Reports: Adrian Wilson, Abraham to visit Pats

[Huckleberry1]

Reed is actually going to end up getting money, perhaps somewhere around $5M. Wilson probably isn't getting more than $2M, and even that much would surprise me. And Abraham was a much more productive player last year compared to Freeney, and is the better overall player in case either were to start.

i don't see the point of doing this on the cheap unless they have serious plans to make big moves in free agency or some big trade that will cost them big bucks up their sleeves. If they have a Larry Fitzgerald deal in the works, which I seriously doubt, then by all means go cheap on the safety or DL and make the big move, but if this is all we are getting then spend for Reed and Freeney (i think Freeney has much more left and is a much better player than Abraham, I also think he would fit better.

if they are going to sign Talib and Jennings then the same basic rule applies, pay les for the others and pay for the big moves, otherwise get the best older vets not the cheapest.

 

[Brady2Moss]

Well whatever upside Michael Bennett has, the Seahawks are only getting a year of it right now. If the Pats can squeeze one more good season out of a guy like Abraham, then they definitely get the better deal as long as they're paying considerably less.

We're only going to get a year out of Abraham too whose more likely to provide a consistent pass rush Avril/Bennett or 35 year old Abraham. I'm fine with the move, it's just a bit frustrating when this is a special year where the cap hell that is talked about every year is actually happening and prime players are taking bargain 1-3 year deals because the market is so depressed. Perfect time for us to load up on talent, but we'll see there are still guys out there.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

Beyond that the Patriots need to come away from free agency with at least one if not two impact defenders, not just stopgap vets.

Easy..they are visiting with 2 good vets tomorrow who have visited with other teams with no deals yet..good for us. I was wilson over abraham but either or at this point i would be happy with

 

[Huckleberry1]

Easy..they are visiting with 2 good vets tomorrow who have visited with other teams with no deals yet..good for us. I was wilson over abraham but either or at this point i would be happy with

Wilson and Abraham are stop gap vets, if that's what this offseason is about then it is going to suck. Both are 2 down players at best, neither is going to make that big a difference.


The Patriots entered free agency with over 25 million in cap room, I sure as hell don't want it going to 8-3 mllion dollar guys.

 

[supafly]

Abraham is quite durable, only missed 2 games in the past 3 seasons.

He will obviously be used as a situational pass rusher, and he's made a career out of doing that well, having 7 seasons of double digit sacks.

Last season he had 10 sacks AND 6 forced fumbles. On top of that he defended 6 passes last year too.



PAST 3 YRS

32 1/2 sacks, and 12 forced fumbles...not too shabby.

Are his better days behind him, sure, but this is not a bad signing to improve the pass rush in my opinion. Not by any means, especially if the price was right.

 

[supafly]

Easy..they are visiting with 2 good vets tomorrow who have visited with other teams with no deals yet..good for us. I was wilson over abraham but either or at this point i would be happy with

The rumor is that Abraham signed already and the news will break sometime tomorrow.

 

[captain stone]

Shopping in the bargain bin just like I said they would.

Sad really that they will probably dole out 3-5 million for this guy when you could go add 2.5 more million and get Cliff Avril or Michael Bennett who have upside.

There is no valid reason why Bill should not have found a way to sign at least 1 of these 2 guys.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

The rumor is that Abraham signed already and the news will break sometime tomorrow.

from who?


I want wilson over him..hopefully they won't let wilson leave...

 

[Sciz]

The Patriots entered free agency with over 25 million in cap room, I sure as hell don't want it going to 8-3 mllion dollar guys.

Why is this a bad thing? Had the Pats had a extra $3M a year TE, DE, CB, and WR last year, they probably win the Super Bowl, and I'd say definitely make it there. Instead, they were putting Ho-oh, Francis, Cole, and Branch (four guys that didn't make $3M combined last year) on the field for a combined 143 snaps in the AFC championship game.

They probably need another CB that makes more than $3M a year, but you're really underestimating the benefit that some depth would have on the Pats' roster right now.

 

[Huckleberry1]

Why is this a bad thing? Had the Pats had a extra $3M a year TE, DE, CB, and WR last year, they probably win the Super Bowl, and I'd say definitely make it there. Instead, they were putting Ho-oh, Francis, Cole, and Branch (four guys that didn't make $3M combined last year) on the field for a combined 143 snaps in the AFC championship game.

They probably need another CB that makes more than $3M a year, but you're really underestimating the benefit that some depth would have on the Pats' roster right now.

They need difference makers more than they need depth of they want to win a championship, and other than Welker for Amendola they are getting rid of younger players to pay really old guys, and I really don't like that approach. I would much rather see them pay Vollmer and Talib (Who I really don't want that much) than old ST players like Washington and part time defenders iike Abraham and Wilson, who was benched because he was hurting the Cardinals pass defense.

 

[Huckleberry1]

from who?


