Patriots cut DE Kony Ealy [update: claimed off waivers by Jets]

[JMC00]

They moved out of the second round to get this guy, and it sounds by all accounts that Carolina was glad to be rid of him. First Cooper and now Ealy, that's a couple of big swings and misses.

BTW Cooper is now the starting guard in Dallas, BB didn't even try to recoup anything for either one of them.

Cooper was a throw in with the Chandler Jones trade, the 2nd round pick was the point of that trade which that pick ended up being the picks that got Thuney and Mitchell, two guys that contributed to another SB title. So no Cooper wasn't a big swing and a miss.


As for Ealy, book is still out on that trade because they traded out of the Panthers pick to pick up another pick which was Wise. So that trade was essentially dropping down 8 spots to kick the tires on Ealy, getting Rivers and getting another pick that was used to select Wise. If Wise and Rivers become contributors to the team there is no argument that could be made that says dropping down 8 spots to kick the tires on Ealy was a swing and a miss.

 

[scout]

This is starting feel a lot like the 2005 season where we couldn't get within 10 feet of the opposing QB. It would be a real shame if this tremendous secondary was negated by or lack of talent at DE. They still have a long time to figure it out and come up with a solution. Unless something dramatically changes this could be a big handicap going into a playoff game. Getting a little nervous.

I recall our depleted DB situation after we beat Seattle for the Superbowl. Didn't sign Reavis or Browner (starters), then BB cut one or two defensive backs. We didn't repeat, but it wasn't due to our DB's. In BB we trust.

 

[50-yard-line]

Kind of surprised, as I thought Ealy played okay the other night.

I chalk this up to BB's remarks that he's at the point where he'll only coach players he likes. Guys like Ealy, Floyd, even Collins...see ya.

Maybe BB's got a plan B here - Ahmad Brooks-type of post-cut acquisition. Maybe a trade...or maybe, just maybe, he's thinking he's got enough guys to fill the positions in a shifting defense. I'd love to see Hightower rushing the passer more. Does Harris make that feasible?

 

[Bruins29]

fyi The Patriots have never had this much cap room at this juncture of the season. They have just over 14 mil avail. The usually go into a season with a solid 5 or 6.

That means that they have the space to sign an elite player if they wanted. They could take on a big contract for the DE position and still have plenty to bring in a WR etc.

I am sure they could even free up a bit more if they extended someone.

 

[TomPatriot]

fyi The Patriots have never had this much cap room at this juncture of the season. They have just over 14 mil avail. The usually go into a season with a solid 5 or 6.

That means that they have the space to sign an elite player if they wanted. They could take on a big contract for the DE position and still have plenty to bring in a WR etc.

I am sure they could even free up a bit more if they extended someone.

If there is a useful slot guy available, I think Pats go for it. No doubt they started calling around the League yesterday to assess availability and prep for 9/2.

 

[jimnance]

Kind of surprised, as I thought Ealy played okay the other night.

I chalk this up to BB's remarks that he's at the point where he'll only coach players he likes. Guys like Ealy, Floyd, even Collins...see ya.

Maybe BB's got a plan B here - Ahmad Brooks-type of post-cut acquisition. Maybe a trade...or maybe, just maybe, he's thinking he's got enough guys to fill the positions in a shifting defense. I'd love to see Hightower rushing the passer more. Does Harris make that feasible?

I don't think so. At this point in his career Harris has limitations. He's a huge dropoff from Hightower. I agree that High will likely do more passrushing than before. But he's so valuable in his usual role,does so many different things,I don't think BB wants to move him to olb/de exclusively. One other point I haven't seen anyone mention is that it's much easier to disguise a passrush from an inside position vs. an outside one. I'm not saying that's why High has been such a great passrusher,but when you move him outsidr,you lose that element.
Reiss believes BB is going to get an edgerusher from outside the org.

 

[jimnance]

fyi The Patriots have never had this much cap room at this juncture of the season. They have just over 14 mil avail. The usually go into a season with a solid 5 or 6.

That means that they have the space to sign an elite player if they wanted. They could take on a big contract for the DE position and still have plenty to bring in a WR etc.

