"Business As Usual" or "Full Rebuild Mode"?

[supafly]

Sure, Bill could just let Sanu have a "show me" year and move on. We'd get a 2022 4th after all. The team has seen lots and lots of Sanu. Maybe the fans are right and he is worthless. And maybe not. Given the current ap situation over the next 5 years, extending a player like Sanu makes sense to me, especially when Edelman will be gone in the next year or two, or even sooner.

And just BTW, there are lots of ways to structure contracts so that additional commitments to Sanu are relatively minimal. We could cut him and have a $6.5M hit. We could extend him for yes ONLY a few million of cap savings. Consider a contract with a $2M 2020 salary, $6M bonus over 3 years, plus incentives. We'd save $2.5M, and pay $8M for 2020 instead of $6.5M. We would save the space (could be a bit more) and buy an option on his services for 2021 and 2022.
Obviously those prices would need to be negotiated, But no matter where we end up, we would save 2020 cap money, and perhaps have cap costs in later years.

I don’t know if cutting Sanu to save 6.5m this year is something that would benefit the team or not. Belichick has a good track record of making those decisions.

I’m just not certain that extending him makes any sense, either, at least prior to seeing him in game settings when he isn’t battling injury, and without the benefit of playing with Tom Brady.

 

[mgteich]

You forgot to mention that we need to sign a veteran offensive tackle who will retire the first day after camp opens.

That's not a need, just normal operating procedure.

 

[mgteich]

I don’t know if cutting Sanu to save 6.5m this year is something that would benefit the team or not. Belichick has a good track record of making those decisions.

I’m just not certain that extending him makes any sense, either, at least prior to seeing him in game settings when he isn’t battling injury, and without the benefit of playing with Tom Brady.

My point is that it is NOT "we" who have to determine whether Sanu is worth spending a couple of million of future cap money, or even a few million . Belichick and the staff is capable of evaluating the future value of players. Sometimes this works out and sometimes not. The staff has had many, many opportunities to see Sanu, many more than when Bill traded for him. Bill is able to make these decisions. And yes, he COULD have Sanu play 2020 for $6.5M without any extension.

FOR ME, this is the worst option, but one the team might have to accept if a deal cannot be made, presuming that Bill has decided that Sanu is worth keeping. I'd rather trade for someone and use the $6.5M for someone with a future with the team.

 

[BaconGrundleCandy]

Lots of people talking like Belichick is some mediocrity on this board the last few days and lmaooo

Yea there's no one else I'd rather have rn.

And anyone that's been paying attention understands how big the gap is between Bill - good.

I keep coming back to that Littlefinger/Sansa scene. Bill has been preparing for this. Fighting this battle 100 times in his mind. He's ready for and never caught by surprise.

 

[mgteich]

Yea there's no one else I'd rather have rn.

And anyone that's been paying attention understands how big the gap is between Bill - good.

I keep coming back to that Littlefinger/Sansa scene. Bill has been preparing for this. Fighting this battle 100 times in his mind. He's ready for and never caught by surprise.

I agree 1000%.

However, last year doesn't help folks understand just how great Bill is a GM.

I would simply ask how well was Bill ready for Gronk's retirement? Obviously, it seems to many of us that had he been better prepared, he might have addressed the TE situation differently last year.

Also, how ready was Bill when he gave Scar Newhouse and decided not to spend resources for anything better? We all remember Scar's reactions when we all saw how Newhouse played. I get it. The Newhouse long shot "worked". We didn't lose any game because of Newhouse. But this choice (of saving a 2020 draft choice snd counting on Newhouse) didn't seem much like Bill. Obviously, securing Sanu was more Bill's style.

 

[primetime]

I agree 1000%.

However, last year doesn't help folks understand just how great Bill is a GM.

I would simply ask how well was Bill ready for Gronk's retirement? Obviously, it seems to many of us that had he been better prepared, he might have addressed the TE situation differently last year.

Also, how ready was Bill when he gave Scar Newhouse and decided not to spend resources for anything better? We all remember Scar's reactions when we all saw how Newhouse played. I get it. The Newhouse long shot "worked". We didn't lose any game because of Newhouse. But this choice (of saving a 2020 draft choice snd counting on Newhouse) didn't seem much like Bill. Obviously, securing Sanu was more Bill's style.

Think everyone judges last year very differently if, uh, Antonio Brown doesn't make either the bizarre choice or stupid mistake to include a woman who claimed he behaved lewdly towards her in a group text in which he disparaged her.

 

[BaconGrundleCandy]

I agree 1000%.

However, last year doesn't help folks understand just how great Bill is a GM.

I would simply ask how well was Bill ready for Gronk's retirement? Obviously, it seems to many of us that had he been better prepared, he might have addressed the TE situation differently last year.

Also, how ready was Bill when he gave Scar Newhouse and decided not to spend resources for anything better? We all remember Scar's reactions when we all saw how Newhouse played. I get it. The Newhouse long shot "worked". We didn't lose any game because of Newhouse. But this choice (of saving a 2020 draft choice snd counting on Newhouse) didn't seem much like Bill. Obviously, securing Sanu was more Bill's style.

I agree and there have been other years/decisions that are bad.

Trust me I'll never get over this year's TE corp.

 

[BaconGrundleCandy]

Think everyone judges last year very differently if, uh, Antonio Brown doesn't make either the bizarre choice or stupid mistake to include a woman who claimed he behaved lewdly towards her in a group text in which he disparaged her.

