Hopkins Headed to Tennessee

[Sicilian]

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.

Agreed. Take out the rare instances where a guy has played somewhere his whole career, knows he only has a year or two left, and doesn't want to move his family. The rest of the free agents are going to go where the money is.

Now, there's some nuance there: It's not ALWAYS who offers the most money on that particular contract. If a guy can get 3 years for $30m from team A, but thinks if he signs with team B for 1 year at $9m, but will be featured enough to up his value enough to get something like 3/$45m the next year, he might do that. He's betting on himself. But it's still about money in the end either way.

 

[PatsFan2]

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.

We know OC BOB loves TE's but We didn't take any in a Strong Draft at the Position. Henry and Gesicki are not good Blockers from the position an injury to either we are in trouble at the position. Like you said we'll see.

 

[SteveBsFan]

If Mac/Zappe and the offense are one of the highest scoring offenses in the NFL, this will be completely irrelevant.

I remember people freaking out when the Titans signed Julio Jones, that turned out to be a complete bust.

If that is the case I’ll expect him to use that cap space to lock up Mac longterm

Point is, I don’t want to see them ending the season with that much cap space

 

[Steve102]

Agreed. Take out the rare instances where a guy has played somewhere his whole career, knows he only has a year or two left, and doesn't want to move his family. The rest of the free agents are going to go where the money is.

Now, there's some nuance there: It's not ALWAYS who offers the most money on that particular contract. If a guy can get 3 years for $30m from team A, but thinks if he signs with team B for 1 year at $9m, but will be featured enough to up his value enough to get something like 3/$45m the next year, he might do that. He's betting on himself. But it's still about money in the end either way.

Good points.

 

[FCB02062]

so much "we'll see" in this thread...they cheaped out once again

 

[Bill Lee]

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.

Is that a good characterization of what Breer said?

Wouldn't you take $12m salary with $3m in incentives over $4m-ish salary with $8m-$11m-ish in incentives?

 

[Ian]

Is that a good characterization of what Breer said?

Wouldn't you take $12m salary with $3m in incentives over $4m-ish salary with $8m-$11m-ish in incentives?

Yeah, I didn't state it properly. I was referring to the collective total. #Fail

 

[PatsFan2]

Agreed. Take out the rare instances where a guy has played somewhere his whole career, knows he only has a year or two left, and doesn't want to move his family. The rest of the free agents are going to go where the money is.

Now, there's some nuance there: It's not ALWAYS who offers the most money on that particular contract. If a guy can get 3 years for $30m from team A, but thinks if he signs with team B for 1 year at $9m, but will be featured enough to up his value enough to get something like 3/$45m the next year, he might do that. He's betting on himself. But it's still about money in the end either way.

I am pretty sure at his age the Pats know he'd go the mercenary route so you can't get too cute with the incentives especially at a NEED position for the Patriots. I hope the move doesn't come back to bite us D-Hop was available for the taking.

 

[Ian]

I'll post this part in here also as I transcribed his video earlier:

Monday Patriots Notebook 7/17: News and Notes | PatsFans.com

Some New England Patriots news and notes for Monday, July 17, 2023.

www.patsfans.com

Orlovsky Views Tight Ends as the Key​

Dan Orlovsky of ESPN posted a video following the news of Hopkins landing in Tennessee and while he believes it’s a big loss for the Patriots, he feels like the tight ends might ultimately make up the difference in how successful they potentially are this season.

Orlovsky believes it’s an offense that’s certainly under a lot more pressure, but with their defense, he’s confident that they’ve still got a shot.

“Congrats to Tennessee on getting D-Hop, I did not expect that,” said Orlovsky. “It gives them a chance to win the [AFC] South now if D-Hop is who we have grown accustomed to him being and [Mike] Vrabel as their head coach.”

“The more obvious thing for me is, two things. Number one, it feels like a massive missed opportunity and loss for the Patriots and Mac Jones going into a huge year. Number one, because just look at the division. They are worst in the division when it comes to overall skill talent by far and bottom three or bottom four in the conference.”

“So now you’re going to expect your offense to have enough firepower to compete against the Jets and the Dolphins and the Bills and basically everyone in the AFC, and you don’t, and you also expect your quarterback to take a big step and he’s got not nearly the amount of weapons that other quarterbacks have.”

“The second thing I think of, there is tremendous pressure now on Bill O’Brien, their playcaller – who’s awesome – but also Hunter Henry and Mike Gesicki. It makes me think that New England will major, not minor, major in 12 personnel – one back, two tight ends – and absolutely live in that. Because they don’t have the people on the outside wide receiver-wise to really contend firepower-wise scoring points with everyone they have to.”