I want wilson over him..hopefully they won't let wilson leave...

He couldn't even start for a sucky cardinal team because his pass defense was so bad, how does that help the Patriots. Reed is the greatest safety in history and played every down for the SB winners, pay the man.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

I think 1 of 2 will be signed...hoping for both and think it can deff be done. Will both be cheap

 

[supafly]

from who?


I want wilson over him..hopefully they won't let wilson leave...

I read this NESN story first and then saw reports in the thread...but I guess they trace back to the same source. The NESN story notes the rumor.

John Abraham Is in New England for Visit With Patriots, Would Make Sense as Pass-Rushing Depth | New England Patriots | NESN.com

There's also a patsfans.com thread that comes up in a google search that states "John Abraham signs offer sheet," but I don't know if that's relevant or not. It may not be current etc. Interestingly enough when you see the thread there are no posts, so I don't know if it was removed or what?

Either way, we'll know for sure sometime tomorrow. Even though this guy isn't credible at all, often times these rumors do end up breaking this way. I have a close cousin in the music business who plays in a band (big enough to have sold out Madison Square Garden twice and sold 2-3 million records), and I can't tell you how many times rumors have broken on twitter from fans or pictures etc. It may be true, it may not. We'll have to wait and see.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

If you had to choose...wilson or abraham...i would choose wilson...or both hopefully

 

[Marqui]

I'm going to be mad if they don't sign both. There is definitely no reason they can't afford both with their heap of capspace.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

I'm going to be mad if they don't sign both. There is definitely no reason they can't afford both with their heap of capspace.

it's like an interview..if the interview goes bad..they won't sign he player..but abraham getting a head start by flying in early is a good sign...and wilson really hasn't had inserted except for SF and another team i forget

 

[supafly]

He couldn't even start for a sucky cardinal team because his pass defense was so bad, how does that help the Patriots. Reed is the greatest safety in history and played every down for the SB winners, pay the man.

The problem with Reed is that supposedly he and Pollard were both negative influences in the BAL locker room lately. Of course we don't know if those reports are true or not, but it's possible that guys like Lewis etc were able to keep the lockerroom tight enough while he was there. As of now, BAL doesn't want either one back now that Lewis is gone, so there may indeed be some level of truth to it.

Reed also will be demanding more money, so Belichick likely doesn't see the same value in him. On top of that there were some twitter chatterers who stated that he's definitely signing with HOU in the morning, so I doubt they'd let him leave.

 

[ausbacker]

He couldn't even start for a sucky cardinal team because his pass defense was so bad, how does that help the Patriots. Reed is the greatest safety in history and played every down for the SB winners, pay the man.

Devin McCourty is the Patriots Free Safety. They need a Strong Safety to pair with him whilst Tavon Wilson is groomed for the role.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

Devin McCourty is the Patriots Free Safety. They need a Strong Safety to pair with him whilst Tavon Wilson is groomed for the role.

Some people don't know the roster too well

 

[supafly]

it's like an interview..if the interview goes bad..they won't sign he player..but abraham getting a head start by flying in early is a good sign...and wilson really hasn't had inserted except for SF and another team i forget

There are a couple of thoughts to the Wilson possibilities:

1. Belichick has craved that Don Davis hybrid role for awhile now, and the experiment failed with another vet safety at the end of his career, John Lynch. I wonder if Belichick has any ideas of Wilson playing this LB/SS role or not?

2. I think how Belichick feels about the safety position may depend on whether or not he sees a weakness in the tackling area, as some certainly did at times during the season. Remember it was Belichick who told Devin McCourty when he was signed, "we have no such thing as a cover corner here, you WILL tackle." The ability to tackle is extremely important to Belichick, and I think he may have seen a weakness in that secondary role at times last year. While Wilson has lost a step or two in the coverage area, he still is a veteran presence in the secondary (good for Tavon Wilson and a potential high round safety pick), is a very hard hitter, and can definitely tackle. Some of us see the need for 2 FS types back there with better speed, but maybe Belichick sees the need for a SS type on early downs? That leads me to my next point...

3. Wilson could be a role player, who doesn't see nearly the amount of reps some here will expect him to. He may offer his ability to do the things in the lockerroom and on the practice field to help break in the rookie and 2nd yr players, and also play on some early downs in the box more, and/or later in the game when the score is more decided. Another thought is more big nickel possibilities? McCourty as the FS with Adrian Wilson as the SS, with Tavon Wilson covering the TE? It's a thought to ponder.

4. This one goes back to addressing the weakness of tackling, but it's also possible that Belichick may see him somewhat in a Chung type role, or even as a replacement for Chung and/or a role player like J.Sanders was at times, with the ability to start if needed with a downgrade as a backup.

5. If the deal is low enough he may actually be able to be a 4-5 safety, who may even not be guaranteed to make the team. He could even be brought in to see how he looks in TC and end up being camp fodder. Again, that's if the deal is low enough.