If we don't tag Hightower... Will you get a bit nervous?

[zimmy]

Someone is going to offer Hightower $14m+ a year over 5 years on the open market. There is too much money flying about and not enough good players. Could Cleveland try and pair him with Collins again?

I want Hightower back a lot but not at any price. His injury history worries me. The top LBs get injured - look at Pat Willis, Navarro Bowman, Mayo, Kuechly. It's a hard position to stay healthy at.

I would offer the Collins deal plus a couple more on top as a sweetener. 4 years $52m. He's going to smash that offer though.

 

[supafly]

there is no hiding the fact that the Pats r $60 million under the. cap. I for one will be real curious as to how that money is spent.

Decisions still need to be made on Waddle and Amendola, so that should increase it even more. I think some estimates had it in the high 60s.

I'm of the idea that Belichick will be eventually leaving the team in very good position with both cap space and draft resources, and that he'll carry at least 25m over into next year, as he probably should.

On the one hand, we have some holes to fill and key guys to retain. On the other hand, there's more than enough draft resources (potentially even more with Garoppolo) and cap space to address those needs, while still having the luxury to push resources into the future.

 

[supafly]

Exactly. We know they'll spend the money.... But if it's not Chandler Jones, or Collins, or Hightower, I'm extremely curious to find out who it is. Hopefully it winds up better than 2005 and more like 2015.

Funny that you bring that up, because losing Hightower could potentially result in a repeat of the 2005 LB crew. I couldn't imagine a scenario where they wouldn't tag him, though. That would give them two cracks at the draft/free agency period to try and replace him.

As far as definitely knowing that they'll spend approx. 65m dollars this offseason? Really? I'm not as sure about that. This team has what, 9-10 draft picks right now, pre-Garoppolo trade, and boatloads of money. I realize that we need to keep some key guys, but I definitely think they'll carry a nice chunk into next year. Gotta keep those options open down the road, as well.

 

[luuked]

I still wanna know how the chiefs are signing two of their biggest players with 5 million in cap space.

You are aware that there is almost infinite flexibility with restructures of other players and backloading contracts. Either way overextending for both will hurt their depth for 1-2 years or cost them other FAs-to-be in the next two seasons.

 

[luuked]

I definitely want him back but I dont think the tag is a good idea. If you tag him at about 15M then that gives him leverage. If your trying to pay him say 12-13M/year and you tag him for 15M then he can just play out the year for 15M and cash in next year for probably even more. Tag to me only makes sense when you are planning to pay him more than the tag or you are desperate and really need to retain the player. I dont think belichick is going to pay him 15+M/year and I dont think he is desperate.

Or you know, you want him to avoid hitting FA while you keep negotiating until July. They lost all leverage when they didn't extend him last summer and then let Collins go. They will still use Brady's number as usual as a negotiation strategy ("can't have a higher cap hit than Brady") but apart from that Hightower bet on himself playing a good season and avoiding major injury and he did.

I think we are looking at the same situation as DMac after the previous SB win.

 

[PatriotsPimp136]

Or you know, you want him to avoid hitting FA while you keep negotiating until July. They lost all leverage when they didn't extend him last summer and then let Collins go. They will still use Brady's number as usual as a negotiation strategy ("can't have a higher cap hit than Brady") but apart from that Hightower bet on himself playing a good season and avoiding major injury and he did.

I think we are looking at the same situation as DMac after the previous SB win.

You really think so? Are you expecting the same final result? I am trying to think which team's out there are needy when it comes to linebackers.

 

[luuked]

I would offer the Collins deal plus a couple more on top as a sweetener. 4 years $52m. He's going to smash that offer though.

What you want to do is offer him a reasonable 3 year contract so he can hit free agency again before he reaches the magic age of 30. This also limits your exposure a bit in terms of injury concerns over guaranteed money.

3 years 38-40m with 20-22 guaranteed and a ****ton of incentives.

 

[PatriotsPimp136]

Funny that you bring that up, because losing Hightower could potentially result in a repeat of the 2005 LB crew. I couldn't imagine a scenario where they wouldn't tag him, though. That would give them two cracks at the draft/free agency period to try and replace him.

As far as definitely knowing that they'll spend approx. 65m dollars this offseason? Really? I'm not as sure about that. This team has what, 9-10 draft picks right now, pre-Garoppolo trade, and boatloads of money. I realize that we need to keep some key guys, but I definitely think they'll carry a nice chunk into next year. Gotta keep those options open down the road, as well.

