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Today In Patriots History March 9, 2006: Willie McGinest released

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Today in Patriots History
Willie McGinest released


March 9, 2006:
Patriots release 34-year old OLB/DE Willie McGinest


The 4th overall selection of the 1994 draft from USC, Willie played in 171 regular season games and 18 playoff games with the Patriots.
He was named to two Pro Bowls (1996 and 2003), and earned three super bowl rings.
To this day McGinest still holds the NFL postseason records for most sacks in his career (16), as well as in a single game (4½).

Willie was named to the NFL All-Rookie Team, and to the Patriots All-1990s Team, All-2000s Team, All-Dynasty Team, and was enshrined into the Patriots Hall of Fame in 2015.



Patriots cut ties with Willie Mac -- Patriots.com
The Boston Globe reported on Thursday that shortly after the NFL owners agreed to extend the collective bargaining agreement for six more years, the Patriots cut ties with 12-year veteran Willie McGinest.​

Parting ways with the longtime linebacker who has meant so much to the team's success over the years was a difficult move for the Patriots but not an unexpected one. McGinest's cap number for next season was just too high for the Patriots to invest in a player who's now 34-years old.​

McGinest has played in 171 games with 146 starts in the 12 seasons since the Patriots chose him with the fourth overall pick in the 1994 NFL Draft. He was selected to the Pro Bowl following the 1996 and 2003 seasons. McGinest ranks third on the Patriots all-time sacks list with 78 career sacks, trailing only Andre Tippett (100) and Julius Adams (79.5). McGinest's 78 sacks are tied for the most among active NFL linebackers.​

Additionally, McGinest is the NFL's all-time leader with 16 career playoff sacks and set the NFL's single-game postseason record with 4.5 sacks in a playoff victory against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Jan. 7, 2006. He has been a member of eight Patriots playoff teams and has appeared in a team-record 18 postseason games. McGinest finished the 2005 season second on the team with six sacks.​




The Patriots are hopeful they will be able to re-sign McGinest for less money but they will have a lot of competition for his services. With a lot of teams gravitating to the 3-4 defense, a player with McGinest's experience and versatility will be in high demand. It's already being reported that the Cowboys, Browns and Dolphins have expressed interest in the veteran.​

McGinest's career started off slowly because of injuries but he flourished once Bill Belichick came to New England. Under Belichick, the linebacker was one of the cornerstones of a defense that helped the Patriots win three Super Bowls in a four-year span.​

The Patriots aren't one of the teams having difficulties getting under the new salary cap number, which is projected to be $102 million in 2006. However, taking the hit of McGinest's contract at his age just wasn't cost feasible for the team.​



The New England Patriots released linebacker Willie McGinest in a salary cap move, ending a 12-year relationship with the NFL's all-time postseason sack leader.​

The release of the two-time Pro Bowler was announced Thursday, the day after the NFL owners voted 30-2 at their meeting in Grapevine, Texas, to extend the collective bargaining agreement with the players for six more years, resulting in a new salary cap figure of $102 million.​

The 34-year-old McGinest carried a salary cap figure of more than $7 million for next season.​




McGinest, who has been with New England his entire career, was the fourth pick of the 1994 draft out of Southern California. He played in four Super Bowls, including three Patriots victories. His 16 postseason sacks rank ahead of Bruce Smith (14½) and Reggie White (12).​

A two-time Pro Bowler, McGinest ranks third on the Patriots' all-time sack list with 78, just 1½ behind Julius Adams. Andre Tippett tops the list with 100 sacks.​

McGinest has played in 171 games, ninth on the Patriots' all-time list.​

Besides McGinest, kicker Adam Vinatieri, wide receivers David Givens and Troy Brown, tackle Tom Ashworth, receiver and punt returner Tim Dwight, tight end Christian Fauria, linebackers Don Davis and Matt Chatham and running back Heath Evans are free agents.​


The Patriots also announced the signing of defensive back Artrell Hawkins on Thursday.​




Willie Mcginest -Remain Raw- Mix
3:39 Highlight Video





March 9, 2006 -- Mike Reiss:
Some quick hits from McGinest’s career in New England:​

* 171 games played with 146 starts​

* Selected by the Patriots with the fourth overall pick of the 1994 draft​

* Ranks third on the team’s all-time sack list (78), trailing only Andre Tippett (100) and Julius Adams (79½)​

