NFL Free Agency Thread

[ViperGTS]

Interesting news on Weddle.. From Ian Rappaport:

Ian Rapoport

? ?@RapSheet
What's on tap for Eric Weddle? He has offers from 4 teams. He'll evaluate the city, roster, schools, levels of the deal & respond Monday.


Ian Rapoport

? ?@RapSheet
More on Eric Weddle: He, his agent & his family will decide on 2 teams. Negotiates will move forward & when a deal is reached, he'll decide.

I can't decide where I don't want him to go. Pitt number one. Oakland 2 most likely.

 

[manxman2601]

Figured I would throw out some names still on the board besides the aforementioned Boldin and Harvin...

1. Kamar Aiken - I know, he was already here and didn't make it but he blossomed in Baltimore. He's another RFA. He looked pretty damn good last season when he was basically the only threat in the passing game (catching passes from Ryan Mallett no less...) Wonder what it would cost to get him from Baltimore. And if they match, they're paying more for him. Just a thought, don't think it'll happen though.

2. Andre Holmes - Another ex-Pat, but still worth looking into. I haven't really heard much about him on Twitter so I don't think his market is too hot. He's got the size and speed you want... One year deal?

3. James Jones - He's not particularly fast but he seems to have a penchant for catching TDs. He's a pretty big receiver kind of in the mold of a Boldin but younger. I think he would be cheap also.

4. Terelle Pryor - He's got the size and speed for sure, just wonder about the fit. They've had him in for workouts already so they know what he is.

5. Nate Washington - He's getting old (32) but I've always respected this guy's game. I would welcome him here on a one year low money deal for sure.

6. Riley Cooper - he's white, so...

7. Joshua Bellamy - 6'0", 205 pounds, 4.4 forty. Has kicked around the league a while without sticking. Might be worth a cheap signing.

A couple other names to watch - Marques Colston, Marc Mariani, Leonard Hankerson, Jeremy Kerley, Jaron Brown.

Uh*.

Please just double dip in the draft BB. Keep drafting until someone hits. In fact, in light of the FA market we're seeing, just draft a WR, pass rusher and CB every year.

* Not a criticism of your post, just my feelings about what's available.

 

[Ross12]

Uh*.

Please just double dip in the draft BB. Keep drafting until someone hits. In fact, in light of the FA market we're seeing, just draft a WR, pass rusher and CB every year.

* Not a criticism of your post, just my feelings about what's available.

I never said they were great options, just noting the best of the options available IMO

 

[Froob]

Uh*.

Please just double dip in the draft BB. Keep drafting until someone hits. In fact, in light of the FA market we're seeing, just draft a WR, pass rusher and CB every year.

* Not a criticism of your post, just my feelings about what's available.

I'd rather give up on drafting WR all together and just admit they can't do it well. Had some pretty good success with vets. Maybe it's a system that's just easier for vets to pick up. I don't think a deep threat is even really necessary. Jules/Dola/7-11/Martin isn't a bad core at all. People get far too hung up on the slot receiver thing. We've seen Jules and Dola make some deep catches and even Martin (sadly they always get negated by a BS OPI). And don't forget the best pass catcher in the league in Gronk. Coach up the O-line and and get a capable backup tight end and I like where the Pats are heading offensively. Line is KEY. A bad offensive line sabotages a good offense. And I think all the pieces are there to get it done they just need some seasoning.

 

[manxman2601]

I'd rather give up on drafting WR all together and just admit they can't do it well. Had some pretty good success with vets. Maybe it's a system that's just easier for vets to pick up. I don't think a deep threat is even really necessary. Jules/Dola/7-11/Martin isn't a bad core at all. People get far too hung up on the slot receiver thing. We've seen Jules and Dola make some deep catches and even Martin (sadly they always get negated by a BS OPI). And don't forget the best pass catcher in the league in Gronk. Coach up the O-line and and get a capable backup tight end and I like where the Pats are heading offensively. Line is KEY. A bad offensive line sabotages a good offense. And I think all the pieces are there to get it done they just need some seasoning.

I'm afraid I disagree. How many times have we seen a Brady bomb just miss the outstretched arms of our smaller receivers? Someone with a bigger wingspan might have snagged those (or better hands - I'm looking at you Lafell). And I don't agree with giving up on the draft - at some stage, someone will hit. I'm all for them reviewing how they scout WRs but giving up is an admission of failure and a lack of desire for wanting to improve oneself.

 

[AvocadoIceCream]

I'm afraid I disagree. How many times have we seen a Brady bomb just miss the outstretched arms of our smaller receivers? Someone with a bigger wingspan might have snagged those (or better hands - I'm looking at you Lafell). And I don't agree with giving up on the draft - at some stage, someone will hit. I'm all for them reviewing how they scout WRs but giving up is an admission of failure and a lack of desire for wanting to improve oneself.

How many times have we seen Brady throw a good deep ball though, honestly?

Moss ain't coming through that door

 

[Froob]

I'm afraid I disagree. How many times have we seen a Brady bomb just miss the outstretched arms of our smaller receivers? Someone with a bigger wingspan might have snagged those (or better hands - I'm looking at you Lafell). And I don't agree with giving up on the draft - at some stage, someone will hit. I'm all for them reviewing how they scout WRs but giving up is an admission of failure and a lack of desire for wanting to improve oneself.

