Hightower not willing to take a pay cut

[Betterthanmost]

Cap increased, why will this thought even cross our mind? He is a soul of that D. When you need a big play in a big game, High always delivered.

 

[Simpelton]

Hightower is a big part of the defense that pulled a miracle out of nowhere in the Superbowl -- but at the same time, he's been part of 3 Superbowls, he's getting older, and if he won't take a cut it's probably time for #NextManUp.

I'm not saying we won't feel some pain for that, but what I am saying is that sometimes this needs to happen in a cap league. Guys get older, guys get expensive, and it's time to go. See ya in Canton, High.

 

[maust]

HT cap hit in 2019 is 11 mil.

That $11M wouldn't be reflected by the cap, due to $5M in dead cap costs from cutting him he net cap return would be $5.95M, certainly not cost effective. If anything there may be a restructure.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Every time I see Leighton Vander Esch I get a headache I feel like he should have been a Patriot. Guy had can't miss written all over him.

FWIW, let's just say Vander Esch did fall to the Patriots. Then we'd likely be facing the scenario of having to figure out what to do with Trent Brown without having a potential replacement in the wings, or we wouldn't have Sony Michel.

 

[fnordcircle]

Cut him and eat $5m or keep him and pay $11m, right?

So who are you going to get who is as good as Hightower for $6m?

 

[maust]

He got abused in pass coverage vs KC.

Not hardly

 

[Simpelton]

He is officially on a trade watch until the last cutdown day.

Possibly. The defense does need to get younger

Same with DMC

What the McCourtys do is way way more important than any one linebacker, even a great one like High. If there's one area that Bill will retain his strength for it's the secondary, and especially the safety position. It's the one area where you do NOT scrimp if you don't like getting torched any half decent speed burning wideout or quick shifty running back, you keep that position as strong as you can for as long as you can.

There's a reason that 2 Ravens teams with not much else going for them won the Superbowl with Ed Reed playing safety. The physical defense helped, but physical defenses have been crushed in the Superbowl before, having that great Safety play to restrict the quarterback's freedom made the difference in both Superbowls, and we saw what our safeties managed in this Superbowl as well, in effectively wiping Jared Goff out of the game.

It's THE most underrated position in football, other than possibly left tackle (covering RH quarterbacks' blind side).And DMac is easily among the best safeties currently playing and probably has been since the day Reed retired. If he's playing at all, he's a Patriot. Anything else would be disrespectful.

 

[signbabybrady]

He doesn't even really have that high of a cap hit. When Flowers walks we are going to rely on him on the edge even more and can't afford to lose him and that dollar amount is not that bad for edge players.

 

[PP2]

BB, IIRC, has a list of things in order of importance that has to be dealt with, and whatever happens with #1 affects what options are then available for #2, and so and on and forth, down the list.

I believe that for BB, linebackers are valued more than DL players which are a little easier to replace, draft or FA-wise. With HT, despite the games he has missed, it's not just what he physically brings, but also his instincts, his ability to diagnose in real time, during games and his ability to then direct the defense.

Now, having said this, I am now bracing myself to be shocked by his imminent trade or cut.

 

[PatsFan2]

FWIW, let's just say Vander Esch did fall to the Patriots. Then we'd likely be facing the scenario of having to figure out what to do with Trent Brown without having a potential replacement in the wings, or we wouldn't have Sony Michel.

But it's proven RB's aren't hard to find but Good/Great LB's are if you ask me who would I prefer?? Vander Esch in a landslide.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Possibly. The defense does need to get younger





What the McCourtys do is way way more important than any one linebacker, even a great one like High. If there's one area that Bill will retain his strength for it's the secondary, and especially the safety position. It's the one area where you do NOT scrimp if you don't like getting torched any half decent speed burning wideout or quick shifty running back, you keep that position as strong as you can for as long as you can.

There's a reason that 2 Ravens teams with not much else going for them won the Superbowl with Ed Reed playing safety. The physical defense helped, but physical defenses have been crushed in the Superbowl before, having that great Safety play to restrict the quarterback's freedom made the difference in both Superbowls, and we saw what our safeties managed in this Superbowl as well, in effectively wiping Jared Goff out of the game.

It's THE most underrated position in football, other than possibly left tackle (covering RH quarterbacks' blind side).And DMac is easily among the best safeties currently playing and probably has been since the day Reed retired. If he's playing at all, he's a Patriot. Anything else would be disrespectful.

Money is money. Cap is cap. High and DMC are awesome but if they want/need them to take a cut or redo their deals, the team has shown the door to plenty of older players making big cash.

See Mankins. The list goes on.

 

[SBLIII]

He doesn't even really have that high of a cap hit. When Flowers walks we are going to rely on him on the edge even more and can't afford to lose him and that dollar amount is not that bad for edge players.

Definitely an interesting thought and something I would agree with. As a pure pass rusher he could be pretty damn good.

 

[Simpelton]

He doesn't even really have that high of a cap hit. When Flowers walks we are going to rely on him on the edge even more and can't afford to lose him and that dollar amount is not that bad for edge players.

Money is money. Cap is cap. High and DMC are awesome but if they want/need them to take a cut or redo their deals, the team has shown the door to plenty of older players making big cash.

See Mankins. The list goes on.

I guess I see a difference here. Hightower is useful but not elite. Devin McCourty is an elite safety and has a far higher impact on the team, as well as being a team leader. If Hightower holds out for more money it's going to be a lot easier to part with him compared to McCourty -- if you properly value what McCourty does, he's probably more valuable than Edelman.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

But it's proven RB's aren't hard to find but Good/Great LB's are if you ask me who would I prefer?? Vander Esch in a landslide.

OTOH, that raises the question: do the Pats make it through this playoffs and win this Super Bowl without Michel?

 

[SBLIII]

OTOH, that raises the question: do the Pats make it through this playoffs and win this Super Bowl without Michel?

Not a chance.

 

[JayNM]

Here's some related thoughts:

Yes, while historically BB has always made sure we stay "cap healthy" for the future, he certainly never had a 42 year old QB. If there was a ever a time to prioritize stability over flexibility, this is it.

I don't kow how I feel though... Makes sense for HT to do that... Is it too much to ask for him? Maybe not man... I feel like he could be a good LB-pass rusher for some 3 DL based teams and they make bank... tbh, i'm not completely he is no fairly priced...

 

[HailHydra]

I doubt that he'd be cut since we virtually only get 50% of the cap hit back - we are rarely a team that absorbs that much cap hit. HOWEVER, Hightower could easily be on the trade market. The DE market is getting thinner with each tag/re-sign and Hightower on a lower cap hit than all the 15+ mill deals could be appealing to some teams. Remember, with so many teams above 30 mill in cap space, there could easily be a buyer.

3rd round pick for Hightower?

 

[farn]

That's his biggest Weakness he is better suited as a d end type of player.

This. His leadership is important, but his knack for huge plays in Superbowls is worth every penny. He isn’t perfect, but he’s been possibly the best BB pick since 2012.

I have high hopes for Bentley. If he and KVN are good to go, I’d love to see more Dont’a at DE...

 

[Hammer of Thor]

In the playoffs he allowed 3 catches on 6 targets for 11 yards.

“That is a *kind* of abuse....”

 

[supafly]

See ya in Canton, High.

Wait, what?