The Season (and Free Agency) Started Today; We've Done A Lot

[mgteich]

The season started at 4PM; 6 players have been brought back (5 in the last 2 days). IMO, that's quite a lot. We'll see when the contracts become official, but it doesn't seem like we have much cap money left. Someone indicated that e had $12M before Bolden, Simon, McCourty, and Dorsett. It would seem that it time for a transaction that would free up some cap space.

The free agents outstanding include Gostkowski, Allen, Mcclellan, Humber, Hogan, Shelton, Brown, Waddle and Hill.
============
So far, the patriots have brought back
------------
Schwenke
Simon
McCourty
Dorsett
Jones
Gordon

We've added
--------------
Bolden
Bennett

 

[captain insano]

The season started at 4PM; 6 players have been brought back (5 in the last 2 days). IMO, that's quite a lot. We'll see when the contracts become official, but it doesn't seem like we have much cap money left. Someone indicated that e had $12M before Bolden, Simon, McCourty, and Dorsett. It would seem that it time for a transaction that would free up some cap space.

The free agents outstanding include Gostkowski, Allen, Mcclellan, Humber, Hogan, Shelton, Brown, Waddle and Hill.
============
So far, the Patriots have brought back
------------
Schwenke
Simon
McCourty
Dorsett
Jones
Gordon

We've added
--------------
Bolden
Bennett

those names don't exactly inspire.

 

[supafly]

How about refreshing us on how they can clear significant cap room?

Brady extension could be up to 5m, right?
Clayborn would save 4m, but all I hear is how they’ll keep him until TC (which I still don’t think I believe, even after seeing Flowers walk). Obviously, Gronk retiring would save 9m.

Hard to see extensions for Gronk or McCourty.

 

[IcyPatriot]

We'll hit the draft hard ... probably trade a pick or 2 for a veteran as needed.
Come training camp perhaps another veteran or two cut from another team.

... and away we go ...........

 

[manxman2601]

How about refreshing us on how they can clear significant cap room?

Brady extension could be up to 5m, right?
Clayborn would save 4m, but all I hear is how they’ll keep him until TC (which I still don’t think I believe, even after seeing Flowers walk). Obviously, Gronk retiring would save 9m.

Hard to see extensions for Gronk or McCourty.

If the stories about them being in on Humphries are true (stress the ‘if’), they must have a plan.

 

[supafly]

If the stories about them being in on Humphries are true (stress the ‘if’), they must have a plan.

One can also argue that they had their negotiations with Humphries well before these other moves were made, though. Guys like Simon, JMac, Bolden could have been filled through the draft, and they could’ve structured Humphries’ deal with a relatively lower year one hit.

In other words, just because they made an offer to Humphries doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re still looking at 10+ receivers. The plan may have changed, altogether. No doubting that there’s a plan, though. We’ll have to wait and see.

 

[DarrylS]

Seems during every post season there is way too much hand wringing and consternation going on, however for some reason we always do better when the Pats move from this stage to their operational stage.. meanwhile the national pundits are discussing winners during this part of the NFL year..

Expect quite a few more moves in the upcoming weeks before and during the draft, then there are the June cuts... and a few of those moves will provide some WTF moments that will be fodder for this message board..

 

[BobDigital]

After really thinking about it the Pats aren't as tight against the cap as we think.

When you look at the actual situation you realize due to their draft picks they will likely have 6-7 rookie contracts on the team.

Also the more I think about it the more I think at this point they may as well just draft a kicker or punter. Gost has missed too many kicks in key games. I say just draft Cole Tracy and save yourself 4M at this point.

If we make it back to the SB Gost is more likely to miss at least one kick than not IMO. Why pay 4M if that is the case? May as well roll the dice and go for the unknown. You don't need a big leg to boot it out the back of the end zone anymore. I am fine signing Allen back for 2M as he has been super dependable but he is another guy you can save over a million on cap space to draft if you want. With all their picks this might be a good idea.

Also cut Hoyer and saving 1.5M isn't the worst idea. Why not bring in another young guy and hope for the best? Brady has proven durable and this is a gamble I am happy to take this year. If Brady does gets hurt at his age it probably derails your season anyway. If he gets hurt in a playoff game then with Hoyer you are just going to hide behind your run game and a rookie QB can do that; and probably be more likely to make a big game changing play.

