Recent content by Vern

Don't forget that while we fret about guys slipping through waivers, we'll be looking at other teams' waiver wire ourselves. I suspect any OL worth anything might be signed to replace guys like Britt. Also, along those lines, I could see a scenario where Cassel is cut and we end up with...

First, there's a giant banner of Russ Francis there now that's bigger than the SB banners (others too). The banner is cathartic. It hopefully helps fans to embrace the fullness of what this team really has done, rather than cherry pick the times that everything went their way as though those...

It's definitely better now, but when fans all around me at Gillette still cheer while our OWN OFFENSE is on the field, they do not deserve even an honorable mention. Watch any other home team in the league and you can hear crickets while their own offense is on the field, and then it's total...

Re: NFL Network discussion of the Lynch deal. Yep, the concept here is to be able to "stop the short game on passing downs." Whether it's run or pass isn't the issue, the depth of the coverage is. In a traditional nickel you have a 3-3-5 set (or 4-2-5 for 4-3 teams), which is susceptible to...

Re: I know why people love Jackson So he's either a game breaker or a bust? I think if he gets over his mental mistakes, he could be what is "par" out of a 2nd round pick "a contributor." Probably the 3rd WR and something like 30-40 catches a year. Every pick (and even UDFAs) you HOPE...

The owners already have figured out the best way to deal with an uncapped year - lock the players out. The owners can't let the "cap out of the bag" or it would risk being gone for good. To keep the cap, they'll either work out a new deal, or institute a lock out.

Just a theory, but I'm beginning to wonder if ESPN was not more directly involved. They had Mike Fish on Walsh for a long time, Walsh wanted protection. I can see Fish saying "ok, we'll get you a great guy from NY that does stuff for the NFL ok?" That wouldn't come off well if true.

The scientific approach is refreshing, but it demands actual data. You started with a very random 1st vs. "all the rest" comparison. Well, here's the ACTUAL 2007 squad by round, starters are in Bold. 2007 Roster by Patriots Draft Round (% of roster) 1 - 7 players, 13% - Seymour, Warren...

Somewhere I read the Pats have a huge percentage of Day 2 picks on their roster. Others maintain the draft in recent years has been thin. So I checked. 2007 Roster by Patriots Draft Round 1 - 7 players, 13% - Seymour, Warren, Wilfork, Watson, Mankins, Maroney, Merriweather 2 - 4 players, 7.5%...

You can still front load deals - using roster bonuses mostly. What you can't do is play many games with salary. The "Deion Sanders" rule, for example, prevents salaries from jumping too high from year to year.

Actually, the Combine arose because teams were separately asking players to take physicals and do other "routine" medical and other checks before the draft. This meant that highly touted players would be asked to do dozens of "combine" type drills as they met with any interested team. The...

Re: Pats Sign WEBSTER today to compete at CB should compete with Richardson for Randall Gay's old spot. And hey, if you get more it's all gravy. Depth is too often over looked.

Re: If the Pats are Banking on Moss Giving them a Last Chance to Match.... This situation is all about the guarantees. Corey Dillon cashed in big but the guarantees meant his cap number was still going strong two years later when he was done. I believe he counts against the 2008 Cap for...

Re: If the Pats are Banking on Moss Giving them a Last Chance to Match.... The point I was making, is that the view of OTHER teams should not change your own. If you say a guy is worth X and some other team says he's worth more, why should you suddenly think he is worth that? Basically...

Re: If the Pats are Banking on Moss Giving them a Last Chance to Match.... The issue is not out-bidding yourself. Vinatieri and Branch wasn't a situation where we couldn't match, but rather decided not to match. The strategy is "if the market is going to be that dumb, let them be." To...