Matt Williamson: Pats will be "really involved" in trying to get Mario Williams

[Don Kipines]

Teams that operate in windows mode usually end up getting their fingers slammed in them. That's why this team never has taken that approach. They build for the long term and tweek for the short term.

Normally I agree. I've agreed with their financial strategy throughout the Brady/Belichick era.

But they were probably one impact player short of a title last year. They've got three years left with one of the great players in the history of the league under center. They'd be crazy not to load up for this last run.

This isn't like baseball, where you can cripple a team for seven years with a bad FA signing. In football, if things go south, you can take your cap lumps for one year and get right back in the saddle again the next year.

If they pass on Vincent Jackson and/or Mario Williams over a few million in order to preserve their chances in the Ryan Mallett era, that's just crazy. I hate agreeing with Michael Felger, but they need to cut the crap and just go for it. I'm not saying you pull a 2011 Philadelphia Eagles and sign every shiny new toy on the market. But the table is set for them: they have a solid roster all the way around, plenty of cap room, and some high-impact players available. They would be irresponsible not to capitalize, whether it's Williams or Avril or Jackson or Lloyd or whoever -- they need to spend the money.

Moreover, let's point this out: it's not like the Pats have been cheap. They've just spent money on second-tier guys or reclamation guys, hoping to luck out into star production. How much did they spend last year on Ocho and Shaun Ellis, combined? Ten million? A fair gamble, and the contracts were short enough, but for ten million a year, they probably could have a young, in-his-prime stud like Vincent Jackson instead of an older lottery ticket like Ocho.

It's like that famous clip of Pepper Johnson in the Super Bowl against the Panthers: there's no more practice, man, this is is. There's no more future left to save for. The future is the next three years. They've got to throw everything they have at those years.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Normally I agree. I've agreed with their financial strategy throughout the Brady/Belichick era.

But they were probably one impact player short of a title last year. They've got three years left with one of the great players in the history of the league under center. They'd be crazy not to load up for this last run.

This isn't like baseball, where you can cripple a team for seven years with a bad FA signing. In football, if things go south, you can take your cap lumps for one year and get right back in the saddle again the next year.

If they pass on Vincent Jackson and/or Mario Williams over a few million in order to preserve their chances in the Ryan Mallett era, that's just crazy. I hate agreeing with Michael Felger, but they need to cut the crap and just go for it. I'm not saying you pull a 2011 Philadelphia Eagles and sign every shiny new toy on the market. But the table is set for them: they have a solid roster all the way around, plenty of cap room, and some high-impact players available. They would be irresponsible not to capitalize, whether it's Williams or Avril or Jackson or Lloyd or whoever -- they need to spend the money.

Moreover, let's point this out: it's not like the Pats have been cheap. They've just spent money on second-tier guys or reclamation guys, hoping to luck out into star production. How much did they spend last year on Ocho and Shaun Ellis, combined? Ten million? A fair gamble, and the contracts were short enough, but for ten million a year, they probably could have a young, in-his-prime stud like Vincent Jackson instead of an older lottery ticket like Ocho.

It's like that famous clip of Pepper Johnson in the Super Bowl against the Panthers: there's no more practice, man, this is is. There's no more future left to save for. The future is the next three years. They've got to throw everything they have at those years.

Over a 10 year span the team has been to 5 SBs, 6 AFCCGs, 9 playoff appearances, averaged 13 wins a year and possess a 16-6 record in the playoffs.

The only thing I would change is add some stick-ums to the hands of Caldwell, Welker and Asante.

Add that and you have 6 Super Bowls in 10 years- maybe.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Normally I agree. I've agreed with their financial strategy throughout the Brady/Belichick era.

But they were probably one impact player short of a title last year. They've got three years left with one of the great players in the history of the league under center. They'd be crazy not to load up for this last run.

This isn't like baseball, where you can cripple a team for seven years with a bad FA signing. In football, if things go south, you can take your cap lumps for one year and get right back in the saddle again the next year.

If they pass on Vincent Jackson and/or Mario Williams over a few million in order to preserve their chances in the Ryan Mallett era, that's just crazy. I hate agreeing with Michael Felger, but they need to cut the crap and just go for it. I'm not saying you pull a 2011 Philadelphia Eagles and sign every shiny new toy on the market. But the table is set for them: they have a solid roster all the way around, plenty of cap room, and some high-impact players available. They would be irresponsible not to capitalize, whether it's Williams or Avril or Jackson or Lloyd or whoever -- they need to spend the money.

Moreover, let's point this out: it's not like the Pats have been cheap. They've just spent money on second-tier guys or reclamation guys, hoping to luck out into star production. How much did they spend last year on Ocho and Shaun Ellis, combined? Ten million? A fair gamble, and the contracts were short enough, but for ten million a year, they probably could have a young, in-his-prime stud like Vincent Jackson instead of an older lottery ticket like Ocho.

