McCourty now has a choice to make

[Bruins29]

Dennard couldn't even make a game day active roster in 2014. That's a far cry from "proven starter".

Well he was injured. That may be a factor.

 

[hwc]

McCourty was practically giddy last week hoping the Pats would franchise tag him. Why is that? Is it because he knows $9 million is more than he is likely to get any other way? From the Pats or some other team? That's a pretty big chunk of change for a deep safety.

 

[hwc]

Well he was injured. That may be a factor.

He wan't on the injury reports. Healthy scratch most of the year. I have no idea why he has a healthy scratch. All I can go on was that he couldn't beat out Malcolm Butler and Logan Ryan for playing time. I don't try to mind-read Belichick. I just go with the facts.

 

[Bruins29]

He wan't on the injury reports. Healthy scratch most of the year. I have no idea why he has a healthy scratch. All I can go on was that he couldn't beat out Malcolm Butler and Logan Ryan for playing time. I don't try to mind-read Belichick. I just go with the facts.

Its been discussed that something was bothering him. Maybe I imagined it.

 

[JackBauer]

McCourty was practically giddy last week hoping the Pats would franchise tag him. Why is that? Is it because he knows $9 million is more than he is likely to get any other way? From the Pats or some other team? That's a pretty big chunk of change for a deep safety.

Doubtful. If the Patriots don't pony up, some other team with cap flexibility (Colts?) will sign him to a lucrative deal.

 

[Huckleberry1]

I honestly think the Patriots are going into this off season with their eyes wide open and are well prepared for it and have a series of plans ready for whatever circumstances arise. Imo they will keep at least one out of Revis and McCourty and there's a good chance they keep both. Belichick has been building this team for the post 4-5 seasons and he will continue to improve it this offseason. We may not have any idea how he is going to go about it but I think it's a safe bet he does everything he can to improve the team. I guess the bottom line for me is that I really do trust Belichick and his staff and think they have more than earned it. It's going to be fun to watch even if it is painful at times.

 

[Huckleberry1]

Doubtful. If the Patriots don't pony up, some other team with cap flexibility (Colts?) will sign him to a lucrative deal.

I think K.C is a more likely destination.


I'm also really biased, I don't want to see McCourty end his career as an Indianapolis Eunuch.

 

[hwc]

Its been discussed that something was bothering him. Maybe I imagined it.

Not discussed by the Patriots. If he were unable to play due to injury, he would be on the injury reports. There's been a lot of speculation by mediots and fans. I put zero stock in speculation about the Patriots.

At the end of the day, the reason doesn't really matter. Dennard was not able to make active game day rosters through much of 2014.

 

[hwc]

Doubtful. If the Patriots don't pony up, some other team with cap flexibility (Colts?) will sign him to a lucrative deal.

Maybe they will. Maybe they won't. All we know, as of this moment, is that the New England Patriots lacked the cap room and/or the desire to pay McCourty $9 million a year. Beyond that, it's hard to say. IMO, a likely scenario is that they simply decided that $9 million was too much to allocate for a free safety in a secondary with Revis, Browner, Arrington, and Butler at corners. That would certainly be a reasonable calculation by the Patriots, no matter how much they like McCourty.

One thing is for sure. Bill Belichick has a better handle on market value for an NFL player than I do.

 

[Bruins29]

At the end of the day, the reason doesn't really matter. Dennard was not able to make active game day rosters through much of 2014.

And that is why the future is such a mystery. YA never know.

 

[Dingleberry]

The way I see it... McCourty is a very good Safety. Not great. Without Revis, Devin will be an above average S being paid as an elite player. Call it bad value, wasted use of elite salary, whatever. As much as I love McCourty as a Patriot, IF Revis/McCourty is an either/or situation, he has to be the one to go.

Hopefully, both can be afforded. But I am ok with them letting McCourty walk if the value isn't there.

Revis is irreplaceable.

 

[Huckleberry1]

Imo 5/40 with 22 guaranteed would most likely get it done, and it's worth it to both sides to get it done. McCourty, believe it or not should be thinking about HOF eligibility when making this decision. He is only 28 and he has made two All Pro teams at different positions and has a ring to go with it. Some people can say he isn't elite but his achievements to this point in his career are. A couple more All Pro teams and another ring and he is going to end up in Canton. It may not have immediate monetary value but it has huge legacy implications for him.

 

[JackBauer]

IMO, a likely scenario is that they simply decided that $9 million was too much to allocate for a free safety in a secondary with Revis, Browner, Arrington, and Butler at corners. That would certainly be a reasonable calculation by the Patriots, no matter how much they like McCourty.

Perhaps. Hopefully the team opted not to franchise D-Mac because they're optimistic re: a long-term contract. Regardless, I'm not sure why you think the team would make this decision based primarily on their depth chart at CB. The real question is what BB thinks McCourty is worth in a secondary with Patrick Chung, Duron Harmon, and Tavon Wilson at safety.

 

[Deus Irae]

...The real question is what BB thinks McCourty is worth in a secondary with Patrick Chung, Duron Harmon, and Tavon Wilson at safety.

When you put it that way, I'm suddenly willing to pay him Revis-type money.

 

[patsinthesnow]

“So, I guess it’s more realistic now that (there’s) a chance that I might not be back there. Or there’s still a chance that I will, but I guess (there’s) more of a chance now with the franchise tag going to Steve that I could be playing in a different place. Still, keeping an open mind and trying to enjoy the process.”

Read more at: http://nesn.com/2015/03/devin-mccourty-its-more-realistic-now-i-dont-return-to-patriots/2/

 

[Joker]

So much drama. Every new season is its' own entity. 14 years straight we've gone into a season having a shot at the ring, yet still zero trust that BB and the Pats braintrust know what they have to do to field a competitive team.

such a spoiled fanbase...

 

[Patriots1364life]

So much drama. Every new season is its' own entity. 14 years straight we've gone into a season having a shot at the ring, yet still zero trust that BB and the Pats braintrust know what they have to do to field a competitive team.

such a spoiled fanbase...

I am sure they will but lets hope by not decimating our secondary. I am sure they wont. I see dmac and revis back with the pats.

 

[hwc]

Regardless, I'm not sure why you think the team would make this decision based primarily on their depth chart at CB.

I'm sure they have a cap/salary budget for the secondary. Revis obviously takes up a very large chunk of that budget and puts a squeeze on what they can spend at other positions in the secondary. It's a salary cap league. By definition, you can't have everything you want.

 

[hwc]

McCourty's quotes make it sound like he really thought the Pats would tag him at $9 million a year. I don't really understand how he could think that, given that the Pats are considerably over the cap. It never seemed like much of a possibility unless a deal with Revis was done before today. Even then, $9 million is a big number for a safety. There's not much incentive for the Pats to extend that franchise tag.

 

[Patriots1364life]

I'm sure they have a cap/salary budget for the secondary. Revis obviously takes up a very large chunk of that budget and puts a squeeze on what they can spend at other positions in the secondary. It's a salary cap league. By definition, you can't have everything you want.

Some restructuring helps and this all comes back to vince. Mayo should also restructure. If it was up to me i would cut vince if he doesnt restructure. It sucks but thats what happens with aging players in this league.