“So it feels like this is a big missed opportunity for New England and Mac Jones. But if those two tight ends play together and they become one of the, if not the top 2, 3 duos in the Conference, they’ve got a shot with great defense. But it’s a lot of pressure on those two units.”

 

[sambam94]

It's fairly simple: Hopkins hasn't done anything for a few years, he's over 30 and living on past reputation meaning I don't believe he would have automatically become our #1 receiver straight out of the gate. Clear enough?

hasn't done anything? You really need to watch the games more. Yes, it's clear you have no idea what you are talking about. He had 64 catches for 717 yards in 9 games last year.

 

[Wozzy]

No

Obviously he went for the money.

But nobody is coming here for less anymore. There’s no reason to do that

Who came here for substantially less?

Players came here or re-signed for a little less (Hightower) because they didn't want to play for a league doormat.

Moss came here and two years later when his contract was up, he moaned about money... guess who the QB still was.

 

[Pape]

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.

Hopkins would absolutely have helped... good receiver

 

[amfootball]

I'll post this part in here also as I transcribed his video earlier:

Monday Patriots Notebook 7/17: News and Notes | PatsFans.com

Some New England Patriots news and notes for Monday, July 17, 2023.

www.patsfans.com

Orlovsky Views Tight Ends as the Key​

Dan Orlovsky of ESPN posted a video following the news of Hopkins landing in Tennessee and while he believes it’s a big loss for the Patriots, he feels like the tight ends might ultimately make up the difference in how successful they potentially are this season.

Orlovsky believes it’s an offense that’s certainly under a lot more pressure, but with their defense, he’s confident that they’ve still got a shot.

“Congrats to Tennessee on getting D-Hop, I did not expect that,” said Orlovsky. “It gives them a chance to win the [AFC] South now if D-Hop is who we have grown accustomed to him being and [Mike] Vrabel as their head coach.”

“The more obvious thing for me is, two things. Number one, it feels like a massive missed opportunity and loss for the Patriots and Mac Jones going into a huge year. Number one, because just look at the division. They are worst in the division when it comes to overall skill talent by far and bottom three or bottom four in the conference.”

“So now you’re going to expect your offense to have enough firepower to compete against the Jets and the Dolphins and the Bills and basically everyone in the AFC, and you don’t, and you also expect your quarterback to take a big step and he’s got not nearly the amount of weapons that other quarterbacks have.”

“The second thing I think of, there is tremendous pressure now on Bill O’Brien, their playcaller – who’s awesome – but also Hunter Henry and Mike Gesicki. It makes me think that New England will major, not minor, major in 12 personnel – one back, two tight ends – and absolutely live in that. Because they don’t have the people on the outside wide receiver-wise to really contend firepower-wise scoring points with everyone they have to.”

“So it feels like this is a big missed opportunity for New England and Mac Jones. But if those two tight ends play together and they become one of the, if not the top 2, 3 duos in the Conference, they’ve got a shot with great defense. But it’s a lot of pressure on those two units.”

12 personnel, really? Ugh. I suppose what choice do we have.

 

[Wozzy]

If that is the case I’ll expect him to use that cap space to lock up Mac longterm

Point is, I don’t want to see them ending the season with that much cap space

I want them to start extending some of our cornerstone players but they also need to determine who many of these players are.

 

[Steve102]

so much "we'll see" in this thread...they cheaped out once again

This is how Bill values WRs, right or wrong. I said earlier, this is not a slam dunk that you're getting a top flight elite player at the height of his game. I agree they did cheap out, they did it on a player who's a risk. I'd like to have him, but I don't know it's the end of the world if they don't.

 

[Pape]

Who came here for substantially less?

David Andrews

 

[PatsFan2]

Who came here for substantially less?

Players came here or re-signed for a little less (Hightower) because they didn't want to play for a league doormat.

Moss came here and two years later when his contract was up, he moaned about money... guess who the QB still was.

Can Mac make that next jump with this cast of WR's?? I think we Need more than Juju.

 

[Pape]

This is how Bill values WRs, right or wrong. I said earlier, this is not a slam dunk that you're getting a top flight elite player at the height of his game. I agree they did cheap out, they did it on a player who's a risk. I'd like to have him, but I don't know it's the end of the world if they don't.

think they were just trying to protect some of the financial flexability that comes with an offer structured like that one?

 

[Steve102]

Can Mac make that next jump with this cast or WR's?? I think we Need more than Juju.

Maybe.

 

[Wozzy]

David Andrews

Who was willing to pay David Andrews a large bag of money... nobody.

He's a center with "good" not "great" athleticism who is more valuable to the Patriots than any other team because he knows their system.