* His 78 sacks are tied for the most among active NFL linebackers​

* NFL’s all-time leader with 16 career playoff sacks​

* NFL’s single-game playoff record holder with a 4½-sack performance (vs. Jaguars, Jan. 7, 2006)​

* A member of eight playoff teams while appearing in a team record 18 playoff games​

* Has totaled 700 tackles (524 solo), four interceptions, 16 forced fumbles and scored four touchdowns (2 on INT returns; 2 on fumble recoveries)​




March 15, 2006 -- Mike Reiss:
Willie McGinest’s 12-year career with the Patriots — which included 78 regular-season sacks and an NFL-record 16 postseason sacks — is over. McGinest was signed by the Cleveland Browns on Wednesday, reuniting him with former Patriots defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel.​

McGinest’s contract, according to ESPN, is a three-year, $12 million package with $6 million in bonuses and guarantees. The structure of the deal is unknown.​

Cognizant that other clubs were interested in meeting with McGinest — and coupled with having lost out on free-agent target Kalimba Edwards — the Browns continued their aggressive free-agent approach by ensuring McGinest wouldn’t leave town without a contract.​

That aggressiveness, according to McGinest, was in contrast to the Patriots’ approach.​

In an interview with ESPN.com over the weekend, McGinest spoke about his situation in New England, saying: “Given what they did for me as a player and a person, I can’t be bitter, and I actually owe them a great deal, certainly. But at the end of the day, they’re the ones who put me out into free agency, right? I’ll never close the door [on going back to New England]. But since they cut me, they haven’t called at all to see how we might be able to [construct] a contract to bring me back, and I don’t see it happening. So it looks like they’re moving ahead without me. And I’m moving forward, too.”​


At the time, Belichick acknowledged that McGinest was at the point of his career when many have their roles decreased, and said McGinest did more than the team expected in 2005. “We thought he’d have a smaller role. Turns out he has a bigger role.”​

The Patriots still have Rosevelt Colvin and Mike Vrabel on the depth chart at outside linebacker, although Vrabel was switched to the inside linebacker spot during the 2005 season. Tully Banta-Cain is third on the depth chart.​







Patriots.com 20-Slide Photo Gallery:







 
Today in Patriots History
Pats decline to pick up option on Darrelle Revis
Devin McCourty re-signed to 5-year contract


March 9, 2015:
Patriots decline $20 million option on CB Darrelle Revis' contract


In a marriage of convenience, the Patriots and the mercenary both already got what they wanted: a 2014 super bowl championship.


March 9, 2015 -- Adam Schefter and Mike Reiss:
The New England Patriots will not pick up the $20 million option in Darrelle Revis' contract, making the star cornerback a free agent Tuesday, a source told ESPN.​

The Patriots are expected to continue speaking with Revis' representatives about a contract, while the New York Jets have planned to make a run at Revis should he hit the open market.​

When the Patriots signed Revis on March 17, 2014, the terms of the contract were two years for $32 million, although team president Jonathan Kraft later acknowledged that the 2015 season was a "placeholder."​

The "placeholder" was in reference to Revis having a mammoth $25 million salary-cap charge for 2015, which the team was unlikely to absorb, thus leading the sides back to the negotiating table, where Revis would either sign an extension or be released to become an unrestricted free agent.​

The arrangement worked for both sides, as the Patriots benefited from Revis returning to top form two seasons after tearing his ACL and playing for the under-market rate of $12 million for the 2014 season.​



Meanwhile, Revis re-established himself as arguably the game's top cornerback, raising his profile in going from a Tampa Bay team that ended up with the No. 1 pick in the 2015 draft to the Super Bowl-champion Patriots.​

Revis, who will turn 30 on July 14, started every game for the Patriots in 2014 and was a valuable chess piece who often matched up against opponents' top receivers in the team's predominantly man-coverage scheme. He finished with 14 passes defended in the regular season and had two interceptions, although the statistics don't fully reflect his value because the football wasn't often coming his way.​






Revis would have been due a $20 million payout for 2015, which would have included a $12.5 million roster bonus, had the Patriots picked up the option.​

A person with knowledge of the situation told USA TODAY Sports on Monday that the expectation for the better part of the year was that the Patriots would not exercise the option. The person did not want to be identified because they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.​



