Thinking outside the box.... Could this be a transistion year?

[JR4]

You could say every year is a "Transition" year.
Some players leave ... new players are added.

A question that might be interesting is how BB/SP decide which
players to let go.

Age, performance and cost changes maybe good parameters.

One dynamic that probably affects their planning is the
transition from a rookie contract to the next contract.

When a Rookie contract expires and the team wants to keep that
player then they need to account for the increased CAP hit of the new
contract.
How?
One way is to terminate some higher priced contracts.
There may be other ways like restucturing.
But it is like a pipe with new High Priced Contracts entering one end and
exisiting High Priced Contracts leaving the other end.

It must be this way. There are only so many high priced contracts a team
can afford to keep before a team becomes weak because of the
necessity to carry more low priced - lower talented players with the
diminished CAP space eaten up up the high priced contracts.

This is where I think BB/SP have a critical philosophy that has yeilded
the success they have had. The number of high priced contracts is
limited but there are more contracts in the medium range.
I would guess this gives the PATs more overall talent depth.

There is nothing wrong with age if the performance/cost factor can
be justified. Latest example is Troy Brown last year.

 

[mgteich]

Ty Law should be viewed in the same way as OTIS or anyone else. If he can improve the team at a reasonabale price, then he'll be back.

I understand that many are ecstatic about the shutdown corner corp of Samuel, Hobbs, Gay, and Poteat. I think aj considers our secondary a strength. Personally, I think that we will bring in at least three defensive backs, including one at least potential starter, two if Poole is cut.

With all of the hand-wringing going on on this site right now, I think this thread is an outstanding one. It may be the closest thing to the truth. BB and SP may have decided that they need to make changes now rather than later. They HAVE shown they know how to assemble a winning team. The Red Sox suddenly looked old last year and it was pretty ugly, better to get rid of a guy a year too early than a year too late...we can start getting the replacements in place now.

...and please could we stop with all the bring Ty Law back sentiments? We've moved on, as we should have....and don't even think about T.O.

 

[Pats726]

AJ...An interesting theory..last year was by far the most injured Patriot team of the 3..03, 04 and 05..and you are right..maybe he is evaluating that. I don't think at all think this year is one of rebuilding..of transition to a younger team?? Every year has some of that...a bit here and there..I think there may have been more of a transition last year with the DBs...but injuries totally threw a monkey wrench into that. The Dline has made that transition as has the OLine..which may even be younger this year. WRs may be next...I do think there always has been a little transition every year..but NOT all at once..and that is what is so important. If it is done continually in stages..the team can always be competitive...at least in theory.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Better than inside the Box?

Then it doesn't qualify as thought.