Announced Patriots cuts: countdown to 53

[BradyFTW!]

Ok, there's the annual shocking cut. Meriweather? wow... I have no idea what the plan is at safety, they must have someone ready to sign, because as much as I think Barrett and Brown could turn into something, I'm not looking forward to either one of them starting.

 

[jefmblrd]

Wow. The thought of releasing Meriweather crossed my mind, but I never thought they'd actually do it. BB must have completely had it with him and just wanted him off the team. I'm sure he'll get picked up by someone fairly quickly, although it's highly questionable he does have Pro Bowl attached to his name and that will catch someone's eye.

I'm not sad that he's gone, but a little wary of his replacements. I like Brown and the way he hits people and Josh Barrett looked pretty good against the Giants, so we'll just have to see. Of course, there is always the possibility of bringing someone in...the questions is who? You would think that if they liked Sharper, he would have already been here.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

According to Bedard, there is now no one left from the 2007 draft.

So thankful for Floyd Reese.

Not to be facetious, but remember how that draft went:

Meriweather
[a bunch of picks traded]
Kareem Brown
8 5th, 6th, and 7th rounders

And that was a team that was LOADED with talent before the draft, and a really weak draft (remember: all the Pats got for trading out was a fourth-rounder, not a second!).

If you want to fault the front office for the 2008 draft (Mayo and meh), be my guest. But the 2007 draft was sui generis, and very little should be read into it.

 

[patchick]

Lively day, eh?

It's now a 100% lock that NOBODY predicted cutdown day right. Anybody who suggested cutting both Sanders and Meriweather would have been laughed off the internet. That said, I'm not sorry to see Meriweather go. He's always bugged the heck out of me (and I've always been irrationally fond of Sergio Brown).

 

[olschool]

Now the Sanders cut REALLY puzzles me.

Last year they had one of the worst pass defenses in football.

When guys like Mark Sanchez can walk his team down the field,and kick you out of the playoffs, you know you have a problem.

It isn't just pass rush. The defensive backs also aren't very good.

The only lock on that pass defense should be McCourty.

 

[patchick]

Not to be facetious, but remember how that draft went:

Meriweather
[a bunch of picks traded]
Kareem Brown
8 5th, 6th, and 7th rounders

...and as I mentioned in another thread, the 2nd and 7th picks are still on the team in the person of Wes Welker.

 

[Bruschi_]

QB (3) Tom Brady, Brian Hoyer, Ryan Mallett
RB (5) BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Danny Woodhead, Stevan Ridley, Shane Vereen, Kevin Faulk
WR (7) Wes Welker, Deion Branch, Chad Ochocinco, Brandon Tate, Julian Edelman, Taylor Price, Matthew Slater
TE (3) Rob Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez, Will Yeatman
C (2) Dan Koppen, Ryan Wendell
G (4) Logan Mankins, Dan Connolly, Rich Ohrnberger, Thomas Austin
T (4) Matt Light, Sebastian Vollmer, Nate Solder, Steve Maneri
DE (5) Mike Wright, Mark Anderson, Shaun Ellis, Andre Carter, Gerard Warren
DT (4) Vince Wilfork, Albert Haynesworth, Kyle Love, Myron Pryor
LB (7) Jerod Mayo, Brandon Spikes, Gary Guyton, Jermaine Cunningham, Rob Ninkovich, Dane Fletcher, Tracy White
CB (6) Devin McCourty, Leigh Bodden, Kyle Arrington, Darius Butler, Ras-I Dowling, Josh Barrett
FS (2) Sergio Brown, Ross Ventrone
SS (2) Patrick Chung, James Ihedigbo
ST (3) Stephen Gostkowski, Zoltan Mesko, James Dearth
PUP(3) Marcus Cannon, Ron Brace, Brandon Deaderick

Total Players: 57

With 4 moves to make....

1) Kevin Faulk to PUP
2) Cut Ihedigbo or Ventrone
3) Wendell to IR? If not Ohrnberger, Austin or Maneri cut.
4) Cut Tate or Price. Likely Tate.

 

[Mike the Brit]

Last year they had one of the worst pass defenses in football.

When guys like Mark Sanchez can walk his team down the field,and kick you out of the playoffs, you know you have a problem.

It isn't just pass rush. The defensive backs also aren't very good.

The only lock on that pass defense should be McCourty.

OK, I'll stipulate to all of that.

So why haven't we seen a flood of new DBs coming in? Are you saying that Josh Barrett and Sergio Brown are the answer? James Ihedigbo?

I repeat: I'm puzzled.