I don't wanna see the defense take a step back. Ryan and hightower where key guys in that defense. We will see what happens. At this point it look's like they will gamble and let hightower test free agency.

 

[luuked]

You really think so? Are you expecting the same final result? I am trying to think which team's out there are needy when it comes to linebackers.

I am just looking at the entire situation rationally and I just don't see what the alternative to franchising him is.

Even if we get a draft pick haul via Jimmy G and draft a blue chip LB that player won't be able to replace Hightower for about 2 years. It takes drafted LB often around 2-3 years to be proficient in coverage even when drafted very early. So the only other alternative I is FA where you'd have to overpay to get someone around Hightower's level anyway.

I just don't see KVN suddenly emerging so what really is the alternative here ? Given the cap space we have there is enough flexibility to absorb that one time franchise tag and give the coaching staff another year to work Hightower and groom a potential replacement. I don't care that much about the narratives that the Pats don't pay people because that is not true for marquee players.

 

[luuked]

I don't wanna see the defense take a step back. Ryan and hightower where key guys in that defense. We will see what happens. At this point it look's like they will gamble and let hightower test free agency.

I would love to get Ryan back but given the amount of money that's swirling around and the lack of superstar FAs this year I have a feeling someone will go into insane territory (11m+) to grab him.

 

[slash83]

Will the team really lose Jones, Collins and HT? Never any of us thought losing all three was a real possibility. Im not saying he's gone but there is a chance the SB was his last game. Crazy

 

[captain insano]

i think hes gone. but they always seem to be fine no matter who leaves.

 

[luuked]

Will the team really lose Jones, Collins and HT? Never any of us thought losing all three was a real possibility. Im not saying he's gone but there is a chance the SB was his last game. Crazy

Jones wasn't going to be resigned, Collins pouted his way out of a championship team and HT will be about how much injury insurance they can built into an acceptable contract for him. Three players, three completely different reasons.. am mostly disappointed that Collins didn't have the mental toughness and drive in him to stay here.

 

[slash83]

Jones wasn't going to be resigned, Collins pouted his way out of a championship team and HT will be about how much injury insurance they can built into an acceptable contract for him. Three players, three completely different reasons.. am mostly disappointed that Collins didn't have the mental toughness and drive in him to stay here.

Yup, just saying nobody though losing all 3 was a realistic possibility.

 

[luuked]

Yup, just saying nobody though losing all 3 was a realistic possibility.

Not disagreeing. Hightower's contract conflict and Jones not being paid was somewhat easy to see. Collins really hurts..

 

[slash83]

Not disagreeing. Hightower's contract conflict and Jones not being paid was somewhat easy to see. Collins really hurts..

So if they don't use the tag by Wednesday that makes him a FA unless a contract is reached before the start of free agency right?

 

[luuked]

So if they don't use the tag by Wednesday that makes him a FA unless a contract is reached before the start of free agency right?

That's my understanding..

 

[Hercules Rockefeller]

Foles and Charles are not even making that. Are the chiefs one of those team's that get away with breaking the rules

Kansas City Chiefs Multi-Year Cap Hits

They are making that. And there's at least a couple of guys who could restructure or get cut, including Derrick Johnson coming off of his second Achilles injury in 3 years and a 5 million dollar punter.

The Chiefs aren't cheating the cap, and as long as Andy Reid and Alex Smith are there the Chiefs will be the cutest little playoff team that nobody has to worry about. Now deep breaths, all is well.

 

[thecore762]

DH is the heart of our front 7, without him our front 7 game will be diminished by a great deal, he is just very good against the run and when he blitzes he gets to the QB in a hurry. He is big, he is strong, he can put your stud guard on his ass within a second....there aren't many linebackers In the league that can do that besides Mack.

LB is a hard position, you need a stud in there, I just don't trust any of our other linebackers to be able to fill in that role if Hightower leaves.

Anyways we need to invest a pick in a linebacker this draft.

 

[convertedpatsfan]

Foles and Charles are not even making that. Are the chiefs one of those team's that get away with breaking the rules

It has nothing to do with whether they are making it or not. It's about how their contracts were structured. They each have contracts that go into 2017, and neither have any real guaranteed money. They both have bonuses which can become guaranteed at some point, but as of now, can be cut for no cap penalty.

So both are on the books for 2017 for large amounts, and both can be cut without any cap hit. That's why NFL players fight so hard for more guaranteed money in their contracts.