I am sure they could even free up a bit more if they extended someone.

Yeah, Reiss wrote today he believes the Pats will go outside the org. for both wr and de/olb,if they do add anyone. He believes Lucien is a practice squad player.

 

[Bruins29]

If there is a useful slot guy available, I think Pats go for it. No doubt they started calling around the League yesterday to assess availability and prep for 9/2.

If they want to keep DA fresh (which may be a good idea) and they dont think they have the guy in Carr/Lucien etc I could see it.

1100 + players will be avail in 7 days so they may have a chance to snag someone, granted Pats have last dibbs.

Also with 4 RBs who can catch and one just coming off a all time great game it may not be as pressing.

 

[RobertWeathers]

If they want to keep DA fresh (which may be a good idea) and they dont think they have the guy in Carr/Lucien etc I could see it.

1100 + players will be avail in 7 days so they may have a chance to snag someone, granted Pats have last dibbs.

Also with 4 RBs who can catch and one just coming off a all time great game it may not be as ressing.

Agree.

My hunch is the plan for BB to keep Carr and give him an extended tryout in Sept/early Oct to see how he does. If hes doing great, win-win. If not, they waive him and hope he hits the PS and trade for a WR who can do some slot work.

In both scenarios, the goal is to keep DA fresh for KR/PR duty and as a WR when the games matter.

 

[TomPatriot]

If they want to keep DA fresh (which may be a good idea) and they dont think they have the guy in Carr/Lucien etc I could see it.

1100 + players will be avail in 7 days so they may have a chance to snag someone, granted Pats have last dibbs.

Also with 4 RBs who can catch and one just coming off a all time great game it may not be as pressing.

The Pats can also give up a late pick to get 1st dibs on a slot guy (or edge rusher, as JimNance suggested) who might get cut.

 

[jimnance]

In both scenarios, the goal is to keep DA fresh for KR/PR duty and as a WR when the games matter.

Looking ahead to the playoffs, you hit the nail on the head. W/o je11, having a healthy DA is huge in postseason. Cooks can play it ,too, but you really want to have cooks playing all over the field, short, intermediate,long,inside and outside#s. Losing both je11 and da makes cooks more predictable.
And we all know, in big games Danny is $.

 

[patfanken]

There is too much effort going into this thread that can be blamed on semantics. Essentially we are arguing about at what point does a failed personnel move become a "swing and miss" or a " huge swing and miss". REALLY?

The NFL is all about swings and misses. EVERY team has dozens of them.....every year.....including the Pats. Why all the angst about this move. I thought it was clear that the Ealy deal was a shot in the dark to begin with.

Ealy has ALWAYS been an inconsistent player who has both dazzled and disappointed in Carolina. The HOPE was that he would blossom in this system and with this coaching. He didn't. So it was I guess it has to be considered a swing and miss. But that's what I like like best about BB the GM. When he recognizes he's missed on a personnel decision, he doesn't waste any time correcting it. He man is completely egoless. He isn't going to keep a guy just because it would make him look bad to let him go. Bill doesn't CARE if he looks bad to the analysists in the media.

Chatham said it best on the broadcast when they were discussing Ealy. "BB would rather play a lesser talent that he KNOWS what he will get from, than a better talent who is inconsistent. Once again the DEPENDABILITY factor shows up.

As to the Dallas OG, his release in 2016 was a matter of injury and timing. He wasn't healthy during TC and with all the young interior people they had, they weren't going to waste a roster spot for a guy they weren't sure was going to be a contributor that year. Just a case of bad timing.

As to Carr. I was surprised that his shuttle and 3 cone times were so good. At TC and in games, he just doesn't look like a "quick twitch" guy to me. I see him being swallowed up by a good slot CB playing man. But that's just a passing impression, NOT an opinion formed by close examination, so who knows

 

[Oswlek]

fyi The Patriots have never had this much cap room at this juncture of the season. They have just over 14 mil avail. The usually go into a season with a solid 5 or 6.

