Ebner returns to Patriots

[BelichickFan]

 

[TBR]

 

[FCB02062]

Awesome, contributes nothing on anything other than special teams...I wonder if bill is just mind ****ing krafty at this point..."you make me trade Jimmy g? I'm signing nothing but special teams guys this off-season"...

 

[Uptown]

 

[supafly]

I don’t mind the FA special teams signings. After all, they are very important to the makeup of the team.

The one issue that I have is that we usually tend to make these signings a bit earlier in the process. Perhaps they all were given a chance to test the market more than most years due to their reputation and SB exposure.

 

[patfanken]

I like this signing beyond the ST's aspect. I would contend that it would have been Ebner rather than Richards who would have gotten those snaps on the regular D had he been healthy. Hopefully he will get his chance this year, especially since I believe they'd like to reduce the number of snaps Chung gets.

 

[Crazy Patriot Guy]

Awesome, contributes nothing on anything other than special teams...I wonder if bill is just mind ****ing krafty at this point..."you make me trade Jimmy g? I'm signing nothing but special teams guys this off-season"...

It amazes me that so many people still look at the signing of special teams players as a signal that the Pats are prioritizing that over everyone else, as if it should be just as easy, if not easier, to get a guy like Solder to re-sign when the money involved is 5 times as much and more teams are interested.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

It amazes me that so many people still look at the signing of special teams players as a signal that the Pats are prioritizing that over everyone else, as if it should be just as easy, if not easier, to get a guy like Solder to re-sign when the money involved is 5 times as much and more teams are interested.

On the flip side, the Pats have lost some players going the opposite route (putting the low-ranking players on hold while they work on the big ones); I remember that's why Heath Evans went to the Saints.

 

[jboston19]

I assume this means he's recovered or will be to start the season?

This is the off-season I was expecting. Resign the low profile guys but was expecting to lose a good amount of the bigger names due to the salary cap.

 

[luuked]

I like this signing beyond the ST's aspect. I would contend that it would have been Ebner rather than Richards who would have gotten those snaps on the regular D had he been healthy. Hopefully he will get his chance this year, especially since I believe they'd like to reduce the number of snaps Chung gets.

No Ebner would not have gotten those regular D snaps. He had 0% snaps on D all season up until the point he was injured. Richards had at that point already 149 snaps (or about 14 per game ~ 20% of the snaps per game).

Ebner at this point is what he is. Standout ST player and ultra emergency depth but not someone you put in to rest your true defensive players for a few snaps.

 

[dannydyn]

Woo hoo!!! Belichick isn't sitting with his thumb up his ass after all!

We let Lewis, Dola, Solder, and Butler go, BUT!....

re-signed Ebner!

Jesus Fcking christ!

 

[DarrylS]

Every year some fans expect the Pats to keep all their "big names" and jump right into the high priced players, that has never happened and probably never will..

Having very good special teams is the hallmark of the NEP... will not be surprised if Slater signs today also.

 

[Kontradiction]

Awesome, contributes nothing on anything other than special teams...I wonder if bill is just mind ****ing krafty at this point..."you make me trade Jimmy g? I'm signing nothing but special teams guys this off-season"...

Jesus. Are you this much of an impatient ****y in real life?

 

[ashley]

One of the top special team players in the league and should be able to take over the number 4 safety role....Which would mean no more Richards!!!!

 

[Kontradiction]

One of the top special team players in the league and should be able to take over the number 4 safety role....Which would mean no more Richards!!!!

From your lips to God’s ears.

 

[luuked]

One of the top special team players in the league and should be able to take over the number 4 safety role....Which would mean no more Richards!!!!

He could not in the last 2 years. Not sure what makes it anymore likely now.. especially after a serious knee injury.

 

[patriot1136]

I'm actually hoping Brandon King takes over J. Richards' role/snaps. I realize he is a special teams only guy but who knows.

 

[mgteich]

I'm actually hoping Brandon King takes over J. Richards' role/snaps. I realize he is a special teams only guy but who knows.

Belichick knows.

If King or Ebner were able to play better than Richards, they would have gotten SOME snaps.
King and Ebner are ST only players, and it should remain that way. IF Richards makes the 53, it should also be as a ST only player. We need a backup SS or a LB to play the role that Richards played in 2017.

 

[Hyped]

This is great news as it clearly indicates that Ebner will be healthy week 1. Otherwise, we wouldn't have re-signed him now.

Now Slater please....pretty please...

 

[mgteich]

This is great news as it clearly indicates that Ebner will be healthy week 1. Otherwise, we wouldn't have re-signed him now.

Now Slater please....pretty please...

Yes, it's time for Slater and perhaps Bademosi (or a Bademosi replacement). However, my gut says that Slater is considering retirement.