[Old 2020 thread] NFL Free Agency/Trade Rumors:

ScottishPatriots said:

Why would JJ Watt want to come to the Patriots, everyone in Houston was sick of Patriots guys in their building and the team has no quarterback.

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I think a great veteran defensive player would like to play for
the NFL's GOAT coach,
who happens to run the defense,
has always gushed over his skills,
and has always found a way to use veterans effectively.

Is it a free ride to a ring? No. But it seems like a situation fit.

Playing with his brothers might win out, though, if PITT is interested

Anyone know what Baltimore’s cap situation is like? I could see them as a dark horse.

ScottishPatriots said:

Big Ben is going to restructure his cap number is over 41m, that will be taken under 20m they'll extend him out.

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Don't get wrong, I'd love to see that happen because they will be in cap hell for several years when the cap doesn't go up.

That would mean they are still over before a signing and their options are rather limited.

ScottishPatriots said:

I think he'll go and play with his brothers, we all know about TJ but his other brother Derek is a fullback on the Steelers too.

Kind of a no brainer if the Steelers want him, they should if they're giving it one last run with Big Ben we know he's near the end so they're going to have to build the defense and running game if they want have a chance with a fading Big Ben.

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Derek is a cut candidate, because he's paid way too much in the first place but also because a fullback just doesn't have the same value when the QB wants to be in shotgun every snap.

Palm Beach Pats Fan said:

I think a great veteran defensive player would like to play for
the NFL's GOAT coach,
who happens to run the defense,
has always gushed over his skills,
and has always found a way to use veterans effectively.

Is it a free ride to a ring? No. But it seems like a situation fit.

Playing with his brothers might win out, though, if PITT is interested

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Is there really something to not wanting to play for NE coaches?

Gronk seems like the best example. Even his post Super Bowl interview hinted to as much. Saying something like he was just waiting for Brady to go elsewhere. But that could just be an isolated case.

Seems to me any veteran who hasn't won in their career would like playing for guys part of a winning pedigree.

Bleedthrough said:

Anyone know what Baltimore’s cap situation is like? I could see them as a dark horse.

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They are $20M under.

Baltimore traditionally has managed the cap very well.

Their issue is they will need to sign Lamar Jackson since he is going into year 4.

Watt had a $17.5 million salary for 2021 with no dead money and all cap relief, so he was getting cut no matter watt.

Palm Beach Pats Fan said:

I think a great veteran defensive player would like to play for
the NFL's GOAT coach,
who happens to run the defense,
has always gushed over his skills,
and has always found a way to use veterans effectively.

Is it a free ride to a ring? No. But it seems like a situation fit.

Playing with his brothers might win out, though, if PITT is interested

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He was in Patriots south and asked for his release. I doubt he wants to come play for a rebuilding team with no QB.

He’s not coming to NE, he’ll want to play for a legit contender which is understandable at his age.

Bleedthrough said:

Anyone know what Baltimore’s cap situation is like? I could see them as a dark horse.

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they have about $19 million in cap space

203Pat said:

He was in Patriots south and asked for his release. I doubt he wants to come play for a rebuilding team with no QB.

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He loves Bill though and JJ would be definitely be an upgrade over Wise. I can understand him potentially wanting to play for a contender however or even with one of his brothers. Wouldn't shock me if he went to Dallas, Pitt, Tenn or maybe even us.

Bleedthrough said:

Anyone know what Baltimore’s cap situation is like? I could see them as a dark horse.

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They've got the cap space to add some guys, but they already have a very similar player (Calais Campbell) with a $15M cap hit.

UptownPatsFan said:

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He will have plenty of suitors but we will see if he wants to play for a contender.

I would have to think he wants to go to Pittsburg. Not sure if the steelers will feel the same way though since they already have a great Dline.

JetFan79 said:

Is there really something to not wanting to play for NE coaches?

Gronk seems like the best example. Even his post Super Bowl interview hinted to as much. Saying something like he was just waiting for Brady to go elsewhere. But that could just be an isolated case.

Seems to me any veteran who hasn't won in their career would like playing for guys part of a winning pedigree.

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Gronk says he was physically and mentally worn out.

That's fine....bye.

Where the key is and where it works for Jets is the Jets and Patriots are two of five teams with over $60M in cap. Everyone else is $20M minimum below.

Players want to get paid. Do you know how many times we heard that so and so wants to come to play with Brady and win a ring and then they sign elsewhere?

JJ Watt is gona end up on the Bucs or Squealers since his two other brothers are in PIT.

EDIT: He's a Wisconsin guy so the Packers are also a realistic possibility imo.

Palm Beach Pats Fan said:

I think a great veteran defensive player would like to play for
the NFL's GOAT coach,
who happens to run the defense,
has always gushed over his skills,
and has always found a way to use veterans effectively.

Is it a free ride to a ring? No. But it seems like a situation fit.

Playing with his brothers might win out, though, if PITT is interested

Click to expand...

Nothing about Watt to the Patriots makes sense, IMO.

• Not going to get paid
• Not going to play with his brothers
• Not going to contend for the title
• Huge weather change from warm to cold

Deus Irae said:

Nothing about Watt to the Patriots makes sense, IMO.

• Not going to get paid
• Not going to play with his brothers
• Not going to contend for the title
• Huge weather change from warm to cold

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System fits.

JetFan79 said:

Is there really something to not wanting to play for NE coaches?

Gronk seems like the best example. Even his post Super Bowl interview hinted to as much. Saying something like he was just waiting for Brady to go elsewhere. But that could just be an isolated case.

Seems to me any veteran who hasn't won in their career would like playing for guys part of a winning pedigree.

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Gronk loved playing in New England except for 2 major incidents.

One: his battle over with the team doctors over his forearm injury. It got infected and almost ruined his career, and that was contentious.

Two: in his 2nd to last (or perhaps last) year with the Patriots, he stopped training with the Patriots training coaches and instead used Patriots facilities to train with Brady's TB12 guy. The Patriots training coaches were furious, and it soon lead to the TB12 guy getting banned from the facilities. Gronk comes from a family with training background (it's his father's business) so he really was upset how everything went down. I believe he felt he wasn't allowed to train in a way that would extend his career, and help with his many injuries.

Gronk and BB had a really good relationship, by all appearances. But I think the situation with the Patriots doctors and the front office, coupled with BB taking the training coaches' side over Gronk's preference, lead to the eventual fallout.

Other than that, any disgruntled former Patriots is really a question of contracts and money.

Deus Irae said:

Nothing about Watt to the Patriots makes sense, IMO.

• Not going to get paid
• Not going to play with his brothers
• Not going to contend for the title
• Huge weather change from warm to cold

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Isnt he from Wisconsin ?