Great offseason so far! Here's what's next...

[mgteich]

1) If Belichick wants Jason Taylor enough, I suspect that he can it done by extending Faulk and Green (and perhaps even Light).

2) I presume that some here would like us to have a defensive roster of 11 corners.

 

[supafly]

I think we try real hard to restructure / extend Green, saving a little cap space. This will be a priority in the next couple months. This would solve the bigger cap hit problem, and also deal with the possible loss of Wright, (this yr) and Seymour (next yr, if it comes to that)

While Julius Peppers is an exceptional athlete, I still have my doubts with how we'd have room for someone that prolific--unless we were to have a major overhaul, specifically on our D line, for the gamble of one player. Which, I wouldn't really want, and it just dosen't sound like our head coach too much.

I understand about improving, upgrading and the likes...but that has to come with player value/positional value (which is still questionable) vs. potential salary cap hit

But then again, we've been over this in the numerous Julius Peppers threads. If anything, we'd probably try to get Taylor and save tons and tons of money, after all, he's been a beast vs. New England, while Peppers has a big ZERO in sacks vs. us. Just another point BB would obviously consider

 

[strongside]

I disagree. If someone gave me the choice of Vrabel or Leigh Bodden or Shawn Springs, for this team with these needs, it's a no-brainer. I love Vrabel, and have all the sentimental attachment in the world for his contributions. I love World Championships more.

Why not both? At this point they could have easily kept Vrable and signed all of the players to date. No if there is a pepers, taylor etc in the cards thats different.

To say it was either Vrabel Or Leigh Bodden and Springs is inaccurate

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

What I'd like to see is extensions for Wilfork/Mankins/Neal if the room is there and a solid draft. Extensions for Green/Seymour/Faulk could provide that room, but that would be alot of negotiations. Any further $multi-million signings will make it tougher for us next offseason.

Most contracts that expire next season aside from the 3 above do not appear to require raises so hopefully the key ones can be resigned for at or around their current #. The only exception I see is Hobbs who I think is going to find a big contract somewhere. Kaczur perhaps but he is more replaceable.

 

[KY Pats Fan]

The more I've thought about it over the past couple of days, I think DL will be included in the day 1 picks.

 

[KDPPatsfan85]

Because of the market! The Panthers want to get rid of Peppers because of the cap hit!! I heard(PFW in Progree) that they are willing to take just ONE 1st round pick instead of two! So what if we trade our 23 or 34th for Peppers? I think it will work!! If you remember when in the 2006 offseason when they were talking about Moss coming to the Patriots then was all of sudden quiet till draft day when we traded our 4th for Moss!!

 

[supafly]

Because of the market! The Panthers want to get rid of Peppers because of the cap hit!! I heard(PFW in Progree) that they are willing to take just ONE 1st round pick instead of two! So what if we trade our 23 or 34th for Peppers? I think it will work!! If you remember when in the 2006 offseason when they were talking about Moss coming to the Patriots then was all of sudden quiet till draft day when we traded our 4th for Moss!!

The huge difference between the Moss situation and the Peppers situation was that Moss was coming off a few bad yrs, and had been 'given up on' by the Raiders. They claimed he lost a few steps, would drive Belichick nuts, and had fallen off. He took a small, 'prove it' deal to prove that he still could play, and would not pose any problems. The next yr he signed for 9 mill /per yr.

No one has 'given up' on Peppers, and he believes that he is one of the top defensive players in the league. It's not a question of whether we can make a deal with Peppers, it's how the hell do we pay him while he's here?
We, in the next yr, have to extend Wilfork for about 10 mill / yr--and that could even arguably be a 'friendly' team deal. Although by the looks and actions of his wife / agent, that may be harder than we think to do. We also have a problem with Seymour, who is in about the same position. He was the only defensive player who we broke the bank for, several yrs ago. When you couple these players with Jarvis Green, and the probable loss of Mike Wright, we now have ONE of our TOP 5 DL'S signed--Ty Warren.

Also we have the problem(s) of Gostkowski, Mankins, Neal, Hobbs, and are leaving out the fact that the appropriate thing to do after our next big deal, (probably,hopefully, Wilfork) would be to sign our 'franchise' player and leader of the team who is arguably underpaid--that being Brady who is due the next yr. When you also have 4 day one draft picks this yr to sign--How in the hell do you propose we break the bank, and give an unproven player,someone who has not even been a part of our team, an insane, 10-12 (at the least) million per yr deal? All the while, we don't even know if he's gonna be able to pick up the system--or work out as a OLB conversion project?

