Smith vs. Yeatmen should be a good battle

[nnmnmmnn]

Splinters from sitting on the bench in preseason have been know to be serious enough to put players on the IR list.

Why would you want to put one on IR? So we can have the same discussion next year?

 

[Bruschi_]

I haven't got to see practices but to me so far in 2 preseason games this doesn't even look like a competition. Yeatman has already won. Smith to me seems very overrated by some here on the boards and when we release him if someone picks him up I don't think it's much of a loss and if he ends up on the PS so be it. I don't think there is any way we keep 4 TEs we need the roster space for the DL/LBs as we saw last night Belichick is gonna need a lot of bodies to do what he wants to do on D.

 

[TheSolderKing]

Yeatman looked very good on a few blocks. Don't remember seeing much of Smith, although during one close-up he appeared to be developing a very bad blister. I'd IR him, he could get a nasty infection rolling around in the dirt so much.

As of right now, I prefer Yeatman. But then again I am turning into an OTG disciple so it might just be his enthusiasm rubbing off on me.

As much as I liked my Binky Smith... Yeatmen imo has showed me he is more suitable for this O in the present. Smith to IR plz and Tate

 

[Synovia]

Why would you want to put one on IR? So we can have the same discussion next year?

In addition, why wouldn't one of them throw up a grievance if IR'd.

If the guy is healthy, and good enough to make someone else's roster (IE, not slip through waivers), hes gonna want to be on that roster, and have a chance to play.

Getting IR'd while you're healthy is against the best intrest of the player. There's no reason they'd go along with it, unless they weren't good enough, in which case, there's no reason the team would want to do it.

 

[Synovia]

Why do you need a valid excuse? Thomas Austin's agent isn't *****ing if his client gets put on the IR with a phantom injury.

Sure he is. Getting put on IR means he has no chance of playing this year. You really think going into your 3rd year in the NFL never having played a snap is a good thing? If Austin isn't good enough to play for the patriots, the best thing that can happen is he gets cut, and gets picked up by someone else, who puts him on the active roster.

If he gets IR'd this year, hes probably out of football next year.

 

[BPF]

It looks as though Yeatman has won this competition. They both seem to be strong blockers but Yeatman has more speed and seems like a more complete player at this point. I can envision a team wanting to trade for Smith, they are some teams that could really use a blocking TE, ie Pittsburgh and Chicago. I doubt we simply waive him because the Jets and Dolphins could also use a blocking TE at this point.

 

[Shelterdog]

Sure he is. Getting put on IR means he has no chance of playing this year. You really think going into your 3rd year in the NFL never having played a snap is a good thing? If Austin isn't good enough to play for the patriots, the best thing that can happen is he gets cut, and gets picked up by someone else, who puts him on the active roster.

If he gets IR'd this year, hes probably out of football next year.

Yeah not so much.

First, he has financial incentives to go on IR. He made about 80k last year and if he gets IRed this year he gets about 380k so he's very much financially inclined to do so, especially because if he goes someplace else and doesn't make the cut he's back to a practice squad.

Second, it not unusual at all for developmental linemen to spend an early year on IR. Daryl Richard is a perfect example-he was a practice squad guy in 2009, on the IR in 2010 and he's got a real shot at a roster spot this year. Kade Weston-IR last year. Neal spent years two and three of his career on IR-he definitely had an injury in year two but year three it wasn't clear.

Third, it's not unusual for linemen to go a few years before getting snaps, so getting a secure spot where you can lift and learn in the classroom but not practice isn't a terrible thing for your career. Players like Connolly and Neal and LeVoir didn't become contributors for years.

Fourth, while you can technically file an injury grievance, this really just doesn't happen. The team that put you on IR because they like you and wanted to keep you to develop you now hates you, and every other team in the league knows that you're a pain in the ass on roster moves. If thomas austin is too stupid to take a guaranteed salary and work with the Patriots/Scar for a year then if I'm a GM for another team I don't want a thing to do with him.

Fifth, I'm not 100% convinced that the IR guys don't practice. I know they're not supposed to but are we positive that they don't? What if they don't do team practices but they do have private technique sessions with a coach or trainer? I think they can be in the classroom and the weightroom.

 

[Shelterdog]

Why would you want to put one on IR? So we can have the same discussion next year?

Because you don't know who will be better in 2012, you don't know which of your 4 current TEs will be healthy in 2012, and if you keep the fourth guy maybe you trade him down the road if you don't have a roster spot.

