11:01 CST can't come fast enough

[slash83]

Even if the Pats come away with extensions for their own free agents such as Wilfork, Bodden, TBC and Faulk; they still need to make a splash for at least an impact player or two. Only role players and value players aren't going to cut it this time around. They need to sign an impact player or two and go into the draft with more flexibility and maybe draft for luxury more than need, the way it used to be.

 

[IcyPatriot]

We should have a party ... like Midnight Madness parties.

Okay ... here you go .... I went to the store.


... ... ......

 

[JoeSixPat]

I'll still be up and I'm hoping that we get a bunch of signings by the Pats immediately..

Although it's not like any of us has any idea what Belichick will do, my guess all along has been that if there are guys Belichick has targeted as "his kind of players" he'll move very quickly to offer and secure them to a more decent offer than he would in a capped year.

But I'm not expecting a big name - just the quality depth players that are getting harder to get with so much competition from them and so many coaches trying to staff up for "Patriots" football.

Though that being said, some pretty interesting names are being released into UFA as of late. WRs and TEs I think are a given.

 

[woolster22]

I'm feeling some big time fireworks will be going on for the next 36 hours.

 

[rbh24]

1:30 am here I cannot wait damn NL time zone.

 

[IcyPatriot]

2nd year of Bill buying the groceries sans Pioli ...

I think Bill solo will be better than tag team Bill ... the challenge has him peaking at a great time.

 

[The Dynasty]

If you are expecting for a big time deal right at midnight I think you wont get what your looking for. The earliest you will probably see a deal is tomorrow morning. I do expect the Pats to make a big signing/trade by the end of the weekend.

 

[slash83]

If you are expecting for a big time deal right at midnight I think you wont get what your looking for. The earliest you will probably see a deal is tomorrow morning. I do expect the Pats to make a big signing/trade by the end of the weekend.

I agree if anything is going down its going to be in the morning or afternoon time of day, Id be shocked if they signed or traded for somebody on midnight.

 

[IcyPatriot]

If you are expecting for a big time deal right at midnight I think you wont get what your looking for. The earliest you will probably see a deal is tomorrow morning. I do expect the Pats to make a big signing/trade by the end of the weekend.

Yeah ... it's an exciting time ... but the reality is you pay a premium + to sign the early group. I'm expecting Bill to sign blue collar lunch pail players ... and to use our money to retain our own very premium players Mankins, Wilfork and Bodden.

 

[slash83]

Yeah ... it's an exciting time ... but the reality is you pay a premium + to sign the early group. I'm expecting Bill to sign blue collar lunch pail players ... and to use our money to retain our own very premium players Mankins, Wilfork and Bodden.

I understand and get what your saying but do you think with the current roster thats going to be enough along with the draft to get this team back into super bowl contending form? I feel like a true impact player that can make other players around him is missing on both sides of the ball, especially defense. With the Jets improving along with the Dolphins, the Pats I feel just cant rely on blue collar players and the draft even if they are able to retain all of their own players you mentioned above. Especially considering that Welker, the second most important player on offense behind Brady probably isnt going to be back until the later half of the season.

 

[carolinatony]

They can't afford being on the sidelines. They have a medicore backfield, no depth at WR, absolutely nothing at TE, a hole at RG, a hole at RE, two gaping holes at OLB, and a hole at CB.

They're not going to just sit on the sidelines.

I agree with you. If we we don't do much this off season; its going to a long year for us all. We need some playmakers on both sides of the ball to get back to the top.

 

[slash83]

They can't afford being on the sidelines. They have a medicore backfield, no depth at WR, absolutely nothing at TE, a hole at RG, a hole at RE, two gaping holes at OLB, and a hole at CB.

They're not going to just sit on the sidelines.

Great post Pats1, do you see them going after impact players like a Peppers or Boldin or any of the Marshalls? I no we need to sign depth and role players but I also strongly believe we need more impact players on both sides of the ball, especially on defense.

