Steve Gregory released

[doesntmatter1]

I was never a big Gregory fan, but with his release I am getting very low on whipping boys. I suspect Carter and Adrian Wilson won't be on the squad next year, so I am going to channel all of my hate to Brandon Bolden. I'm not ready to hop on the Amendola hate wagon so my hand was forced lol.

 

[ATippett56]

I'm not ready to hop on the Amendola hate wagon so my hand was forced lol.

The poster Brady6 has the market cornered on the Amendola hate. No more room on that bandwagon.

 

[ATippett56]

I was never a big Gregory fan, but with his release I am getting very low on whipping boys. I suspect Carter and Adrian Wilson won't be on the squad next year, so I am going to channel all of my hate to Brandon Bolden.

I don't understand why Isaac Sopoaga and Adrian Wilson are still under contract.

Isaac Sopoaga, NT for the New England Patriots at NFL.com

Adrian Wilson, SS for the New England Patriots at NFL.com

 

[doesntmatter1]

I don't understand why Isaac Sopoaga and Adrian Wilson are still under contract.

Isaac Sopoaga, NT for the New England Patriots at NFL.com

Adrian Wilson, SS for the New England Patriots at NFL.com

I don't understand why they are still here either, but my whipping boys are the ones that actually see the field and consistently remind me why I want them gone. Bequette is safe under my parameters(BB probably forgets he is on the team from time to time) and to a certain degree so is Sopoaga. Sopoaga played a pretty decent game against the Panthers and then was never heard from again. There has to be more to his story such as an undisclosed injury because we clearly needed a run defender, which he came here toted as.

 

[ATippett56]

I don't understand why they are still here either, but my whipping boys are the ones that actually see the field and consistently remind me why I want them gone. Bequette is safe under my parameters (BB probably forgets he is on the team from time to time) and to a certain degree so is Sopoaga. Sopoaga played a pretty decent game against the Panthers and then was never heard from again. There has to be more to his story such as an undisclosed injury because we clearly needed a run defender, which he came here toted as.

The New England Patriots already have eight defensive tackles under contract:

Armstead
Forston
Grissom
Jones, Chris
Kelly
Siliga
Vellano
Wilfork

Official Website of the New England Patriots | Team - Players

I don't understand why the New England Patriots would need a ninth defensive tackle in Sopoaga.

 

[ausbacker]

Thomas DeCoud is a free safety. The New England Patriots need an upgrade at strong safety.

Thomas DeCoud, FS for the Atlanta Falcons at NFL.com

I don't believe that will prove problematic given the current climate of the NFL. DeCoud has range. That makes him valuable.

It's a difficult judgment when speaking about how the Patriots do business. Do the Patriots put a lot into one specific year(s) and accept the certain cap problems/losing it will eventually bring? Or do they continue to put themselves with each year's small circle of teams that has a chance at the SB via a sustainable cap spending plan (though this means they aren't likely to be dominant in any given year)?

While there are specific times of the season I'll strongly wish they would have spent more for those couple of difference making players, I believe the Patriots are doing the right thing. In the Past 6 or 7 years we've been an iota away from 2 SB victories along with 2 AFCCGs. It's been a LONG time since the Patriots season has been over by week 14 or 15 -- certaintly no where near back to back years of late season futility (a la Buffalo or Miami or NYJ). In that same 6 or 7 years span, Patriot fans have been treated to about 3/4 of a season of additional football at the very best time to be a fan, playoff football. That's quite a bit to potentially give up for one victory in January when it will have all but faded by December.

I'm firmly in the camp that believes the Patriots team building model is an excellent one. The reality is injuries have hurt the team and some draft misses have compounded the issue at certain positions. It's a minor aggravation to have a team that is a perennial contender.

 

[Tunescribe]

Bill Belichick disagrees. Actions speak louder than words.

NFL Free Agency commences March 11, 2014. The 2014 NFL Draft commences May 8, 2014.

.... in the best interest of the team.

Gregory sucks. Plain and simple. But he's owning up to his mistake of signing Gregory by cutting him.

I'll say this again and then let it go because it's questionable whether I'm getting what I think is an important point across in this discussion vs. the "Gregory sucks" canard:

(1) BB's first priority in letting Gregory go was saving money on the cap, NOT because he "sucks" or in anticipation of a huge upgrade in play at his position.

(2) He figured he could kill two birds with one stone by playing someone much cheaper already on the roster (likely Harmon), a rookie, or (longshot) Adrian Wilson (whose contract I'm unsure of so don't quote me). Again, NOT because he expects great improvement over Gregory's play but because he believes that whoever succeeds him POTENTIALLY can perform somewhere around the same level, MAYBE even better with time, while saving the team money. Consequently, I highly doubt the team has designs on signing a high-priced veteran free agent for strong safety, assuming one even exists that might fit the bill.

 

[varjao]

we started the off-season in the right direction, I was afraid about bb becoming soft hearted.

The definitive prove will be over Wilfork though.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Yeah there's virtually zero upside to cutting Adrian Wilson anytime soon IMO. Whatever slim chance there is of him adding that physical presense at SS we've been missing is worth more than the $.7M or whatever is saved from releasing him right now. Might as well test him out this offseason

 

[captain stone]

we started the off-season in the right direction, I was afraid about bb becoming soft hearted.

The definitive prove will be over Wilfork though.

Yes it will, so let's hope that Bill continues this direction by cutting Wilfork too, before the 11th.

 

[FredFromDartmouth]

I'm not sold on Pryor as a 1st rounder. You would want two rookies in our safety core, along with using a 1st + 4th on it in the process?

I think a safety like Clemons or Abdullah would be a better player in the short term and wouldn't require a 1st in a very deep draft.