I for one, would rather keep our team core--instead of putting it on a gamble, a whim, or a wish. Regardless of talent. I know Peppers has talent, I would love to have him in a Pats uni--but how is this possible? He could come in and have 4 or 5 sacks, and all their work building a 'team' would be flushed right down the toilet. So, while I appreciate your hunger for the perfect fantasy player, a la Peppers--I respectfully dis-agree with whatever plan you may have to sign him. Sending draft picks isn't the problem, everyone knows that, it's breaking the core of the team apart

Now, Jason Taylor is a whole different story--and could possibly be had to save lots and lots of money

 

[nantucketguy]

The huge difference between the Moss situation and the Peppers situation was that Moss was coming off a few bad yrs, and had been 'given up on' by the Raiders. They claimed he lost a few steps, would drive Belichick nuts, and had fallen off. He took a small, 'prove it' deal to prove that he still could play, and would not pose any problems. The next yr he signed for 9 mill /per yr.

No one has 'given up' on Peppers, and he believes that he is one of the top defensive players in the league. It's not a question of whether we can make a deal with Peppers, it's how the hell do we pay him while he's here?
We, in the next yr, have to extend Wilfork for about 10 mill / yr--and that could even arguably be a 'friendly' team deal. Although by the looks and actions of his wife / agent, that may be harder than we think to do. We also have a problem with Seymour, who is in about the same position. He was the only defensive player who we broke the bank for, several yrs ago. When you couple these players with Jarvis Green, and the probable loss of Mike Wright, we now have ONE of our TOP 5 DL'S signed--Ty Warren.

Also we have the problem(s) of Gostkowski, Mankins, Neal, Hobbs, and are leaving out the fact that the appropriate thing to do after our next big deal, (probably,hopefully, Wilfork) would be to sign our 'franchise' player and leader of the team who is arguably underpaid--that being Brady who is due the next yr. When you also have 4 day one draft picks this yr to sign--How in the hell do you propose we break the bank, and give an unproven player,someone who has not even been a part of our team, an insane, 10-12 (at the least) million per yr deal? All the while, we don't even know if he's gonna be able to pick up the system--or work out as a OLB conversion project?

I for one, would rather keep our team core--instead of putting it on a gamble, a whim, or a wish. Regardless of talent. I know Peppers has talent, I would love to have him in a Pats uni--but how is this possible? He could come in and have 4 or 5 sacks, and all their work building a 'team' would be flushed right down the toilet. So, while I appreciate your hunger for the perfect fantasy player, a la Peppers--I respectfully dis-agree with whatever plan you may have to sign him. Sending draft picks isn't the problem, everyone knows that, it's breaking the core of the team apart

Now, Jason Taylor is a whole different story--and could possibly be had to save lots and lots of money

I agree 100%. Thank you for rational thought. IF we get Taylor, it would have to be for under his market/ his last stride for a championship before he tries his movie career....money. Peppers is looking for the big contract or to at least get paid his 15M he's owed right now! We couldn't trade for him right now even if it was for a 7th rounder.

STOP THE PEPPERS TALK. It can't happen. I wish it could....

 

[amazinPats]

Yes, Taylor over Peppers is such a Patriots type of move!

 

[NE39]

Backup, Mike Wright has already left.

They could still bring Wright back. He visited Arizona about a week ago, but he hasn't signed anywhere yet.

Karen Guregian had this note this morning:

Unrestricted free agent defensive lineman Mike Wright is still weighing his options, trying to decide between the Pats and a couple of other suitors. He’s in active discussions with the Pats, according to a source close to the player.

 

[brdmaverick]

In turn meaning we traded Matt Cassel, Mike Vrabel and Jarvis Green all for Julius Peppers.

yes, it doesn't look so good when phrased that way

 

[LoganMankinsPancakeBlocks]

yes, it doesn't look so good when phrased that way

Well, those 3 would eat up far more cap space than Peppers. It would actually be something more like Cassel+Green+Vrabel for Peppers+Bodden+Springs (these 3 would still be cheaper as well), because the Cassel/Vrabel deal was clearly made early in order to allow the Patriots to be active in free agency.

The $18M in cap space from the Cassel/Vrabel deal was a huge part of the deal and the reason the Patriots were willing to take less than stellar value right away instead of waiting, seeing if they could get more and watching some quality FA's sign elsewhere because we can't afford them due to someone who wasn't going to be on our roster in the end.

 

[NE39]

The Globe today also says Wright could return:

Mike Wright is probably the Patriots' most noteworthy remaining free agent. Wright, who had a career-high 2 1/2 sacks last season and was credited with 33 tackles, according to coaches' calculations, could end up returning to the Patriots. A league source said Wright, who has visited with Arizona and been contacted by other teams, is in discussions with the Patriots.

 

[amazinPats]

The Globe today also says Wright could return:

Could it be possible that Wright's status has become that much more important since we have to do something with Jarvis Green? Either he gets extended or he gets dumped. Wright becomes that more important to the team.