Let's do our best not to be Rex Ryan and the Jets

[Bill Lee]

The reason he's spending in free agency is because he got Brady, Antonio Brown and Stephen Gostkowski's money off the dead money list. When you know you're going into free agency with around $65 million in cap room, you know you can target particular players.

What I like is what @p8ryts posted above. Belichick is resigning his own players, recent Patriots, and good veterans in their mid- to late-20s that fit with the guys under contract. Between the return of opt-outs, especially Hightower and Danny Vitale, and the return of Trent Brown, Van Noye, Bolden, and Wise, the Patriots have a more veteran team that knows the playbook and the approach to practice and game prep.

I don't know all signees that well, but I don't see any knuckleheads like Antonio Brown who create distractions that this team doesn't need.

Right. People don't understand that contracts with voidable years are signs of cap desperation. You've exhausted all the contracts that have high salaries to convert to signing bonuses without using voidable years, so you add voidable years to push the hit out even further. This is what we did with Brady's last contract, and this is what Tampa just did with Brady too. Our window was still open then and Tampa's is now so it's a justifiable move, but there is a price to pay.

 

[upstater1]

It's pretty obvious that Bill is building this team to play a certain kind of style. The strength of the offense is the 2 TE offense, the OL, the running game. Even the Agholor signing is key because he's really only there not to allow the other team to stack the line against us. 2 DBs have to account for him. The 2 TEs also prevent one of the safeties from run blitzing us. By fortifying the OL and adding the two TEs and two WRs we'll be more able to counter teams.

I hope Cam Newton is training his legs right now, because he's going to be running it.

On defense the concepts are the same. But hopefully Godchaux and Henry Anderson will give us the run stopping we haven't had.
2nd year Uche, 3rd year Winovich, Hightower, Van Noy, Judon, are going to give us more pass rush than we had last year. The only question is how Dugger grows and replaces Chung (who obviously didn't even play last year). I'm assuming Gilmore and JC Jackson are back.

Belichick has not gone crazy in FA as much as he's gotten the pieces to run what he wants to run. If anything, this FA has been a little underwhelming across the league because there haven't been many big names on the market. JJ Watt was the biggest and he signed what seems like ages ago.

 

[JMC00]

Tennessee has made a few moves to shore up weaknesses or add depth.

Not seeing that at all. They dropped Butler & Jackson for Jenkins. So they still need another CB. They swapped Clowney for Dupree which will probably be an improvement of what they got from Clowney. They lost their #1 TE to the Pats. Corey Davis left and the other 8 WRs currently on their roster not named AJ Brown had a combined 50 catches last year. They will have to also replace DaQuan Jones if he goes elsewhere. They also desperately need a solid backup for Henry and one that can also help in the passing game (Henry for as much as he is used is almost non-existent in the passing game). He gets injured and is out for multiple games that offense will be done.

Titans as of right now are worse than they were from a roster stand point

 

[Brewskies]

I don't have your concerns. Bill is a much better working with those acquired. In BB I trust.

 

[Tony2046]

So the message is be wary of under-performing after Belichick made big splurge in free agency, because that's what happened with Rex Ryan and his various front office teams? Not sure that's a big concern of mine. I think most fans are being realistic and realize this team can't be elite till we have a better answer at QB.

Is Bill Lee the same as Billy?

 

[RobertWeathers]

There's an awful lot of optimism around these parts this week, with good reason. Belichick strengthened every position group with his free agent signings, except quarterback.

But, I kept having flashbacks to all the threads mocking Rex Ryan and the Jets for winning the offseason every year and then underperforming except for 2010 when they beat the Patriots in the Divisional round and gave the Steelers a game in the AFCC.

I like what is shaping up to be a better Patriots team in 2021, especially on defense, but I'm not sure that the Bills are going to take a step backwards and there are other AFC teams who look to be more competitive who start out ahead of the 7-9 Patriots. Cleveland and Tennessee have made a few moves to shore up weaknesses or add depth. I don't know what Indianapolis and Miami are doing. Maybe their big moves will come in the draft. Neither of those teams has gotten better so far, and Miami looks like it's taking a step backward after re-tooling in 2020 with success.

BB could be in a coma and be a better GM than Tannenbaum and coach than twinkletoes Ryan.

