Pot Roast visiting - (UPDATED - He's Reportedly Joining the Team)

[Joey007]

This has probably been the greatest offseason where we didn't acquire a blockbuster player. (Moss in 07, Revis in 14)

A lot of next tier pickups like Bennett, Pot Roast, Long, etc.

 

[VectorPrime]

Christ I'd give my left foot to have won at least Super Bowl 46. Christ it haunts me more than 42 for whatever stupid reason.

 

[slash83]

Excellent signing he should help form the run defense into a top 5 or top 10 unit. I don't remember an offseason heading into the draft with a stacked team and having so many picks to play with, even without a 1st.

 

[Schmo]

Now the pressure's on Easley to give QBs happy feet. Stay healthy and beat single Gs off the snap all year long. If he can do that, we'll look really good with Sheard and Nink holding/pushing the edge.

 

[NewFeep]

pot roast will be an excellent addition to the 2016 future SB champion patriots!

 

[DarrylS]

The 2016 BB & #12 FU tour continues, and despite Goodell's best efforts this team has gotten better... I like this signing, but wish it was for less that the reported $4.5 million dollar price tag..

 

[PittPatriot]

The 2016 BB & #12 FU tour continues, and despite Goodell's best efforts this team has gotten better...

Oh boy. I think we are officially 0-2 on FU tours ( I am a Super Bowl or bust kind of guy).

 

[DarrylS]

Oh boy. I think we are officially 0-2 on FU tours ( I am a Super Bowl or bust kind of guy).

I agree, however we are talking about what is happening right now.. often it is the journey.

 

[Galeb]

Did somebody say Journey?

 

[Fixit]

I will never understand why so many armchair GMs stress out over money, when the guys who actually make the decisions and have 100x the knowledge of running the team feel it's a good investment.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

I will never understand why so many armchair GMs stress out over money, when the guys who actually make the decisions and have 100x the knowledge of running the team feel it's a good investment.

You'd be surprised how dumb some NFL execs are...not on our team but there are plenty around the league.

 

[Fixit]

You'd be surprised how dumb some NFL execs are...not on our team but there are plenty around the league.

I agree with you, I'm speaking only of the Pats front office.

 

[Ross12]

Losing the conference championship 3 of the past 4 years can't sit well with anyone, and if you go back a little deeper you'd find the 2011 heartbreaking SB loss, the 2010 HFA loss to the Jets (of all teams), the 2009 shellacking at home to the Ravens, the 2008 season where they didn't even go to the playoffs, the 2007 ruined perfect season, and the 2006 AFCCG where we snatched defeat from the jaws of victory and blew a 21-3 lead.

In other words, there are plenty of reasons for Belichick, Kraft, and Brady to see things through a bit of a different lens than most of us, and it's great to see him going "all in," while still keeping to his value system.

Would you say it's an "all-in" mentality? I think that's an interesting conversation to have. I want to think it's just BB being BB and signing guys at his price as they are available, but it just feels like he is doing "more" this year - more powerful upper-tier (Bennett, Knighton) and mid-tier (Long, Hogan, McClellin) moves - than normal.

 

[Froob]

Branch is going to be Pot Roast's back up though.

I don't think so. On the Pats a lot of positions it's more rotations than it is someone is a backup like the running back situation. I'd imagine Pot Roast and Branch are going to play together a lot one early downs. Isn't Pot Roast a pretty decent pass rusher too?

 

[JarOfMayo51]

So I figure primarily on first and second down you'd typically start Brown & Knighton, on third down Brown & Easley. Rotate Brown out for Branch sometimes, or specifically put Branch & Knighton on the field when you know the run is coming. Jones can sort of be the "Easley insurance" for if Easley is hurt again... Sheard can play a little bit of DT in too in a pure pass-rushing role, I think.

Our goal line defense is going to be nnaaassttaaayyyy!!!

 

[MitchKumstein]

So from what I'm seeing, if we put in Pot Roast and Branch at the same time they'd combine for over 700 pounds.

Would we get fined for causing a gravitational pull?

Don't give goodell, kensil and the rest of the NYJFL executives any ideas.

 

[JarOfMayo51]

I will never understand why so many armchair GMs stress out over money, when the guys who actually make the decisions and have 100x the knowledge of running the team feel it's a good investment.

I think it's just a result of BB and the culture he's brought to the organization. We're all armchair GMs, but because of BB we've been educated on the importance of the cap and value of each position and player.

Obviously BB and the front office are smarter than us when it comes to this, given they live and breath it every day as part of their career... but I bet a lot of us would be upgrades over some of the horse *%! $ GMs around the league lol

We are fanatics, after all

 

[jimnance]

Oh boy. I think we are officially 0-2 on FU tours ( I am a Super Bowl or bust kind of guy).

Huh? SB 49 officially kicked off the FU tour. Matter of fact, id argue the motivation was higher than than ANY point of the "15 season. Even though no decisions or punishment was yet laid out-here you are, preparing for the SB, the absolute pinnacle of your careers, not knowing if youll ever get back, facing the defending champion with an all-time great defense, and the nfl throws a bunch of allegations at you and launches an investigation. Sorry, but THAT is a much greater load to deal with for the team and brady than the anger they felt over the punishment later. For one thing, the stakes are greater, and for another, you have to get over REALLY fast with the biggest game of your life coming up in less than 2 weeks. So, imo, the defamegate FU tour not only got off to a roaring start, it couldnt have been more successful.

 

[jimnance]

Now the pressure's on Easley to give QBs happy feet. Stay healthy and beat single Gs off the snap all year long. If he can do that, we'll look really good with Sheard and Nink holding/pushing the edge.

To me Easley is the #1 key to the entire defense being GREAT-im talking top 3, vs. just being very good. Why do I say that? ok, we know hightower and collins will be awesome-even better than last year, especially collins, as he becomes a smarter player, it allows him to unleash even lore of his freaky athleticism, since hes not having to think as much due to comfort in the system. we know malcolm brown, already very good, should be even better. the nt pos is in great hands with branch and pot roast. sheard and nink will be solid again. butler should be even better and hes already a probowler. the safety group is one of the best in the nfl. When easley was on the field, he was a beast. he was hands -down the best interior rusher on the team. So, i know its a big "what if", but play along with me-"what if", easley stays healthy all year ?His injury history is LESS fragile than both gronk and edelman's at this stage of their careers. So not THAT big of of a what-if. If he stays healthy most of the year, especially in playoff season, and everyone just meets expectations, this is a top 3 nfl defense and Th Pats are hoisting Lombardi #5.

 

[RobertWeathers]

I like the signing and I like Pot Roast as a player.

What I find interesting is that they've spent $4.5m on him. Thats a chunk of change to be spending on a DT here playing about 40% of the snaps. They must be pretty high on him. What I'm curious about is if they have signed him if Hicks was coming back? Fairley? I'm assuming no.

I also wonder if they aren't thrilled with any of the DTs in the draft. Maybe they draft a kid and ease him in as Branch and Pot Roast are done after 2016.