Steve Gregory released

[ausbacker]

Don't need a hard hitter, although that would be nice. Someone that doesn't take horrible angles to the ball and doesn't miss tackles like Gregory would be a huge improvement in itself.

The Patriots need a hard hitting Safety. The middle of the field isn't a place Tight Ends and Wide Receivers fear against the Patriots anymore. That needs to change in 2014.

 

[Ring 6]

What great news!

Now, we can start Harmon and have Tavon Wilson as our primary backup while we draft yet another rookie for future development.

Or better yet, we can all hope that Adrian Wilson can start. As I recall that plan worked great last year.

I know, what are we going to do in this weeks game?

 

[patsfan-1982]

he was not a great safety and can be upgraded very easy but am not sold on Duron Harmon as a starter let hope they sign a FA upgrade

 

[RayClay]

I thought Gregory did a fine job as we transitioned from the horror of a secondary a few years ago. Now, we have stability and can take a chance on someone more athletic.

I thought he was a good tackler, just not a big enough hitter.

 

[Tunescribe]

For everyone here jumping for joy that Steve Gregory was released: you're an idiot.

Don't be surprised if he's back in a Patriots uniform at some point this coming season.

 

[patsfan-1982]

For everyone here jumping for joy that Steve Gregory was released: you're an idiot.

Don't be surprised if he's back in a Patriots uniform at some point this coming season.

I agree cause right now I don't see how they can upgrade from him without paying big money for a safety or hoping a 2th or 3rd round pick will be a day one starter

 

[JackBauer]

For everyone here jumping for joy that Steve Gregory was released: you're an idiot.

Don't be surprised if he's back in a Patriots uniform at some point this coming season.

Not jumping for joy but elite safety play is at a premium in today's NFL and you're just not going to get that out of Steve Gregory.

 

[Tunescribe]

Not jumping for joy but elite safety play is at a premium in today's NFL and you're just not going to get that out of Steve Gregory.

So now we can look forward to getting it out of Duron Harmon? I'm not saying Gregory was all-world but plenty of morons around here considered him a liability when he was solid if unspectacular in 2013. Yes, we should all hope that whoever plays across from McCourty this coming season is a physical tone-setter instead of a step down from Gregory.

 

[Deus Irae]

For everyone here jumping for joy that Steve Gregory was released: you're an idiot.

Don't be surprised if he's back in a Patriots uniform at some point this coming season.

There was a report that said that he hadn't been approached about a salary cut and was just straight released. That doesn't bode well for a re-sign later.

So now we can look forward to getting it out of Duron Harmon? I'm not saying Gregory was all-world but plenty of morons around here considered him a liability when he was solid if unspectacular in 2013. Yes, we should all hope that whoever plays across from McCourty this coming season is a physical tone-setter instead of a step down from Gregory.

Gregory was a liability in 2013, just as he was in 2012. This isn't news, as it's something that's been being discussed since his arrival. In a 5-deep secondary (3CB/2S), Gregory was, far and away, the weakest link. I Would have certainly rather have Gregory as a backup safety on a smaller deal than have Tavon and Adrian Wilson as my fall backs, but that's apparently not meant to be. My biggest worry here is that the Patriots need to avoid a repeat of the Meriweather-Sanders mistake, where they cut both starting safeties without having anything worth a damn as replacements. Now we have to hope for a better off-roster replacement than Ihedigbo, and that Harmon > Chung.

 

[TriplecHamp]

For everyone here jumping for joy that Steve Gregory was released: you're an idiot.

Don't be surprised if he's back in a Patriots uniform at some point this coming season.

Don't care if he comes back in a much reduced role.

Not jumping for joy but elite safety play is at a premium in today's NFL and you're just not going to get that out of Steve Gregory.

Yep, Gregory is a bottom third safety in this league. He's an NFL calibre player but shouldn't a starter for any team.

I agree cause right now I don't see how they can upgrade from him without paying big money for a safety or hoping a 2th or 3rd round pick will be a day one starter

You must not be aware of the quality safety and safety-coversion projects in this draft. Either that or you're severely overrating Gregorys skill set.