 

[mgteich]

Let us presume for a moment that Yeatman makes the team, and Smith has a legitimate injury (whatever that is).

Would the patriots be willing to pay Smith $375K to stay and come to camp next year, as the very best blocking TE in the 2011 draft with a year of learning patriot schemes. Of course, we would. It is simply good insurance.

Personally, I think it more likely that the team offers Smith $375K a year to be on the patriot Practice Squad.

Why would you want to put one on IR? So we can have the same discussion next year?

 

[Shelterdog]

Let us presume for a moment that Yeatman makes the team, and Smith has a legitimate injury (whatever that is).

Would the patriots be willing to pay Smith $375K to stay and come to camp next year, as the very best blocking TE in the 2011 draft with a year of learning patriot schemes. Of course, we would. It is simply good insurance.

Personally, I think it more likely that the team offers Smith $375K a year to be on the patriot Practice Squad.

I could see that in theory; I'm not sure how much the rules permit it. If the Pats are willing to do that and he wants to stay but another team claims him what happens?

 

[mgteich]

After a player is waived, he is a FREE agent. As I understand it, the player is not required to sign with anyone.

I could see that in theory; I'm not sure how much the rules permit it. If the Pats are willing to do that and he wants to stay but another team claims him what happens?

 

[Shelterdog]

After a player is waived, he is a FREE agent. As I understand it, the player is not required to sign with anyone.

That makes sense--under the old CBA there was a waiver system and everybody gets a chance to sign you, in the same order as the NFL draft, but I never know if signing with the new team was mandatory. I assume teams would contact a guy's agent first ("wanna come to Oakl<CLICK>") because why waste time on a bad fit, but this is real NFL arcrana.

 

[Armchair Quarterback]

After a player is waived, he is a FREE agent. As I understand it, the player is not required to sign with anyone.

That makes sense--under the old CBA there was a waiver system and everybody gets a chance to sign you, in the same order as the NFL draft, but I never know if signing with the new team was mandatory. I assume teams would contact a guy's agent first ("wanna come to Oakl<CLICK>") because why waste time on a bad fit, but this is real NFL arcrana.

The player is a free agent only if he is not claimed on waivers by any of the other 31 teams. I believe this applies to all players with less than 4 years of service. So in this case, Smith could be claimed by any team. My guess is someone would claim him as there has got to be worse 3rd TE's on others teams than the "very best blocking TE in the 2011 draft." (I'm not sure sure if that statement is accurate, Yeatman might have something to say about it)

 

[Armchair Quarterback]

That makes sense--under the old CBA there was a waiver system and everybody gets a chance to sign you, in the same order as the NFL draft, but I never know if signing with the new team was mandatory. I assume teams would contact a guy's agent first ("wanna come to Oakl<CLICK>") because why waste time on a bad fit, but this is real NFL arcrana.

It is mandatory, the player has to go to the team that claims him. His only other option would be to quit/retire.

 

[Shelterdog]

It is mandatory, the player has to go to the team that claims him. His only other option would be to quit/retire.

Thanks for clarifying that. The way you describe it makes perfect sense and it rings a bell--was Garret Mills the fullback we got in pissing match with the Vikings over?

 

[Armchair Quarterback]

Thanks for clarifying that. The way you describe it makes perfect sense and it rings a bell--was Garret Mills the fullback we got in pissing match with the Vikings over?

Yeah, that buffoon Childress was bursting at the seams gloating about how he got one over on Belichick. Meanwhile 4 years, 3 teams and 9 catches later Mills is a free agent again after being released by the Bengals last week.

 

[Daigle]

About all these giant TEs coming in, could it be BB thinking about converting guys to tackles maybe ? Just throwing it out there.

 

[Armchair Quarterback]

About all these giant TEs coming in, could it be BB thinking about converting guys to tackles maybe ? Just throwing it out there.

Some speculated that would be the case with Yeatman when he was signed but he looks like he has a future at TE.

 

[Daigle]

Some speculated that would be the case with Yeatman when he was signed but he looks like he has a future at TE.

Maybe not Gronk or Hernandez speedish but maybe to fit more as a blocking TE. His size is impressive though. Lets hope he can find his role.

 

[NinjaZX6R]

Yeah, that buffoon Childress was bursting at the seams gloating about how he got one over on Belichick. Meanwhile 4 years, 3 teams and 9 catches later Mills is a free agent again after being released by the Bengals last week.

He also did that after the Vikings traded up couple of spots ahead of the Pats and got Percy Harvin and then gloated. Still to this day, I'll pass on Harvin.