Solder watch / EDIT: Solder to NYG

[RobertWeathers]

Yep

Really tough start to this offseason. I haven’t heard the numbers for Lewis yet but so far there hasn’t been a deal they should have matched.

I've been thinking about the Lewis deal and I just think they didn't like the age/financials/injury combo. While $5m per is very reasonable for him, paying a him huge up front money in the first couple of years with his injury history was not interesting to them.

I bet if the deal was similar to Whites they would be ok

 

[long distance]

I don't hate it. They will probably carry 4 T: Cannon, Waddle, Garcia and the rookie

They will have 8m+ to bring a LB like Bradham and re-sign Slater + a 3rd comp next year. If Cannon step up that will be huge.

Cannon stepped over Solder some time ago, no worries there. Also Lombardi says there is no real difference between LT and RT in todays NFL.. Not sure what Dante says though - he likes the positions fixed..

 

[RobertWeathers]

They are not overpaying Solder.

Period.

He's a solid LT who is pushing 30 and two more prime years left.

 

[Love The Drake]

I've been thinking about the Lewis deal and I just think they didn't like the age/financials/injury combo. While $5m per is very reasonable for him, paying a him huge up front money in the first couple of years with his injury history was not interesting to them.

I bet if the deal was similar to Whites they would be ok

Or Lewis was really miffed at coaches and was plotting his exit regardless.

 

[slash83]

Use the money on defense.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Or Lewis was really miffed at coaches and was plotting his exit regardless.

Maybe.

IMO money talks .

 

[patsbrasilpatriotas]

Please:

1. Don't overpay
2. Don't sign any WR

 

[luuked]

Not the best way to start the morning, patsfans..

It is always the same story. I will wait for someone that actually reports that Solder chose another team over NE before starting to panic. The modus operandi has always been to let the FA process play out and then swoop in with a final offer or decline to make one.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Use the money on defense.

This sounds dumb but $20m really isn't a lot of cap space.

DA, Malcolm and DLew all received excellent deals. No way the Pats could keep them all.

Solder will get good cake from someone. Im handicapping he stays at 25%. I don't know how much his child's care at Dana Farber and Childrens will factor into his decision. I assume a lot but money is money

 

[PatriotReign]

Concerned, but not worried. Long ago, I learned that teams transition - players come and go.

Maybe new faces emerge. Maybe they become like the 2005 team for a year... in the end : a few breaks here & there have been the deciding factors between champs & « close ».

Brady doesn't have that many seasons left like he did back then.

 

[moejr]

Brady doesn't have that many seasons left like he did back then.

Agree and I honestly think he saw his chance for #6 pi$$ed away 6 weeks ago. Too much BS going on and with guys leaving like they are I am not counting on a stellar season this year.

 

[Sicilian]

This sounds dumb but $20m really isn't a lot of cap space.

I don't think that sounds dumb at all, especially considering the Pats like to keep a small bit of cushion for mid-season moves and the flexibility to move some money around. I forget what number they usually keep it at, but it's 4-5 million, no? Plus you have a rookie class coming in, which is a couple million. So really, it's closer to 14-15 million in cap space, unless I've completely misread things.

 

[luuked]

This sounds dumb but $20m really isn't a lot of cap space.

I think that Solder is a blocking stone that once fallen into place (no matter if he stays or leaves) will let other shoes (among them extensions/restructures) drop.

But uncertainty about your biggest FA contract blocks other deals down the line.

 

[PatriotReign]

Agree and I honestly think he saw his chance for #6 pi$$ed away 6 weeks ago. Too much BS going on and with guys leaving like they are I am not counting on a stellar season this year.

Honestly, as much as it leaves a bad taste in my mouth. If there isn't a real opportunity to get back to the Superbowl I'd trade Brady to a contender and start over. It's funny how one critical loss during a tumultuous season changes your perspective on things.

 

[Huckleberry1]

The Lewis deal is in that thread now. The Patriots could have afforded that. Especially if they are losing Solder. Luckily, this is a deeper RB draft class.

I agree, they could have afforded that deal, but I think Lewis wanted out and it would have taken more to keep him. How much is debatable. Fortunately RB is one of the easiest positions to address, and they could get a quality RB in the first three rounds of this draft.

 

[patsbrasilpatriotas]

I agree, they could have afforded that deal, but I think Lewis wanted out and it would have taken more to keep him. How much is debatable. Fortunately RB is one of the easiest positions to address, and they could get a quality RB in the first three rounds of this draft.

I liked that he's gone. He was not happy. All social media interaction tells a lot about the locker room and liking bad stuff about his coach of the organization is a killer IMO.

HT is a guy that i am always sctraching my head about why he stayed.

I won't panic even if Solder leaves. But if some guys could net a pick or something. We could easily rebuilt and have a better ''enviroment''

 

[farn]

Brady doesn't have that many seasons left like he did back then.

While that is true, I remember reading a lot of Cassell vs Brady in 2008... ten years ago.

So, I agree -but I’m still opting for « wait and see ».

 

[luuked]

I liked that he's gone. He was not happy. All social media interaction tells a lot about the locker room and liking bad stuff about his coach of the organization is a killer IMO.

Show me where anyone in our locker room liked anything negative about BB on social media. Please..

 

[Ring 6]

Or Lewis was really miffed at coaches and was plotting his exit regardless.

Sure let’s just make things up

 

[primetime]

Solder's an average left tackle at best. Looks better than he is because of how good Brady is at avoiding sacks on his own. This is a Flacco move, where you overpay for a replacement-level player because you're afraid that the replacement at a vital position could be much worse. It's not a good way to do business. I didn't think the Patriots would be retaining Solder from the beginning of free agency so this doesn't surprise me too much. They do need to bring in a replacement, but I think Waddle and/or Fleming can do the same job at half the cost.