Patriots sign Rex Burkhead

[DaBruinz]

Gotta say I'm genuinely shocked by the $$.

On the one hand, that's lead RB money (replacing Blount). OTOH, if BB is convinced that Burkhead is the lead RB, why only one year?

Clearly, though, with the Pats investing that kind of money, we won't see much of Burkhead on ST except perhaps to return punts/kicks. Extremely doubtful that he takes Bolden's snaps in return coverage and return blocking. No way they're going to risk that.

The deal is set up as a prove it deal for Burkhead. At worst, he is a Bolden replacement on STs in return coverage and blocking who is slightly over-paid. At best, he becomes a starting back that the Patriots sign to an extension the way they did with Lewis.

 

[Nehalem]

I keep reading this, but I don't understand it. He was 215 coming out of college, and is rumored to play at 220. How is that small?

Adrian Peterson's combine numbers are 6'1 217lbs. Since he is 3 inches shorter than Peterson its hard to say how being 2 pounds less makes him small.

Unless you would consider Peterson to be a "small back".

 

[rookBoston]

1yr, ~$3MM... interesting

• If he doesn't fit, the Pats let him walk after the season with no damage to the Cap
• If he plays well, fits in and establishes a role, he'll get an extension
• If he bursts onto the scene with a Pro Bowl caliber performance, or even just outperforms what BB is willing to pay, then the Pats are in line for a nice Compensatory when he gets a contract somewhere else... rinse and repeat

 

[nabwong]

Not liking the one year deal. I hate having to go through this again next year.

My life is a mess right now and I'm not even at the negotiation table.

 

[Huckleberry1]

So now all our RBs are going to be free agents next year.

Unbelievable. They sign a good player and the reaction is that other players will become free agents next year? How about we enjoy what they are building for this season for awhile?

 

[1960Pats]

So now all our RBs are going to be free agents next year.

That's an interesting strategy by the Pats. So what will they do next year?

 

[Urgent]

That says they sure do like him. A lot more than they would pay the RB/ST role.
The signing bonus suggests they are unlikely to release him, which limits space for a rookie.
Very surprised that this guy is the highest-paid Patriots running back ever. Higher than Corey Dillon, BJGE, LGB, Ridley, etc.

 

[50-yard-line]

Adrian Peterson's combine numbers are 6'1 217lbs. Since he is 3 inches shorter than Peterson its hard to say how being 2 pounds less makes him small.

Unless you would consider Peterson to be a "small back".

What your post did for me was spotlight HOW BIG Blount really is!

 

[1960Pats]

I was bit surprised at the size of the contract. Relatively speaking its more than BB generally pays for a top notch STer. It confirms those who believe that Berkhead is going to get a real chance to compete for RB snaps.

However Berkhead's signing made think that it is VERY similar to the Gilmore signing. Think about it. The Pats are paying what seems to be a top of the market price for a RB who will be making 3 times as much as our own home grown superbowl hero, James White, who like Malcolm Butler is entering his 4th season with the team.

So WHERE is the outrage! How come we don't have hundreds of tweets, and dozens of stories demanding the Pats pay White what he deserves or trade him to someone who is willing to pay him. (actually that's not a bad ideas of selling when an asset is at it's highest value). Just a thought.

Their situations are different. White is coming up to the last year of his contract where Butler just completed his.

 

[ErniesPinkStripes]

Whenever I read another team's board I appreciate the Pats even more, if that's possible.

One Cincy fan labeled the team's strategy as subtraction by subtraction.

I was surprised by how little criticism of the Pats there is in that thread. I thought everyone hated the Pats.

I think most football fans (minus the mouth breathers who will never learn) have resigned themselves to the fact that the Patriots are just that damn good.

They've grasped at the cheating straws for long enough, and have finally realized there's the Patriots, and everyone else...

At least that's what I've noticed during my lurking...

 

[1960Pats]

Unbelievable. They sign a good player and the reaction is that other players will become free agents next year? How about we enjoy what they are building for this season for awhile?

It really does create an interesting situation though to have the entire backfield become free at the same time. They had to do it on purpose so it will be very interesting to see what happens down the road.

