Goodbye Rodney? Hello John Lynch?

[tedy hagler]

He will be missed defending the run. But John Lynch can defend run just as well. I have to agree though--Rodney is not what he once was in coverage. But the falloff with Lynch may be greater.

I realize that this might sound blasphamist, but I don't think that losing Rodney is going to be that big of a deal for the Pats. He had lost a step, and even last night, he had another one of his "dirty" penalties. Sanders and Merriweather are probably a better starting duo, the problem now is depth. Ty Law would be an interesting free saftey.

 

[tombonneau]

I realize that this might sound blasphamist, but I don't think that losing Rodney is going to be that big of a deal for the Pats. He had lost a step, and even last night, he had another one of his "dirty" penalties. Sanders and Merriweather are probably a better starting duo, the problem now is depth. Ty Law would be an interesting free saftey.

Sadly, I feel the same. Obviously his leadership is an intangible loss, but as far as on the field play, outside of stopping the run, his safety play has been average at best.

He is a true Patriot and will be missed, but as far as a 2008 NEP safety, I think the Pats will be able to make up for his loss.

 

[TheGodInAGreyHoodie]

i predict BB will do what will put the nep in the best position to win. (how is that for going out on a limb)

 

[captain stone]

Besides Lynch, here are some other FA Safety candidates:
Scout.com: Best Available Free Agents on Defense-Week 7

Wesley & Schweigert have a little size to them, though neither is as big as Rodney; Holt & Doss are strictly FSs.

Too bad that the FO didn't take a chance this year on SS Josh Barrett with their 6th-rounder, or on Jamar Adams as a UDFA. Using their top-of-6th-rounder last year on SS John Wendling would've been helpful, too. Or one of their 3 6th-rounders in '06 on Antoine Bethea.

But hey, we now have...Mike Richardson. Whoop-de-effin-do.

 

[Hardboiled]

I realize that this might sound blasphamist, but I don't think that losing Rodney is going to be that big of a deal for the Pats. He had lost a step, and even last night, he had another one of his "dirty" penalties. Sanders and Merriweather are probably a better starting duo, the problem now is depth. Ty Law would be an interesting free saftey.

You had me up until the last line. If Ty was in a camp working out as a safety...maybe. But he is off the street. No track record as a safety. I don't see him coming back as CB, nevermind a safety.

 

[PromisedLand]

They could certainly reconsider Lynch for depth or in a rotation, but the thing is that is not what he wanted or he'd have remained in Denver. He wanted a shot at starting, and he didn't nearly make the grade here according to Reiss when he dug deeper after the media presumed something based on nothing more than cordial parting comments.

He wasn't getting the defense either, which is why he saw limited reps in pre season. What some of you think you saw in week 4 of the pre season was Lynch being extended a veteran courtesy if you will, allowed to plead his case against and create an audition tape versus 2nd, 3rd and 4th stringers on offense.

It didn't land him a starting role anywhere. Now he's been home taking the kids to school for several weeks. I know he believes he can still play. So does Troy. That doesn't mean they can.

Well, as long as we're playing According To Reiss, check this out:

Ask Reiss: Fans upbeat after Pats beat up on the Broncos - Boston.com

Also, Florio reports an "unconfirmed tip" that Lynch was seen at Logan Airport:

ProFootballTalk.com - LYNCH BACK TO THE PATS?

 

[muzz]

i predict BB will do what will put the nep in the best position to win. (how is that for going out on a limb)

Not only were there no broken branches there, I don't think I even saw a leaf fall.

 

[PromisedLand]

Sadly, I feel the same. Obviously his leadership is an intangible loss, but as far as on the field play, outside of stopping the run, his safety play has been average at best.

He is a true Patriot and will be missed, but as far as a 2008 NEP safety, I think the Pats will be able to make up for his loss.

I also agree with this. I said I didn't see that there would be a big dropoff from Rodney to Lynch - however Rodney is no longer a Pro-Bowl caliber player - not even close. So I expect former 5-time Pro-Bowler John Lynch would probably be able to fill his shrunken shoes. Whether that puts him in the starting spot or just in the rotation ("quality depth") is an open question.

As for his wanting to be a starter, I don't know about that. Maybe he was just sick of the Broncos. He wasn't going to be a starter for us anyway; he knew that when he was released and made his comment about enjoying his career with the Patriots "so far".