Pfw Whispers..bruschi And More...

[SoonerPatriot]

1) There will be no restructuring of Dillon's contract.

2) Why does anyone think that we can replace him for $2.5M per year?

Here's a bigger question, why would you think he's worth 4.4 million when he played 23 percent of the offensive snaps during the season and looked ragged at times?

Theoretically he could be replaced via the draft for much cheaper than 2.5 million.

 

[Oswlek]

Here's a bigger question, why would you think he's worth 4.4 million when he played 23 percent of the offensive snaps during the season and looked ragged at times?

Theoretically he could be replaced via the draft for much cheaper than 2.5 million.

I think that many people overrate Dillon's importance to this team. He defintitely was better than Maroney down the stretch, but he really wasn't that amazing. Not only that, but he could only be in on 3-4 consecutive plays at a time and that obviously affects the play calling.

Unless Dillon comes back to at least 70% of what he was in 2004, he won't be worth 4.4mm and could easily be replaced with a 1.5mm investment.

 

[DaBruinz]

I have a problem with people ragging on Dillon and making the exclamation that he only played in 23% of the snaps. He still ran the ball 199 times. That was 24 more times than Maroney. Kevin Faulk and Heath Evans only ran the ball about 52 times.

The Pats ran 499 rushing plays and Dillon had 199 of them. That is nearly 40% of the rushing plays. THAT is what is important.

How many plays did the Pats run Multi-receiver sets with an empty backfield? Can you really hold those against Dillon? Can you hold it against Dillon that they put Faulk in on 3rd downs?

Come on people, lets get some perspective here.

OH, btw, I am not sold on keeping Dillon for 4.4 Million, but I question whether the Pats could get a back of similar caliber for even 3 million a year.

 

[SoonerPatriot]

I think that many people overrate Dillon's importance to this team. He defintitely was better than Maroney down the stretch, but he really wasn't that amazing. Not only that, but he could only be in on 3-4 consecutive plays at a time and that obviously affects the play calling.

Unless Dillon comes back to at least 70% of what he was in 2004, he won't be worth 4.4mm and could easily be replaced with a 1.5mm investment.

Reiss was the one who came up with the 23 percent number. I believe it's relevant in relation to the compensation he is scheduled to receive next year and to the state of his overall health. Obviously some of that is skewed because of personnel groupings within the offense itself. But if Dillon were still what he was in 2004, he would have been on the field more regardless.

Frankly, I'm ready to see Maroney try and carry the load by himself although BB may have other ideas. I'm not opposed to Dillon coming back in a much more limited role next year. I also like the idea of finding another RB in the draft and seeing if we can develop them into a suitable No. 2. This is 1-cheaper and 2-helps our team get younger.

 

[Brady to Brown]

Inside the 10 yard line Dillon is golden. How much is a TD worth in today's NFL? Now multiply that by how many TD's Dillon gets every year.

Or tell me who will score all of these TD's once Dillon retires?

Maroney?

 

[SoonerPatriot]

Inside the 10 yard line Dillon is golden. How much is a TD worth in today's NFL? Now multiply that by how many TD's Dillon gets every year.

Or tell me who will score all of these TD's once Dillon retires?

Maroney?

Good offenses are capable of evolving. I'd like to think between BB, Brady, Pioli and McDaniels we could figure out a way to get into the endzone sans Dillon. Short yardage back (like Zack Crocket from Oakland) is the role he is most suited for at this point, but not at $4.4 million.

 

[zippo59]

I love Dillon and really hope he sticks around.

 

[patsfan55]

Interesting stuff..... check it out http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/insider/news/story?id=2757050


To some up the whispers
1. Supposedly the pats have issues with #54's decline in pass coverage skills this year and they plan on using him in a limited role in 2007. they also say Teddy will play another season.

2. Tully Banta-cain. Rumor has it that the Jets want him and the Pats have no desire to resign him.

3. Many insiders think the Pats are going to make a hard push for Ravens Free Agent linbacker Adalius Thomas. This would make sense if the Bruschi rumors are true.


Intersting stuff. I would love to see us make a run at Thomas. I also could care less if Tully goes to the Patriots minor league team in New Jersey.

Any thoughts??

this actually mirrors my wish list
so yeah im all for it
as much as i have always (and i mean always, even when he was jus a special teamer) loved bru, hes nearing the end
and i was wrong on tbc
i always liked him and backed him, but man hes really only a backup, a third or fourth olb
as ive said before i would cream my pants if adalius thomas wore a pats uni

 

[ATippett56]

The only obstacle I envision with Adalius Thomas is that Mike Nolan and the 49ers have far more cap room than the New England Patriots.