 

[supafly]

After really thinking about it the Pats aren't as tight against the cap as we think.

When you look at the actual situation you realize due to their draft picks they will likely have 6-7 rookie contracts on the team.

Also the more I think about it the more I think at this point they may as well just draft a kicker or punter. Gost has missed too many kicks in key games. I say just draft Cole Tracy and save yourself 4M at this point.

If we make it back to the SB Gost is more likely to miss at least one kick than not IMO. Why pay 4M if that is the case? May as well roll the dice and go for the unknown. You don't need a big leg to boot it out the back of the end zone anymore. I am fine signing Allen back for 2M as he has been super dependable but he is another guy you can save over a million on cap space to draft if you want. With all their picks this might be a good idea.

Also cut Hoyer and saving 1.5M isn't the worst idea. Why not bring in another young guy and hope for the best? Brady has proven durable and this is a gamble I am happy to take this year. If Brady does gets hurt at his age it probably derails your season anyway. If he gets hurt in a playoff game then with Hoyer you are just going to hide behind your run game and a rookie QB can do that; and probably be more likely to make a big game changing play.

Can’t agree with wanting to cut Hoyer, who is the only available backup QB in the league familiar with our offense. Especially not to save 1.5m dollars. Who would take his place? I doubt that Etling is ready, and he may not even make it out of camp if they bring in someone new.

Also don’t like the idea of moving on from Gost, who is a master of the outdoor elements at Gillette, and also a kickoff specialist.

Either way, I’m not sure how either of these moves would disprove the idea of being tight against the cap, when you’d be making (arguably) two terrible decisions to free up around 5m dollars.

 

[RobertWeathers]

those names don't exactly inspire.

They were components of a world championship which is more you can say for many of the FAs

 

[RobertWeathers]

Seems during every post season there is way too much hand wringing and consternation going on, however for some reason we always do better when the Pats move from this stage to their operational stage.. meanwhile the national pundits are discussing winners during this part of the NFL year..

Expect quite a few more moves in the upcoming weeks before and during the draft, then there are the June cuts... and a few of those moves will provide some WTF moments that will be fodder for this message board..

Every year it's the same thing.

After 19 years people still don't want to acknowledge how this team goes about roster building

 

[Wordsmyth]

We re-signed Dorsett! Woohoo!

 

[PatsFanSince74]

those names don't exactly inspire.

Yeah. Everybody knows they suck.

 

[edkk323]

After really thinking about it the Pats aren't as tight against the cap as we think.

When you look at the actual situation you realize due to their draft picks they will likely have 6-7 rookie contracts on the team.

Also the more I think about it the more I think at this point they may as well just draft a kicker or punter. Gost has missed too many kicks in key games. I say just draft Cole Tracy and save yourself 4M at this point.

If we make it back to the SB Gost is more likely to miss at least one kick than not IMO. Why pay 4M if that is the case? May as well roll the dice and go for the unknown. You don't need a big leg to boot it out the back of the end zone anymore. I am fine signing Allen back for 2M as he has been super dependable but he is another guy you can save over a million on cap space to draft if you want. With all their picks this might be a good idea.

Also cut Hoyer and saving 1.5M isn't the worst idea. Why not bring in another young guy and hope for the best? Brady has proven durable and this is a gamble I am happy to take this year. If Brady does gets hurt at his age it probably derails your season anyway. If he gets hurt in a playoff game then with Hoyer you are just going to hide behind your run game and a rookie QB can do that; and probably be more likely to make a big game changing play.

The Pats have around 100m cap space next year. They can put higher cap number next year if they want to sign some big ticket items. Sure that is without Brady or Gronk or Devin or KVN or Jules. But there is also a increase a cap space next year. I think we do have a plenty of money simply because we never signed any stupid contracts or new stupid money contracts.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

After really thinking about it the Pats aren't as tight against the cap as we think.

When you look at the actual situation you realize due to their draft picks they will likely have 6-7 rookie contracts on the team.

