Our Defense is NOT Loaded; our BACKUPS are weak.

[Ring 6]

I guess we differ on what constitutes "good" in a back up player.
Gibbens ended last season appearing in every game, starting 8. he played almost 500 defensive snaps (50%) and 281 ST snaps (64%).
81 tackles on defense. (5 missed tackles on defense)
I would opine for a back up, he was very good. Actually, very similar statistically to Elliss.
certainly the Pats were not going to pay both. (and Spillane)

Being on the field isn’t how you define being good.


They would have had to pay him less than $4 million. He would have been cheap. It had nothing to do with money.

 

[Family]

Being on the field isn’t how you define being good.

But cut, being off the team, which is what happened with his replacements, defines not good.

They would have had to pay him less than $4 million. He would have been cheap. It had nothing to do with money.

Gibbens was an ok backup/fill in for minimum salary.

Every team has a soft spot like this, but you don't pay 4 million guaranteed for it.

Now he's replaced with waived players, an undrafted FA on IR, and a 6th round pick who has shown little.

The team is not better off than last year at this spot, and last year was borderline.

 

[Ring 6]

It's possible, even likely, the Patriots were aware of Arizona's offer when they declined the tender, knowing weren't going to match the guarantee. A tender does not have a guarantee.

March 9: Legal tampering begins → teams are already negotiating with pending UFAs.
March 11: Patriots don't tender Gibbens → he becomes a UFA at 4 p.m.
March 16: Gibbens signs with Arizona.

No, restricted free agents cannot negotiate with other teams during the NFL's legal tampering period. [1, 2]

 

[rkarp1]

Such as Chad Muma you’re saying

who?

 

[rkarp1]

But cut, being off the team, which is what happened with his replacements, defines not good.



Gibbens was an ok backup/fill in for minimum salary.

Every team has a soft spot like this, but you don't pay 4 million guaranteed for it.

Now he's replaced with waived players, an undrafted FA on IR, and a 6th round pick who has shown little.

The team is not better off than last year at this spot, and last year was borderline.

yup

 

[Ring 6]

But cut, being off the team, which is what happened with his replacements, defines not good.



Gibbens was an ok backup/fill in for minimum salary.

Every team has a soft spot like this, but you don't pay 4 million guaranteed for it.

Now he's replaced with waived players, an undrafted FA on IR, and a 6th round pick who has shown little.

The team is not better off than last year at this spot, and last year was borderline.

Wrong. What you do on the field defines good or not.

If you are unwilling to pay less than 4 million for a guy to back up your 2 starting LBs you don’t value that guy. It’s less than the average per player.

 

[rkarp1]

No, restricted free agents cannot negotiate with other teams during the NFL's legal tampering period. [1, 2]

yeah, teams don't whisper before hand, right?
Gibbens got 2/$7.5m
Pats were not going there
they attempted to replace him, and it remains to be seen if they have
certainly Muma was a faliure
time will tell on Obiazor. Mausau and Hunter could be interesting, but for me Hunter is more a big S than an ILB depth piece.
honestly, lomg story short, they over paid on Elliss and should have properly upgraded from him thru the draft.

 

[rkarp1]

Wrong. What you do on the field defines good or not.

If you are unwilling to pay less than 4 million for a guy to back up your 2 starting LBs you don’t value that guy. It’s less than the average per player.

he was the equal to Elliss in every aspect, more likely the ST player on top of that

 

[Wozzy]

No, restricted free agents cannot negotiate with other teams during the NFL's legal tampering period. [1, 2]

Exactly… also blaming money when Gibbens got a pittance and the Patriots had money to spend is funny stuff.

 

[Wozzy]

Such as Chad Muma you’re saying

The team specifically signed Muma because Gibbens sucked versus the Bills. This isn’t the flex you think it is.

Also bringing Muma up in conversation doesn’t dismiss how Gibbens sucked.

The team drafted Obi and signed Jacobs, I was high on those guys also and they made the team.

 

[Wozzy]

he was the equal to Elliss in every aspect, more likely the ST player on top of that

This is unbelievably foolish. Elliss was starting for a reason. He was far superior to Gibbens.

 

[Wozzy]

But cut, being off the team, which is what happened with his replacements, defines not good.



Gibbens was an ok backup/fill in for minimum salary.

Every team has a soft spot like this, but you don't pay 4 million guaranteed for it.

Now he's replaced with waived players, an undrafted FA on IR, and a 6th round pick who has shown little.

The team is not better off than last year at this spot, and last year was borderline.

Gibbens was an UDFA, why isn’t that a problem? So were Spillane and Elliss.

You also had no clue who Gibbens was when they signed him last year. Which is basically the same position of unknown you are in now with Obiazor and other backup ILB’s.

But the coaches were keenly aware they needed to improve the depth and find potential starters for down the road. They saw the flaws with last years unit and moved to improve it. Let’s assume some level of competency from our coaches and scouts.

The ILB depth last year was terrible, there’s nowhere to go but up.

 

[Real fan 02]

yeah, teams don't whisper before hand, right?
Gibbens got 2/$7.5m
Pats were not going there
they attempted to replace him, and it remains to be seen if they have
certainly Muma was a faliure
time will tell on Obiazor. Mausau and Hunter could be interesting, but for me Hunter is more a big S than an ILB depth piece.
honestly, lomg story short, they over paid on Elliss and should have properly upgraded from him thru the draft.

Elliss tender was matched... 13.5..Mill. peanuts for a starting LB in the NFL.. realistically.. but i see your points they are well taken..