Source: Aqib Talib wants top-of-the-market deal

[patsfan-1982]

if they bring in Jared Allen with Kelly and wilfork at DT then I will be happy with Logan Ryan, Alfonzo Dennard, and a upgrade at SS. but the problem is the pats are not known to pay FA's that have not proven they can play at a high level in this system

 

[slash83]

if they bring in Jared Allen with Kelly and wilfork at DT then I will be happy with Logan Ryan, Alfonzo Dennard, and a upgrade at SS. but the problem is the pats are not known to pay FA's that have not proven they can play at a high level in this system

Allen is more name then game at this point.

 

[Tunescribe]

I think the ideal scenarios for the Pats, in order, are:

1) They have Talib, and Talib is healthy when they need him. Defense is much better.

2) They don't have Talib, don't plan on having Talib, and use the cap space to shore up other areas of the defense. Defense is solid.

3) They have Talib on the books, but he's hurt, meaning his cap hit makes the rest of the team weaker. Defense is like last year.

There's no question he was a difference maker LAST year, because we were counting on him being there. If you build the team around not having him, you have a better chance of playing well in his absence.

He's like the Gronk of the defense.

 

[KDPPatsfan85]

At this point, good bye talib. I think we will lose Talib and Edelman. We will keep Blount.

 

[JackBauer]

Would you cut Wilfork for Revis?
I would for also Michael Johnson or Houston.

You're overrating Michael Johnson.

 

[patsfan-1982]

Allen is more name then game at this point.

Chandler Jones had a great season one of the best pass rushing seasons in the BB era with 11.5 sacks Jared Allen had a off year with 11.5 sacks. if they are both on the same field they both put up 15 sacks

 

[hwc]

On the positive side, he didn’t require surgery this offseason, according to a source.

Well, that's something, I guess....

Actually, as far as newspaper articles written by player agents to negotiate in the media go, this one's not too bad. At least there's a solid offer: we'll accept your 3-year deal with a bump in the guarantee, or let's tack on a fake fourth year to make the numbers look bigger. :rocker:

 

[Love The Drake]

You're overrating Michael Johnson.

I disagree he has the built that Belichick looks for he has improved every year since being In tbe league.
The rumors were BB was hot on him before he was franchised last season.
Keep in my mind also no off field transgressions.
This is the kind of free agent Belichick will break open the bank for think when we went after Colvin.
I think him or Houston would be a great move to put on the other side of Chandler Jones.

 

[Sicilian]

He's like the Gronk of the defense.

I've thought the same thing. A player who is a world beater when he's healthy, which makes the dilemma that much more agonizing when they become unreliable.

 

[JackBauer]

I disagree he has the built that Belichick looks for he has improved every year since being In tbe league.

Improved how, exactly?

 

[patsinthesnow]

I'd like the Patriots to keep Talib but if it comes down to adding guys like Houston, Johnson, Bryant, Allen etc then I'm taking the Defensive Linemen and investigating other CBs.

So seriously downgrade CB to add a #3 DE?

How about sign Talib and one of Houston, Johnson, Bryant, Allen?

 

[signbabybrady]

Has anyone paid big bucks to a CB and had it work out? Maybe Revis's first deal? Any others besides that one?

It was a long time ago and a previous regime that gave out the money but I would say Ty Law was worth his big bucks.

 

[signbabybrady]

I want Talib back but if his demands are too high tell me where a better plan might not be to let him walk and spend that money on Ward instead.

None are of the skill of Talib but we have 3 corners I like in Dennard, Ryan, and Arrington. But we only have one Safety who has proven to be a Starter in McCourty and one rookie coming off a decent year who might be able to step everything else is STs only.

So what would be better?

McCourty, Ward, Dennard, Ryan, & Arrington or McCourty, Talib, Dennard, Ryan, & Arrington

Talib despite his injuries has proven it in this system so I would prefer him but I assume top Safety money would be cheaper than top CB money.

 

[patsinthesnow]

I want Talib back but if his demands are too high tell me where a better plan might not be to let him walk and spend that money on Ward instead.

None are of the skill of Talib but we have 3 corners I like in Dennard, Ryan, and Arrington. But we only have one Safety who has proven to be a Starter in McCourty and one rookie coming off a decent year who might be able to step everything else is STs only.

So what would be better?

McCourty, Ward, Dennard, Ryan, & Arrington or McCourty, Talib, Dennard, Ryan, & Arrington

Talib despite his injuries has proven it in this system so I would prefer him but I assume top Safety money would be cheaper than top CB money.

Without a doubt McCourty, Talib, Dennard, Ryan and Arrington.

As we learned in the AFCCG, Dennard doesn't have the size/speed to be a #1 CB. Demaryius Thomas owned him. He's like Ellis Hobbs: a great #2 CB but just not a #1.

Dennard and Ryan on the outside=going from a top 5 CB duo to a mediocre CB duo.

 

[Kontradiction]

I want Talib back but if his demands are too high tell me where a better plan might not be to let him walk and spend that money on Ward instead.

