Player Signing Now Hunter Henry signs with New England:

Ring 6 said:

I felt there was something behind the scenes/off the field with asiasi last year. This kind of confirms they are giving up on him.

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No it doesn't confirm anything of the sort. It may just mean they have better options for 2021 and now is the time to strike. Asiasi could easily be very highly regarded and a key in their long-term plans.

Sicilian said:

I mean, we did a similar thing in 2007 when it was clear the WR room was a major weakness in 2006. It wasn't all free agency, but it was major moves for vets in Moss and Welker, plus a fairly big deal for Stallworth (though that had an escape in year two if I recall). Still, Belichick is not afraid to invest heavily in a position he thinks was fatally flawed, and given our tight ends last year had something like 20 catches combined for the year, he pounced on two that he's always really liked. It was the perfect storm: Need, Opportunity, and Resources.

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You put it exactly how I've framed it to my friends. This isn't a "new" Patriots Way. It's just a once in a lifetime explosion based on this exact perfect storm as you described. We won't see it again, I'm pretty sure.

ivanvamp said:

No it doesn't confirm anything of the sort. It may just mean they have better options for 2021 and now is the time to strike. Asiasi could easily be very highly regarded and a key in their long-term plans.

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They signed smith for 4 years and Henry for 3. Asiasis contract will be up on 3 years. You don’t sign 2 high priced TEs for the duration of your rookies contract if you expect anything at all out of that rookie.

These signings clearly signal he is not part of the solution.

Ring 6 said:

They signed smith for 4 years and Henry for 3. Asiasis contract will be up on 3 years. You don’t sign 2 high priced TEs for the duration of your rookies contract if you expect anything at all out of that rookie.

These signings clearly signal he is not part of the solution.

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You get how NFL contracts work, right? I'm sure they're structured so that they can let Smith go before his 4 years are up, for example.

I mean, you could be right. But it isn't NECESSARILY the case.

ivanvamp said:

You get how NFL contracts work, right? I'm sure they're structured so that they can let Smith go before his 4 years are up, for example.

I mean, you could be right. But it isn't NECESSARILY the case.

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They signed these 2 guys to play because they don’t want Asiasi playing.
That’s clear.
Could he get a shot because of an injury? Sure.
but these signings are a clear indication he is viewed as a bust.

They went 7-9 with nothing but borderline JAGs at TE and an ageing and banged up Jules at WR. They ran pretty effectively all damn season, despite Cam's seeming inability to throw the ball.

They just added some serious firepower at TE. Legitimate playmakers. They will absolutely feast if teams are forced to stack the box, which we shoukd be able to dictate. Legitimate WRs? Agholar is old, sure. But he's just what this offensr needs. The middle and short parts of the field will be getting plenty of attention. He'll see single coverage plenty, and had the tools to win those match-ups.

This offense may not be high-flying, but they will slow the game down and on paper have no massive holes, outside qb...where they have the unique physical run threat-I expect more RPO's. Think Balt the last few years.

The defense? My god. Where's the BB OJ pic when you need it?

Kdo5 said:

The Ryan Izzo era is over. Hallelujah

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I'm sorry, but i think you meant too say The IMMORTAL Ryan Izzo

Ring 6 said:

They signed these 2 guys to play because they don’t want Asiasi playing.
That’s clear.
Could he get a shot because of an injury? Sure.
but these signings are a clear indication he is viewed as a bust.

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I don't understand your thought process. They might not view him as a bust, and yet recognize that they have an opportunity to grab two very high level and proven TEs right now. If that pushes Asiasi down the depth chart, NE is fine with that, but that doesn't mean they view him as a bust. Your logic needs work.

ivanvamp said:

I don't understand your thought process. They might not view him as a bust, and yet recognize that they have an opportunity to grab two very high level and proven TEs right now. If that pushes Asiasi down the depth chart, NE is fine with that, but that doesn't mean they view him as a bust. Your logic needs work.

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I think what the signings mean is they don't anticipate or want Asiasi playing a lot in 2021.

That doesn't mean they think he is a bust, but it does mean they don't want or expect him to have a major role in the offense.

Holy f==k this is unbelievable.

Camp body. No way he beats out LaCosse.

robertweathers said:

I think what the signings mean is they don't anticipate or want Asiasi playing a lot in 2021.

That doesn't mean they think he is a bust, but it does mean they don't want or expect him to have a major role in the offense.

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I think it means that they think Henry and Smith are, at this point, much better players than Asiasi. I don't think it means they're down on Asiasi.

Grandissimi!!!!!!!!!

ivanvamp said:

You put it exactly how I've framed it to my friends. This isn't a "new" Patriots Way. It's just a once in a lifetime explosion based on this exact perfect storm as you described. We won't see it again, I'm pretty sure.

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I think this is right. The team needed a real roster overhaul and they have the money to do it. So they are doing it.

Horace's Ivories said:

"Yeah.. um.. I'll take both of those..."

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Give me your best steak, and the lobstah too. With buttah...

Need to sign another QB now.

Kraft deserves some credit. Not every owner would give the go ahead on this level of spending.

woolster22 said:

T Legitimate WRs? Agholar is old, sure. But he's just what this offensr needs. The middle and short parts of the field will be getting plenty of attention. He'll see single coverage plenty, and had the tools to win those match-ups.

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Agholor isn't old - he's 27.

Wow! Actual NFL tight ends on this team now. I was not impressed with Izzo last season. He got beat in his blocking assignments far too often. I don't think he makes the team now.

Hope to see BB use that 15th pick to help the defense. They still need linebackers.

gronk and hernandez part deux .....minus the gang banging.