 

[PatsFanInVa]

Thanks for posting.

I don't think our pursuit of Adalius Thomas has anything to do with Bruschi's situation however. Thomas's preferred position is OLB. Pat Kirwan compared him to McGinest. Kirwan also said on Sirius NFL Radio that he thought the Bengals would go after Thomas, FWIW.

I don't think Thomas will pass the Bengals' rigorous character requirements. Does he even have a minor league B&E to his credit? How much time has he done?

In all seriousness... whispers about Thomas aside, the linebacker you will see come to New England is the Chargers' Donnie Edwards.

PFnV

 

[zippo59]

I don't think Thomas will pass the Bengals' rigorous character requirements. Does he even have a minor league B&E to his credit? How much time has he done?

In all seriousness... whispers about Thomas aside, the linebacker you will see come to New England is the Chargers' Donnie Edwards.

PFnV

I think bringing him here will be counter productive. He's old and small.

 

[ATippett56]

I don't think Thomas will pass the Bengals' rigorous character requirements. Does he even have a minor league B&E to his credit? How much time has he done?PFnV

No but Adalius Thomas probably has a "get out of jail free" card from Ray Lewis.

 

[Seymour93]

The only obstacle I envision with Adalius Thomas is that Mike Nolan and the 49ers have far more cap room than the New England Patriots.

It all depends on how much Thomas values SB's. He was a rookie who rarely saw the field when the Ravens won the SB in 2000. Hopefully he wants to add "integral member of a champion" to his resume to complement being a bit part player in a SB victory six years ago. He comes here if he's willing to make a little less than he would in SF. Let's meet him half way by offering him a good chunk of cash up front. Him being 30 by season's start is why we don't offer anything over four years.

 

[ATippett56]

It all depends on how much Thomas values SB's. He comes here if he's willing to make a little less than he would in SF. Let's meet him half way by offering him a good chunk of cash up front. Him being 30 by season's start is why we don't offer anything over four years.

It also depends how much Adalius Thomas values money, as well. There are quite of few NFL franchises that are flush with cash this off-season. As for your other statement, a little less money allowed Ty Law choose the Kansas City Chiefs over the New England Patriots.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

1) There will be no restructuring of Dillon's contract.

2) Why does anyone think that we can replace him for $2.5M per year?

Last season there was, and part of it involved deferring a $3M roster bonus due in 2006 into 2007. They can convert his salary again to blunt his cap hit, but somehow I don't see Belioli PAYING $5.5M CASH for 2007 Corey Dillon unless they know something we don't - like he was injured again in 2006 (as opposed to he's just breaking down with age) and definitely won't be in 2007. Now if Corey again agrees to postpone his roster bonus into 2008 in exchange for getting his $2.5M guaranteed, that I could see because in short yardage alone he could earn that.

 

[zippo59]

It also depends how much Adalius Thomas values money, as well. There are quite of few NFL franchises that are flush with cash this off-season. As for your other statement, a little less money allowed Ty Law choose the Kansas City Chiefs over the New England Patriots.

Ty Law already has three Superbowl rings. Thomas has one that he was apparently a non factor in getting.

 

[ATippett56]

Thomas has one that he was apparently a non factor in getting.

I guess that all depends what Adalius Thomas is looking for and I, for one, certainly don't know. Besides, if Adalius Thomas does sign with 49ers, they could possibly be one of those surprise teams next year.

 

[Sean Pa Patriot]

Im not getting excited on who and when we are signing people till March 2nd..

 

[Seymour93]

It also depends how much Adalius Thomas values money, as well. There are quite of few NFL franchises that are flush with cash this off-season. As for your other statement, a little less money allowed Ty Law choose the Kansas City Chiefs over the New England Patriots.

How much would you shelve out for Thomas? I'm not breaking the bank for a 30 year old who's never played in this system before.

 

[DaBruinz]

How much would you shelve out for Thomas? I'm not breaking the bank for a 30 year old who's never played in this system before.

Well, Thomas has played in a 3-4 system before. They ran it for a year in Baltimore. They also ran the "46" there. What you seem to be missing is that Thomas has supposedly lined up at every defensive position at one time or another during his career in Baltimore. In other words, he's smart and athletic and can grasp new positions pretty quickly.