Last year was just brutal even though we're spoiled rotten.

Legit could of had Josh, AB together.

KC & Mia games.

 

[mgteich]

Personally, I have no doubt that Belichick will try to filed a competitive team this season, if there is one.

For me, the open question is where Stidham is in Bill's plans. We can't know much about 2020 and 2021 until we know what Bill is doing at QB.

 

[lancerman]

Think everyone judges last year very differently if, uh, Antonio Brown doesn't make either the bizarre choice or stupid mistake to include a woman who claimed he behaved lewdly towards her in a group text in which he disparaged her.

Last year I’d very different if

1. Andrews has no blood clot

2. Wynn has no turf toe

3. Brown and Gordon don’t have personal issues

3. Edelman doesn’t get injured.

that happens and we are talking about how stupid embarrassing it is that are 1st round rookie gets to feast as the number 4 while defenses don’t know what to do.

There was a lot of bad luck last year and risks we took that didn’t pay off

 

[iapatsfan]

Last year I’d very different if

1. Andrews has no blood clot

2. Wynn has no turf toe

3. Brown and Gordon don’t have personal issues

3. Edelman doesn’t get injured.

that happens and we are talking about how stupid embarrassing it is that are 1st round rookie gets to feast as the number 4 while defenses don’t know what to do.

There was a lot of bad luck last year and risks we took that didn’t pay off

The first round rookie is feasting on nobody. He'll make contested catch here and there, but the guy moves like he's in mud.

 

[lancerman]

The first round rookie is feasting on nobody. He'll make contested catch here and there, but the guy moves like he's in mud.

Jesus.
If number 1 is AB, number 2 is Gordon, and Edelman is taking up the slot or even going out, hes feasting. Hogan feasted as well until he had to face number 1CB’s in 2018. It’s a match up game.

 

[iapatsfan]

Jesus.
If number 1 is AB, number 2 is Gordon, and Edelman is taking up the slot or even going out, hes feasting. Hogan feasted as well until he had to face number 1CB’s in 2018. It’s a match up game.

The number 1 pick was outplayed by an undrafted rookie from day 1.

 

[DarrylS]

Interesting how Sanu is denigrated even though he played with a high ankle sprain that required surgery.. the Pats do not really know his capabilities in this offense..

This year the Pats have little cap space while next year there will be 100+ million available, this year the expectations need to be realistic my expectations are that BB will probably stock this team with players who have underperformed and try to coach them up.. next year a huge free agent splash is anticipated.

Addressing the TE and LB positions will be critical, and bringing in another veteran QB may be the best way to proceed...

 

[Doctor DDS]

Am not really sure exactly what a rebuild is vs what Pats normally do but if our AFCE opponents have been "rebuilding" for the past 20 or so years I am not interested in that approach.

By moving on from Brady the team is obviously in transition. Am interested in seeing what Stidham, Bentley, Win and Harry can do this year so if going with them vs actively seeking veteran replacements is a rebuild then I am OK with that definition. If what is being reported in this thread about next's year cap space of over $100M it seems like the Pats will already have a ton of opportunities to make a major overhaul w/o sacrificing this year so I want them to keep most of their talented veterans vs trading for picks or cap space. I'm more in a reload vs rebuild mindset.

 

[Nikolai]

The offense will be different this year; a different scheme. I agree with the above statements on that. It'll be catered to Stidham's strengths.

Let's not forget that the offensive system last year was failing miserably the last third of the year or so. And it's not like we could upgrade to make it much better. I'm curious to see what the new scheme will be. Even if it's league average, or slightly below, it's somewhat acceptable, given that the defense is still a good unit. If I recall, the offensive production the last few weeks of last year was ranked in the bottom five of the league (I'm sure someone will correct if I'm wrong). Not hard to do better than that.

I'll worry about our schedule when we see what the 2020 version of those teams looks like.

 

[Deus Irae]

The guy was a sufficient alternative option when he was on the same field as two of the best WRs of all time. Unfortunately he doesn't have Julio Jones or A.J. Green opening up the field for him anymore.

60 catches? I'll take the under.

He's a bum. Send him packing.

Fine, say last 20 years if it makes you feel better. Doesn't change the reality.

That's a horrible troll attempt, even for you.

 

[sportnik]

It's BAU. It's always BAU when you have the greatest coach of all time. I remember in 2001, when Bledsoe got hurt, ESPN put the Pats last in their power rankings. Can you imagine if the Pats went into full rebuild mode then.

Let's see what they have in Stid the kid. This team seems well suited to play strong D and ground and pound, which seems to be the winning formula in an NFL that's gone lighter and smaller on defense. Zig when they zag....

 

[iapatsfan]

That's a horrible troll attempt, even for you.

Sanu is a bum who benefited from playing opposite the best WRs in the league. He was slow at 24. He'll be slower at 31. The Falcons fleeced the Patriots. Not trolling...truth.

 

[Deus Irae]

Sanu is a bum who benefited from playing opposite the best WRs in the league. He was slow at 24. He'll be slower at 31. The Falcons fleeced the Patriots. Not trolling...truth.

No, it's trolling. You know it. I know it. Everyone knows it. You're here to troll. It's what you do, and I enjoy a good troll. But, for someone who trolls as often as you do, you mostly suck at it.


Just do it better.