out his contract and teach the rook how to be a pro. I would sign him in a second.

 

[BelichicksBlackEye]

I'm surprised that the Browns didn't try to trade him for at least a 6th or 7th or something. The smart thing would have to have kept him for 2-TE sets, but hey, it's the Browns.

How do you know the browns didn't try to trade him? He's 32

 

[Ive_Killed_People]

Unless he is willing to take a big pay cut to play for a contender I don't see it being a fit. It would be an awesome signing since I have zero confidence in Gronk to play 19 games. But I don't see it happening. He's going to want more playing time and money than we can give him. There are a few playoff caliber teams that could use a TE if he's sick of losing.

You act like he is breaking the bank and we are tight to the cap. We can pay him,it wont be much but it doesn't have to be. He's not the belle of the ball with a hundred suitors. He's a good affordable piece.

 

[GodBrady]

Barnidge turns 32 on September 22nd. His options will be limited, especially with 20+ TEs in this class being given a draftable grade.

He was scheduled to earn $3.3M in base salary + $1M in roster bonuses from the Browns this year. Before it was announced that he was being released, the Pats were rumored to have been considering offering a 7th for him - meaning they may have been willing to take over his remaining contract ($4.3M total for 2017).

Barnidge isn't going to get close to that from another team.

So, his choices are ...
... finish his career playing cheaply for a crappy team?
- OR -
... finish his career playing cheaply for the team most likely to win the next SB?

Right, I get it. It's just we hear this argument every single time a player becomes available (for example, Adrian Peterson).

All I'm saying is Barnidge had 1000 yards and 9 TDs in 2015 (although his 2016 was a step back from that). I think he can do better than being the 3rd TE on the Patriots. It's not like his choices are "sign with the Patriots and win a SB" or "sign with the worst team in the league". I have to believe there's a place where he can play for a competitive team and play a larger role. That would be the happy medium I would search for, if I were Barnidge.

I would love to add him, it just doesn't seem realistic at all.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

Gronkowski and allen are bananas that can not play a 16 game schedule. We need a #3 te on the roster and at least one te in the practice squad.

 

[maineman209]

Right, I get it. It's just we hear this argument every single time a player becomes available (for example, Adrian Peterson).

All I'm saying is Barnidge had 1000 yards and 9 TDs in 2015 (although his 2016 was a step back from that). I think he can do better than being the 3rd TE on the Patriots. It's not like his choices are "sign with the Patriots and win a SB" or "sign with the worst team in the league". I have to believe there's a place where he can play for a competitive team and play a larger role. That would be the happy medium I would search for, if I were Barnidge.

I would love to add him, it just doesn't seem realistic at all.

I understand where you're coming from ... "... we hear this argument every single time a player becomes available (for example, Adrian Peterson)." But you won't hear those arguments from me personally.

The reality for the Pats at TE is that they currently have an elite #1 who's injury-prone, a #2 who's a good blocker and a decent enough receiver to get 3-4 targets a game ... and then three JAGs.

The reality for Barnidge is that he's turning 32 at the start of the season, which will (realistically) limit his options and potential 2017 paycheck, regardless of how well he played for the Browns over the past two seasons.

Unlike the horde of posters who are typically certain that a guy like Adrian Peterson would be an unmitigated boon to the Pats (and vice versa) and that the Pats would be stupid to pass on him, all I'm saying is that there are some potential advantages to both the Pats and to Barnidge.

I'm neither in favor nor opposed. I'm not saying "it's a match made in heaven" and I'm not rejecting the possibility out of hand by assuming what either party "wants" (because I have absolutely no way to know that for a fact). I'm merely doing my best to explore the potentials and to weigh the pros and cons as objectively as I can.

 

[maineman209]

At best he’s mediocre...At worst, he just got cut by the Cleveland Browns. Nothing to see here.

Really? With the stellar QB play that the Browns have had over the past couple seasons, Barnidge put up numbers rivaling those put up by Bennett? But Barnidge is "mediocre at best"?

Beyond Gronk and Allen, the Pats currently have three JAGs at TE. Barnidge's downside for 2017 is below even that level?

 

[GodBrady]

Unlike the horde of posters who are typically certain that a guy like Adrian Peterson would be an unmitigated boon to the Pats (and vice versa) and that the Pats would be stupid to pass on him, all I'm saying is that there are some potential advantages to both the Pats and to Barnidge.

I'm neither in favor nor opposed. I'm not saying "it's a match made in heaven" and I'm not rejecting the possibility out of hand by assuming what either party "wants" (because I have absolutely no way to know that for a fact). I'm merely doing my best to explore the potentials and to weigh the pros and cons as objectively as I can.

Okay, cool -- thanks for the clarification. In that case, I completely, 100% agree with what you're saying. I could potentially see it being a fit (albeit unlikely) for the reasons you mentioned.

 

[maineman209]

Okay, cool -- thanks for the clarification. In that case, I completely, 100% agree with what you're saying. I could potentially see it being a fit (albeit unlikely) for the reasons you mentioned.

The irony here is that, even though the Pats just traded the #183 for a little used (except on ST) TE from the Chiefs, they could still sign a couple UDFA TEs, and sign Barnidge.

Having multiple options to select from while building the best possible 53-man roster is a good thing. Having a 90-man off-season/Camp roster allows for that.

 

[TommyD4207]

He was pretty good the last couple years in Cleveland, but he'll be 32 in September and he probably won't want to be the third man on the totem pole.

I had no idea he was that old.

Nope.

 

[Dexter]

 

[luuked]

The reality for Barnidge is that he's turning 32 at the start of the season, which will (realistically) limit his options and potential 2017 paycheck, regardless of how well he played for the Browns over the past two seasons.

He will still be paid considerably better by another team than what BB would shell out for a #3 TE. I think just his blocking ability alone will make another team give him a reasonable deal. There are not that many consistent Y TEs out there.

 

[Biffins]

Not enough roster space for him.

We took in Alge Crumpler when we had Gronk and Hernandez, and Crumpler was a decent blocker that season. He was named Team Captain after Week 6.

This is what BB had said about Crumpler during the 2010 season. So BB does have a history of taking a 3rd TE who is a veteran and a good blocker.


"He's very professional. Alge's really smart. He's into football. He works hard at it. He has a great presence. He's one of those guys that just seems like he always does the right thing no matter what the situation is. Whether it's in a game, in practice, in a meeting, in a walk through, whether it's a decision on the play, whether it's the way his demeanor is at that particular time, he knows when to smile, he knows when to be serious, he knows when to [step up], when to back off, when to gear it up, when to say and do the right thing. He's constantly helping his teammates and making reminders to them or telling them what to do to help them work off of him and so forth. I guess I think the best way I can put it is it seems like he always does the right thing no matter what the situation is. On or off the field, in the locker room, meetings, practice, it just seems like he always does the right thing."