Who's out/extended/sacrificed to fit AB's contract?

mgteich said:

Belichick is likely fine with Edelman returning punts.

Are you suggesting that Edelman isn't your best punt returner.

My hope/expectation is that both Gunner and Myers will be gone.
We then have 5 WR's, including Dorsett. While 5 is usually too many, this is group with many possibilities of losing a players. Dorsett is a fine option to play a lot of reps, if needed.
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As has been said, we have other needs that are better uses the roster spot: at OL and at TE. and also for a backup DT.

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No I am suggesting I want someone who is less critical to the offense to return punts.

JE is in his early 30s and I'd like to minimize his time returning punts.

I tend to agree. Top level players shouldn't be playing ST's. I would note that receiving punts is no more likely to produce injuries than other plays. Should Edelman be kept out on running plays to protect him?

I happen to agree with you, but Belichick doesn't, and having top starters playing ST's has served the team well. He has made clear that the best special teamers should be playing special teams. Certainly, it SEEMS crazy for Devin McCourty to be playing so much special teams; and Chung and Harmon and so many more.
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In 2018 EDELMAN
played only 54 reps on special teams. That is NOT as risky as the others who played many more:

186 Chung
184 Devin McCourty
170 Guy
156 Develin
146 Hogan
125 Van Noy

robertweathers said:

No I am suggesting I want someone who is less critical to the offense to return punts.

JE is in his early 30s and I'd like to minimize his time returning punts.

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While folks on this board bemoan using Edelman on punt returns, Brown has returned more punts in the last 8 years than Edelman, 186-171. 2018 was the first season Brown did not return punts. Maybe Brown can return punts to take the load off of Edelman.

mgteich said:

I tend to agree. Top level players shouldn't be playing ST's. I would note that receiving punts is no more likely to produce injuries than other plays. Should Edelman be kept out on running plays to protect him?

I happen to agree with you, but Belichick doesn't, and having top starters playing ST's ha served the team well. He has made clear that the best special teamers should be playing special teams. Certainly, it SEEMS crazy for Devin McCourty to be playing so much special teams. And Chung and harmon and so many more.
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In 2018 EDELMAN
played only 54 reps on special teams. That is NOT as risky as the others who played many more
186 Chung
184 Devin McCourty
170 Guy
156 Develin
146 Hogan
125 Van Noy

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I know how Bill thinks. I just don't think it's worth it. Jules is more valuable than ever

Looks like the deal has a $9 million signing bonus and $1 million salary with $5 million of incentives. If they added a second voidable year to the contract to spread out the cap hits, the cap hit this year would be $5.5 million + any LTBE incentives. If the incentives are based on individual performance, it is hard to think they would be considered NLTBE, but maybe they're structured creatively (e.g., he has to catch x number of passes and play y% of postseason snaps) that make them NLTBE.

If the contract has two voidable years, the cap hit would be $4 million + LTBE incentives, so it could be possible to fit him under without another move. There would probably be another move needed to clear up more space for future injuries + in-season moves, however.

JayNM said:

I have an Economics Degree so Im pretty sure i can confirm that the 6.3 Million we have in cap space is less than the 9M up to 15 that we've agreed with AB.

Who is being given as an offerend to the gods?

Any predictions or guesses?

I have no idea... Brady already re-worked, so... I don't see an easy answer

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Wouldn't the signed contract be a violation if it puts the Pats over the cap? Or do you have X days to account for the overage?

Jake Ballard can prolly go

Technically the cap hit could be as low as $2.8 million with what we know now. That would be a $9 million bonus prorated over the maximum five years (four of which would be fake) and a $1 million salary, with the $5 million in incentives all NLTBE.

That’s awfully unlikely though, because that would leave $7.2 million in dead money after the season ($1.8 million times four years), and I don’t know how you make incentives worthwhile if he has to go beyond last year’s 104 catches, 1297 yards, and 15 TDs to get any of them.

Chevy said:

Wouldn't the signed contract be a violation if it puts the Pats over the cap? Or do you have X days to account for the overage?

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He isnt officially sign yet. It'll happen monday

JayNM said:

He isnt officially sign yet. It'll happen monday

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Brown and Bodine in, Ferentz and (Gunner?/Meyers?/Dorsett?) out could be in play for a Monday double move.

And then there's the Kendricks decision to be made...

Chevy said:

Wouldn't the signed contract be a violation if it puts the Pats over the cap? Or do you have X days to account for the overage?

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you can't violate it, because you have to have cleared the needed cap space before you sign and report the contract to the NFL and also corresponding move to clear the roster spot

else the league would void the contract and he would remain unsigned

I’m thinking that there are automatically voidable years (like Brady) that “technically “ make it a 1 year contract. If there were two voidable years, the 2019 cap would be $4 million ($9 m/3 +$1 m salary). Then, say $3 m of the $5 million of incentives are LTBE, his 2019 cap figure would be $7 million.

With the cap space they have plus the cap space gained by releasing Lance Kendricks when his suspension ends, the Pats would have enough space to sign Brown.

No cap space would be gained by releasing DT. Being on the roster today results in him being eligible for termination pay equal to his 2019 salary. He would have to be traded to realize any cap savings.

After looking at the Pats Depth Chart, Kendricks looks like the odd man out.. the TE is not going to be a strong suit for the Pats this year. Watson is adequate and experienced...

Stay tuned folks lots more info tomorrow...

This team went from "Is this the worst WR group in recent years" to "who of this talented players do we cut for Antonio freaking Brown" in one summer.

What a nice problem to have.

This is a pretty crazy roster of who is coming and going at wr and ol... Plus the te suspensions. The roster evolves on a weekly basis if not daily.

slam said:

Cut Jake Bailey. We won’t need to punt this year.

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This might be the best post I've seen in the last 5 years.

slam said:

While folks on this board bemoan using Edelman on punt returns, Brown has returned more punts in the last 8 years than Edelman, 186-171. 2018 was the first season Brown did not return punts. Maybe Brown can return punts to take the load off of Edelman.

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So now we're risking AB instead of Edelman? Nope. Put them in your back pocket for the playoffs maybe. But doesn't Gunner also play on the other ST units? You're not getting that from your starting WR's. The story of Gunner continues.

Knowing that both Gordon and AB can be gone on a moment’s notice, and that AB is gonna be a one-year rental at best, I would hate for them to ditch Dorsett or any young WR prospect they think will actually work out.

DarrylS said:

After looking at the Pats Depth Chart, Kendricks looks like the odd man out.. the TE is not going to be a strong suit for the Pats this year. Watson is adequate and experienced...

Stay tuned folks lots more info tomorrow...

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He's not on the roster anyway, he's suspended and we would have to make even more room for him after week 1.

I think it's pretty obvious that someone in tonight's game is gonna get the old fashion IR stash.

Let's just hope it's not one of those real IR moves