Breer: Vrabel says the Pats will approach the offseason getting younger, cheaper, & better options

[Huckleberry1]

I'm kinda with you.
I don't want to cut Spillane. But neither should he be your best linebacker.

They could get an off the ball linebacker in the 1st if they want one, but I still want an OL with that pick.

 

[Joey007]

What makes it tough is the leadership those players provided, but they do need to be finding replacements for these guys. I think reworking deals while drafting future replacements for them would be the best solution.

Yeah, definitely not saying they all need to be gone. But at minimum have replacements for a few ready

 

[upstater1]

On offense: Diggs, Moses, Henry, Hooper, Hollins all will be 32+ next year. Bradbury will also be turning 31. That’s about 5-6 significant contributors.

You do have to admit that’s a lot of age. I’m not of the belief of getting rid of everyone above 30. But I do believe it would be smart to upgrade with some younger talent wherever it’s feasible.

You don’t want over reliance on tons of older guys. That fall off hits fast.

I would want to upgrade both young and old, anyone I could.

But I see no reason to move on from these players unless you found a better one. 31 or 32 is still prime football age. People are talking about bringing in Hendrickson.

 

[TheRainMaker]

EDIT: Next series, first play, the long pass to wide open Cooks who got hit with a vicious helmet to helmet. Should've been a penalty. In fact, Brady also took a helmet first spear to the chest. That was a penalty too (not a late hit, it was spearing head first).

EDIT: did not realize that after Cooks went down at start of the 3rd qtr, we played the game with only 3 WRs: Amendola, Hogan and Edelman. WOW.

I'm sure you meant the start of the 2nd Quarter. That play by Cooks was one of the worst awareness from a player I've ever seen. He clearly panicked and also tried hurdling for no reason in the 1st quarter.

 

[Joey007]

I would want to upgrade both young and old, anyone I could.

But I see no reason to move on from these players unless you found a better one. 31 or 32 is still prime football age. People are talking about bringing in Hendrickson.

Yeah, I don’t think you do it just to do it. But you also don’t sit on your hands and don’t pursue young talent simply because you have them.

If younger players at equal or greater value are out there, go get them.

 

[upstater1]

Guys who I will NOT be concerned about losing if they move on: Hawkins & Chiasson.

I am concerned about replacing the production of Diggs and Hollins. I'm not sure why Henry didn't have a great year, is he on his downside?

Moses we obviously need. Bradbury commands the offense from the center position. Maybe Brown takes over from him.

Landry is guaranteed money but otherwise I'd be moving on.

 

[Joey007]

Guys who I will NOT be concerned about losing if they move on: Hawkins & Chiasson.

I am concerned about replacing the production of Diggs and Hollins. I'm not sure why Henry didn't have a great year, is he on his downside?

Moses we obviously need. Bradbury commands the offense from the center position. Maybe Brown takes over from him.

Landry is guaranteed money but otherwise I'd be moving on.

Hawkins would need replaced. It’s pretty empty past Woodson.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Guys who I will NOT be concerned about losing if they move on: Hawkins & Chiasson.

They both wouldn't be missed.

I am concerned about replacing the production of Diggs and Hollins. I'm not sure why Henry didn't have a great year, is he on his downside?

Diggs' production is overrated. The only two games he had the most impact were against the Bills where he still had defenders draped over him after every catch and the Ravens in busted coverage. His other big games were in blowouts against the lowly Jets and Panthers. Lots of no shows throughout the season. Media is slowly getting on board as well. I expect a pay cut or he's given the Lawyer Milloy treatment.

Hollins had many clutch catches and his chances of staying are much higher as finding veterans that can match what he did at his price tag are harder to find.

Henry has been on the decline since he left the Chargers and he had many drive crippling drops later in the season.

Moses we obviously need. Bradbury commands the offense from the center position. Maybe Brown takes over from him.

It won't shock me if T is their first pick of the draft. Moses is old and mediocre. They need a major upgrade at LG and C.

Landry is guaranteed money but otherwise I'd be moving on.

Landry is cooked.

 

[ViperGTS]

They both wouldn't be missed.

Diggs' production is overrated. The only two games he had the most impact were against the Bills where he still had defenders draped on him after every catch and the Ravens. His other big games were in blowouts against the lowly Jets and Panthers. Lots of no shows throughout the season. Media is slowly getting on board as well. I expect a pay cut or he's given the Lawyer Milloy treatment.

Hollins had many clutch catches and his chances of staying are much higher as finding veterans that can match what he did at his price tag are harder to find.

