Hightower will not be given the tag, now a free agent

[patsfan13]

BB has paid MArket rates for top of their positions players coming off their rookie contracts.

HE will in this case also. IF HT is giving the PAts right of first refusal to match an offer he gets on the market. If he signs a contract with the PAts it will be his last here since he would be 31-32 when the contract is up.

If he leaves good luck to him I NEVER have a problem with a player cashing in.

 

[PrairiePat]

I think he's gone. We will be OK, but it hurts to lose a quality guy like that.

 

[WhoaDirty]

Or more since von miller got 19 a year with 70 guaranteed in the first 3.

I predict 5 years 80 mill 40 guaranteed

I think Hightower is an awesome LB, but he has a few cons - not fantastic in coverage, misses some games. I think you are a little crazy if you think a team is going to give him a deal that is $1 million a year more than what the franchise tag is.

 

[Ring 6]

I didn't say the open market would deduct, but teams are stupid and over pay 1 guy and kill themselves. If you invest 14m a year in 1 guy and he goes on IR, it s a huge risk.

You think HT is better than Von Miller? Von Miller almost single handedly won a Super Bowl for the Broncos. Miller always makes key plays in crucial situation. All the time. Like every game.

Hightower is not the pass rusher Miller is.

Yes Hightower is a better football player than von miller.
Hightower would be just as good a pass rusher if that was all he did.
That's another reason he is better. BB finds more value in him than just making him a pass rusher.
When he is in that role he has been every bit as effective as miller. Go to the tape and you will see.

 

[Ring 6]

I think Hightower is an awesome LB, but he has a few cons - not fantastic in coverage, misses some games. I think you are a little crazy if you think a team is going to give him a deal that is $1 million a year more than what the franchise tag is.

Miller got 19 mill a year.
Why would a team not give a top player more than the average of the top 5? Free agents get paid more than the top 5 all the time.
Teams don't have tagging him as an option

 

[mosslost]

Not a free agent yet. But they may have a deal where Hightower will go back to the Patriots and give them a chance to match any offer.

I think BB is letting him go.

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

I get it, but at the same time, I think he's going to be offered a lot more elsewhere. It's silly money out there right now and teams are handing out cash like candy. I hope he stays, but I fear he might be gone now. IMO he's extremely important to the defense. He makes plays when you need them most. I hope he resigns, but I'm nervous.

 

[mosslost]

Bye bye.

He's gone. They just seem too far apart. Frankly I am not sure he wants to be here and sure as hell don't get the feeling he will take a discount to stay.

It does not appear to me that Belichick believes in over 10Mill cap hits except in very rare cases. And honestly, I think he looks at that figure, and actually licks his chops at using it for multiple plaayers and depth. Everybody, a little while ago, was talking about how are we going to keep Collins, HIghtower, and Jones. We won 2 Super Bowls with them all on their rookie deals. Belichick may simply just try to get some more stars on rookie deals once more and build depth with the Delta. And coach the talent all up.

 

[mosslost]

according to what

BB does not have players over 10 mil cap hit. He would rather have three excellent rookies again on rookie contracts.. Like Collins, Jones, and Hightower. If you think about it man.. he got a lot out of those players on their rookie deals. Would you rather have Hightower, or FOUR players in their skill range and younger. Yeah it would take a few year years with staggerred number 1 round draft picks. The thing is we need to keep winning the rest of Brady's career.

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

I didn't see this coming a year or so ago. Disappointed. But we've seen this before and we've seen the Patriots be fine when they lose big names. They just keep plugging along.

 

[mosslost]

Don't like this one bit. I get that you can't pay everyone but don't think it should mean you don't pay anyone. They supposedly had a big three and now none of them will get a second deal.

I was hoping Hightower would be one of the anchors of the new "dynasty". I don't like this either, but I do think he is gone partly because BB does not believe in having that much of the cap tied up in one player. The thing I don't get though is he gave McCourty a big deal with a cap hit over 10mil. I agreed with that too. I thought Hightower would be the other one.

 

[Love The Drake]

Premier safetys are more important in todays NFL then Inside backers

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

 

[mosslost]

He will be carpetbombed with $$$ if he reaches FA. Teams like the Browns & Colts could afford to pay him 14-15M a year.

if all he wants is money he will go to a loser. Also, by now, if people are watching Belichick let a player walk, they have to wonder..... why?

 

[slash83]

Aaaaannndd he's gone.

 

[ViperGTS]

I said that they absolutely had to sign all 3 in Jones, Collins and HT... then they traded Jones and I got over it.. then proclaimed it would be the most epic blunder of Belichick's career to let either of them get way.. then he traded Collins lol...

Now HT is hitting free agency haha... so what the **** do I know about anything? Not a whole lot lol

Win some lose some.

 

[mike_usagisan]

McCourty says hello.

 

[mosslost]

I get it, but at the same time, I think he's going to be offered a lot more elsewhere. It's silly money out there right now and teams are handing out cash like candy. I hope he stays, but I fear he might be gone now. IMO he's extremely important to the defense. He makes plays when you need them most. I hope he resigns, but I'm nervous.

I don't fear him leaving for one reason.. Belichick does not fear him leaving and he knows what is happening out there. He will draft or find three replacements for the same cost.

 

[mosslost]

Yup. Somewhat funny in a way. All the people here who shouted down those like me who said not so fast on them signing Jones, Collins etc last season are being proven right.

How's that looking now? Where I will state I have zero idea of what happens next is....who the hell do they spend their 65ish million in cap space on?

I'm not quite sure what you are saying here. You are suggesting they made some kind of mistake. If BB wanted to.. he could have franchized High. He freaking traded Jones and Collins... So I don't quite get what you are saying. He did not value them at the numbers they want. With BB if he finds three good LBs for the price of Hightower, he would do that.

 

[Ring 6]

Premier safetys are more important in todays NFL then Inside backers

Disagree and if you think Hightower is only an ilb you should watch him play.