That means that they have the space to sign an elite player if they wanted. They could take on a big contract for the DE position and still have plenty to bring in a WR etc.

I am sure they could even free up a bit more if they extended someone.

I interpret the extra cap as JG preparation. Even of that isn't the case, there are so many weapons that a high priced acquisition seems unlikely to me.

 

[supafly]

Yeah, Reiss wrote today he believes the Pats will go outside the org. for both wr and de/olb,if they do add anyone.

That surprises me that he would say that, unless it's someone who has been here before or has some type of loose knowledge of the system. Of course, he's likely just referring to someone who can provide some type of emergency depth in case we lose like two more WRs.

They'd pretty much be a total project in trying to learn the playbook + their other responsibilities and having any rapport with Brady. They'd most certainly be nothing more than a gameday inactive for at least 4-6 weeks, and even then they'd offer nothing more than a warm body for the majority of the season.

 

[The Gr8est]

As to the Dallas OG, his release in 2016 was a matter of injury and timing. He wasn't healthy during TC and with all the young interior people they had, they weren't going to waste a roster spot for a guy they weren't sure was going to be a contributor that year. Just a case of bad timing.

When the Pats released Cooper it wasn't the Cowboys who picked him up, it was the Browns.

The Cowboys signed Cooper when the Browns declined to keep him as well.

So another team missed on Cooper after the Pats.

 

[maineman209]

As to Carr. I was surprised that his shuttle and 3 cone times were so good. At TC and in games, he just doesn't look like a "quick twitch" guy to me. I see him being swallowed up by a good slot CB playing man. But that's just a passing impression, NOT an opinion formed by close examination, so who knows

That was the knock on him in the draft - difficulty getting open at the LOS against press-man, in spite of his apparent athleticism. It may simply be a matter of technique/footwork - which goes back to what BB was saying a couple of weeks ago (in reference to DBs) about (I'm paraphrasing) often need to exorcise a player's bad habits and breakdown his technique in order to build it back up again and enable him to optimize his athletic talent and be more productive.

Carr's current lack of "twitch" might be because he's still in that process.

It's not at all clear whether or not BB feels he has the time to wait for Carr, under the current circumstances (if that's the case).

 

[maineman209]

That surprises me that he would say that, unless it's someone who has been here before or has some type of loose knowledge of the system. Of course, he's likely just referring to someone who can provide some type of emergency depth in case we lose like two more WRs.

They'd pretty much be a total project in trying to learn the playbook + their other responsibilities and having any rapport with Brady. They'd most certainly be nothing more than a gameday inactive for at least 4-6 weeks, and even then they'd offer nothing more than a warm body for the majority of the season.

Reiss has been consistently good about things like this, though he's probably surprised by BB's move almost as often as we are.

I could easily see BB looking outside for an OLB/DE type (not a pure DE/edge-rusher), especially if McLellin isn't healthy. But he might not make a move until after week-1.

WR, though - not as easy.

I still think BB's earliest moves for players outside the current roster will include a safety.

 

[maineman209]

I interpret the extra cap as JG preparation. Even of that isn't the case, there are so many weapons that a high priced acquisition seems unlikely to me.

Even if they intend to tag 'n' trade JG, they still need the extra cap room to be able to do that and not hamstring themselves WRT other signings during FA. In 2009, IIRC, there were a few of their own UFAs who they couldn't re-sign until after they traded Cassell and shed his tag's cap hit.

 

[TheFlyingWedge]

It seems to me that there may be a couple NFL teams for whom Ealy could immediately become one of their top pass-rushers.


Bill Belichick Conference Call 8/26

After answering a couple of questions about Julien, BB answers a couple about Ealy in a way that seems pretty respectful of Ealy's effort.

Thanks for posting - Bill was very cordial and gracious with his expaination of how it didn't work out. We can only speculate what the more specific reasons for his release may have been. It's likely that Kony Ealy simply didn't take coaching well (I.E. thinks he is a better coach than Bill Belichick).

Or maybe, just maybe... he flat out sucks.

 

[mosey threetupu]

Didn't read the whole thread so sorry if it's been asked - what's the cap hit?