Re-sign and extend our own

[mgteich]

The team below is fully capable of winning the SB, as the 2008 team would have been with fewer injuries. We can be set up for years to come without any free agents from other teams and without depending on this year's great draft for major 2009 contributions. What we need to do is solve the situation with Cassel before free agency, re-sign our own and extend our own. We can then address draft opportunities out a position of strength.
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We had one of the best teams ever in 2007 and 2008. 16-0 and 11-5.
With the injured coming back, we will have another awesome team.
We are much younger than a couple of years ago.
This a great draft and we will likely have five picks in the top 100 (incl the comp pick).
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RE-SIGN
OFFENSE: Hochstein, Gaffney, Evans, Jordan
DEFENSE: Wright, L. Sanders, J. Sanders,
whoever is ready and able among Tank Williams, Harrison, Colvin and Seau
SPECIALISTS: Paxton, Hanson
EFRA's and RFA's: Woods, Britt, Ventrone, Connolly (and any other ERFA's that I missed)

EXTEND
Wilfork, Green, Mankins
Seymour (??)
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OFFENSE (18)
QB (2) Brady, O'Connell
RB (3) Maroney, Faulk, Morris
WR (4) Moss, Welker, Gaffney/fa, Aiken
TE (2) Watson, Thomas
OL (7) Light, Mankins, Koppen, Neal, Kaczur, Hochsein, Levoir

DEFENSE (19)
DL (5) Seymour, Wilfork, Warren, Green, Wright
LB (7) Thomas, Vrabel, Woods, Mayo, Guyton, Bruschi, Colvin/Seau
DB (7) Hobbs, Wheatley, Wilhite, L Sanders, Meriweather, J. Sanders, Williams/Harrison

SPECIALISTS (3)
K (1) Gostkowski
P (1) Hanson
DS (1) Paxton

SPECIAL TEAMERS (6) usually six are active
ST (6) Evans, Washington, Slater, Ventrone, Spann, Redd

BACKUPS (7) often inactive
QB (1) Gutierrez
RB (1) BJGE/Jordan
OL (2) Yates, Callaghan/Britt
TE (1) DeVree
LB (1) Crable
DL (1) Smith


PRACTICE SQUAD LEVEL PLAYERS
Adams, Ruud, Wendell, Connolly, Robertson, Malone, Craig

 

[HEY BRO! WHAT UP?]

I'm sure it's a no brainer to sign and extend their own but they need upgrades on defense if they have any chance at winning a superbowl. I really think this is the year that BB loads up on defense like he did in '03. If Brady is healthy and the Pats somehow get a 1st rounder for Cassel, I could see them really making a play for Terrell Suggs or Nnamdi Asomugha. Also, they might get a 3rd rounder for Samuel which will help replace him at CB. Lastly, it wouldn't suprise me if the Pats ended up trading for Chad Johnson. However, it would suprise me if the Bengals traded Chad Johnson to New England.

 

[JMarr]

I'm sure it's a no brainer to sign and extend their own but they need upgrades on defense if they have any chance at winning a superbowl. I really think this is the year that BB loads up on defense like he did in '03. If Brady is healthy and the Pats somehow get a 1st rounder for Cassel, I could see them really making a play for Terrell Suggs or Nnamdi Asomugha. Also, they might get a 3rd rounder for Samuel which will help replace him at CB. Lastly, it wouldn't suprise me if the Pats ended up trading for Chad Johnson. However, it would suprise me if the Bengals traded Chad Johnson to New England.

The Pats trading for ocho would be the equivalent of the Cowboys trading for Roy Williams (only Williams doesn't have an attitute problem)--in other words, stupid and unnecessary.

 

[HEY BRO! WHAT UP?]

The Pats trading for ocho would be the equivalent of the Cowboys trading for Roy Williams (only Williams doesn't have an attitute problem)--in other words, stupid and unnecessary.

I don't see it that way because Chad Johnson is way better than Roy Williams. Unlike the Cowboys, the Pats wouldn't have to break the bank to get him. Chad wants out and now it seems as though the Bengals are finally getting tired of him. A winning orgainization will turn Chad Johnson into a choir boy. Again, it probably won't happen but it wouldn't suprise me. Pats need another guy who can stretch the field to take pressure off Moss.

 

[Patriot_in_NY]

I think it is safe to say that there is any of a half dozen different directions we could go then Watson at TE and LoMo. At the latter position, I'm actually comfortable with a Morris/Jordan/BJGE RB by Committee, with perhaps another couple cast offs brought in to compete in in TC.

 

[mgteich]

Are you saying that we had "no chance" of winning the 2008 SB with our defense?
Are you saying that we had "no chance" of winning the 2009 SB had Brday been healthy?
(and perhaps AT)
Are you saying that the current defense is not good enough to win the SB, even with
Brady coming back, the injured coming back, and a couple of rookie contributers?

It is NOT a no-brainer to sign our own. You disagree. You would use our cap money in the search for better players that Wilfork, Seymour, Green, Mankins, Wright and the rest on which I would spend our cap money. And yes, CB is a high priority. I would have it even higher than you. I would expect a Day One (Round 1 or 2) corner rather than waiting until the last pick in the third.

I'm sure it's a no brainer to sign and extend their own but they need upgrades on defense if they have any chance at winning a superbowl. I really think this is the year that BB loads up on defense like he did in '03. If Brady is healthy and the Pats somehow get a 1st rounder for Cassel, I could see them really making a play for Terrell Suggs or Nnamdi Asomugha. Also, they might get a 3rd rounder for Samuel which will help replace him at CB. Lastly, it wouldn't suprise me if the Pats ended up trading for Chad Johnson. However, it would suprise me if the Bengals traded Chad Johnson to New England.