Now we get to see if Kraft is cheap or shrewd

[mgteich]

Rhamondre Stevenson played 0 snaps last weekend. He was just short of 1000 yards. Do you think maybe he had a bonus for hitting 1000 yards?

There are some other teams that would have celebrated having Stevenson getting those yards, including BUF.

 

[PatsFan2]

You're only on the hook for certain bonuses. Roster bonuses get paid out when the player is on the roster, signing bonus is due at signing, workout bonus gets paid out when they fulfill the requirements, etc. Playtime incentives, stat incentives, all of that.

While all these count to some degree against the cap in terms of dead money, and would count in cap dollars - this money isn't necessarily paid out if the players don't fulfill the requirements.

The Patriots have been notorious for cutting players right before they have to pay out big bonuses, or artificially reducing playtime so players don't reach bonuses.

Rhamondre Stevenson played 0 snaps last weekend. He was just short of 1000 yards. Do you think maybe he had a bonus for hitting 1000 yards?

That would teach him for those untimely fumbles.

 

[Real fan 02]

Callahan: Robert Kraft must stick the landing in Patriots’ coaching search

The Krafts did the right thing in firing Jerod Mayo. But the job’s not done.

www.bostonherald.com

I know what the board thinks, but you might be wrong.

Reportedly didn't Vrabel have some issues with him? That was the reason Vrabel was let go? On spending I believe the pressure is on RK more than it has ever been in his tenure as an Owner. He knows he MUST spend. This roster is borderline CFL.

 

[Real fan 02]

That would teach him for those untimely fumbles.

Rham is a good back.. and his fumble are concentrating issues.. also we all know about mayo and his issues.. there was no accountability for rham to have to face... that will all change under Vrabel.. I believe rham could become a better all around player with better coaching. If he's still fumbling then he will be on the sidelines.. remember faulk had fumble issues too.

 

[Real fan 02]

I wouldn't be so sure of that. Get Maye some decent protection and he can make players better. Hell he turned Boutte into a decent receiver who grew some confidence.

Agreed there. Dan Moore in PIT will a LT FA.. he would be an upgrade over lowe.. actually what am I saying any other LT would be an upgrade.

 

[Ring 6]

Callahan: Robert Kraft must stick the landing in Patriots’ coaching search

The Krafts did the right thing in firing Jerod Mayo. But the job’s not done.

www.bostonherald.com

I know what the board thinks, but you might be wrong.

Tennessee will have those players next year too.

 

[mgteich]

Agreed there. Dan Moore in PIT will a LT FA.. he would be an upgrade over lowe.. actually what am I saying any other LT would be an upgrade.

Agreed.

Arguably there is no OT getting significant reps at LT that isn't an upgrade over Lowe.

We need to sign two LT's in free agency (one who can also be a backup RT).

 

[Simpelton]

Are you saying that PHI and WAS (and LAC?) didn't get better through free agency in 2024?

Can't answer to Philly because I wasn't watching them very closely, but Washington wasn't THAT far from being taken seriously in years prior, they just didn't have a quarterback that could build the team into more than the sum of their parts. Now they do.

 

[Ring 6]

I'm missing something here. All teams have to spend to the cap over a four year running average. I can understand how in a given year cash spending can be higher than cap spending with bonuses that can count against future year cap limits. But I don't understand how cash spending can be lower than cap spending over a number of years.

Also, given that teams can underspend in certain years and then make it up in other years, the snapshots can be misleading. Hypothetically, the Eagles may have been over the cap in the first and last year of that ten year span and the Patriots under, like we know was the case last year. That could explain some of the discrepancy.

CASH SPENT has to equal 89% of the cap.

6 year contract with $54 mill signing bonus and salaries of 1 mill, 6 mill , 6 mill, 8 mill, 12 mill, 20 mill is 6/107 mill that counts 10 mill vs the cap on year one big 51 mill vs cash spent.
You can be way, way, way under the cap and hit the 89% cash floor

 

[Sciz]

Rhamondre Stevenson played 0 snaps last weekend. He was just short of 1000 yards. Do you think maybe he had a bonus for hitting 1000 yards?

Stevenson had no incentives this season. Next season when he does have incentives, the first bonus comes at 1400 yards.

 

[mgteich]

Can't answer to Philly because I wasn't watching them very closely, but Washington wasn't THAT far from being taken seriously in years prior, they just didn't have a quarterback that could build the team into more than the sum of their parts. Now they do.

Yup.

PHI and WAS were a couple of players away from major improvement. Both got more than that and succeeded.

On the other hand, the patriots had one of the worst rosters in the NFL. Signing overpriced free agents in a terrible free agency market simply made no sense, no matter how much posters wanted to sign shiny new toys for a quarterback yet to be named.

Of course, given the need to replace aging defensive players, we might have signed a couple of better defensive players. What happened to the Defense was truly negligence.

 

[Family]

Tennessee will have those players next year too.

Right. More problems for new leadership.

Better planning to have waited until you have a real coach and know what you have for quarterback.

 

[Real fan 02]

Agreed.

Arguably there is no OT getting significant reps at LT that isn't an upgrade over Lowe.