So now we can look forward to getting it out of Duron Harmon? I'm not saying Gregory was all-world but plenty of morons around here considered him a liability when he was solid if unspectacular in 2013. Yes, we should all hope that whoever plays across from McCourty this coming season is a physical tone-setter instead of a step down from Gregory.

Gregory was absolutely 10000% a liability in run support. He was late plenty of times in coverage and there were way too many "miscommunications" on the right side of the field. LMAO if you don't think as an NFL safety he was a liability. Just because safety play in todays NFL as probably at an all time low doesn't mean that Gregory should get a pass. He can be upgraded quite easily this offeseaon. I said during the middle of the season that he shouldn't be starting for us next season, same goes for Wendell and Kyle Arrington when he's not in the slot lol.

 

[JackBauer]

So now we can look forward to getting it out of Duron Harmon? I'm not saying Gregory was all-world but plenty of morons around here considered him a liability when he was solid if unspectacular in 2013. Yes, we should all hope that whoever plays across from McCourty this coming season is a physical tone-setter instead of a step down from Gregory.

The season doesn't start tomorrow. Cutting Gregory indicates BB knows the safety position needs to be upgraded, and I'm inclined to agree.

 

[The_Riddler]

Over paying for backup safeties is something I hope BB has learned from, see James Sanders. BB gave starter money to both of these role players and both didn't see the end of their contracts.

 

[Tunescribe]

The report said that he hadn't been approached about a salary cut and was just straight released. That doesn't bode well for a re-sign later.

Are you referring to Nick Underhill referencing an unnamed "source"? Because that's the only report I saw suggesting that his contract wasn't discussed. For all we know Gregory made it known he would not take a significant cut to remain a Patriot, so no "approach" was made.

Gregory was a liability in 2013, just as he was in 2012. This isn't news, as it's something that's been being discussed since is arrival.

I think you're confusing not being a significant playmaker with being a "liability." Last season he played in 14 games with 11 starts and finished with a career-high 90 total tackles. He also logged significant playing time with a broken thumb. He was practically never out of position in coverage and BB trusted him enough to have him calling defensive signals in Mayo's absence. That hardly is being a "liability." But he was not the type of physical presence one normally covets in a strong safety and occasionally was overpowered in run support, which is why so many fans dump on him.

By the way, Pro Football Focus ranked Gregory their 25th safety, grading him eight spots ahead of Harmon.

Gregory was absolutely 10000% a liability in run support. He was late plenty of times in coverage and there were way too many "miscommunications" on the right side of the field. LMAO if you don't think as an NFL safety he was a liability. Just because safety play in todays NFL as probably at an all time low doesn't mean that Gregory should get a pass. He can be upgraded quite easily this offeseaon. I said during the middle of the season that he shouldn't be starting for us next season, same goes for Wendell and Kyle Arrington when he's not in the slot lol.

"LMAO," "lol." Really? Pretty odd that the Patriots would trust a guy guilty of "too many miscommunications" with calling defensive signals and still put him on the field with a busted thumb over next man up. Gregory was not a "liability," he just wasn't a big playmaker. Know the difference. You haven't a clue.

 

[FredFromDartmouth]

I hope our safety core looks something like this:

McCourty
mid-level free agent (Abdullah, Decoud, etc.)
Harmon
Exum

Gregory/Wilson/Wilson all shown the door in the process.

Ah, I would rather see:
McCourty
Calvin Pryor
Harmon
Exum

 

[FredFromDartmouth]

I didn't see anything in his rookie year that would lead me to believe that Harmon is more than a back-up himself. That said, it was still his rookie year and he does have room to grow. But I'm sticking with what I said at the beginning of the offseason: the team, through FA or the draft, needs to bring in someone that is going to light up receivers going over the middle. For too long now, the back end of this defense has been softer than a sponge cake. McCourty has the range and the ball skills. Pair him with a destroyer that isn't a total liability in coverage. There are some very interesting prospects in the draft if the team doesn't want to go the FA route for a guy like Ward.

Adrian Wilson is a thumper; I don't know why you hate him so much. Maybe it is because he is a zillion years old...I don't know what his cap hit is or whether he still has the legs, but last year in preseason he was destroying guys.

