I'm sorry, but the only person who "proved" anything about James Sanders was Sanders himself. He had the best year of his career this year. And that's great. I think those who bashed him should admit it. That said, he's still the #3 safety on this team - which is a perfect role for him.
Cousin, I will admit Sanders had his best year and applaud that effort but fact:
1-He is still a major extended liability in the pass game (see Cotchery playoff)
2-He has the worst skill set of any Pats DB
3-For a #3 Safety he is making $3m and that is way too much and would not be surprised if he is the Safety who is peddled, although I am in agreement that Merriweather will ask for the moon in 2012 (as a Pro Bowler?!?)and the BM value is at peak now. But......Merriweather is at $600,000 in 2011 and Sanders $3m. I am of the school that even for one year, it could be Chung and Merriweather.
4-Sanders still takes crappy angles
5-He still misses tackles
6-It is hard to praise any of the Pats DBs when they were so bad in pass defense in 2010. Our corners played better than expected but our Safeties were a major issue. Anyone who disagrees with that are not realistic or a complete homer.
7-We all agree we saw some progress from Chung and a future. We still need another reliable Safety with ball skills, playmaking ability and intelligence. Sanders and Merriweather have one or two of each perhaps individually but not all elements, and they are not the answer.
8-You tell me if Sanders, and I will admit he made plays in 2010, but if you look at the Teams weak pass defense, is Sanders worth a $3m as a #3 defensive back?....Nyet! The stats about the DBs don't lie. We were 30th in passing yards Cousin!
9-Upgrade in FA or the Draft. I am also of the school that the compelling possibility of a Champ Bailey as FS and Chung as SS and that would be outstanding. Bailey can surely cover and make plays over Merriweather and Sanders and he has the length over the shorter Sanders and much faster and speed is certainly not Sanders strong point.
We can get a few good years out of Bailey and he wants to play Safety. An even older Darren Sharper made e big playmaking difference for the Saints in their SB year. Do you think Cotchery is open by fifteen yards in front of Champ Bailey in that playoff game?
If you were an opposing coach and O coordinator and you wanted to make some serious positive yards, where would you attack? Right down the medium middle of the field against the Pats defense back four. Correct me if I am wrong.
In the last two years, Bailey has had 28 passes defended and 119 tackles. Can we get another two or three years? He seems to think at Safety he can still play at a high level. The neat thing is he can still swing over to CB if we go dime. He appears to be the ultimate professional. Can Sanders play CB?
I do not think Bailey will cost us that much more than the $3m we are paying Sanders this time. You pick!
DW Toys