We need to sign two LT's in free agency (one who can also be a backup RT).

Yes. 100 correct. Lowe would be fine as a backup. But OT is absolutely high priority in FA.. getting Vrabel in place is vital as to our direction in FA.

 

[Wozzy]

Wait a second, do you guys realize the Pats spent over $146M in fully guaranteed money to juggernauts such as Kyle Dugger, Michel Owenu, Christian Barmore, Rham, Dogchow and Hunter? Or do does this only apply if they sign new FA's from other teams? Lol at some of you thinking the Pats are off the hook.

Between the 6 Titans players listed and the 6 Pats players listed, the Titans only spent less than $4M more (just over $150M) in fully guaranteed money. Let that sink in.

In the end, Mayo didn't walk back the "burning cash" comment. It just went right under your radar because they gave it to their own. Elliot Wolf is by far the worst GM I've ever seen.

You realize a one season snap shot is not an accurate representation of “spending.”

You also know for a fact the Pats have been dead last in cash spending for two decades and one season where they had to pay out some cash it doesn’t suddenly makes them wild spenders.

Also all the free agents they retained were good signings, the results were poor… but that had nothing to do with these players talent or that they deserved to be paid what they got paid.

The coaching, scheming and planning was crap… you can have all the talent in the world and you can still suck if you don’t execute. The only free agents Wolf did well with were our own and maybe Gibson and Hooper. The rest of his work was hot garbage.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Over how many years? I don't think your accounting is exactly how most people look at things. They left money on the table last year and have more than anyone else this year. With some better accounting they easily could have had better talent last year and still a huge chunk of cap space this year.

You realize a one season snap shot is not an accurate representation of “spending.”

You also know for a fact the Pats have been dead last in cash spending for two decades and one season where they had to pay out some cash it doesn’t suddenly makes them wild spenders.

They are on the hook with all of these guys until 2026 when the dead cap becomes manageable.

Also all the free agents they retained were good signings, the results were poor… but that had nothing to do with these players talent or that they deserved to be paid what they got paid.

Nobody wanted Dugger when he was available to everyone. That was a red flag. And yet, the Pats rewarded him with average annual salary more than his tag. Owenu was immediately retained at top 5 T money when he's not an anchor in any way for an OL. Him and Robert Hunt were duds. There was no reason to extend both Barmore and Rham who would be on prove it deals now. In fact, I don't even think Barmore plays again.

The coaching, scheming and planning was crap… you can have all the talent in the world and you can still suck if you don’t execute. The only free agents Wolf did well with were our own and maybe Gibson and Hooper. The rest of his work was hot garbage.

Bill could only muster 4 wins out of these guys. A new QB was supposed to be the savior as long as they didn't turn the ball over. That was the offseason narrative on this board even with Mayo as Coach (bizarre take). Both Brissett and Maye couldn't score points and the defense fell off a cliff (no surprise). Bill's coaching of players listed above had them holding on for dear life as they were not talented enough to take over games.

 

[mgteich]

Yes. 100 correct. Lowe would be fine as a backup. But OT is absolutely high priority in FA.. getting Vrabel in place is vital as to our direction in FA.

I would go further than you. I think that we will/should have Wallace plus three additions.

I don't believe that Lowe should be on the 53-man roster of a contending team. Of course, he should come to camp. He is OK on the 90-man roster, camp fodder, and injury insurance. However, IMHO, it would be a setback if Lowe is even the #4 OT.

We need two veteran LT's, a starter and a backup who can start at RT if necessary. Wallace is #3 and perhaps a starter at RT, although he will have competition for that spot. Finally, a draftee should fill out the OT corps. Of course, depending on the draftee and how well he does in camp, he could end up being anywhere on the depth chart.
==========
LET ME BE CLEAR
Lowe did all he could within the talent that he has. He played hard. He played injured. He begged for more and better coaching.

The reality is that he is not a very good player. Perhaps with very good coaching this past year, he might have been what he said that thought was his place, if he succeeded: a swing OT. It is time for us to move on. I suppose that he could be signed to the Practice Squad.

 

[raduray]

CASH SPENT has to equal 89% of the cap.

6 year contract with $54 mill signing bonus and salaries of 1 mill, 6 mill , 6 mill, 8 mill, 12 mill, 20 mill is 6/107 mill that counts 10 mill vs the cap on year one big 51 mill vs cash spent.
You can be way, way, way under the cap and hit the 89% cash floor

Over that multi year span cash and cap spending will be equal and has to equal or exceed 89% of cap.

 

[signbabybrady]

They are on the hook with all of these guys until 2026 when the dead cap becomes manageable.

So what's the yearly average then ?

 

[Ring 6]

Right. More problems for new leadership.

Better planning to have waited until you have a real coach and know what you have for quarterback.

Yeah teams shouldn’t get god players.

 

[TheRainMaker]

So what's the yearly average then ?

I don't know, but I do know it's not going cripple the cap. However, I wouldn't have paid most of these guys to begin with. Hunter Henry was the biggest bargain who should've left in FA. In fact, he's one player who shouldn't be complaining if he's the one who was talking to Mike Giardi. He knows what he was signing up for.