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Standin' Pat
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CLICK HERE to Register for a free account and login for a smoother ad-free experience. It's easy, and only takes a few moments.I think we saw the defense deteriorate past that point in the Superbowl.
I'm still not sold entirely on Trey Flowers and I don't think at his current level of production he is worth 10 mill+. Those numbers are reserved for guys who consistently get sacks over the course of the season. However, Shaq Mason is an obvious re-sign to make soon, and 9 mill would be a relative bargain. Cooks for 16 mill is unnecessary - I would say that 12-13 mill is probably the best offer we would make.
Injuries and good players becoming bigger injury risks is part of what a deteriorating core looks like.
It comes down to what we can do in FA, but I honestly think that if we go damn-the-torpedoes mode this coming year, it will be at the cost of future winning. Our core isn't decripit but it's getting older, if we don't move to get younger as a team the window might close no matter what Brady can do. It's a tight rope act and going straight for the gold is not always the right way to ensure that you win titles.
Barnwell is not off base on the players he says should return, but he's wrong about dismissing the financial constraints.
Mason is worth his extension.
Cooks would be a good re-signing if he's willing to re-work his deal to fit with the receiving corps budget. I know nothing about the guy and how he sees his role on this team with the GOAT. In his first year he reminded me of Deion Branch and could be much better in 2018, especially if Edelman comes back.
Trey Flowers is probably gone. He's a solid, young player who will have a few teams interested in his LB, pass rushing and special teams versatility. But let's see what happens. Hightower explored the market and returned when he sized up what teams were in the running and his fit with the Patriots.
In 2017, Cooks produced 1122 yards from scrimmage and 7 TDs in the regular season. It was his worst season statistically since his rookie year (when he only played in 10 games).
Branch's best season by far (his 4th with Brady) was 998 yards and 5 TDs.
Interesting stats for comparison purposes. Very different teams, though, with Corey Dillon carrying the load in the running game. Branch was targeted 125 times and made 78 receptions compared with 114 and 65 for Cooks. Both had deep complementary receiving corps (Givens, Faulk, Troy Brown, Daniel Graham and Ben Watson with Branch.)
I think Cooks gets better in year two with Brady. But I don't think he's worth more than $5 to $6 million per year against the cap. I hope he stays, but fully understand if he leaves for significantly more money elsewhere. Amendola has reworked his deal to stay with the Patriots, I hope Cooks does the same.
Yes, I expect Cooks to grow in this area and look forward to what another full offseason may produce. I would feel comfortable with an extension in the 12m dollar range, but I would certainly expect that number to jump with another big season.Deion was also somewhat more an intermediate-range target than primarily a regular deep threat like Cooks. Not saying that Deion was never a deep threat, just that his routes were generally more various that Cooks' were this season. More well-rounded receiver, really.
Barnwell has accomplished his goal of creating controversy on the interweb, where success is measured by how many times your article is "clicked on" and how many times it is reposted...
It is all crap and speculation, not historical or current facts...
Virgil Green, please.
Trey is good but I doubt we break the bank for someone who struggles to crack 10 sacks.
It also might have something to do with Chandler's decision to float right into the Foxborough police station. Bill wasn't going to break even a piggy bank for him at that point forward.The Pats didn't break the bank for Chandler Jones, in spite of his sack numbers. Maybe it doesn't have as much to do with sack numbers as people think.