It's still not a given that Revis won't return to the Patriots after becoming a huge key to a Super Bowl title by providing lockdown pass coverage for an overhauled secondary. The Patriots, who kept safety Devin McCourty off the market with a five-year deal reportedly worth $47.5 million, have maintained since last year that they hoped to retain Revis for the long haul.​

But now New England will have to compete with any and every other interested NFL team – including their division-rival New York Jets – for Revis' services.​

Revis joined the Patriots last year on what was essentially a one-year, $12 million contract. The second year and option bonus was added to the pact to make it more manageable under the salary cap and theoretically provide a trigger toward a long-term contract.​



Revis would have counted $25 million against the salary cap in 2015 had the Patriots elected to exercise the roster bonus. New England will eat $5 million in “dead money’’ by declining the option, so it’s a net savings of $20 million.​

While the threat of losing Revis – especially to the rival Jets – surely made that option tempting, the $25 million cap hit would have been a hassle to fit under this year’s cap, and would have offered no security in keeping Revis in New England beyond 2015. It would have cost the Patriots $30 million against the cap to franchise Revis in 2016 and keep him off the market, per the league rule that franchised players receive the average of the top 5 cap hits at their position or 120 percent of their cap hit from the previous year, whichever is greater.​

One luxury that the Patriots have had in the Revis negotiations is exclusivity. Because Revis was still technically under contract with New England, other teams were not able (at least not legally) to talk with his representatives, a process that reportedly saw the price tag for keeping Devin McCourty increase.​

A couple of numbers to keep in mind: The cornerback record for guaranteed money is $47,368,114 between the Cardinals and Patrick Peterson. The most guaranteed money the Patriots have ever signed a player for is $48 million, awarded to Tom Brady in 2010. With the Jets expected to go all out to bring Revis back to New York, and the Chiefs lurking in the background, both of those records could soon be broken.​



Revis Island could be setting sail again.

Revis was a Pro Bowler and an All Pro after starting all 16 games for the Super Bowl champion Patriots in 2014.



One team who could make a splash by signing Revis is the New York Jets. While it's widely expected that Revis would accept less money to stay in New England, it's unknown how much money that could be.​

Another Patriots defensive back -- safety Devin McCourty -- says he's returning to New England for five more years.​

McCourty said that he's happy to stay with the Super Bowl champions, telling Patriots fans on Twitter on Monday: "Let's go win another Super Bowl...or 5."​

In a telephone call to Comcast SportsNet New England on Sunday night, McCourty said he wanted to come back to the team that picked him in the first round of the 2010 draft. A handful of other teams showed interest, including Tennessee, where his twin brother Jason plays.​


McCourty's agent, Andy Simms, confirmed to AP that his deal would pay $47.5 million over five years, with $28.5 million guaranteed.​



Feb 18, 2015 -- Doug Kyed
Losing Darrelle Revis would completely alter the New England Patriots’ defensive philosophy.​

That’s not hyperbole. There is no cornerback in free agency or the NFL draft like Revis, and if the Patriots can’t retain him, then they’ll need to start from scratch.​

The Patriots transformed from a Cover-2 zone coverage defense to press-man Cover-1 scheme when they traded for cornerback Aqib Talib midway through the 2012 season. They were unwilling to lock up Talib long term last offseason and lucked into Revis being cut by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. If they lose Revis now, there is no mystery third option, and the Patriots need that No. 1 lock-down cornerback to run their current defense.​

The Patriots can elect to keep Revis on his $20 million option, but they would need to overhaul the rest of their defense and make difficult choices with McCourty, defensive tackle Vince Wilfork and linebacker Jerod Mayo. The smarter option would be in signing the All-Pro to a longterm contract, but that might involve paying top dollar for Revis over a number of years with guaranteed money — something the Patriots typically are unwilling to do without some concessions from a 29-year-old player.​

If the Patriots decline Revis’ option and can’t reach an new deal, then they go back to the drawing board, and it places an even greater onus on re-signing McCourty, who adds indescribable value in the deep half of the field by himself in a Cover 1, or sharing it with the strong safety in a Cover 2.​

Losing Revis also could mean the end of the road for Browner, who has no guaranteed money remaining on his contract and excels in Cover 1 and Cover 3. Browner was very solid for the Patriots in their Super Bowl XLIX-winning season, but he’s not Revis, and he can’t carry a press-man defense.​

If Revis is back, then it’s logical to keep Browner, as well. They performed very well together in 2014 with McCourty in the deep half of the field, which shouldn’t change next season.​



Oct 31, 2014 - Excellent X'x & O's column by Matt Bowen below, with diagrams and GIFs:
Darrelle Revis Once Again Making Dominance Look Easy




Darrelle Revis highlights (2014 season)
1:27 highlight video produced by the NFL






.
 