Henry is on the decline and he had many drive crippling drops later in the season.

It won't shock me if T is their first pick of the draft. Moses is old and mediocre. They need a major upgrade at LG and C.

Landry is cooked.

Yeah the Landry knee thing is a bit concerning.

 

[TommyD4207]

They could get an off the ball linebacker in the 1st if they want one, but I still want an OL with that pick.

It's great value in FA, actually.

 

[Gumby]

not heresy, but rather typical patsfans analysis

1. Spillane isn't an all-pro.

2. Conclusion: cut him.
================
But I'll be more clear. I believe that when healthy, our run defense is one of the best in the NFL.

And, sure, we should always be looking for upgrades [for Muma, Mapu and Gregory, NOT for Spillane].
=======
ON SECOND THOUGHT
Yes, it is indeed heresy to believe that Spillane should be cut.

I said it was heresy.

I like the guy. And maybe he COULD BE still the MLB signal caller (& his value there offsets any lack of physicality), or MAYBE upgraded & become a PART-TIMER.

I just suggested for discussion MAYBE he SHOULD BE replaced.
But I said was all based on my inexpert viewing of SNIPPETS* of ONE GAME. In which I counted 0 even partial tackles.
- *only the pieces with audio value to the miked up segment.

So naturally that suggestion may be full of crap. But thanks for discussing rationally with your own opinion, …. and facts references and links to contribute to the discussion ….. oh wait ….nevermind.

 

[dliverey44]

Who are our old players? I'm confused by this.

We have 1 old starter. Moses.

We're not an old team.

I guess Landry can also be considered old.

None of the other guys are old.

I am using 30 as the cut off. We have 9 starters from last season 30 or older.

Moses-35
Spillane-31
Landry-30
Davis-30
Diggs-33
Henry-32
Bradbury-31
Tavai-30
Hollins-33

 

[mgteich]

I am using 30 as the cut off. We have 9 starters from last season 30 or older.

Moses-35
Spillane-31
Landry-30
Davis-30
Diggs-33
Henry-32
Bradbury-31
Tavai-30
Hollins-33

Congrats to Tavai on his promotion to starter.

BTW, is it unusual to have 8 or 9 starters over 30 on a Superbowl team. Perhaps, we should look back at our 12 Superbowl teams.

 

[dliverey44]

Congrats to Tavai on his promotion to starter.

BTW, is it unusual to have 8 or 9 starters over 30 on a Superbowl team. Perhaps, we should look back at our 12 Superbowl teams.

OK you got me on Tavai. Not sure if its unusual or not. I was responding to someone that listed Moses as old but asked who else was old.

 

[mgteich]

OK you got me on Tavai. Not sure if its unusual or not. I was responding to someone that listed Moses as old but asked who else was old.

fair enough

 

[Rob0729]

I don't put too much stock in plyers' social media activity, but I will put this here. Apparently, a fan asked Isiah Likely to come back home to Massachusetts and he liked it. Since he is a potential target of the Patriots, I will post this.

 

[Huckleberry1]

I just don't get why anyone wants Isiah Likely? He has done next to nothing, his stats are similar to Hoopers.

 

[TommyD4207]

I just don't get why anyone wants Isiah Likely? He has done next to nothing, his stats are similar to Hoopers.

Well he's, what, 5 years younger than Hooper?
The age is at play here.
I'm with you though in terms of how much money he'd cost.

 

[Hugepatsfan]

I just don't get why anyone wants Isiah Likely? He has done next to nothing, his stats are similar to Hoopers.

Some of the best free agent signings are the ones where you identify a player who's hitting their prime and/or poised to take on a bigger role for his new team than his last team. Likely is going to be 26 next year and BAL is a running team whose best receiver has been the other TE he plays with so there's some reason to believe his role could scale up.

Up to the teams to decide if that applies to him. Is he a breakout candidate or is the pedestrian production just indicative of what he is and a new team/role won't change that? If you think he's a breakout guy and he's not he'll end up a bust of a signing. If you think he's a breakout guy and he does breakout in a new role/team then he could end up being a home run signing.

A big part of GMing isn't just evaluating the past, but projecting the future. You have to look at what is and what has been for a player but that's only useful to the extent it helps you predict what his future outlook is.

 

[ausbacker]

I am using 30 as the cut off. We have 9 starters from last season 30 or older.

Moses-35
Spillane-31
Landry-30
Davis-30
Diggs-33
Henry-32
Bradbury-31
Tavai-30
Hollins-33

Which is precisely why we shouldn't be quick to throw away draft capital on trades.