Hopkins Headed to Tennessee

[PatsFan2]

Since Thornton had the benefit of Bill's coaching for a whole season he'll probably be the second coming of Randy Moss this year.

Is that a joke or a insult??

 

[Bill Lee]

It’s not just a name. He would be our top receiver and they have more than enough cap space.

It was almost as no risk amazing reward as it gets.

Worst case he busts and have a small dead cap hit next year.

I 100% understand the financial responsibility side and not getting bogged down in bad contracts, but not using cap space is wasting it.

I’ve defended Bill to a ridiculous level because almost every single time he has clear logic behind his moves. But damn he’s even losing me.

No risk from aging WR with injury and PED challenges and questions about his work ethic?

I don't understand why this guy has blinded so many people.

He's more name than game at this point in his career.

30 other teams looked at him and passed.

He sat on the market for weeks with the TEN offer in hand, and no one matched.

This isn't just Bill and BoB not wanting him at that price, this is 30 teams not wanting him at that price.

 

[Grogan14]

Agree, probably true. Makes you question his sincerity with the visit.


Maybe but I don't see this as a probably main factor because Tannehill isn't a quarterback that an elite receiver would want to play with.


Agree on the weaker WR room part but all receivers are better off with a legitimate guy on the other side of the field. See Hill and Waddle, Chase and Higgins, A.J. and DeVonta, Deebo and Aiyuk, etc.


Randy Moss in 2007 was possibly the best single season ever for a WR, so yeah, pretty much no one is living up to that.


Agree. I'll add that not signing Hopkins keeps the pressure high on Mac Jones. Yes, O'Brien will favorably influence Mac but he's being expected to improve a lot with arguably the same caliber WR corps he had last season.

Tannehill was s higher draft pick than Jones and has had a better career.

 

[Pape]

I agree with your first comment. This year IS going to be "all about Mac", at least in the eyes of the fans and media. But the 2nd part is once again LUDICROUS. The PATS win games, not individual players. This is the kind of loose thinking that propels this myth along. Mac is NOT going to win or lose games by himself.....nor will he ever.

All he can do IS be "better" as an individual and hope that that effort along with EVERYONE else's translates into wins. This year is all about whether Mac will be an improved version of 2021 or more of what we saw in 2022. It's about whether we have a young QB that will CONTINUE to get better, or whether we have to start all over at the position.

I like to think I know which, but unlike so many of you, I know its only a guess. Which is why watching it all unfold is so compelling.

As for my opinion on Hopkins to Tennessee, I think the reason is clear. You just DON'T put bacon in a vegetarian's clam chowder. But seriously, it was about the money and how much was guaranteed and how much was incentives. This is going to be his last shot at even a mid level WR contract.

BTW- one aspect of this chase kind of makes me go hmmm. Where were the LEGITIMATE offers from some of the obvious contenders. On the surface Hopkins would seem like the PERFECT addition to a serious contender. Why then wasn't there more buzz from that group. Why was it that the only 2 "serious" offers came from low level playoff contenders and only one with serious guaranteed money. It can't be about his on field production, because that SEEMS to be still at a high level. What is it about Hopkins that kept his market so narrow?

Ken i respectfully disagree that its ludicrous to state that Mac needs to win games - because that is exactly what Mac being better means.

Mac can'thave a fourth quarter like he did vs the ravens...
Mac can't take a ten yard sack with a minute left, down by 7, like he did vs the vikings... Hes got to make a play, even if its throwing it away...
Mac can't go one for four in the final minute, like he did versus the raiders... he's got to put the ball in play where the receivers can get it...

Those were three winnable games... the difference between 8-9 and 11-6... Im sorry but I don't know how else to term it besides Mac needs to step up and make those throw and win those games.

 

[PatsFan2]

Let's see Juju - Parker - Bourne - Thornton who's our Fifth WRs? Slater doesn't count Boutte - Douglas and Nixon. I hope one of those three can separate themselves. I think the latter three are all eligible for our PS so we can can get creative with our WR Depth.

 

[Bill Lee]

This whole story = much ado about nothing

The media had to have something to run with, this was the best pot stirrer they could find.

 

[Steve102]

It's quite obvious the Patriots don't have the allure anymore we have to build that back up. Also this scenario shows we are really hoping T Thornton make that jump tall order here but there's hope.

Allure? What is this allure you speak of ?


Rodney Harrison created this myth with his "Bill looked me in the eye...." speech in America's Game. While it's a wonderful story to think that players will come here because of some X factor that no other team can match, the bottom line is most likely the bottom line for 99% of players today.

 

[Patriot Missile]

Ken i respectfully disagree that its ludicrous to state that Mac needs to win games - because that is exactly what Mac being better means.

Mac can'thave a fourth quarter like he did vs the ravens...
Mac can't take a ten yard sack with a minute left, down by 7, like he did vs the vikings... Hes got to make a play, even if its throwing it away...
Mac can't go one for four in the final minute, like he did versus the raiders... he's got to put the ball in play where the receivers can get it...

