Does Welker want out of New England?

[Ring 6]

Keep Lloyd if he takes a discount. Keep Welker if he takes the discount.

Lloyd is most likely to take the discount, so keep Lloyd, drop Welker and find an actual deep threat in the draft or FA to compliment Lloyd.

Lloyd costs 2.5 mill more to keep than to cut.
Are you seriously telling me you would go to him after he signed a below market contract and lived up to expectations and tell him he needs to take a cut so you can release him to save 2.5, then have to pay a lot more than that to start all over again with a replacement who is probably less skilled?
Really?

 

[DocHoliday]

Keep Lloyd if he takes a discount. Keep Welker if he takes the discount.

Lloyd is most likely to take the discount, so keep Lloyd, drop Welker and find an actual deep threat in the draft or FA to compliment Lloyd.

What leverage do the Patriots have to force Lloyd to take a discount?

He produced.

 

[supafly]

I think that we are all in agreement; just some misunderstandings of the number of years it would take.

Yes, exactly.

MLR has been on record throughout the process of quoting deals in the range of 4/32 thru 4/34, or at least giving examples to those kinds of possibilities anyway. "Going on the record" may not be a proper use of the exercise, and he was likely just showing examples that could be done.

I'm guessing that he may have suggested that the 4th year could be a backout year where the higher cap may have kicked in a little more by 2015 (3rd yr) and then even more in 2016 (4th and last year) to where it wouldn't be so much of a burden.

Regardless I should have termed it as a "real 3 yr deal" with the potential for 4, so you are certainly correct in pointing out that mistake.

 

[supafly]

Lloyd costs 2.5 mill more to keep than to cut.
Are you seriously telling me you would go to him after he signed a below market contract and lived up to expectations and tell him he needs to take a cut so you can release him to save 2.5, then have to pay a lot more than that to start all over again with a replacement who is probably less skilled?
Really?

I don't personally think there is much of a question to be honest. I think that another year with Brady practicing the finer nuances can only help his potential. By all accounts he certainly seemed to pick up on it very nicely, even considering that he had experience in that system before.

I'm not sure about the financial implications that occur for the 2014 season so that could be a different story, but I wouldn't exactly point to our WR2 having 74 catches and scream "there's our main problem."

 

[Huckleberry1]

What about Chad Jackson? He's big and fast, and that is what they need, someone big and fast.


How about Ussain Bolt? he's big and he's really fast.


I wonder if Rondo wants to be a Patriot? I bet Ainge would take a 2nd for him.

 

[Jackson 2]

The elephant in the room is this: the Patriots could draft the best wide receiver in the draft with their #1 or they could sign the #1 free agent and either or both could be unable to "get on the same page" with Brady and it would be a lost #1 and/or a waste of the money for the free agent. Brady has little or no patience for those who can't quickly pick up what he's trying to do and once you're on his shyt list, there's no getting off it.

 

[Ring 6]

The elephant in the room is this: the Patriots could draft the best wide receiver in the draft with their #1 or they could sign the #1 free agent and either or both could be unable to "get on the same page" with Brady and it would be a lost #1 and/or a waste of the money for the free agent. Brady has little or no patience for those who can't quickly pick up what he's trying to do and once you're on his shyt list, there's no getting off it.

Only if they draft or sign someone as stupid as a guy who changed his name to a number in Spanish but actually changed it to 2 digits in Spanish.

 

[Ring 6]

What leverage do the Patriots have to force Lloyd to take a discount?

He produced.

Their leverage is that he can tell them EFF YOU and they would save a whopping 2.5mill to go out and find a starting WR with.
I think that is known as being in a position of weakness.

 

[fnordcircle]

Only if they draft or sign someone as stupid as a guy who changed his name to a number in Spanish but actually changed it to 2 digits in Spanish.

It's like you've forgotten the Patriots record when it comes to drafting wide receivers.

 

[Frezo]

It's like you've forgotten the Patriots record when it comes to drafting wide receivers.

That is true, but it was botched up during the Pioli regime. I have much more confidence that Caserio would aid in making a better selection.

 

[mgteich]

Be fair. Just because its been ten years doesn't mean that we can't draft a couple of top receivers who will lead us to a Super Bowl this year.

It's like you've forgotten the Patriots record when it comes to drafting wide receivers.

 

[Patriot Missile]

It's like you've forgotten the Patriots record when it comes to drafting wide receivers.

If your looking for a year not to screw it up royally, this is the year to get one. 10-12 deep IMO.

 

[Ring 6]

It's like you've forgotten the Patriots record when it comes to drafting wide receivers.

No, I just didn't have unrealistic expectations. Which ones are you saying failed because they couldn't get on the same page as Brady?

 

[Ring 6]

Be fair. Just because its been ten years doesn't mean that we can't draft a couple of top receivers who will lead us to a Super Bowl this year.

Choosing to spend very few resources on a position in the draft does not equal being unable to do so if you wish.

 

[mgteich]

I think that if we are seriously looking for major 2013 production from the draft, we should draft 2 wide receivers in the first three rounds.

If your looking for a year not to screw it up royally, this is the year to get one. 10-12 deep IMO.

 

[supafly]

Be fair. Just because its been ten years doesn't mean that we can't draft a couple of top receivers who will lead us to a Super Bowl this year.

Obviously realizing that this is said in jest, I've wondered if the best way to approach this is to possibly double up again, much like the 2 TE in 2010, the 2 RB in 2011, and the 2 front sevens in 2012?

Something to think about. Maybe a top 2 rounder, then a mid rounder to finish it off. It has it's drawbacks, but it obviously increases the chances of one of them working out a lot more.

 

[supafly]

I think that if we are seriously looking for major 2013 production from the draft, we should draft 2 wide receivers in the first three rounds.

Ooops...sorry. I'm having one of those days when someone else keeps suggesting the same thing.

Great minds and all

 

[Jackson 2]

Only if they draft or sign someone as stupid as a guy who changed his name to a number in Spanish but actually changed it to 2 digits in Spanish.

It's gone way beyond that guy and you know it. There's a laundry list of draftees, free agents and guys who were cut elsewhere and signed yet none of whom made it. I'm really reluctant to dump anyone Brady has any type of chemistry with because no matter who comes here with whatever successful track record or pedigree means zero. No guarantee it would work with anyone.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

It's like you've forgotten the Patriots record when it comes to drafting wide receivers.

Like the Mutual Fund investment warning says, "Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future returns"

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

No, I just didn't have unrealistic expectations. Which ones are you saying failed because they couldn't get on the same page as Brady?

Chad Jackson. It was clear in summer camp that Brady despised the kid. First camps he'd wave him hither and yon as he lined up. You know TFB's tolerance for cluelessness. Later in the camp season he just ignored him. Eventually BB moved him back to the 2nd team offense where someone might actually throw to him. Guy did have an all world physique. You could see him yukking it up and chatting with everyone, not focused at all.

I was so pissed at the kid whom I'd wanted drafted, I started a thread something like "Is Chad Jackson a Bust?" and got pummeled (somewhat deservedly) for premature ejaculation of bustness.