 

[Nehalem]

Their situations are different. White is coming up to the last year of his contract where Butler just completed his.

They both entered the league in 2014. But since White was a 4th round draft pick his contract was for 4 years. Butler actually stand to make MORE money by being a RFA than White. In fact more money on his RFA tender than White made over 4 years

Looks to me like James White is really the one getting screwed.

 

[1960Pats]

That says they sure do like him. A lot more than they would pay the RB/ST role.
The signing bonus suggests they are unlikely to release him, which limits space for a rookie.
Very surprised that this guy is the highest-paid Patriots running back ever. Higher than Corey Dillon, BJGE, LGB, Ridley, etc.

In relation to the cap he's just behind some of those players and others, but your point is still spot on. They definitely like him.

 

[1960Pats]

I think most football fans (minus the mouth breathers who will never learn) have resigned themselves to the fact that the Patriots are just that damn good.

They've grasped at the cheating straws for long enough, and have finally realized there's the Patriots, and everyone else...

At least that's what I've noticed during my lurking...

Thanks. I don't lurk on other boards any longer.

 

[FoxboroFlyer]

To all those who said the Pats would never pay over 2M for a RB...WRONG!!!

He's gonna get alot of touches this year.

 

[BTTA]

....I just don't buy that BB thinks he will do it at scale.

This is lining up to create a lot of competition for the RB position this year, plus the ability to run just about any play regardless of which of the three of them is on the field. Someone can get hurt and there are still two of them to rotate through.

Also, I wouldn't be surprised to see White get an extension during training camp this year...a total of three years including 2017. He's shown the dedication that the Pats like before showing the dedication back.

 

[They_Hate_We]

The posts come too damn fast on this site! LOL. My opinion will always be buried in the back pages.

 

[Uptown]

I keep reading this, but I don't understand it. He was 215 coming out of college, and is rumored to play at 220. How is that small?

Exactly, as I keep saying: Beastmode was only 215lbs.

 

[pazrul72]

So WHERE is the outrage! How come we don't have hundreds of tweets, and dozens of stories demanding the Pats pay White what he deserves or trade him to someone who is willing to pay him. (actually that's not a bad ideas of selling when an asset is at it's highest value). Just a thought.

C'mon ken you are way too good of a poster to not understand the difference between a #1 corner who was 10-11 million dollars underpaid last year versus a very good but not elite 3rd down back who at most was 3 million underpaid. Butler is the cornerstone of the defense that makes the rest of it work, White is just a nice piece that did his job. Butler was one of the top 5 players on the field week in and week out. White had an outstanding game. Love them both, hope they are both here long term but you have to be able to see the difference in caliber of player, thus the "outrage" for butler and the silence for White.

Back on topic, I am really curious about this signing because it sounds exactly like the kind of guy Bill loves. Under used with starter potential on another team that clicks all the measurables he wants. Granted he doesn't have the strait line speed to be a 8 million a year superstar RB but he does sound like the guy you give 15-20 carries to every game and you get 60-80 yards. In this offense that is all you really need, just the threat of an actual running game, so I am cautiously optimistic.

The one year deal is also curious and says to me Rex is betting on himself. IMO an average 1000 yard back is worth about 4-5 million a year so over a 4 year deal that's 20 mil. I bet Bill would have been willing to sign Rex to a 4 year 12 mil deal but that's not what he wants because he believes he is better then that. So one year prove I am a starter deal might get him more money in the long run.

 

[Huckleberry1]

I think most football fans (minus the mouth breathers who will never learn) have resigned themselves to the fact that the Patriots are just that damn good.

They've grasped at the cheating straws for long enough, and have finally realized there's the Patriots, and everyone else...

At least that's what I've noticed during my lurking...

I actually saw a segment on the NFLN yesterday where they went to 4 radio talking heads (?) in a studio and the topic was "ARE THE PATRIOTS BAD FOR FOOTBALL?" And led by someone from jets media(?)they discussed how the Patriots being so good was bad for football. Lmao, there was a guy supporting the Patriots as well, and the jet talking head didn't get any support as he cried about how unfair it is that the Patriots always win and don't give the others a chance. It was really comical