 

[Tony2046]

It's pretty obvious that Bill is building this team to play a certain kind of style. The strength of the offense is the 2 TE offense, the OL, the running game. Even the Agholor signing is key because he's really only there not to allow the other team to stack the line against us. 2 DBs have to account for him. The 2 TEs also prevent one of the safeties from run blitzing us. By fortifying the OL and adding the two TEs and two WRs we'll be more able to counter teams.

I hope Cam Newton is training his legs right now, because he's going to be running it.

On defense the concepts are the same. But hopefully Godchaux and Henry Anderson will give us the run stopping we haven't had.
2nd year Uche, 3rd year Winovich, Hightower, Van Noy, Judon, are going to give us more pass rush than we had last year. The only question is how Dugger grows and replaces Chung (who obviously didn't even play last year). I'm assuming Gilmore and JC Jackson are back.

Belichick has not gone crazy in FA as much as he's gotten the pieces to run what he wants to run. If anything, this FA has been a little underwhelming across the league because there haven't been many big names on the market. JJ Watt was the biggest and he signed what seems like ages ago.

Interesting thing mentioned on the 4th and 2 podcast was that 600+ yards of Agholor's 800+ yards were YAC.

Anyway there's a lot to look forward to this season.

 

[Ring 6]

It's pretty obvious that Bill is building this team to play a certain kind of style. The strength of the offense is the 2 TE offense, the OL, the running game. Even the Agholor signing is key because he's really only there not to allow the other team to stack the line against us. 2 DBs have to account for him. The 2 TEs also prevent one of the safeties from run blitzing us. By fortifying the OL and adding the two TEs and two WRs we'll be more able to counter teams.

I hope Cam Newton is training his legs right now, because he's going to be running it.

On defense the concepts are the same. But hopefully Godchaux and Henry Anderson will give us the run stopping we haven't had.
2nd year Uche, 3rd year Winovich, Hightower, Van Noy, Judon, are going to give us more pass rush than we had last year. The only question is how Dugger grows and replaces Chung (who obviously didn't even play last year). I'm assuming Gilmore and JC Jackson are back.

Belichick has not gone crazy in FA as much as he's gotten the pieces to run what he wants to run. If anything, this FA has been a little underwhelming across the league because there haven't been many big names on the market. JJ Watt was the biggest and he signed what seems like ages ago.

The pieces that were missing were accompanied by the cap space available to fill them. Ultimately the organization plan at the end of a tremendous unprecedented success was one bad season and a reload. I’ve not seen a better approach executed anywhere.

 

[DarrylS]

Was listening to Ted Johnson this AM while out and about, and he contended was one of the reasons the Pats had so many issues last year were there were no other players waiting in the wings to push "starters" for a roster spot. There was not a lot of quality depth on the D line, LB, TE or WR so they were not "pushed" and assumed they would be there for the season. These new guys will be mentors for some of our newer players..

Johnson went on to say that this year is a completely different landscape for this team and much more for the better because of their signings, many guys will realize they have to perform or move on.

Some fans might believe that this is another "Rex Ryan team of destiny", but most of us realize and know we will have to wait for a while to see how this team plays together...

 

[jah]

Honestly, if the immediate return on this offseason is we beat #1 seed Buffalo in their own stadium in January, it could be a lot worse.

 

[50-yard-line]

I find the analogy terribly lacking for a lot of reasons.

First, BB didn't break the bank on anyone, particularly since it was such a down year cap-wise with a ton of $$$ to spend and almost $0 dead money.

Second, we only had a couple of our own FAs we needed to sign (for the right price) and really, who other than Thuney (who got a monster deal) did we lose that would have been a critical keep?

Third, if you look at the roster at the end of the year, the Pats were VERY thick with guys on 1st, 2nd, 3rd year , who were getting lots of playing time. More than I remember in the BB era. They were also thick with guys near the end. They had no middle class.

BB has always been great in collecting a middle class from other teams - in figuring out what fits and what doesn't.

Fourth, biggest difference of all is that the Jets were trying to compete with a super-team in their division. All of the AFCE teams were grinding through rosters and GMs in trying to figure out how to topple the BB-Brady Pats. The division was terrible, other than the Pats, because of that as much as anything else. Fan bases were impatient and vocal from Buffalo to Miami.

