Official 2019 Offseason rumors and speculation thread

[Raymond]

Doesn’t change the fact that attitude and discipline issues aren’t enough to keep BB away. He won’t sign that player to a long term deal but he will give them a shot because he wants to win.

Bill gave up a 5th rd pick for AH. The biggest risk was the cash in a year when he had room for it.

 

[slam]

It'd be interesting to try and guess who a WR acquisition might be based on how players have been acquired in the past. I'm not really going to delve into any player's contract situation, just looking for players whose profile matches past acquisitions.

1. The Wes Welker path. We have a hard time stopping this unheralded player, so let's acquire him. Devin Funchess is the first name that comes to mind. Was 7-9, 70 yards in the loss to Carolina and I was angry we couldn't stop this guy. The Jag's Keelan Cole had 116 yards in the regular season game this year. Allen Hurns went for 70 and 80 yards in two games vs. NE. If we dig deeper here we can find more candidates.

2. The Kyle Van Noy path. Teams in a regime change will value players differently, and some will be left out in the cold. Not sure which players that favors, but there are no shortage of candidates for teams in transition this year. The receiver in the past who comes to mind in this situation was Jeremy Kerley, who went from productive slot receiver to missing in action when Todd Bowles became coach and favored a system that didn't utilize slot receivers.

3. The Brandin Cooks path. We've held joint practices with a team, and are more comfortable acquiring players from that team, even at a higher than usual cost. We didn't do any joint practices in 2018, but in 2017 we held joint practices with the Jags and Texans. I mentioned Hurns and Cole from the Jags. The Texans of course have Hopkins who would be a pipe dream, and Will Fuller.

4. The Josh Gordon/Michael Floyd path. The Patriots don't seem to be interested in anyone with a domestic abuse issue (and I agree), but they aren't shy about taking chances with players with known substance abuse issues like Gordon, Floyd, and Alan Branch with his DUI issue.

5. The Gronk/Malcolm Mitchell path. Draft a talented skill position player with medical red flags in a lower round than their talent warrants.

6. The Chris Hogan/Corey Coleman/Chad Hansen path. The team the player on was so completely hopeless let's not hold his lack of production against him. Favors former Jets, Bills, Dolphins, and Cardinals among others.

7. The Philip Dorsett/Corey Coleman path. Former high round pick hasn't done much of anything. Let's get him for cheap. Coradelle Patterson kind of fits in this category as well. John Ross anyone? Kevin White?

8. The Eric Decker/Reggie Wayne/Long list of old guys path. 30+ year old training camp invitees who rarely work out.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Can't be any worse than Hogan.

He can easily be worse than Hogan. If he can't pick up the offense or never has TB12 trust he is a wasted roster spot.

 

[Ring 6]

re: OBJ.

Could the team benefit from that kind of talent? Absolutely.

Does the team need that kind of narcissism which comes with that talent? Nope.

Could BB, Tom and perhaps Jules keep his me-me-me persona in check? Likely.

Here is the thing. This offense is at its best when Tom does not feel he needs to "get players involved" and feed them to keep them engaged. A guy like OBJ does that to a QB.

If you could take the selfless brains and heart of JE, Deion and even Gronk and put it in OBJs body I'd take him.

Golden Tate is the guy we need. Not OBJ.

This team and it’s coach talked more than ever before about the locker room and the type of players on this team while people nationally and on this board said it had no talent.
That doesn’t mean building with the right guys, depth and having guys willing to sacrifice for the team is the only way, but it is the patriot way and it has been more successful than anyone else’s way.
So no, bringing in a self centered diva because he can make some spectacular plays when he isn’t distracting from the true mission just doesn’t fit here.
Having more talented players to line up on a 4th quarter game deciding drive is surely a plus, but the negative that comes with it, with some of those players is hard to quantify but the results say it’s pretty large.

Im fine with anyone giving me a list of all the diva WRs like Beckham and brown who have led their teams to championships to refute my belief but it just doesnt seem to happen.

 

[RobertWeathers]

This team and it’s coach talked more than ever before about the locker room and the type of players on this team while people nationally and on this board said it had no talent.
That doesn’t mean building with the right guys, depth and having guys willing to sacrifice for the team is the only way, but it is the patriot way and it has been more successful than anyone else’s way.
So no, bringing in a self centered diva because he can make some spectacular plays when he isn’t distracting from the true mission just doesn’t fit here.
Having more talented players to line up on a 4th quarter game deciding drive is surely a plus, but the negative that comes with it, with some of those players is hard to quantify but the results say it’s pretty large.

