According to Don Banks, Our New England Patriots...

[Pats726]

Agents think the Patriots are in great shape for late FAs

Playing a few years for a dynasty either makes you worth more money, or gives you the impression that you are worth more money.....so they go out to find their riches. Also, Pats FO have a set price for everyone (with the exception of Seymour and Brady perhaps) and will not overpay for someones services - especially aging vets or mediorce players (which just about covers everyone you mentioned).

I totally agree that this is a fluky year and that the shine of championships has an effect on Patriots FAs...so they tend to get more money for that and whether they are worth that or not, sign them anyway!!
What wa stalked about on EEI was that a few (2) agents..(who knows how reliable but anyway..) have said that the Patriots will be in great shape as players are cut between now and the middle of June. The inferance was that the team would have money for a bunch of players and other teams would be cash poor, having spent more in March at more inflated prices. Was this also a bit wishful thinking or maybe Plan B..not sure. But I found that interesting.

 

[Brownfan80]

Yes, we don't have as many holes as other teams and thus don't need to be big spenders, but we've lost a lot of key guys from the last few years (especially if we don't get back Vinatieri).

I'm not sure what teams you're comparing us to.. but I don't see many teams out there with quite the WR situation we've got, or quite the OL situation. Or quite the RB situation, or quite the DB situation. But maybe that's just me..

WR - Branch, Bethel and Reche. SB MVP, unproven players that could be easily argued as busts. And after them? It's NFLE time.

OL - Our most proven players are coming off of serious injuries. Light and Koppen both. One of our proven swing tackles is on the way out in Ashworth, Neal is not resigned. and Gorin is a turnstile. I am not at ALL comfortable with our OL situation.

RB - We've got Corey Dillon who is great when healthy, but last year showed signs that the truck that is his body may have been in one too many collisions. We've got Kevin Faulk who is good for about as many injuries a year as fumbles. And behind that Patrick Pass who not only gets injured, but fumbles untouched because of it (SHHHH DON'T BASH ME ON THAT TOPIC AGAIN).

DB - We've got Rodney, Gino, Asante, Gay, Hobbs, Poteat, Hawkins, Scott, and Sanders. Apologies to any I've missed. Rodney's road will obviously be a hard one. Word is that he is on the right track, but anyone comign off of the "McGahee Knee" will take time to get back to full speed, and coupled with his age he may never return to his prior form. Gino and Asante were both exposed as moderate talents with Rodney gone and Gay seems to have the injury bug. Poteat is famous for his bongos but not much else. Hobbs is a player I'm excited about, and Hawkins does seem a capable member of the secondary, but Scott and Sanders I'm as confident in as a poncho in a hurricane. IF everything comes together in the best way then we'll have a solid secondary. It's a big if. If it doesn't we could easily be looking at 2005 in the secondary all over again. UGH with a capital UGH.

Not to mention our lack of either a starting ILB or OLB depending on where Vrabel plays this season. And our lack of depth at NT. We've got plenty of holes, we just haven't filled any yet. Don't let the lack of moves give you the feeling that there are no moves to be made. We're in need, and at some positions it's dire need. Maybe we just haven't seen the right players to fill those spaces yet.

 

[Brownfan80]

I'm not sure what teams you're comparing us to.. but I don't see many teams out there with quite the WR situation we've got, or quite the OL situation. Or quite the RB situation, or quite the DB situation. But maybe that's just me..

WR - Branch, Bethel and Reche. SB MVP, unproven players that could be easily argued as busts. And after them? It's NFLE time.

OL - Our most proven players are coming off of serious injuries. Light and Koppen both. One of our proven swing tackles is on the way out in Ashworth, Neal is not resigned. and Gorin is a turnstile. I am not at ALL comfortable with our OL situation.

RB - We've got Corey Dillon who is great when healthy, but last year showed signs that the truck that is his body may have been in one too many collisions. We've got Kevin Faulk who is good for about as many injuries a year as fumbles. And behind that Patrick Pass who not only gets injured, but fumbles untouched because of it (SHHHH DON'T BASH ME ON THAT TOPIC AGAIN).

DB - We've got Rodney, Gino, Asante, Gay, Hobbs, Poteat, Hawkins, Scott, and Sanders. Apologies to any I've missed. Rodney's road will obviously be a hard one. Word is that he is on the right track, but anyone comign off of the "McGahee Knee" will take time to get back to full speed, and coupled with his age he may never return to his prior form. Gino and Asante were both exposed as moderate talents with Rodney gone and Gay seems to have the injury bug. Poteat is famous for his bongos but not much else. Hobbs is a player I'm excited about, and Hawkins does seem a capable member of the secondary, but Scott and Sanders I'm as confident in as a poncho in a hurricane. IF everything comes together in the best way then we'll have a solid secondary. It's a big if. If it doesn't we could easily be looking at 2005 in the secondary all over again. UGH with a capital UGH.

Not to mention our lack of either a starting ILB or OLB depending on where Vrabel plays this season. And our lack of depth at NT. We've got plenty of holes, we just haven't filled any yet. Don't let the lack of moves give you the feeling that there are no moves to be made. We're in need, and at some positions it's dire need. Maybe we just haven't seen the right players to fill those spaces yet.

That post came off very negative. Excuse my return to form. My bad. ;(

 

[Pats726]

That post came off very negative. Excuse my return to form. My bad. ;(

Just more fodder for the chicken littles....

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

That post came off very negative. Excuse my return to form. My bad. ;(

Always