Patriots week 1 opponent loses starter for the year

[Deus Irae]

Tennessee Titans center Eugene Amano will miss the 2012 season with a torn triceps muscle in his right arm.

Tennessee Titans center Eugene Amano out for season with arm injury - NFL News | FOX Sports on MSN

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Another team Koppen could play for if cut, (which I doubt)

 

[mayoclinic]

From Reiss' Quick Hits this morning:

Keeping an eye on the Titans, the Patriots' season-opening opponent, they spent a lot of time this offseason looking at free-agent centers. But in the end, they wound up back at square one with their 2011 starter Eugene Amano, and on Saturday, Amano was lost for the season with a torn triceps. That could mean Fernando Velasco (3 career starts), who entered the league as a rookie free agent out of Georgia in 2008, could be lined up across from Vince Wilfork in the opener. Potential big mismatch for the Patriots.

Quick hit thoughts around NFL & Pats - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

 

[Ron Sellers]

Another team Koppen could play for if cut, (which I doubt)

If I recall correctly Koppen met with the Titans just before the Pats re-signed him, which is somewhat ironic considering this news as well as the Pats training camp reports.

 

[Sciz]

Not a huge loss, really. Amano has been terrible. If the roster ends up how I expect it to, we could very easily see Wilfork vs Koppen week 1.

 

[WhiZa]

If I recall correctly Koppen met with the Titans just before the Pats re-signed him, which is somewhat ironic considering this news as well as the Pats training camp reports.

I don't think the Pats would do this, but it certainly makes some sense that they could keep Koppen on their roster until at least until week 2

 

[Keyser Söze]

 

[rookBoston]

I don't think the Pats would do this, but it certainly makes some sense that they could keep Koppen on their roster until at least until week 2

Sure, why wouldn't they do that? Works perfectly. Week One, they abuse the Titans interior OL. Then, they trade Koppen.

Only way this works, tho, is if Connolly, Koppen, Wendell and McDonald all make the 53-man roster. If BB tries to shift any of them to the PS, Tennessee will just snap up our Koppen-backfill for themselves.

 

[Deus Irae]

I don't think the Pats would do this, but it certainly makes some sense that they could keep Koppen on their roster until at least until week 2

Sure, why wouldn't they do that? Works perfectly. Week One, they abuse the Titans interior OL. Then, they trade Koppen.

Only way this works, tho, is if Connolly, Koppen, Wendell and McDonald all make the 53-man roster. If BB tries to shift any of them to the PS, Tennessee will just snap up our Koppen-backfill for themselves.

If Koppen is on the roster for week 1, his entire season's salary is guaranteed.

 

[Avenger]

If Koppen is on the roster for week 1, his entire season's salary is guaranteed.

which is why there would have to be a trade worked out.

 

[nashvillepatsfan]

If Koppen ends up a titan it wont matter. Vince is still a mismatch. Koppen has trouble with big nose tackles. Plus its a new offense, new QB. Im sure BB would tell the D to watch for the bad snap

 

[Ron Sellers]

If Koppen is on the roster for week 1, his entire season's salary is guaranteed.

I thought that I had read somewhere that Koppen's contract was worded so that most of the money was based on weekly roster bonuses?



Edit ... $850k is non-guaranteed, but I assume that as a veteran that amount is guaranteed if he is on the week one roster. Apparently the per game roster bonus is for $200k for the year. Looking at the details more closely I am becoming more convinced that he will not make the Pats roster; the Pats would be better off rolling that amount over to next season.

Mac's Football Blog: Two-Years, $3.05M For Dan Koppen

Late last week, the New England Patriots agreed to terms with veteran center Dan Koppen on a two-year contract that had a reported value of $6 million. Koppen officially signed the contract on Monday and according to a league source, the base value of the contract is $3.05 million over two seasons, with $2.7 million in playing-time incentives increasing the contract's total maximum value.

In 2012, Koppen received a $350,000 signing bonus and has a non-guaranteed base salary of $850,000. Additionally, Koppen has a $150,000 workout bonus, can earn $200,000 in per game roster bonus ($12,500 per game active) and has $1.3 million in playing-time incentives.

Next season, Koppen is scheduled to receive a $1.1 million base salary, $200,000 workout bonus, can earn another $200,000 in per game roster bonuses ($12,500) and has up to $1.4 million in playing-time incentives.