Im fine with anyone giving me a list of all the diva WRs like Beckham and brown who have led their teams to championships to refute my belief but it just doesnt seem to happen.

Yea you really can't name any.

Eagles- nope
Broncos- Maybe Thomas but he kept his mouth shut and they were defense first.
SEA- No. Defense first
BAL- Boldin- No. Defense first
NYG- Cruz? Nah
GB- No
NO- No
Pitt- Holmes? Maybe but they were D first
NE w/ Moss? I don't blame him. He bought into the system. Offense got too one sided.
Indy? - Marvin? maybe

 

[Ring 6]

Yea you really can't name any.

Eagles- nope
Broncos- Maybe Thomas but he kept his mouth shut and they were defense first.
SEA- No. Defense first
BAL- Boldin- No. Defense first
NYG- Cruz? Nah
GB- No
NO- No
Pitt- Holmes? Maybe but they were D first
NE w/ Moss? I don't blame him. He bought into the system. Offense got too one sided.
Indy? - Marvin? maybe

Remember I’m also not saying talented WR I’m saying selfish, me first diva WR, of which there are more and more.
The effect that has on a team seems to be pretty big.

 

[signbabybrady]

Remember I’m also not saying talented WR I’m saying selfish, me first diva WR, of which there are more and more.
The effect that has on a team seems to be pretty big.

The one that comes to mind for me would be Michael Irving and that was 25 years ago.

 

[Joey007]

Remember I’m also not saying talented WR I’m saying selfish, me first diva WR, of which there are more and more.
The effect that has on a team seems to be pretty big.

Hey Andy. The Broncos are taking on Joe Flacco’s enormous salary. Didn’t you say there was no way someone would pay him over 4-5 million at this point?

 

[Ring 6]

Hey Andy. The Broncos are taking on Joe Flacco’s enormous salary. Didn’t you say there was no way someone would pay him over 4-5 million at this point?

I did. How is that relevant to this?

 

[Ring 6]

The one that comes to mind for me would be Michael Irving and that was 25 years ago.

Pretty good example but also that was emmit smith and aikmans team not Irvin’s.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Remember I’m also not saying talented WR I’m saying selfish, me first diva WR, of which there are more and more.
The effect that has on a team seems to be pretty big.

Agree. Any WR that says, "I need my touches..."

Move on.

 

[signbabybrady]

Pretty good example but also that was emmit smith and aikmans team not Irvin’s.

Bruce and Holt. Rod Smith.

 

[DaBruinz]

Aqib Talib says hi. Despite all of his on-the-field incidents, BB would still take him back, if the need is there and the price is right. He loves Talib, despite his personality warts, because his teammates like him, he works hard in practice and competes his ass off in games. I may be wrong but I think that BB would feel the same way about OBJ and I would bet that OBJ would be a different person in the Patriots environment. I also find it interesting that Beckham pursued TB12 for a jersey, showing the respect he has for greatness in general and Brady in particular. The two seem to genuinely like and respect each other.

I think you're wrong on Talib. I don't believe BB would welcome him back. Especially after all the stuff that happened once he left the Pats.

I also think you are totally ignoring huge red flags on OBJ. Flags that don't make him a good teammate. Flags that make him a bigger headache than his talent accounts for.

I'll be honest. If OBJ was half as humble as Sony Michel, then you might have a case. But the reality is that OBJ is all about OBJ.

 

[mgteich]

When was the last time a "competent rookie receiver" was a top contributor on the patriots?

In any case, I expect us to re-sign or sign at least 3 non-rookies.

I don't think it's realistic to expect Gordon back or count on him.

If we do pair Edelman with Conley and a competent rookie receiver we are good to go though.

 

[VectorPrime]

When was the last time a "competent rookie receiver" was a top contributor on the patriots?

Mitchell but we only got him because his knee issues caused him to drop in the draft. And then he never played again.

 

[Ring 6]

Bruce and Holt. Rod Smith.

Those guys were not divas.

 

[Joey007]

I did. How is that relevant to this?

It’s an offseason talk thread. Any offseason moves fit into this category

 

[RobertWeathers]

It’s an offseason talk thread. Any offseason moves fit into this category

Its the offseason. We could discuss shrimp recipes and it would be appropriate for this thread.

 

[signbabybrady]

Its the offseason. We could discuss shrimp recipes and it would be appropriate for this thread.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Love shrimp on the grill.