None are of the skill of Talib but we have 3 corners I like in Dennard, Ryan, and Arrington. But we only have one Safety who has proven to be a Starter in McCourty and one rookie coming off a decent year who might be able to step everything else is STs only.

So what would be better?

McCourty, Ward, Dennard, Ryan, & Arrington or McCourty, Talib, Dennard, Ryan, & Arrington

Talib despite his injuries has proven it in this system so I would prefer him but I assume top Safety money would be cheaper than top CB money.

Just had the following conversation with another poster in the draft forum. Felt it fit in here as well...

I'd rather the team signed Browner as a CB and draft a SS still. If Talib stays on, we'll have a CB rotation of Talib-Browner-Dennard (nickel)-Arrington/Ryan (dime). If Talib goes, we'll have a rotation of Browner-Dennard-Arrington/Ryan (nickel)-Arrington/Ryan (dime). Either way, it's a solid CB rotation. Throw in a Bucannon/Exum/McGill at SS next to McCourty and fill out DT and DE needs through FA and the rest of the draft and you're looking at a solid, possibly top five, defense.

I would still keep Browner at CB for a multitude of reasons. The first is that I think Exum is smart and athletic enough to start immediately. I think the same of Bucannon. The second is that, with Talib, he would give us one of the tallest and most physical CB rotations in the league. Yes please. The third is that the afformentioned rotation plus McCourty at FS would cover up a lot of the rookie's learning curve (much like they did for Gregory's play this past season).

I do agree, though, that he would be an outstanding SS.

 

[Sicilian]

Without a doubt McCourty, Talib, Dennard, Ryan and Arrington.

As we learned in the AFCCG, Dennard doesn't have the size/speed to be a #1 CB. Demaryius Thomas owned him. He's like Ellis Hobbs: a great #2 CB but just not a #1.

Dennard and Ryan on the outside=going from a top 5 CB duo to a mediocre CB duo.

Yes, but McCourty/Ward is miles better than McCourty/Harmon (or whatever Harmon is likely to be). The need is there at safety regardless of Talib's status. I'm always in favor of a good safety over a good corner.

 

[Huckleberry1]

4/28-14 guaranteed would be as high as i would go, and that would be with playing time conditions. He hasn't been reliable enough to go higher and sitting out the rest of that play-off game when it really looked like he could at least attempt a comeback really concerns me, I wonder about his toughness?


The Patriots had to be expecting this and have their contingency plans in place. personally I would be fine with them focusing on DL and pass rush and adding a mid range vet and using a high pick on a CB. If they don't pay Talib it frees up money they can spend on the interior DL.

 

[zimmy]

If we were talking about a guy who was fully fit and had little history on injury problems I'd be happy to shell out 10m a year for Talib. When healthy and motivated he's a lock down corner.

The facts are different though. He has finished the last two years injured and has also missed substantial time mid season. I'm not sure I'm willing to gamble that money on a guy with a chronic hip problem. Spending 10m on a guy who is sitting on the bench in your biggest games of the year isn't a wise investment.

I think the Pats have a level they are going to go to (perhaps what Grimes got) and now they will let Talib go off in the tampering period and see what another team is willing to pay and then look to match it if they want to.

With that 10m you could potentially sign a replacement corner, another impact DE and resign Edelman. Not to mention make some other moves in free agency.

 

[Froob]

Brandon Browner is back in the NFL, perhaps he could come cheap if he doesn't return to Seattle.

 

[patsinthesnow]

Yes, but McCourty/Ward is miles better than McCourty/Harmon (or whatever Harmon is likely to be). The need is there at safety regardless of Talib's status. I'm always in favor of a good safety over a good corner.

It's not a good safety vs a good corner. It's a an elite safety vs. an elite CB. We can sign Talib as well as a good safety. (Clemons, Decoud, Abdullah, etc)

If we were talking about a guy who was fully fit and had little history on injury problems I'd be happy to shell out 10m a year for Talib. When healthy and motivated he's a lock down corner.

The facts are different though. He has finished the last two years injured and has also missed substantial time mid season. I'm not sure I'm willing to gamble that money on a guy with a chronic hip problem. Spending 10m on a guy who is sitting on the bench in your biggest games of the year isn't a wise investment.

I think the Pats have a level they are going to go to (perhaps what Grimes got) and now they will let Talib go off in the tampering period and see what another team is willing to pay and then look to match it if they want to.

With that 10m you could potentially sign a replacement corner, another impact DE and resign Edelman. Not to mention make some other moves in free agency.

One again I'll ask, who? There were two #1 CBs on the market and one is already resigned in Grimes. So you let go of Talib, do you sign one of the weaker CB1s that will still cost around 6-7 million a year? (Shields, Davis, Verner, Munnerlyn)

I'm just confused as to who this replacement will be for our 3rd best player behind Brady/Gronk and a top 10, IMO top 5 CB in Talib. Replacing Talib with a 1st round CB is foolish and a waste of draft capital. Replacing Talib with a mid-level CB free agent signing will just weaken the defense.