 

[jefmblrd]

QB (3) Tom Brady, Brian Hoyer, Ryan Mallett
RB (5) BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Danny Woodhead, Stevan Ridley, Shane Vereen, Kevin Faulk
WR (7) Wes Welker, Deion Branch, Chad Ochocinco, Brandon Tate, Julian Edelman, Taylor Price, Matthew Slater
TE (3) Rob Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez, Will Yeatman
C (2) Dan Koppen, Ryan Wendell
G (4) Logan Mankins, Dan Connolly, Rich Ohrnberger, Thomas Austin
T (4) Matt Light, Sebastian Vollmer, Nate Solder, Steve Maneri
DE (5) Mike Wright, Mark Anderson, Shaun Ellis, Andre Carter, Gerard Warren
DT (4) Vince Wilfork, Albert Haynesworth, Kyle Love, Myron Pryor
LB (7) Jerod Mayo, Brandon Spikes, Gary Guyton, Jermaine Cunningham, Rob Ninkovich, Dane Fletcher, Tracy White
CB (6) Devin McCourty, Leigh Bodden, Kyle Arrington, Darius Butler, Ras-I Dowling, Josh Barrett
FS (2) Sergio Brown, Ross Ventrone
SS (2) Patrick Chung, James Ihedigbo
ST (3) Stephen Gostkowski, Zoltan Mesko, James Dearth
PUP(3) Marcus Cannon, Ron Brace, Brandon Deaderick

Total Players: 57

With 4 moves to make....

1) Kevin Faulk to PUP
2) Cut Ihedigbo or Ventrone
3) Wendell to IR? If not Ohrnberger, Austin or Maneri cut.
4) Cut Tate or Price. Likely Tate.

I can't see Ventrone making the cut, or if by chance he does I don't see him surviving long, as there has to be someone else they're bringing in here.

I can see them cutting Tate and keeping Price.

They'll most likely keep Ohrnberger, especially since Wendell has been hurt and now Connolly is questionable, but I don't see him staying long.

Maneri is going to make the team but not Austin.

Let's face it we all know that the 53 isn't going to stay the same for very long as they sift through other teams cuts and see who's available.

 

[Patspsycho]

QB (3) Tom Brady, Brian Hoyer, Ryan Mallett
RB (5) BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Danny Woodhead, Stevan Ridley, Shane Vereen, Kevin Faulk
WR (7) Wes Welker, Deion Branch, Chad Ochocinco, Brandon Tate, Julian Edelman, Taylor Price, Matthew Slater
TE (3) Rob Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez, Will Yeatman
C (2) Dan Koppen, Ryan Wendell
G (4) Logan Mankins, Dan Connolly, Rich Ohrnberger, Thomas Austin
T (4) Matt Light, Sebastian Vollmer, Nate Solder, Steve Maneri
DE (5) Mike Wright, Mark Anderson, Shaun Ellis, Andre Carter, Gerard Warren
DT (4) Vince Wilfork, Albert Haynesworth, Kyle Love, Myron Pryor
LB (7) Jerod Mayo, Brandon Spikes, Gary Guyton, Jermaine Cunningham, Rob Ninkovich, Dane Fletcher, Tracy White
CB (6) Devin McCourty, Leigh Bodden, Kyle Arrington, Darius Butler, Ras-I Dowling, Josh Barrett
FS (2) Sergio Brown, Ross Ventrone
SS (2) Patrick Chung, James Ihedigbo
ST (3) Stephen Gostkowski, Zoltan Mesko, James Dearth
PUP(3) Marcus Cannon, Ron Brace, Brandon Deaderick

Total Players: 57

With 4 moves to make....

1) Kevin Faulk to PUP
2) Cut Ihedigbo or Ventrone
3) Wendell to IR? If not Ohrnberger, Austin or Maneri cut.
4) Cut Tate or Price. Likely Tate.

Barrett is a safety, not a corner.

Ihedigbo is a keeper, because of his ST ability.

I think we'll see more than 4 cuts.

 

[Sfpat]

This will actually be a good move for Merriweather. While he may not be Pro Bowl caliber, most teams in the league would love to have a safety of his ability and I expect there will be a lot of interest in him. He will probably get a nice pay raise out of this.

 

[Mainefan]

Oh, isn't that swell.

 

[ALP]

please let Chung be ready

 

[Patspsycho]

Giants game replays on NFLN at 4pm.. I'll be watching it in the context of the cuts that have been happening today. Should be interesting...

 

[Ron Sellers]

Reiss is reporting that Lee Smith has been told he will be waived, which means Will Yeatman makes the team.

TE Smith told he will be waived - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

 

[Mack Herron]

Tate cut. 10 chars

 

[fgssand]

Tate cut..............

 

[Patspsycho]

Guess the other Brandon is gone.

 

[serifyn]

Tate cut per PFT

 

[jah]

Tate cut. 10 chars

I always had a feeling in the back of my mind that he would make the team despite having every reason to be cut.

That feeling was not accurate.