Patriots Rumor All quiet on Hightower front or Dont'a-do-it FA tour

[Kontradiction]

Like I said, I think Hightower is going to be surprised by what his Market is. It doesn't sound like it's as high as he and his agent thought going into today.

 

[AtomicDawg]

Some people made it out like he was upset because of what Chandler got or Collins leaving. This indicates none of it was true.

 

[PatriotsPimp136]

Like I said, I think Hightower is going to be surprised by what his Market is. It doesn't sound like it's as high as he and his agent thought going into today.

Idk. I worry about someone swooping him in the last minute. Let's hope for the best and he comes back.

 

[Ring 6]

Well despite all our well intentioned speculation. I'm pretty sure that Hightower and his agent already know the broad perameters of the offers that are out there, and I'm Pretty sure that the Pats know them too (as they have been in contact) The official offers will come in at 4pm sharp (again making a mockery of league rules that are s0 selectively followed ), and I'm also pretty sure Hightower will give the Pats a few hours to come up with a counter to the best one.

So I'm guess we should know where Donta' is heading by around midnight tonight. IIRC that is how it went with Devon.

Or he could take days negotiating with other teams.

 

[long distance]

 

[Rusty Coupe]

-Linebacker Dont'a Hightower has received heavy interest. The Dolphins really like him, and the Titans are also in the mix, according to a source.

Patriots free agency tracker: Dolphins interested in Hightower, Pats in on Harmon, Blount/BH

 

[patfanken]

Or he could take days negotiating with other teams.

....or, he could take days negotiating with other teams.

Could be Andy, but history has shown that for the top guys, and evidentently that is how Hightower is being perceived, deals usually happen fast. I cannot beleive that Tenn, for example, don't have something in writing right now that would fit in a Miguel offer chart, as well as other teams.

I'm just guessing here, but I see Hightower as one of those guys who isn't going to be playing off one team against the other back an forth. I think it will be give me you best offer, then give BB a chance to match or come close enough for him to stay.

The keys aren't going to be the final amount of the total money, but more like what are the guarrantees, how real are they, when do the get paid, incentives, etc In other words the REAL money.

Call it a gut feeling, but I think we are going to wake up tomorrow and know where Donta Hightower is going to be playing next season. "OR he could take a couple of days to negotiated with other teams."

 

[ViperGTS]

He is injury prone. That really does scare teams off and thus he probably into finding what he thought he would. Maybe another reason BB felt comfortable letting him test the waters.

Wonder if he gets 11 per year from NE, about 2.5 less than he thought he could get.

 

[Ring 6]

....or, he could take days negotiating with other teams.

Could be Andy, but history has shown that for the top guys, and evidentently that is how Hightower is being perceived, deals usually happen fast. I cannot beleive that Tenn, for example, don't have something in writing right now that would fit in a Miguel offer chart, as well as other teams.

I'm just guessing here, but I see Hightower as one of those guys who isn't going to be playing off one team against the other back an forth. I think it will be give me you best offer, then give BB a chance to match or come close enough for him to stay.

The keys aren't going to be the final amount of the total money, but more like what are the guarrantees, how real are they, when do the get paid, incentives, etc In other words the REAL money.

Call it a gut feeling, but I think we are going to wake up tomorrow and know where Donta Hightower is going to be playing next season. "OR he could take a couple of days to negotiated with other teams."

My point is just that this could linger for awhile. Not that it will but that we it could go on through the weekend.
With the amount of money out there to spend this year may be different than others.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Like I said, I think Hightower is going to be surprised by what his Market is. It doesn't sound like it's as high as he and his agent thought going into today.

I think one of the main issues with Hightower as a FA is that to get full value out of him you have to fully use his versatility. You have ot be willing to scheme up inside linebacker blitzes, rush him off the edge, and coverage schemes that allow him to succeed without exposing the areas where he struggles. It's a lot of work to get the most out of him, plugging him into any traditional LB role gives a much less effective player. So unless you're willing to basically build your defensive scheme from the inside out around him, he probably won't be worth as much to you as he is to the Patriots.

That's what I keep hoping and telling myself, anyway.

 

[Ring 6]

He is injury prone. That really does scare teams off and thus he probably into finding what he thought he would. Maybe another reason BB felt comfortable letting him test the waters.

Wonder if he gets 11 per year from NE, about 2.5 less than he thought he could get.

He is not injury prone please stop that.
He has had a few non chronic injuries and actually gotten back in the field very quickly and pkayed very well through them (see SB 49).
Many of the handful of games he missed were precautionary.

 

[BradyFTW!]

He is injury prone. That really does scare teams off and thus he probably into finding what he thought he would. Maybe another reason BB felt comfortable letting him test the waters.

Wonder if he gets 11 per year from NE, about 2.5 less than he thought he could get.

The injury thing is definitely a concern, but it's a pretty common thing with ILBs who are good at stopping the run. If you want your LBs to play the run well, you're going to have to live with the injuries. It's a big part of why the position's market value is as low as it is in the first place. I don't think Hightower is worse than the standard by any big margin in this respect.

If I was someone like the Titans, I'd be a lot more worried about scheme fit- how much are they going to have to redefine what's expected of their MLB to play to Hightower's strengths vs. a more traditional type of talent? And also size: how will a 270 pound LB age? Is he in play to hit the wall sooner than a smaller guy would? He's turning 27 in a couple days, so if you think there's a good shot that his prime is ending at age 28 rather than, say, 30, that might scare you off.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

Good news.

Today turing out to be a very very good day

 

[Love The Drake]

Be so pissed if Hightower signs with phins.

 

[ViperGTS]

He is not injury prone please stop that.
He has had a few non chronic injuries and actually gotten back in the field very quickly and pkayed very well through them (see SB 49).
Many of the handful of games he missed were precautionary.

What are his average games played past couple seasons? Games played is a huge stat from what we've hear from NFL teams and BB in particular. You can argue precautionary etc, and when the chips were on the table he fought through them.

How many teams he may sign with could withstand holding him out for "precautionary reasons" and a)absorbs his loss and still win a la NE and b) get crucified for it due to his contract.

I be that answer is near zero.

 

[PatriotsPimp136]

So whose our best coverage LB? Anyone think we will draft another LB even if he comes back.

 

[AtomicDawg]

Be so pissed if Hightower signs with phins.

They won't bid what the Titans can bid since L. Timmons is visiting them today. I still say he stays a Pat.

 

[upstater1]

But why wouldn't Hightower know that the cap was going to increase and he would be one of the top FA in a year where teams have more money than they know what to do with?
He has an agent. Surely his agents job is know what FA is going to look like when you discuss an extension.

It's not so much that they are oblivious to the cap, but that they could get this done a year earlier, and you take the unknown out of it. You can get hurt or have a bad year for instance.

 

[Huckleberry1]

Today turing out to be a very very good day

Let's hope so, I'm really optimistic but there are still a number of pieces to fit in place.

 

[Ring 6]

What are his average games played past couple seasons? Games played is a huge stat from what we've hear from NFL teams and BB in particular. You can argue precautionary etc, and when the chips were on the table he fought through them.

How many teams he may sign with could withstand holding him out for "precautionary reasons" and a)absorbs his loss and still win a la NE and b) get crucified for it due to his contract.

I be that answer is near zero.

So what is your point?
He is not injury prone.
The number of games he has played has included the team choosing to hold him out and none if his injuries have been debilitating or chronic