The Step In Building A Roster - Before The Season Begins

[mgteich]

We have constraints of the size of the roster and cap. We have a cap limit for the most costly 51 players when the season starts. Some 2018 costs can be delayed until August or later - the 52 and 53rd player, practice players, players who are put on IR or other lists, and an replacement players who are needed because of injury or very bad play.

BEFORE THE MARCH 14
1) We start with players under contract plus ERFA's (players without a choice).
2) Make decisions on bonuses (eg Bennett) due before the season starts.
3) Make some of the easy re-signs (usually on low cost players and RFA's.
4) Make some of the easy cuts, players who you don't want at any price.
5) Make decisions with regard to levels for RFA players who are unsigned.
6) Decide who, if anyone, to franchise
7) Make tentative decisions with regard to cuts that can free up cap money, to be exercised as needed.
8) Try to sign extend some of our free agents.
9) Extend/restructure some of our contracted players and sign some future contracts.
9) Negotiate with free agents from other teams before the season starts.
=========================
We would now be ready to START the first (high cost) stage of free agency.

The is NOT the time to cut players who are not likely to make the team, or players who are clearly replaceable, or players for whom we'd like to find upgrades. Many of these players are useful on a 90 man roster. They cost almost nothing until the season starts. They are needed for camp. They are useful as insurance in case we have a rash of injuries at a particular position, at first for the preseason and perhaps even to start the season.
One exceptions is for highly paid players for whom we might not wish to risk injury and be on the hook for having them on IR or for an injury settlement.

 

[SammyBlueCat]

True

 

[StockingAnarchyNumber12]

Dont forget we need to make this new roster more fun!

 

[Tunescribe]

Dont forget we need to make this new roster more fun!

 

[Clonamery]

Dont forget we need to make this new roster more fun!

I think we got that covered.....some under the radar (over the hill too) ufda's recently signed:

 

[supafly]

We have constraints of the size of the roster and cap. We have a cap limit for the most costly 51 players when the season starts. Some 2018 costs can be delayed until August or later - the 52 and 53rd player, practice players, players who are put on IR or other lists, and an replacement players who are needed because of injury or very bad play.

BEFORE THE MARCH 14
1) We start with players under contract plus ERFA's (players without a choice).
2) Make decisions on bonuses (eg Bennett) due before the season starts.
3) Make some of the easy re-signs (usually on low cost players and RFA's.
4) Make some of the easy cuts, players who you don't want at any price.
5) Make decisions with regard to levels for RFA players who are unsigned.
6) Decide who, if anyone, to franchise
7) Make tentative decisions with regard to cuts that can free up cap money, to be exercised as needed.
8) Try to sign extend some of our free agents.
9) Extend/restructure some of our contracted players and sign some future contracts.
9) Negotiate with free agents from other teams before the season starts.
=========================
We are now ready to START the first (high cost) stage of free agency.

The is NOT the time to cut players who are not likely to make the team, or players who are clearly replaceable, or players for whom we'd like to find upgrades. Many of these players are useful on a 90 man roster. They cost almost nothing until the season starts. They are needed for camp. They are useful as insurance in case we have a rash of injuries at a particular position, at first for the preseason and perhaps even to start the season.
One exceptions is for highly paid players for whom we might not wish to risk injury and be on the hook for having them on IR or for an injury settlement.

Excellent post. I think some of us consider you to be one of the go-to guys when it comes to roster projections and roster building exercises. Not only is it useful in debating key positions and players, but it also helps to pass the time of the long offfseason.

A nice follow up would be your opinion on some of the moves that you believe may be made prior to the start of free agency. Core cheaper players that may be signed, cuts that could/should be made, etc.

 

[DarrylS]

You forgot 1.b, 2.b, 3.b etc. for pats fans.com posters to whine and ***** about every step of the process, and say stupid crap about how BB has "lost his touch", is "senile" or "the game has passed him by"..

 

[Sicilian]

You forgot 1.b, 2.b, 3.b etc. for pats fans.com posters to whine and ***** about every step of the process, and say stupid crap about how BB has "lost his touch", is "senile" or "the game has passed him by"..

My personal favorite is the step where we sign a special teams guy for short money who can compete for one of the bottom roster spots, and get to hear people complain because offseason moves always have to be done in order of greatest to least importance/impact. "Great job BB, let's replace our all-pro corner with this special teams LB "

 

[Tunescribe]

I think we got that covered.....some under the radar (over the hill too) ufda's recently signed:

View attachment 19652

View attachment 19653

Those look to me like Jete draft picks and free agent signees.

 

[maust]

Practice...

Game:

 

[sean10mm]

Don't see the Tornado DDT move used in football much!

 

[maineman209]

Practice...

Game:

Looks like #32 of the Colts wasn't really expecting #17 to actually snap the ball.

 

[mgteich]

BEFORE MARCH 14
PART COMPANY
1) Bennett (In any case, we shouldn't pay him $2M bonus. If we don't, he is likely to want to see what others will pay him, rather than sign a low level contract with us.)
2) Harris
3) Branch
4) Butler (sure, we'll make an unacceptable offer)

OFFENSE
1) Re-sign/extend Karras (if this hasn't already been done). He's listed as an ERFA.
2) Re-sign/extend Amendola
3) Try to re-sign both Waddle and Fleming. This is both Solder insurance, and insurance against injury to Cannon and Solder (if he even he's signed). Garcia may or may not amount to anything. Re-signing Solder solidifies the offense as no other signing can.
4) Allow Bennett to retire or go to free agency.
5) Try to re-sign/extend Solder
6) Try to re-sign/extend Burkhead
7) Allow Lewis to test free agency (we will likely have little choice)
8) There is no reason to make decisions on Allen or Gillislie. They are under contract and COULD be upgraded, or not. We have lots of time to find out.

SPECIAL TEAMS
As always, Belichick will extend who he can. We value STer's more than other teams, so this should be successful on at least some of Slater, Ebner, King(RFA), Bademosi, M. Flowers, Reilly (LB), Grissom and Bolden. The only cost (should we cut them later is their bonuses and workout bonuses. In any case, they are all useful camp players.

DEFENSE
1) extend Francois (he's a potential #4 or #5 DT)
2) re-sign ERFA Kidder
3) Re-sign Harrison (compare how much he contributed in his first 5 games to Gilmore, or to others). When he is better integrated into the defense, he should add a lot. At worst, he'll be cut later in camp, when and if players beat him out.

Excellent post. I think some of us consider you to be one of the go-to guys when it comes to roster projections and roster building exercises. Not only is it useful in debating key positions and players, but it also helps to pass the time of the long offfseason.

A nice follow up would be your opinion on some of the moves that you believe may be made prior to the start of free agency. Core cheaper players that may be signed, cuts that could/should be made, etc.