I am definitely sold on Pryor and suspect he will be long gone by the time the Patriots pick. He is fast, explosive and hits like a ton of bricks. One the downside he might destriy his body with those hits and I did not see a lot of him in coverage.

 

[DaBruinz]

Thomas DeCoud is a free safety. The New England Patriots need an upgrade at strong safety.

Thomas DeCoud, FS for the Atlanta Falcons at NFL.com

The problem with your thinking is that BB has gone on record on more than a few occasions saying that the Pats don't play FS/SS. They play a Left Safety and a Right Safety and expect their safeties to be able to cover and move up to support the run.

Thomas DeCoud would be an excellent addition next to McCourty.

 

[50-yard-line]

I don't understand why Isaac Sopoaga and Adrian Wilson are still under contract.

Isaac Sopoaga, NT for the New England Patriots at NFL.com

Adrian Wilson, SS for the New England Patriots at NFL.com

A Wilson is still under contract because there's no reason to cut him right now. They can cut him right up until roster cut-downs and save the same money. So why would they? He came in and was hurt last year, says he can still play and is ready for OTAs.

So let him play and prove it, and if he can't they'll cut him soon enough.

I don't know the structure of Sopoaga's contract. if It's the same thing as Wilson's and he can be cut at any time without affecting the cap changes, maybe they bring him in. Maybe he was playing with an injury.

The only reason to cut those guys now, as far as I can see, would be to free up money needed to sign someone. So if they work out a deal with Jackson or Talib, two phones calls later, they've got $4 million.

If Sopoaga's due any money in the near future that could be saved by cutting him, he's gone for sure.

 

[TonyTucker]

The New England Patriots already have eight defensive tackles under contract:

Armstead
Forston
Grissom
Jones, Chris
Kelly
Siliga
Vellano
Wilfork

Official Website of the New England Patriots | Team - Players

I don't understand why the New England Patriots would need a ninth defensive tackle in Sopoaga.

Hell, they could cut everyone in that group except Wilfork, Kelly, and maybe Chris Jones.

 

[50-yard-line]

Hell, they could cut everyone in that group except Wilfork, Kelly, and maybe Chris Jones.

I thought Grissom was playing pretty well before he got hurt. he was a surprise in camp.

And if they cut Armstead, he'd be grabbed up by another team that day.

And Siliga is a good back-up.

 

[DaBruinz]

The New England Patriots already have eight defensive tackles under contract:

Armstead
Forston
Grissom
Jones, Chris
Kelly
Siliga
Vellano
Wilfork

Official Website of the New England Patriots | Team - Players

I don't understand why the New England Patriots would need a ninth defensive tackle in Sopoaga.

Well, the best way to look at this is to understand the type of defense the Pats have been running the last 2 years. They have been running a 4-3 "UNDER". This is very similar to the 3-4 in that one of the DTs, actually lines up as a NT and the other DT lines up in the 3-Tech. The 2 DEs are in a 7 or 9 tech depending on where they line-up. They are very similar to 3-4 OLBs in that they line-up many times in a 2 point stance vs a 3 point.

No, the Pats have 3 true NTs in Wilfork, Siliga and Sopoaga. Grissom is an under-sized NT. As you know, Wilfork and Grissom are both coming off injury. And there is the possibility that Wilfork starts the season on the PUP.

For the 3/5 Tech guys, you have Chris Jones, Joe Vellano, Marcus Forston, Tommy Kelly, and Armond Armstead. As you know, Kelly and Armstead are coming off injuries. Kelly with the ACL and Armstead with the arm infection that cost him the year.

Vellano was forced to play out of position at the NT last year and it showed. The run defense with him in there was porous at best.

Chris Jones is best suited as a sub rusher, imho. Forston can't seem to make the jump to get playing time.

So, I can fully understand why the pats haven't parted ways with Sopoaga. With 6 question marks out of the other 8 "DTs", it's better for the Pats to be methodical and make sure that they aren't rushing to judgement and placing themselves in a bad bind going forward.

 

[JMC00]

I'll say this again and then let it go because it's questionable whether I'm getting what I think is an important point across in this discussion vs. the "Gregory sucks" canard:

(1) BB's first priority in letting Gregory go was saving money on the cap, NOT because he "sucks" or in anticipation of a huge upgrade in play at his position.

(2) He figured he could kill two birds with one stone by playing someone much cheaper already on the roster (likely Harmon), a rookie, or (longshot) Adrian Wilson (whose contract I'm unsure of so don't quote me). Again, NOT because he expects great improvement over Gregory's play but because he believes that whoever succeeds him POTENTIALLY can perform somewhere around the same level, MAYBE even better with time, while saving the team money. Consequently, I highly doubt the team has designs on signing a high-priced veteran free agent for strong safety, assuming one even exists that might fit the bill.

In Your Opinion.


In my opinion Gregory was cut because he sucks and the bonus was cutting him freed up money.

 

[Tunescribe]

In Your Opinion.


In my opinion Gregory was cut because he sucks and the bonus was cutting him freed up money.

Yeah, but my "opinion" has a bit more reasoned thought behind it.

 

[PATSNUTme]

I see several people want A. Wilson cut. Based on what? We have yet to see how a healthy Wilson can play.

Perhaps it would be better to see what the guys has before cutting him? I know that is not in keeping with message board post.

 

[Joker]

I see several people want A. Wilson cut. Based on what? We have yet to see how a healthy Wilson can play.

Perhaps it would be better to see what the guys has before cutting him? I know that is not in keeping with message board post.

No!!! Burn HIM!!!!!!.....



(obscure Highlander reference...)