Evaluate the Youngsters and Newcomers

[patchick]

No, "I" am not suggesting NE would pay anyone under the table to remain on the shadow roster. I think asking Walter to hold himself available may be a consideration at final cutdown if it is a choice between losing a player BB really wants for the team or three QBs to start the season. Certainly enough of us are struggling to see the final shape of this roster.

Asking, you betcha. It's just the paying (paging Ken, who has suggested that a couple of times now) I was raising my eyebrows at.

 

[patchick]

I can certainly see it, and believe that every team in the NFL is either doing it, or has done it.

The Patriots don't have to put out the money, or even see it appear on the books. The player is released, decides to turn down other offers, and gets a check from some "company" that "hires" him to a basically no-show job, or gives him a salary as a retainer for PR purposes.

This very concept is seen every day in large corporations who want to keep folks from hiring with the competition.

Having worked for some "large corporations" I've never seen such elaborate skullduggery, because you can do this all in the open. You simply offer a rich severance package contingent on a non-compete agreement.