Those were three winnable games... the difference between 8-9 and 11-6... Im sorry but I don't know how else to term it besides Mac needs to step up and make those throw and win those games.

It’s going to be fun watching O’brien coach this guy. He’s either gonna fix the kid and put him in a position to exceed or he’s gonna have a complete meltdown screaming his way to an early grave.

 

[BB8XSBW]

They have, sometimes they just did it with the wrong players... you don't have to think back that far - offseason prior to 2021 - Jonnu Smith and Nelson Agholor being the most obvious.

In the time it took you to make this post, Bill Belichick just won his 9th Super Bowl ring.

 

[PatsFan2]

Allure? What is this allure you speak of ?


Rodney Harrison created this myth with his "Bill looked me in the eye...." speech in America's Game. While it's a wonderful story to think that players will come here because of some X factor that no other team can match, the bottom line is most likely the bottom line for 99% of players today.

QB D-Hop choose Tanne over Mac he's think they are a better Team on paper pound for pound.

 

[Ian]

QB D-Hop choose Tanne over Mac he's think they are a better Team on paper pound for pound.

I disagree, and Breer said it last night (I posted it in my thing this morning). The Patriots were there salary wise, but it came down to the incentives, and the Titans apparently had theirs structured where it was easier for him to reach them.

 

[PatsFan2]

Ken i respectfully disagree that its ludicrous to state that Mac needs to win games - because that is exactly what Mac being better means.

Mac can'thave a fourth quarter like he did vs the ravens...
Mac can't take a ten yard sack with a minute left, down by 7, like he did vs the vikings... Hes got to make a play, even if its throwing it away...
Mac can't go one for four in the final minute, like he did versus the raiders... he's got to put the ball in play where the receivers can get it...

Those were three winnable games... the difference between 8-9 and 11-6... Im sorry but I don't know how else to term it besides Mac needs to step up and make those throw and win those games.

Yeah and I felt a player like of D-Hop caliber could have been the difference in those games but we don't have him. maybe they feel we have a similar player of this roster now I don't know.

 

[Lavictoire]

is this an indictment on Bill or Kraft?

I remember Jonthan Kraft praising Bill's economics degree.

 

[Steve102]

QB D-Hop choose Tanne over Mac he's think they are a better Team on paper pound for pound.

D-hop chose 12m over 4m plus incentives.

How many of guys in the league truly care about winning? I would think it's surprisingly lower than most fans think. They first and foremost look at the business aspect of it. Otherwise, why would players sign for teams that have little to no shot of winning ? If all things are equal, sure, you'd choose KC over Detroit. Rarely are they equal. Add other layers like kids, families, perks, locales... Why go to Green Bay over Miami? Why choose Buffalo over San Diego? Money.

 

[PatsFan2]

I disagree, and Breer said it last night (I posted it in my thing this morning). The Patriots were there salary wise, but it came down to the incentives, and the Titans apparently had theirs structured where it was easier for him to reach them.

Thanks Ian how do you feel about our incentives tactic? IMO we should have made it more attractive we could have used D-Hop. Knowing Mac needs really good players to succeed I don't think we did him any favors.

 

[PatsFan2]

D-hop chose 12m over 4m plus incentives.

How many of guys in the league truly care about winning? I would think it's surprisingly lower than most fans think. They first and foremost look at the business aspect of it. Otherwise, why would players sign for teams that have little to no shot of winning ? If all things are equal, sure, you'd choose KC over Detroit. Rarely are they equal.

Guess D-Hop had to feed his family it might be our loss in the end.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

I for one am wicked pissed

 

[Steve102]

Guess he had to feed his family.

You'd do the same.

 

[Ian]

Thanks Ian how do you feel about our incentive tactic? IMO we should have made it more attractive we could have used D-Hop.

No idea. Obviously, the question is whether or not D-Hop gave them the opportunity to match it or raise it. Only people who know that are the parties involved, and either way, it's disappointing. Still, Orlovsky also pointed out yesterday that if Henry and Gesicki end up among the top 2-3 duos in the league, that may end up making up for it. I guess we'll see.

 

[Ian]

Like @Steve102 said, the difference was the gap in the base vs incentives, not the overall total.

From Albert Breer:

“Based on where it was, the Patriots didn’t go to the level that the Titans did,” said Breer on NBC Sports Boston’s Sports Sunday via Darren Hartwell. “My understanding is, the max of (the Patriots’) offer was $15 million for this year — so they matched what the Titans did for this year — but a much higher percentage of it was in incentives.”

“Whereas the Titans were $12 million base (salary), $3 million in incentives, the Patriots’ offer was structured a little like the Chiefs offer going back to before the draft. The Chiefs’ offer at the time was a $4 million base with a chance to make up to $10 (million).

“So, they were willing to give (Hopkins) the max that the Titans offered, but they were going to make it much harder for him to get there.”