Interesting offseason cuts around the league thread

[PatsWickedPissah]

Good news. The more FAs the higher chance that teams with similar needs to us leave us someone we can sign.

 

[BritPat]

I'm never one to post "ZOMG, sIgN dA B345T".....

But Freeney would be nice for a year or two....

 

[Brady6]

...and Mark Anderson too.

I would bring Anderson back for short coin..

 

[Brady6]

A speculative list of defensive backs that may be cut/cap casualties:

Nnamdi Asomugha
Champ Bailey
Antoine Bethea
Ryan Clark
Chris Gamble
DeAngelo Hall
Roman Harper
Richard Marshall
Dunta Robinson
Assante Samuel
Ike Taylor
Corey Webster
Donte Whitner
Antoine Winfield
Adrian Wilson

That's a lot of DB's

 

[BritPat]

Austin Collie also released - the dude needs to retire straight away.

 

[Deus Irae]

Mary Paoletti ?@Mary_Paoletti
MT ?@ACwishtv BREAKING: I have been told Dwight Freeney has been informed the #Colts do not intend to re-sign him when free-agency begins


Not sure he fits the Patriots vision/style, but looks like Freeney will be available.

Edit: I know not technically a cut, but there was some thought Colts would keep him.

He's been in a pretty consistent decline since the 2009 season. Maybe he'd rebound if he was just played situationally with a new team, but his sack totals have fallen from 13.5 to 10 to 8.5 to 5 in that four year period, and his tackle numbers were 19,21,13,10. His forced fumble numbers are way down, as well.

 

[Uncle Rico]

That's a lot of DB's

Yet if in some alternate universe the Pats signed them all they'd still eventually wind up having to put Edelman back there or something because of injuries. Just the way it goes with this team.

 

[patsinthesnow]

BB definitely is signing one of these old vets, the question is which one?

George Wilson
Ed Reed
Charles Woodson
Dwight Freeney

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

BB definitely is signing one of these old vets, the question is which one?

George Wilson YES
Ed Reed No, only because of $$$
Charles Woodson No, only because of $$
Dwight Freeney

Freeney is too much of a role player for the $. And I'm not sure how much speed & quickness he has left.

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

Part of Freeney's non-production last year was the switch to a 3-4.

He is no OLB.

He's STRICTLY a 4-3 DE, which is OK for a vet minimum situational pass rusher, as long as he's OK with being a low salaried part-timer.

One drawback is that he doesn't play well when he's hurt in the least, and at his age, getting hurt happens a lot.

 

[supafly]

He apparently has a much better offer from Ohio State on the table.

Not getting this one, Ivan. Unless you're suggesting that the only undefeated team in the country last year has a bright future ahead of them with Urban Meyer and the #2 recruiting class in the entire country?

 

[ForThoseAboutToRock]

Freeney is too much of a role player for the $. And I'm not sure how much speed & quickness he has left.

I think Freeney is the wrong shape for our DL.

Looking at all the guys who took snaps as DL this year, the average size is 6'3" and 283 pounds.

Obviously the DT's increase those numbers a bit, but Chandler Jones is a DE and is 77" 260 lb (and probably will be 270+ by the summer)


Freeney is 6'1" 268... an inch shorter than Rob Ninkovich and roughly the same weight.

Not saying no way, just saying I don't think he's likely to mesh well with the system, regardless of whether he's lost a step or wants to be paid according to his big name.

 

[supafly]

A speculative list of defensive backs that may be cut/cap casualties:

Nnamdi Asomugha
Champ Bailey
Antoine Bethea
Ryan Clark
Chris Gamble
DeAngelo Hall
Roman Harper
Richard Marshall
Dunta Robinson
Assante Samuel
Ike Taylor
Corey Webster
Donte Whitner
Antoine Winfield
Adrian Wilson

Added to the free agent list of CBs already, which include:

Brent Grimes
Sean Smith
Derek Cox
Chris Houston
Dominique Rogers-Cromartie
Charles Woodson
Cary Williams
Sheldon Brown
Chris Owens
Adam Jones
Keenan Lewis
Tracy Porter
Greg Toler
EJ Biggers
Darius Butler
Bradley Fletcher
DJ Moore
Kyle Arrington
Leodis McKelvin



And where exactly is Talib going to get "5/50" again???

 

[Ring 6]

I think Freeney is the wrong shape for our DL.

Looking at all the guys who took snaps as DL this year, the average size is 6'3" and 283 pounds.

Obviously the DT's increase those numbers a bit, but Chandler Jones is a DE and is 77" 260 lb (and probably will be 270+ by the summer)


Freeney is 6'1" 268... an inch shorter than Rob Ninkovich and roughly the same weight.

Not saying no way, just saying I don't think he's likely to mesh well with the system, regardless of whether he's lost a step or wants to be paid according to his big name.

IF he is healthy
IF he would accept a role playing about 30 snaps a game in nickel/dime
IF he would take a cap friendly deal

He could be a great acquisition.
No, he doesnt fit the base, but as a sub package pass rusher, he would dramatically improve what we do on 3rd down, but more importantly in those situations where teams are exclusively throwing (2minutes, coming from behind, etc).
That is more valuable in the big picture than a guy who plays ever snap at 80% of the positions on the field.

