Franchise tag/Pre-Free Agency Player chatter

[Pape]

They need to somehow eliminate the franchise tags. It has always been bad for the game.

It should be one and done with the franchise tag. and they need to dump the transition tag altogether.

 

[stinkypete]

This seemed obvious.

New coaching staff, they resigned Andrews, he’s been making comments about wanting to take on a bigger role elsewhere. Makes sense.

He's not likely to get a bigger role if Hunter Henry is still on the roster.

And therein lies a challeng of this offseason. There are opportunities to get younger/cheaper/better on offense, but each requires first releasing an established player (Henry, Moses, Diggs) and crossing your fingers that younger/cheaper/better choose you.

 

[Joey007]

He's not likely to get a bigger role if Hunter Henry is still on the roster.

And therein lies a challeng of this offseason. There are opportunities to get younger/cheaper/better on offense, but each requires first releasing an established player (Henry, Moses, Diggs) and crossing your fingers that younger/cheaper/better choose you.

I didn’t say that bigger role would be here. Just somewhere in general.

 

[upstater1]

Franchise tag helps the Patriots win in the long run and that's all I care about.

 

[n1997y]

Or you sign free agents that take you from 4-13 to the SB.

Don’t forget to draft your LTOF.

 

[n1997y]

This happens almost every year, the weapons fans are clamoring for either get tagged or work out a long term deal due to the tag being applied as leverage. Wait for the list of URFA’s to post before you get your hopes up, save yourself the heartache.

Happens every year at every positions. Fans look at all the best players with contracts expiring and clamor that they can should be ours if only we are willing to pay. Totally forgetting that their present team might be willing to pay based on knowing them better than we do. And never asking why, if that team is unwilling to pay because they know them better than we do.

 

[n1997y]

People shake their heads because of age, but I would kick the tires on Mike Evans. He doesn't need to be "1000 yards every year" Evans, just let him be a big physical freak that the defense has to respect deep and on the boundary so that it opens up more space for players in the middle and there aren't so many loaded boxes.

So you’re saying let him be Mack Hollins?

 

[Steve102]

Can I have em all... .. can I please have the WR to go with it..

 

[Real fan 02]

@Patsfan1645 I think my guy @Steve102 missed the joke...

 

[Steve102]

@Patsfan1645 I think my guy @Steve102 missed the joke...

I know the deal bud. CoV.

 

[Real fan 02]

I know the deal bud. CoV.

Ah.. I got ya pal..

 

[Ross12]

So you’re saying let him be Mack Hollins?

Honestly - kind of, but to a higher level. Evans will threaten a little more than Hollins does. Maybe that's a little redundant, but also, I'm not necessarily gonna say no to having both Evans and Hollins out there. Especially in the red zone.

 

[JoeSixPat]

Given NE hasn’t generally used tags often, it probably benefits us to remove it.

Problem is, NFLPA are weak and won’t dig in long enough to get it removed.

We kindof see this in our own society - most of the $ to players goes to just a handful of elite players and even when they all play extra games, despite the promise that it will benefit everyone, it's almost all going to those few elite players.

Nearly all the grunts in the NFL would benefit more if that was spread around to expanded rosters, seeing as they're all risking their health being out there.

But all the grunts like to imagine that THEY will one be those elite players who will cash in, so most of the union does what seems to be best for a minority of rich owners and players, just as we see a big bromance with certain billionaires among the working poor.

But like you said, the Patriots are wise enough to know that the franchise tag is a double edged sword which costs them some ability to attract the best who are willing to maybe take a little less to play for a winner. Everyone knows the NFL is a business but over-using the tag is NOT the best when it's used against players.

 

[JoeSixPat]

Big bummer on Pitts

A 6'6" TE who is almost as a sure thing as Diggs, with 88 catches on 118 targets.

I think Henry has at least one more season in him and if he has a pro-bowl caliber TE on the other side, he's going to be even more effective.

Josh McDaniels was the OC for one of the Hernandez seasons and knows that he and Gronk together really changed the face of the game. I'm sure we'll draft a TE but that's a position I was happy to pay $ for in FA.

 

[WhatJustHappened]

Not a Pitts fan, supposedly a "Generational talent", yet WHAT has he REALLY DONE?
Dude is going to look for BIG $, and he hasn't done Jack ****
Fk him. Bah

 

[Real fan 02]

Honestly - kind of, but to a higher level. Evans will threaten a little more than Hollins does. Maybe that's a little redundant, but also, I'm not necessarily gonna say no to having both Evans and Hollins out there. Especially in the red zone.

 

[Real fan 02]

Big bummer on Pitts

A 6'6" TE who is almost as a sure thing as Diggs, with 88 catches on 118 targets.

I think Henry has at least one more season in him and if he has a pro-bowl caliber TE on the other side, he's going to be even more effective.

Josh McDaniels was the OC for one of the Hernandez seasons and knows that he and Gronk together really changed the face of the game. I'm sure we'll draft a TE but that's a position I was happy to pay $ for in FA.

Joe,

If we were to sign a talent like Pitts exactly what you said in your post Hernandez similarly.. he lined up in the backfield, out wide, slot, boundary.. and was on his way to being an all pro... Your post is on point!

 

[UGAPatsfan]

Man, I was just thinking about Gronk and it dawned on me that dude was truly a generational player who is unlikely to ever be duplicated again. Devastating blocker AND nearly unstoppable receiver until safeties resorted to dirty hits.

 

[Real fan 02]

Man, I was just thinking about Gronk and it dawned on me that dude was truly a generational player who is unlikely to ever be duplicated again. Devastating blocker AND nearly unstoppable receiver until safeties resorted to dirty hits.

Yeah man.. defenses could never stay in 2 high like they can do now against us.. Gronk was an absolute beast.. but he and Hernandez together were a nightmare for defenses.. I'd love to get dynamic at TE again...

 

[UGAPatsfan]

Yeah man.. defenses could never stay in 2 high like they can do now against us.. Gronk was an absolute beast.. but he and Hernandez together were a nightmare for defenses.. I'd love to get dynamic at TE again...

Makes one wonder what could have been had Hernandez not turned out to be a literal serial killer. Hard to screen for that in draft interviews