The Next 7 Weeks - Almost Nothing Will Happen

The combine is 7 weeks away.

We've already signed the players we want from the Practice Team. Perhaps we'll add a few more players as camp fodder.

No decisions need to be announced or made until March.

THE ONE PLACE TO FOCUS - COACHES
We learn more every day about who will be on the coaching staff and who will be gone.

Thanks. I was wondering about the coaches and this thread pretty much summed things up.

Actually one of the few silver linings is 4 more weeks than usual to get a head start on scouting for the draft...........Not that I'd like it to become an annual event, I wouldn't.....

We will know if Brady is coming back soon.

upstater1 said:

We will know if Brady is coming back soon.

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Soon? His contract isn't up until free agency begins in March. BB has probably
made up his mind but won't make his intentions known until the last minute.

mgteich said:

The combine is 7 weeks away.

We've already signed the players we want from the Practice Team. Perhaps we'll add a few more players as camp fodder.

No decisions need to be announced or made until March.

THE ONE PLACE TO FOCUS - COACHES
We learn more every day about who will be on the coaching staff and who will be gone.

Click to expand...

We will know when coaches and front office people sign with other teams but may not
know for a few months who will replace them. BB does not have a special news conference
for each of these additions.

Jimke said:

Soon? His contract isn't up until free agency begins in March. BB has probably
made up his mind but won't make his intentions known until the last minute.

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Because of the $6.75mil dead money difference between the contract voiding and the contract being extended before it voids, we may hear some rumblings earlier. If NE wants to keep Brady they have a $6.75mil 2020 cap incentive to get him extended before the contract voids in March.

QuantumMechanic said:

Because of the $6.75mil dead money difference between the contract voiding and the contract being extended before it voids, we may hear some rumblings earlier. If NE wants to keep Brady they have a $6.75mil 2020 cap incentive to get him extended before the contract voids in March.

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Thanks

I suppose this might be true if we consider learning whether or not our Offensive Coordinator is staying or leaving as "almost nothing happening"....

Patsfanin Philly said:

Actually one of the few silver linings is 4 more weeks than usual to get a head start on scouting for the draft...........Not that I'd like it to become an annual event, I wouldn't.....

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Funny, when the Patriots first started winning Super Bowls and all I thought, "man, that's a really long season." Of course now it seems perfectly normal, and this year was way too short.

Jimke said:

Soon? His contract isn't up until free agency begins in March. BB has probably
made up his mind but won't make his intentions known until the last minute.

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If they're going to bring back Brady, the smart move is to do it before the end of the league year, for cap purposes.

Deus Irae said:

If they're going to bring back Brady, the smart move is to do it before the end of the league year, for cap purposes.

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Can you explain how that works?

The offseason really brings out the good threads.

QuantumMechanic said:

Because of the $6.75mil dead money difference between the contract voiding and the contract being extended before it voids, we may hear some rumblings earlier. If NE wants to keep Brady they have a $6.75mil 2020 cap incentive to get him extended before the contract voids in March.

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What are the rules on this? I seem to think there is a moratorium on signing players between the end of the season and the start of the new league year.
Can the patriots sign Brady before the contract voids?
What date does it void (does it coincide with the league year or is there a lag)?
What is the date the new league year starts?

if @Miguel is out there perhaps this may be a good topic for a bsj article.

Jimke said:

Soon? His contract isn't up until free agency begins in March. BB has probably
made up his mind but won't make his intentions known until the last minute.

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They will talk with Brady ASAP because planning for the entire year depends on it. Brady will also get a long leash from the Patriots to talk to other teams quietly if they can't come to an agreement soon after the Super Bowl.

203Pat said:

The offseason really brings out the good threads.

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can't wait for Fnord's Foray Into Cathouse Coitus Land, starring our intrepid, world weary connoisseur of strange sexual deviance & lascivious ladyboys....

Calhoun44 said:

Can you explain how that works?

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Let me link you to the Globe's explanation, since it's more than Ian would want me to publish.

A look at the timing in play for Brady, McDaniels, and other Patriots who might be moving on - The Boston Globe

Deus Irae said:

Let me link you to the Globe's explanation, since it's more than Ian would want me to publish.

A look at the timing in play for Brady, McDaniels, and other Patriots who might be moving on - The Boston Globe

Click to expand...

That's a pay only unfortunately.