Patriots release Kevin O'Connell

[DaBruinz]

Re: Koc released!

Probably the most epic draft failure of BB's era.

Chad Jackson holds that title.. Short of BB screwing up a 1st round pick, Jackson won't be letting that one go any time soon.

 

[The_Riddler]

Wow, kind of makes you scratch your head and wonder how they would make a decision to hold on to a dismal Matt Cassel after his pre-season nightmare last year yet cut ties with a kid they invested alot into based on his draft position. Yet with that said, the 2008 3rd round if you scan those names was an incredibly weak round top to bottom with only a couple of exceptions.

Beware of smiling anywhere near a camera that BB might view at a future date.............

 

[patsox23]

Re: Koc released!

As much as I feel a little vindicated about my post-game post re: O'Connell sucking, I am stunned by this news, and I feel bad for him. We're surprised, I'm sure he is. I'd like to think this speaks well of Hoyer, at least a little bit, but it obviously speaks badly about KOC more than it does anything else. What a shame.

It also feels a little bit rash, like a statement, 'though that's not really the way it goes around Foxboro. I just don't see how, this early into a guy's career - and a guy who was coveted by a lot of teams - you don't at least try to deal him for, say, a 5th or for another player. Surely there are some clubs - Oakland maybe, KC? - who'd have some interest. It feels a little like, "F this, this guy isn't getting it, and isn't even BEHAVING as if he's getting it, get him out, shake things up, let's go in another direction," etc... We couldn't get a pick for him? At all?

 

[patchick]

Re: Koc released!

Why trade for Feeley when you can get him for free?

IF they want him, it's the only way to make sure they get him...and sooner rather than later. Same reason that the Broncos traded for Hochstein. So now there's a handy 7th round pick hanging around again.

Think of it as a would-have-been-cut backup guard for a would-have-been-cut backup QB. I'd gladly pay the price...IF they want him.

 

[DaBruinz]

True, and there's also their relative costs. Cassel got paid $525k in 2008, vs. $1.28M for O'Connell in 2009. It's easier to justify keeping a developmental project around at Cassel's price than O'Connell's, although I also think that mayoclinic's right on as well- they kept Cassel because he showed them something, and they cut O'Connell because he didn't. Their salaries may have moved the bar a bit, but the work ethic and improvement that one demonstrated and the other didn't would pretty much have to be *the* reason.

Where do you get that O'Connell was getting $1.28 million this year? His salary was 385K with a signing bonus amortization of 157K. His total cap hit was 535K. Cutting him now drops his cap figure from 535K to 471K (the remaining signing bonus amortization.

 

[patchick]

Cutting him now drops his cap figure from 535K to 471K (the remaining signing bonus amortization.

But he's replaced in the cap by the next-highest paid player, with the full amortization counting on top of that for a net cap hit, no?

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Re: Koc released!

We couldn't get a pick for him? At all?

This is why I'm starting to think there's something we don't know about here.

I don't know what it is, but it feels like there has to be something more than "He's not getting it."

 

[DaBruinz]

Re: Koc released!

IF they want him, it's the only way to make sure they get him...and sooner rather than later. Same reason that the Broncos traded for Hochstein. So now there's a handy 7th round pick hanging around again.

Think of it as a would-have-been-cut backup guard for a would-have-been-cut backup QB. I'd gladly pay the price...IF they want him.

How many teams, right now, are looking for QBs? Not many, if any. Maybe Denver.. But I'd gladly add Kyle Orton if McDaniels were to cut him..

Seriously, Feeley does not have to clear waivers because he's a vet. Yes, they could trade for him if they ABSOLUTELY feel they need him. But I don't think they feel that way.. If they trade for him, then I'm wrong.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

But he's replaced in the cap by the next-highest paid player, with the full amortization counting on top of that for a net cap hit, no?

Correct. The Pats "save" his $385K salary, but take on the extra $314K from 2010 and 2011 SB prorations, plus the salary of the 52nd player, who's now the 51st (according to Miguel, who's already updated his page , that's Brandon Tate, at $310K salary).

 

[DaBruinz]

But he's replaced in the cap by the next-highest paid player, with the full amortization counting on top of that for a net cap hit, no?

Patchick, go back and read what I said. I wasn't referring to the next player and all the top 51 garbage.. I was referring strictly to the cap hit that the Patriots take in general.

And no matter how you look at it, there is no 1.28 million salary like was being talked about.

 

[Mack Herron]

What could be better for the team that would make BB say: "Screw the draft pick, let's release him."

 

[DaBruinz]

Correct. The Pats "save" his $385K salary, but take on the extra $314K from 2010 and 2011 SB prorations, plus the salary of the 52nd player, who's now the 51st (according to Miguel, who's already updated his page , that's Brandon Tate, at $310K salary).

Actually, because Tate is on the PUP/Active list, I don't believe he counts against the Pats on the salary cap, but I could be mistaken..

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Actually, because Tate is on the PUP/Active list, I don't believe he counts against the Pats on the salary cap, but I could be mistaken..

I'm fairly sure Miguel is right, and that Tate does count. He might not count against the roster, but I'm virtually certain his salary now counts against the salary cap.

 

[patchick]

Patchick, go back and read what I said. I wasn't referring to the next player and all the top 51 garbage.. I was referring strictly to the cap hit that the Patriots take in general.

Fair enough. Since you had said the cut "drops his cap figure" I took it as meaning a net drop, which it usually does.

And no matter how you look at it, there is no 1.28 million salary like was being talked about.

Totally agree, and never said otherwise.

 

[DaBruinz]

I'm fairly sure Miguel is right, and that Tate does count. He might not count against the roster, but I'm virtually certain his salary now counts against the salary cap.

If he doesn't count against the 80 man roster, how can he count against the cap?

 

[Tunescribe]

Re: Koc released!

Yes, it is. I thought he looked absolutely terrible, but I'm shocked they didn't give him another year. I wonder if there is something behind the scenes (attitude or off-field) in addition to his performance. BB was more patient with Cassel and Gutierrez, so I wonder if KOC had some specific issue that made the team lose patience and give up on him early.

I'm shocked.

Same here. All this talk that he was Brady's eventual heir-apparent, then *poof* -- gone. There's got to be a lot more to the story behind the scenes.

 

[patchick]

If he doesn't count against the 80 man roster, how can he count against the cap?

Same way that a player who goes on IR mid-season doesn't count against the roster but does count against the cap, I guess.

Here's an ancient Andy Hart column that addresses it directly:

"...both PUP and IR players are paid, their full salaries, and therefore count against the cap."
Ask PFW: Kicking off the season

 

[Deus Irae]

Re: Koc released!

Same here. All this talk that he was Brady's eventual heir-apparent, then *poof* -- gone. There's got to be a lot more to the story behind the scenes.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

If he doesn't count against the 80 man roster, how can he count against the cap?

I don't really feel like reading the CBA right now (it has a nasty tendency to suck your will to live), but I'm virtually sure it will back up Miguel's side of the argument.

 

[captain stone]

Re: Koc released!

If they are flops, as CJ was, then giving up on them is admirably admitting one's mistakes.

What would be more admirable is not only admitting mistakes, but also ensuring that those mistakes were not repeated.

Unfortunately, I have not seen any proof whatsoever that the FO has learned anything from mistake after mistake after mistake.