One of the reasons that the Patriots got into this mess is their endless search for bargains and their practice of chiseling away on offers/contracts looking to save that last penny. They are still at it and have not learned their lesson. As a result, the Patriots suck so bad that no one is going to want to play for them next year, and they will only be able to attract also-ran players who are desperate for a contract. And they will have to pay top dollar for mediocre / past-glory talent leading to more disasters like Parker.
They really muffed it earlier this year when there was a tiny ray of hope for the Patriots, but forget getting talented FAs next year. No one will want to play for the Patriots: Bad team, bad weather, hard playing surface, stern coach, and bitter, spoiled fans (like us).