 

[The Dynasty]

I understand and get what your saying but do you think with the current roster thats going to be enough along with the draft to get this team back into super bowl contending form? I feel like a true impact player that can make other players around him is missing on both sides of the ball, especially defense. With the Jets improving along with the Dolphins, the Pats I feel just cant rely on blue collar players and the draft even if they are able to retain all of their own players you mentioned above. Especially considering that Welker, the second most important player on offense behind Brady probably isnt going to be back until the later half of the season.

I completely agree with what you are saying. While we do have a good amount of holes to fill, we are not that many players away from being right back in Super Bowl contention. Like you said we cannot rely on signing FA's based on value and low money and the draft to improve our team. We need to go out and be one of the teams to make the big signing and big deal. I think BB and staff recognize this and if the right deal presents its self they will jump all over it. Failure to acquire a major impact player will result in a season similar to 2009, beating the teams we're supposed to beat but not being able to beat the elite teams.

 

[rbh24]

Agreed its not in Bill's nature to spend a ton of free agents right away but we have too.Everyone is going to go crazy with the cash or else we will fall big time.I got a feeling most of the sought after free agents will be gone right away.

 

[pats1]

Great post Pats1, do you see them going after impact players like a Peppers or Boldin or any of the Marshalls? I no we need to sign depth and role players but I also strongly believe we need more impact players on both sides of the ball, especially on defense.

They have enough depth and role players - they took care of that with the flurry of re-signings last year (Connolly, Kaczur, Aiken, Ninkovich, Alexander, LeVoir, TBC before that fell through). The middle class of the roster is pretty well-stocked, and that will be helped by the mid-to-late rounds of the draft. Where the Pats are lacking is #5-#20ish of the roster. They have the top guys - Brady, Moss, Wilfork, Welker - (even then that's shaky) - but it's the next tier of the roster that's lacking, and dumping Baker and AD is proof positive. The only guys I can think of that fit that tier are Warren, Koppen, Light, Mayo, Vollmer, Mankins, and Meriweather. The first round or two of the draft will help that, but not completely.

For example, in 2007, the Pats' #5-#20 was filled by Koppen, Light, Mankins, Neal, Seymour (#5), Warren, Bruschi, Rodney, Vrabel, AD, Colvin, Samuel (#5), Hobbs, etc.

 

[slash83]

I completely agree with what you are saying. While we do have a good amount of holes to fill, we are not that many players away from being right back in Super Bowl contention. Like you said we cannot rely on signing FA's based on value and low money and the draft to improve our team. We need to go out and be one of the teams to make the big signing and big deal. I think BB and staff recognize this and if the right deal presents its self they will jump all over it. Failure to acquire a major impact player will result in a season similar to 2009, beating the teams we're supposed to beat but not being able to beat the elite teams.

I also think were only a couple players away from being one of the last remaining four teams fighting at the end. Team has holes, they need to come out aggressive starting tomorrow.

 

[slash83]

They have enough depth and role players - they took care of that with the flurry of re-signings last year (Connolly, Kaczur, Aiken, Ninkovich, Alexander, LeVoir, TBC before that fell through). The middle class of the roster is pretty well-stocked, and that will be helped by the mid-to-late rounds of the draft. Where the Pats are lacking is #5-#20ish of the roster. They have the top guys - Brady, Moss, Wilfork, Welker - (even then that's shaky) - but it's the next tier of the roster that's lacking, and dumping Baker and AD is proof positive. The only guys I can think of that fit that tier are Warren, Koppen, Light, Mayo, Vollmer, Mankins, and Meriweather. The first round or two of the draft will help that, but not completely.

For example, in 2007, the Pats' #5-#20 was filled by Koppen, Light, Mankins, Neal, Seymour (#5), Warren, Bruschi, Rodney, Vrabel, AD, Colvin, Samuel (#5), Hobbs, etc.

Yeah good job of breaking it down, I agree even with the amount of picks they have in the first two rounds they aren't likely to hit on all four picks. The signing of an impact difference or two will allow the team to start drafting more "luxury" picks rather than selecting players based off of need only.