True, I respect your opinion but, I think sometimes you gotta just play to your strengths. Stick to what we're good at like drafting O-line, running backs, and d-line. Hell BB thought Johnathan Baldwin was going to be a good player. I dunno, could be both that our guys aren't good at scouting wide outs and the system is hard to play in. Not sure the Steelers wide out making factory works with this offense.

 

[Ross12]

I'd rather give up on drafting WR all together and just admit they can't do it well. Had some pretty good success with vets. Maybe it's a system that's just easier for vets to pick up. I don't think a deep threat is even really necessary. Jules/Dola/7-11/Martin isn't a bad core at all. People get far too hung up on the slot receiver thing. We've seen Jules and Dola make some deep catches and even Martin (sadly they always get negated by a BS OPI). And don't forget the best pass catcher in the league in Gronk. Coach up the O-line and and get a capable backup tight end and I like where the Pats are heading offensively. Line is KEY. A bad offensive line sabotages a good offense. And I think all the pieces are there to get it done they just need some seasoning.

It's not even that a true "deep threat" is needed, in the sense of a burner to really "take the top off" - they just need someone big and fast enough to be a threat down the sidelines and catch fades in the end zone, etc. You don't necessarily need to be a 4.3 burner to do that. LaFell was perfectly good enough for that role in 2014, if they can replicate that they should be good...

 

[Love The Drake]

Maybe we still sign Streater

 

[Froob]

It's not even that a true "deep threat" is needed, in the sense of a burner to really "take the top off" - they just need someone big and fast enough to be a threat down the sidelines and catch fades in the end zone, etc. You don't necessarily need to be a 4.3 burner to do that. LaFell was perfectly good enough for that role in 2014, if they can replicate that they should be good...

I gotta wonder why LaFell didn't get a chance to redeem himself. I have to think they were tired of him not finishing a play. It's one thing to just suck but, to give up on a play...that's a tough pill to swallow.

 

[Ross12]

Maybe we still sign Streater

You keep holding out hope, man. Fight the good fight.

 

[manxman2601]

True, I respect your opinion but, I think sometimes you gotta just play to your strengths. Stick to what we're good at like drafting O-line, running backs, and d-line. Hell BB thought Johnathan Baldwin was going to be a good player. I dunno, could be both that our guys aren't good at scouting wide outs and the system is hard to play in. Not sure the Steelers wide out making factory works with this offense.

The system is hard to play in and there'll be more hits than misses but if you give up on drafting WRs, there's no Julian Edelman to walk through the door. And you'll end up spending 6-8m for a WR or settle for Chris Hogan's for the rest of days. Not that I don't think Hogan will be effective, but you don't want a receiving corps full of them. One thing this FA window has demonstrated is that a team that doesn't develop it's own will be screwed in the long-term.

 

[Ross12]

I gotta wonder why LaFell didn't get a chance to redeem himself. I have to think they were tired of him not finishing a play. It's one thing to just suck but, to give up on a play...that's a tough pill to swallow.

I thought he might get a chance this year too but you could see how the year unfolded. He missed all that time and then came back talking about how he was happy he didn't have to be in TC, clearly BB was miffed about that. Then they were still trying to work him in when they had their WRs dropping like flies and he couldn't seem to get anything done. Eventually they were just simply trying to throw him a damn screen pass and he would flat out drop that too. Shortly after he was passed on the depth chart by Martin and never really seen again. So it's not a huge surprise he was let go - he dropped off big time.

 

[manxman2601]

How many times have we seen Brady throw a good deep ball though, honestly?

Moss ain't coming through that door

I've seen a bunch that were just out of the reach of our 5 foot something receivers, psses probably gettable for a 6 foot something receiver with long arms and good hands.

 

[Ross12]

I've seen a bunch that were just out of the reach of our 5 foot something receivers, psses probably gettable for a 6 foot something receiver with long arms and good hands.

Brady threw TWO absolutely beautiful deep balls on wheel routes to James White in the AFCCG... And he couldn't get either one... Ugh, those were both such huge missed opportunities. I missed Vereen for a second, but then remembered he couldn't catch the wheel route to save his life either.

 

[Love The Drake]

Appearantly we have no interest in such type receiver

 

[TheRazorsEdge]

I feel like Lafell just didn't want to be here anymore. Patriots obviously saw something they didn't like. In some of his interviews talking about hating training camp etc etc. After missing the entire preseason...it really goes against everything Belichick preaches about preparation, hard work, do your job etc.

... . es all good doe...we got 7-11 baby.

 

[Ross12]

Is it unreasonable to try to find the old Dolphins Hard Knocks season and watch it just to get some Hogan footage?

Did someone mention Jeff Cumberland visiting? I think he would be a good addition... And Tim Hightower looked really good in a very small sample size late last year. I wonder if he's worth a look.

 

[TheRazorsEdge]

Not unreasonable at all. It's a promising signing brother. It's gotten it's fair share of backlash, of course... It's not Julio Jones (even then I think some would complain)..however given his skillset... If he has the passion to really become an integral part of this offense he can be. Lots of guys can't hack the film study and the pressure Tom puts on these guys and fail. He's going to have to come in with some fortidude and determination

 

[RobertWeathers]

Is it unreasonable to try to find the old Dolphins Hard Knocks season and watch it just to get some Hogan footage?

Thats die hard right there...