Of course Calvin Pryor would be perfect, but he would require a trade-up quick seems ill-advised this year. I have not seen a safety in the draft like Pryor is a few years.

 

[Sciz]

Adrian Wilson is a thumper; I don't know why you hate him so much. Maybe it is because he is a zillion years old...I don't know what his cap hit is or whether he still has the legs, but last year in preseason he was destroying guys.

And getting destroyed in coverage. He hasn't had the legs to play safety since 2011, so I don't know why he all of a sudden would now.

 

[Deus Irae]

Are you referring to Nick Underhill referencing an unnamed "source"? Because that's the only report I saw suggesting that his contract wasn't discussed. For all we know Gregory made it known he would not take a significant cut to remain a Patriot, so no "approach" was made.

Mike Reiss (fuller quote included as solace for the hopeful):

With that in mind, the question comes to the forefront: Why wouldn't the Patriots approach Gregory about taking a pay cut? My understanding is that the team didn't and I'd file it into the category of them not wanting to disrespect a veteran player like Gregory (8 seasons) because any reduction would likely be closer to the veteran minimum. If Gregory doesn't get more than that elsewhere, I would say the door is still open on his return depending on what other pieces fall into place.

Thoughts on Steve Gregory release - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

I think you're confusing not being a significant playmaker with being a "liability." Last season he played in 14 games with 11 starts and finished with a career-high 90 total tackles. He also logged significant playing time with a broken thumb. He was practically never out of position in coverage and BB trusted him enough to have him calling defensive signals in Mayo's absence. That hardly is being a "liability." But he was not the type of physical presence one normally covets in a strong safety and occasionally was overpowered in run support, which is why so many fans dump on him.

I'm not confusing anything. He was a liability. As I've been saying since (I believe) the beginning, he's an S3/S4, not a starter. BB wouldn't be cutting a quality safety over this money. It's less than McCourty will be making, for crying out loud.

By the way, Pro Football Focus ranked Gregory their 25th safety, grading him eight spots ahead of Harmon.

Falling back on PFF? Don't be that guy. As for Harmon, I don't consider being rated ahead of him, by any evaluators, to be particularly worthy of note.

 

[Joker]

as an aside, personally, I REALLY appreciate all the posts in this thread, pro and con. ANYTHING, in fact, beats more mind numbing Amendola bashing.

 

[TriplecHamp]

"LMAO," "lol." Really? Pretty odd that the Patriots would trust a guy guilty of "too many miscommunications" with calling defensive signals and still put him on the field with a busted thumb over next man up. Gregory was not a "liability," he just wasn't a big playmaker. Know the difference. You haven't a clue.

Yes "LMAO" and "lol" because thats what Im doing to anybody that thinks Gregory wasn't a liability. Maybe they weren't "miscommunications", I put it in parenthesis for a reason. It was probably Gregory being late once again. You don't need a "big playmaker at the safety position" but you need a lot more than gregory bought the last two seasons. Here lets compromise, he's an absolute 100% liability in run support and what he does in coverage doesn't warrant him starting for this team. Lets see what kind of offers this underwhelming safety gets on the open market.

 

[Tunescribe]

Mike Reiss (fuller quote included as solace for the hopeful):

Thoughts on Steve Gregory release - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

What Reiss is saying essentially is what I said: there already was an understanding that Gregory, going into his ninth year in the league, wouldn't consider a pay cut.

I'm not confusing anything. He was a liability. As I've been saying since (I believe) the beginning, he's an S3/S4, not a starter. BB wouldn't be cutting a quality safety over this money. It's less than McCourty will be making, for crying out loud.

What BB did was weigh the option of saving significantly on the cap with banking on Harmon playing "at least" as well as Gregory next season. So however you want to characterize it he let a starting player go over money, not necessarily with an eye on significantly upgrading the position.

Falling back on PFF? Don't be that guy. As for Harmon, I don't consider being rated ahead of him, by any evaluators, to be particularly worthy of note.

I wasn't personally invested in "falling back" on anything, just thought I'd share that nugget of information. So it appears you're not that high on Harmon either. Hopefully he won't be an even bigger "liability" in Gregory's place.