BB saw the needs, the opportunity with cash-strapped teams, and the favorable position with a low cap year coming, but likely much bigger situations in 2022 and 23, and he pounced. He did his homework (money and character), he spent the money, and I don't think I've seen a team get as much of a pure talent upgrade in one off-season ever.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

No Freakin' Way we risk becoming the Jete. Our coach is not talking outa his *** after his FA moves. There is no fun in being a fan if you cannot enjoy the legitimate prospect of rebuilding a team that sorely needed a reload. There is substantive dispassionate football evidence that FA moves likely improved positions of serious weakness.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Was listening to Ted Johnson this AM while out and about, and he contended was one of the reasons the Pats had so many issues last year were there were no other players waiting in the wings to push "starters" for a roster spot. There was not a lot of quality depth on the D line, LB, TE or WR so they were not "pushed" and assumed they would be there for the season. These new guys will be mentors for some of our newer players..

Johnson went on to say that this year is a completely different landscape for this team and much more for the better because of their signings, many guys will realize they have to perform or move on.

Some fans might believe that this is another "Rex Ryan team of destiny", but most of us realize and know we will have to wait for a while to see how this team plays together...

They've rarely had teams where backups where waiting in the wings to either push starters for playing time or be ready to take over once the veteran player leaves.

Off the top of my head there were:

Ty Warren for Bobby Hamilton
Vince Wilfork for Keith Trayler (Vince was rough his first year and their run D got shredded.)
Dan Koppen got Damien Woody moved to G full time
Stevan Ridley for BJGE
Shane Vareen for Danny Woodhead
James White for Dion Lewis
Asante Samuel for Ty Law (He wasn't ready his 1st year as he got torched a ton. He had a rough year. 2006 was his breakthrough.)
Nate Solder for Matt Light
Malcom Butler for Darrelle Revis
David Andrews for Bryan Stork

 

[DarrylS]

They've rarely had teams where backups where waiting in the wings to either push starters for playing time or be ready to take over once the veteran player leaves.

Off the top of my head there were:

Ty Warren for Bobby Hamilton
Vince Wilfork for Keith Trayler (Vince was rough his first year and their run D got shredded.)
Dan Koppen got Damien Woody moved to G full time
Stevan Ridley for BJGE
Shane Vareen for Danny Woodhead
James White for Dion Lewis
Asante Samuel for Ty Law (He wasn't ready his 1st year as he got torched a ton. He had a rough year. 2006 was his breakthrough.)
Nate Solder for Matt Light
Malcom Butler for Darrelle Revis
David Andrews for Bryan Stork

That is anecdotal or perhaps situational evidence, what Johnson was referring to was there were many holes on this team in '20 that were filled by players who were not ready or able to assume that level of responsibility.. he surmises that this year will be much different as many of last years incumbents no longer assume that role.

He has completely revamped the LB's, DLine and TE...

 

[Rusty Coupe]

If you go back to Rex Ryan's Jets they had to restructure almost everyone on the current roster because they didn't have the money. I don't think the Patriots have had to restructure anyone and they are still under cap, not kicking the can down the road.

What I don't understand about the Jets this year is why they are not spending money? This is the year to use it if you have it. That only a handful of teams have a roster surplus and the salary cap that is going to go up from $180m to $250m within a few years with the new broadcasting deals and fans back in the stadiums - this is the year if you have it, spend it.

 

[tuckeverlasting]

not to worry, the difference between the pats and jets is only the owner, the gm, the coach and the entire organization so i have trust that we will never be the jets or any other team that has failed when signing big free agents (winning march) ,especially with bb around.

 

[Hyped]

Like others have said, this is not a normal off-season. Had the cap been at 200M...we wouldn't get both Smith/Henry and probably not Judon. JuJu wouldn't sign an one year deal, Golladay would get a bigger contract, etc...

That coupled with our need for QB in the draft, we needed to be able to be in the position to forgo our two first rounders in 21 and 22......

 

[PScottman]

Being the JETE isn't just about "winning the offseason" through free agent and draft execution, but the media and internal strategic messages that accompanied it TOUTING they'd won the offseason. "Better to be silent and thought the fool, than open one's mouth and remove all doubt."

 

[aluminum seats]

I’ve seen a few of his comparisons,, like the last few times that teams spent a ton in free agency not win a playoff game that year and then regressing the following year. To me it’s pretty simple, if we buy that Belichick has been as great of a coach as we have been saying for the last 20 years, it truly is apples and oranges. The patriots and Bill Belichick doing something is very different than Rex Ryan or any of these other morons doing it.

 

[Rob0729]

Belichick has had his problems drafting. Pretty bad in recent years.

But when it comes to free agency, he is better than most. He definitely has his misses. But he hits more than he misses and a lot of GMs cannot say the same.