It's like that famous clip of Pepper Johnson in the Super Bowl against the Panthers: there's no more practice, man, this is is. There's no more future left to save for. The future is the next three years. They've got to throw everything they have at those years.

Nah, they were probably a healthy TE on a rookie deal and a healthy DE on a one year deal short of a title last year. If they'd traded for Mario instead last season, he wouldn't have helped since he went on IR in week 5. And they wouldn't have had Carter and Anderson on the roster and they probably don't have Solder since they'd have traded that pick for Mario... Although they also might not have had Ocho but that wouldn't have made any difference.

The future isn't the next three years unless you have ADHD. Brady will likely be here for another 5 years at least. Unless they don't re-sign Welker and Branch and he gets so effing pissed he just quits. And there will be football after Brady. And Belichick. That's the whole reason the organization has flourished over the last 12 years. The system. The plan is to remain a contender indefinitely and one key to that is remaining flexible cap wise so you can adapt to situations - just like in games! Winning it all is wonderful, but here it's just the cherry on top. They won't mess up their ability to consistently compete chasing windows.

 

[JackBauer]

Brady will likely be here for another 5 years at least.

I highly doubt it.

 

[PatsFan2]

I highly doubt it.

I think more like 3 barring injuries.

 

[IllegalContact]

Over a 10 year span the team has been to 5 SBs, 6 AFCCGs, 9 playoff appearances, averaged 13 wins a year and possess a 16-6 record in the playoffs.

The only thing I would change is add some stick-ums to the hands of Caldwell, Welker and Asante.

Add that and you have 6 Super Bowls in 10 years- maybe.

actually, 8 playoff appearances since they missed in 2002 and 2008....but who's counting........you're loved by the homers regardless

 

[IllegalContact]

I highly doubt it.

me too.......guys get old over night

 

[MoLewisrocks]

actually, 8 playoff appearances since they missed in 2002 and 2008....but who's counting........you're loved by the homers regardless

I can't imagine why you have been banned by JETS fans everywhere, as you claim. Although I could imagine why patsfans everywhere would choose to...

 

[IllegalContact]

I can't imagine why you have been banned by JETS fans everywhere, as you claim. Although I could imagine why patsfans everywhere would choose to...

I know of a few blind homers who would, anyway

 

[Banjo]

Super Mario would be the difference between shootouts and blowouts. This defense desperately needs an impact player if we want to compete for a championship. Wouldn't you love to see Mario obliterate Mark Sanchez time and time again?

 

[RobertWeathers]

actually, 8 playoff appearances since they missed in 2002 and 2008....but who's counting........you're loved by the homers regardless

01, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07,09,10,11- is 9 playoff appearances.

Homerism has nothing to do with stating factual data.

 

[IllegalContact]

01, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07,09,10,11- is 9 playoff appearances.

Homerism has nothing to do with stating factual data.

so then its 9 in 11 years.....not 10.....but like I said, who's counting

 

[ivanvamp]

Would folks here be willing to trade their two 1st round picks plus, say, Ninkovich, in order to get Demarcus Ware?

(not saying that has any possibility of occurring, but I'm just wondering)

 

[fnordcircle]

But they were probably one impact player short of a title last year.

They were #1 seed in the AFC. They were a defensive stand or an offensive score or a 'don't get a safety' away from a title last year. Hell, a healthy Gronk is a huge difference in that game alone.

If anything that should give them more reason to keep conducting business as they always have. Determine a player's value, don't go over that value, remain competitive but not at the expense of the future.

What happens if you hurt your future to bring in Mario Williams and then he gets Roosevelt Colvin'ed in the preseason? It's just bad business.

 

[IllegalContact]

Would folks here be willing to trade their two 1st round picks plus, say, Ninkovich, in order to get Demarcus Ware?

(not saying that has any possibility of occurring, but I'm just wondering)

don't know the details of his contract.......

but I would consider it....he will be 30 this summer

 

[RobertWeathers]

so then its 9 in 11 years.....not 10.....but like I said, who's counting

Correct. I stand corrected.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

don't know the details of his contract.......

but I would consider it....he will be 30 this summer

Two firsts would be too much. He's signed for 5 more years at around $40M, but he will likely want a new deal soon as all the guaranteed money in his 2009 deal is gone after this season. Not that the Cowboys would consider it, either. They have a lot of dead cap on the books as a result of his 2010 restructure. Plus, he's a beast. Jerry isn't in the habit of trading his studs.

 

[Sivy]

Not going to happen kids.

 

[chicowalker]

so then its 9 in 11 years.....not 10.....but like I said, who's counting

you, apparently?

 

[chicowalker]

I highly doubt it.

Never know, obviously, but I wouldn't be at all shocked if he were still here in 5 years.