Do we bring back Teddy Karras?

[Simpelton]

With the blood clot, I'm not convinced we're getting David Andrews back when we think we will. People said at the time that his career may be over. I'm sure he's working with the doctors and doing everything he can to get back on the field but I don't think we can count on it.

That said, what do you think the cost will be to bring Ted Karras back for another contract? Do you think someone will offer him starting center money? A good center is worth some coin and Karras was looking solid out there towards the end of the year.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Yes. You can’t count on Andrews coming back. Draft a Center as well.

 

[Kontradiction]

Yes. You can count on Andrews coming back. Draft a Center as well.

If you can count on Andrews coming back, and you think that the team is bringing back Karras, why the hell would you draft a center?

 

[TheRainMaker]

If you can count on Andrews coming back, and you think that the team is bringing back Karras, why the hell would you draft a center?

Lol. Typo. I meant can’t.

 

[Hyped]

I would love the depth, but it always comes down to the numbers.....

 

[farn]

I think he'll command more $ than the team is willing to invest.

 

[JayNM]

Wasnt Karras drafted as a Guard?

To me, the most obvious move would be to bring him back and put him on Thuney's place...

he improved during the season and at guard we wouldnt have to worry about his snapping ability.

Regardless if Andrews comes back or not, we need depth inside

 

[203Pat]

If someone gives him starter money I’d assume he’s gone. If he’s willing to take high end backup money I’d assume he’s back.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Karras did fine. Andrews is better but Karras was out of place as a starting center. Pro Bowl material? Hell no.

 

[IcyPatriot]

Draft a center ...
One with a bigger ass if possible.

 

[patsfanfromoversea]

an IOL with also run blocking skills would be nice to help our offense

 

[Jimke]

I hope the Patriots don't handle the o-line situation like the tight end situation.
If they don't re-sign Karras, they will have three players (Andrews, Cajuste,
and Froholdt) returning from IR, Cunningham and Eluemanor acquired in trade
but healthy scratches, and the ever popular Ferentz.

 

[Sully]

If the price is right. He played well for us last year. Great depth piece to have.

 

[supafly]

Draft a center ...
One with a bigger ass if possible.

I like them thick. I mean, thicc.

 

[Sicilian]

Assuming they can get a reasonable idea of Andrews' potential recovery in time to make these decisions in free agency, I see three possibilities:

1) Thuney is retained, Andrews comes back, and Karras is brought back on a favorable backup salary.

2) Thuney is retained, Andrews comes back, and Karras is offered starter money somewhere else, in which case the Pats will pass.

3) Either Thuney leaves, and/or Andrews won't be ready, and Karras is brought back, even if it takes starter money. That doesn't preclude drafting someone, I'd rather have the veteran mainstay than assume a rookie is going to fill one of those pivotal roles.

If Andrews' situation is too murky, this gets trickier. It would hamstring us a bit to have to pay Karras too much to keep as an insurance policy.

 

[Joey007]

Why is it assumed we won’t pay Thuney?

We’ve paid interior lineman premium amounts for their position before.

 

[Simpelton]

Karras did fine. Andrews is better but Karras was out of place as a starting center. Pro Bowl material? Hell no.

He started out out of position and had to learn on the job but he seemed to settle in nicely. I'm sure there's at least a couple teams with issues at C that are looking at what Karras did and wondering if he represents an upgrade for them. The Steelers spring to mind, they had some woeful center issues.

 

[RobertWeathers]

He started out out of position and had to learn on the job but he seemed to settle in nicely. I'm sure there's at least a couple teams with issues at C that are looking at what Karras did and wondering if he represents an upgrade for them. The Steelers spring to mind, they had some woeful center issues.

Agree.

I meant to say Karras wasn't out of place as a starting center. Those shotgun snaps earlier in the year were brutal but he improved.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Why is it assumed we won’t pay Thuney?

We’ve paid interior lineman premium amounts for their position before.

The belief is because they already paid a G in Shaq and will not have a lot of $ to sign a seemingly expensive FA like Thuney.

 

[mgteich]

We need a top interior backup, who can start at OG or C, if needed. Karras is that player. As was once the case with Cannon, I expect us to pay him as a low level starter.

I suppose that we wouldn't want Karras
if Andrews is 100% AND
if Thuney is back AND
if Froholdt is expected to be a top backup at guard and at center.