 

[upstater1]

I think Freeney is the wrong shape for our DL.

Looking at all the guys who took snaps as DL this year, the average size is 6'3" and 283 pounds.

Obviously the DT's increase those numbers a bit, but Chandler Jones is a DE and is 77" 260 lb (and probably will be 270+ by the summer)


Freeney is 6'1" 268... an inch shorter than Rob Ninkovich and roughly the same weight.

Not saying no way, just saying I don't think he's likely to mesh well with the system, regardless of whether he's lost a step or wants to be paid according to his big name.

Jermaine Cunningham. But with a history of production. People have knocked his height his whole career, but Freeney has used his shrimpness to his advantage. When he gets under you with leverage, look out.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

wonder if pats give freeney a look

 

[ForThoseAboutToRock]

IF he is healthy
IF he would accept a role playing about 30 snaps a game in nickel/dime
IF he would take a cap friendly deal

He could be a great acquisition.
No, he doesnt fit the base, but as a sub package pass rusher, he would dramatically improve what we do on 3rd down, but more importantly in those situations where teams are exclusively throwing (2minutes, coming from behind, etc).
That is more valuable in the big picture than a guy who plays ever snap at 80% of the positions on the field.

You make a good point on the sub package improvement. I assume you're furthering the direct comparison of Freeney to Ninkovich that I made?

Freeney in 2012: 12 tackles, 5 sacks, 1 FF.
Ninko in 2012: 32 tackles, 8 sacks, 5 FF (4 recoveries).

I believe you're not a Ninko fan (off the top of my head recalling your post history - if I'm wrong, please don't take offense). But in my book Ninko provides more of what the defense needs than Freeney would, and I'd bet that Ninko will cost less than Freeney.

FWIW:
Here's what Bill Polian said about Freeney in his free agency preview:

As you'd imagine I'm rather familiar with him. I see Freeney as a fit in a Wide-9 scheme or as a 4-3 DE. I believe he still has a lot of talent, but age is definitely a concern.

He also ranked Freeney an "A" FA, indicating "Worth paying big, starter-caliber money."

When I hear Wide-9, I don't think Patriots. 4-3 does sound like sub package pass rushing though. If Freeney truly is "A" quality material, then obviously he won't be looking to come aboard the Patriots for lowish money and a reduced role - obviously Polian's bias is heavy in this case, and what will count is the money put on the table by interested teams.

It would be pretty cool to see him teach a few spins to Chandler Jones

 

[ForThoseAboutToRock]

Jermaine Cunningham. But with a history of production. People have knocked his height his whole career, but Freeney has used his shrimpness to his advantage. When he gets under you with leverage, look out.

Interesting point about Freeney using the height to his advantage. Makes me think of Dumervil.

Cunningham does have the flexibility to play DT in a sub. Freeney's a superior player, I'll totally agree with that. I just don't think the money, years, role and system will match up in this case.

 

[Ring 6]

You make a good point on the sub package improvement. I assume you're furthering the direct comparison of Freeney to Ninkovich that I made?

Freeney in 2012: 12 tackles, 5 sacks, 1 FF.
Ninko in 2012: 32 tackles, 8 sacks, 5 FF (4 recoveries).

I believe you're not a Ninko fan (off the top of my head recalling your post history - if I'm wrong, please don't take offense). But in my book Ninko provides more of what the defense needs than Freeney would, and I'd bet that Ninko will cost less than Freeney.

FWIW:
Here's what Bill Polian said about Freeney in his free agency preview:

He also ranked Freeney an "A" FA, indicating "Worth paying big, starter-caliber money."

When I hear Wide-9, I don't think Patriots. 4-3 does sound like sub package pass rushing though. If Freeney truly is "A" quality material, then obviously he won't be looking to come aboard the Patriots for lowish money and a reduced role - obviously Polian's bias is heavy in this case, and what will count is the money put on the table by interested teams.

It would be pretty cool to see him teach a few spins to Chandler Jones

Are you really trying to compare Ninkovich as a pass rusher to Freeney? Really? Stats are a terrible way to evaluate a pass rusher, but even then your argument is that Ninkovichs best season ever compared to Freeneys worst season ever, caused by injuries and playing out of position is a terrible argument anyway.
Teams facing us expect to handle Ninkovich as a JAG with no extra attention, and he still gets next to no pressure. If you have watched the Colts play, you would know Freeneys impact is much more than that,
I'm not a huge fan of Freeney as an every down player, but his impact as a pass rusher playing half the time would be tremendous.
Perhaps he will get a huge contract. But at this stage of his career, he may realize that 50% of the snaps will probably make him more productive, and his career will last longer.
If he is getting 10 mill a year, I wouldn't want him.

 

[tonyto3690]

The only way Freeney could play for our defense is on 3rd or 4th down with 6 or more yards to go. He would be a benefit more to other team on any other down except "we have to pass here" downs, and even then if I were an opposing team, I would just run a draw at him every single 3rd and long until he proves he can stop it twice in a row.

On top of that, some team is going to want to make a splash and bring him in for starters money and starters role and price the Patriots out of a historically overrated player who is over the hill, completely shot, dead in the water.

Maybe if he could play special teams, he'd be worth it on a minimum contract. But you don't pay a guy 2-3 million (and that's being extremely generous) to play 3 or 4 downs a game.