Loved McGinest. He looked cooked going into 2001, but Bill found a way to preserve him.

Nobody was shocked when the Revis left the Pats as he warned us all this was getting his money after his year was up. He had a fine year, but he clearly lost a step and it was the right move to let him walk. Jets once again make a poor decision.
 
Today in Patriots History
More March 9 Trivia


March 9, 1989:
Pats sign veteran free agent K Greg Davis

Davis was originally a 9th round selection by the Bucs in 1987 from Citadel - ironically used with a pick that was part of the trade that resulted in the Pats acquiring LG Sean Farrell. Davis won the job out of training camp, but was erratic. He missed three extra points (13-16, 81%) and was 16-23 (69.6%) on field goal attempts - including 6-9 from the 30-39 yard line, and 5-9 from the 40-49.

Despite the setback, Davis lasted in the NFL for twelve seasons, mostly with the Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals (six years) and Atlanta Falcons (four).






March 9, 1998:
Don Lowery is hired as Vice President of Player Development and Community Affairs

Lowery remained in that post until 2002. He joined the organization in 1994 as Vice President of Public Relations and Community Affairs, so this was not a major job change for him. Prior to that he worked for several newspapers as a general assignment reporter before joining the Boston Globe in 1980 as a business reporter, specializing in financial and economic news, and at WHDH from 1982 to 1991 as Director of Public Affairs and Editorials. In 2004 Lowery began working for Nielsen, representing the company in front of a variety of governmental and regulatory bodies on relevant federal, state and local government issues - i.e., as a lobbyist. Nielsen promoted him to Senior Vice President, Government Affairs in 2014.





March 9, 2000:
Pats sign 28-year old veteran free agent Aaron Bailey

Bailey was a full time kick returner and backup WR with the Colts from 1994 to 1998. He averaged 22.9 yards on 153 returns with Indy, and 15.5 yards per catch on 67 receptions. His last NFL stop was with the Pats, who released him on August 14, 2000.


Aaron Bailey with the Colts on Nov 19, 1995​




March 9, 2010:
Patriots officially announce the re-signing of Vince Wilfork and Stephen Neal, confirming earlier news reports

Patriots re-sign Wilfork and Neal -- Patriots.com
The New England Patriots announced today that they have re-signed NT Vince Wilfork and unrestricted free agent G Stephen Neal. New England had utilized its 2010 franchise designation on Wilfork on Feb. 22.​

Neal, 6-2, 305 pounds, has been with New England since 2001. Since entering the starting lineup at right guard in 2004, Neal has been part of an offensive line that has helped the Patriots' offense finish in the top 10 in total offense five times: 2004 (7), 2005 (7), 2007 (1), 2008 (5) and 2009 (3). Neal started the final nine games of the 2008 season at right guard as part of an offensive line that was a part of the best rushing season for the Patriots in more than 20 years in terms of rushing yards, rushing touchdowns and average yards per carry. Neal contributed to a Patriots offense that set all-time NFL records with 589 points and 75 touchdowns in 2007. In 2004, Neal became a regular starter on an offensive line that paved the way for Corey Dillon to set the Patriots' single-season rushing record with 1,635 yards.​

Last season Neal was part of an offensive line that allowed just 18 sacks, the fewest by a Patriots squad since the NFL moved to a 16-game schedule in 1978. He was originally signed by the Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2001 out of Cal State-Bakersfield, where he was a championship wrestler. After being waived by the Patriots, he joined the Philadelphia practice squad. Neal was signed to the New England 53-man roster from the practice squad in December, 2001.​

With the Patriots signing nose tackle Vince Wilfork and cornerback Leigh Bodden to lucrative contracts, the deal inked by offensive guard Stephen Neal has flown under the radar a bit.​