Also the more I think about it the more I think at this point they may as well just draft a kicker or punter. Gost has missed too many kicks in key games. I say just draft Cole Tracy and save yourself 4M at this point.

If we make it back to the SB Gost is more likely to miss at least one kick than not IMO. Why pay 4M if that is the case? May as well roll the dice and go for the unknown. You don't need a big leg to boot it out the back of the end zone anymore. I am fine signing Allen back for 2M as he has been super dependable but he is another guy you can save over a million on cap space to draft if you want. With all their picks this might be a good idea.

Also cut Hoyer and saving 1.5M isn't the worst idea. Why not bring in another young guy and hope for the best? Brady has proven durable and this is a gamble I am happy to take this year. If Brady does gets hurt at his age it probably derails your season anyway. If he gets hurt in a playoff game then with Hoyer you are just going to hide behind your run game and a rookie QB can do that; and probably be more likely to make a big game changing play.

I dunno.
Watching Brady and Hoyer together on the sideline and considering all of the time Hoyer has put into the "system," I think they keep him until they identify the most likely replacement for TB12.
Given his overall performance, which other K would you rather have than Gostkowski? Why gamble on Cole Tracy if Gostkowski wants to return? And, I do recall him making a couple of important FG's in last year's SB run.

 

[BTTA]

Every year it's the same thing.

After 19 years people still don't want to acknowledge how this team goes about roster building

Yup, other teams fill out their fantasy rosters while the Pats fill the holes in theirs. The objective is to arrive at draft day without any glaring needs, to better enable a BPA approach to the draft.

So, at this point, they need to shore up TE and WR to be able to field a competitive team. In the draft they can then focus on players that would potentially provide major upgrades at just about any position, depending on how the draft falls. This year, the only position probably not eligible for that is CB, given the talent on the roster now. Well, and QB, unless Brady's going to retire in less than four years.

Which means, by default, they'll draft a CB in one of the first two rounds, making us all crazy again.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Yup, other teams fill out their fantasy rosters while the Pats fill the holes in theirs. The objective is to arrive at draft day without any glaring needs, to better enable a BPA approach to the draft.

So, at this point, they need to shore up TE and WR to be able to field a competitive team. In the draft they can then focus on players that would potentially provide major upgrades at just about any position, depending on how the draft falls. This year, the only position probably not eligible for that is CB, given the talent on the roster now. Well, and QB, unless Brady's going to retire in less than four years.

Which means, by default, they'll draft a CB in one of the first two rounds, making us all crazy again.

Spot on.

They very well might draft a CB that they project as a DMc 2.0 (CB that can play FS)

If he drafts a Tavon Wilson/Richards type in RD2 I'm going to lose my ****

 

[long distance]

@ short term deals

one of the reasons - apart from need-age-mutual interest etc factor - could be the great amount of draft capital Pats have over the next 2 years (over 20 picks at the moment incl comps) . add the success Pats have with UDFAs and there should be big amount of home grown talent coming in in these 2 years - also add an entire 2019 injured rookie class that should step up and up-set the vets..

 

[BTTA]

@ short term deals

one of the reasons - apart from need-age-mutual interest etc factor - could be the great amount of draft capital Pats have over the next 2 years (over 20 picks at the moment incl comps) . add the success Pats have with UDFAs and there should be big amount of home grown talent coming in in these 2 tears - also add an entire 2019 injured rookie class that should step up and up-set the vets..

We may barely recognize the SB LVI winners.

 

[scout]

Also the more I think about it the more I think at this point they may as well just draft a kicker or punter. Gost has missed too many kicks in key games. I say just draft Cole Tracy and save yourself 4M at this point.

If we make it back to the SB Gost is more likely to miss at least one kick than not IMO. Why pay 4M if that is the case? May as well roll the dice and go for the unknown. You don't need a big leg to boot it out the back of the end zone anymore.

I disagree. I would rather pay Gost a premium to stay. We tend to look at the misses and forget about the winners. Points are a premium when Brady does not score a TD. Last year, I wished for an end zone kick every single time. Not everyone is capable of kicking it out or dropping it on the close to the line. Why would anyone want to roll the dice for an unknown quantity?