If Hightower walks what is the best option?

[Huckleberry1]

Yep, Hightower made huge plays to win both those rings.

I usually support Belichick decisions on player personnel because he definitely knows what he's doing and he has a million times more information than I do. I will be pissed however if after Kraft told the world they needed to keep money aside to re-sign their top yong players they end up with all three on other teams. I realize the market was warped by last years free agency but at some point you have to pay your top players their market value.

 

[Love The Drake]

You got to pay the man.
If not who in the world would you trade for or bring in?
I like the Bills LBS that are free agents.

 

[JarOfMayo51]

i really, really, really like Hightower. but paying him 13-15M per year to play LB, a position that BB has done a great job finding cheap guys who fit into the thumper role and pass defending role, i dont think is a great decision. LB really isnt a prime position in this day and age of the NFL. you need pass rushers and pass defenders. its kind of like the RB of defense.

i thought about it, and maybe, can justify it if we use him more in the pass rushing role he seems to do well with. also, there is value in his leadership. i never realized how big of a leaeder he was until watching the sound Fx and super bowl stuff on NFL NEtwork.

diminishing his value, i think is his propensity to get injured. missing many games over the past several seasons, i would imagine the likelihood of injury only increases as he ages.

unless he thinks of Hightower in the same way he considered McCourty, i think BB lets him walk, unfortunately.

At the heart of every good defense is a good middle linebacker. It's a pretty important position because they need to be the QB of the defense and make sure everyone is aligned correctly.. they call the audibles as well and need to have a well rounded skillset to be able to play all 3 downs and the intelligence/instincts to be in the right place at the right time

Losing Hightower would hurt a lot... this will be an entirely different defense next year, we'll be practically starting from scratch... so having a captain like HT around would be huge in getting any new faces up to speed in this defense

Turnover on D:
Hightower (potentially)
Chandler Jones
Jamie Collins
Logan Ryan (potentially)
Duron Harmon
Chris Long
Jabaal Sheard
Alan Branch (potentially)


Who else am I missing? That is a huge exodus of talent... granted, we'll probably keep 1 or 2 of these guys (my guess is Branch), but damn... that is a lot of continuity walking out the door

 

[reflexblue]

I can understand how the pats may be reluctant to pay Hightower $15 mil a year, its not for lack of talent its that every year he needs off season surgery. This year its shoulder surgery (again) plus something on a knee. Imo the question for the organization is how long he can last. Are they going to get paying a large chunk of money to someone that can't be reliable?

 

[convertedpatsfan]

I think the board will totally implode once they realize the eventual replacement will be McClellin...

This was an interesting read for those who just threw up in their mouths a little:

Explaining how and why the Patriots are rotating linebackers

 

[slash83]

Adam Seward.

 

[luuked]

I can understand how the pats may be reluctant to pay Hightower $15 mil a year, its not for lack of talent its that every year he needs off season surgery. This year its shoulder surgery (again) plus something on a knee.

According to Curran Hightower doesn't need any surgery or other bigger medical treatment this offseason.

 

[varjao]

The alternative is to bring a fierce pass rush, draft a DE on day 1 or 2, maybe another one in later rounds, bring a veteran like Sheard who is not past 30 and will command top money, and unleash the Flowers.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

There is no plan B...to replace a guy like him in 1 year..is pretty much impossible. May take a few years

 

[Nunchucks]

Yep, losing Hightower is a huge blow to the defense.

 

[patriot1136]

Regardless we need to look to the draft. It seems the free agent class is weak.