That pact is for two years and totals $6.5 million. Between signing bonus and salary, it pays Neal about $4 million this season, with the remainder coming in 2011.​

This looks like a win-win for both sides.​


Neal was considering retirement after the playoff loss, but this is a nice final payday for him. He said that he doesn't envision playing once this contract expires.​

Meanwhile, the Patriots retain a starting guard who is still playing at a high level. When considering that Titans starting guard Eugene Amano recently signed a longer-term extension that averages around $5 million per season, it looks like good value for New England on a short-term deal.​




March 9, 2016:
The Patriots avoided making any splashy moves as free agency opened on Wednesday, opting instead to target a linebacker who profiles as a regular on their special teams.​

The team announced that they have signed former Saints linebacker Ramon Humber. Humber spent the last six years with the Saints and was a core member of their special teams units for much of his time in New Orleans. The Patriots credited him with 75 special teams tackles for his career in their release announcing the move.​

He has seen some time on defense as well with 13 starts over the last three seasons. He had 126 tackles, 2.5 sacks and three passes defensed over that span.​


The Patriots also announced that they have released linebacker Dane Fletcher. Fletcher returned to the team in 2015 after spending a year with the Buccaneers, but missed the entire season with a knee injury. Christopher Price of WEEI reports that Fletcher will retire.​

He was expected to play a leading role on special teams for the Patriots before getting hurt, which may explain why his departure is linked to Humber’s arrival.​


In addition, the following players all became unrestricted free agents:
LeGarrette Blount
Akiem Hicks
Ryan Wendell
Nate Ebner
Tavon Wilson
Steven Jackson
Brian Tyms
Sealver Siliga
Josh Boyce
Dekoda Watson
Tarell Brown
Brandon Gibson
Kevin Hughes




March 9, 2017:
The Pats formally announce they had traded for TE Dwayne Allen from Indianapolis, which the media had reported the previous day.
The Patriots sent a 4th round draft pick to the Colts, and also received a 6th round pick from Indy.

Patriots acquire TE Dwayne Allen in a trade with Indianapolis -- Patriots.com
Allen, 27, originally entered the NFL as a third-round draft pick (64th overall) out of Clemson by Indianapolis in the 2012 NFL Draft. The 6-foot-3, 265-pounder, has appeared in 57 regular-season games with 56 starts and registered 126 receptions for 1,451 yards and 19 touchdowns. In two playoff seasons with the Colts, he has played in four postseason contests and caught 15 passes for 141 yards and one touchdown. As a rookie in 2012, Allen led all rookie tight ends in receptions (45) and receiving yards (521).​

In 2016, Allen started in all 14 games that he played and posted 35 receptions for 406 yards and six touchdowns.​


A year ago, the New England Patriots shipped a fourth-round pick to Chicago for Pro Bowl tight end Martellus Bennett and a sixth-round pick.​

The move worked out perfectly, as Bennett played a major role for the eventual Super Bowl champs, especially following the season-ending back injury to Rob Gronkowski.​

Obviously, Martellus Bennett is a goner. Bennett is seeking a contract in the neighborhood of $9 million per year, according to CSNNE's Mike Giardi. Based on some early tight end deals -- Jack Doyle got a reported $6.3 million per year from Indy and Vernon Davis got $5 million from Washington -- Bennett may very well achieve his desired number.​

Allen will cost the Patriots around $6 million per season in 2017 and 2018, according to numbers from OverTheCap.com. At 27 years old, he is three years younger than Bennett.​


In addition, the following players all became unrestricted free agents:
• Alan Branch
• Barkevious Mingo
• Brandon Bolden
• Chris Long
• Dont'a Hightower
• Duron Harmon
• Greg Scruggs
• Jabaal Sheard
• LeGarrette Blount
• Logan Ryan
• Martellus Bennett
• Michael Floyd
• Michael Williams



March 9, 2023:


Report: Patriots re-sign veteran OL James Ferentz -- Patriots.com

 
Loved McGinest. He looked cooked going into 2001, but Bill found a way to preserve him.

Nobody was shocked when the Revis left the Pats as he warned us all this was getting his money after his year was up. He had a fine year, but he clearly lost a step and it was the right move to let him walk. Jets once again make a poor decision.
Still my favorite player with Edelman a close second.
 
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