This is my plan and I'm sticking to it

[supafly]

I don't remember hearing about Tommy Kelly surgery. Did he go under the knife?

He tore his ACL.

 

[ATippett56]

Tommy Kelly | Defensive Lineman

Team: New England Patriots
Age / DOB: (33) / 12/27/1980
Ht / Wt: 6'6' / 300
College: Mississippi State
Contract: view contract details

Tommy Kelly - New England Patriots - 2014 Player Profile - Rotoworld.com

Patriots DT Tommy Kelly's Week 5 knee injury was a torn right ACL.

It's interesting because Kelly told reporters after Week 5 that "everything is alright" with the knee. And he never played again. Losing Kelly and NT Vince Wilfork (Achilles') were huge in-season blows to a New England defense that wound up finishing 30th versus the run. Now owed $2.5 million in salary and bonuses at age 33, Kelly is a prime candidate for offseason release. Jan 20 - 2:42 PM

Source: Boston Herald

 

[Brady6]

Not compared to an achilles.

On that note, I know there is an age and significant size difference but it surprises me that people have such low expectations for the future of Vince Wilfork but such high aspirations for TJ Moe.

 

[Froob]

Not one of those receivers played more than 12 games in 2013.

I do not think Thompkins will be on this team in 2014. He was this years Justin Francis.

Harrison and Moe are UDFAs that didn't even participate in a training camp yet.

We would have Amendola, and Dobson who both limped through the second half, and Josh Boyce who finished the year on injured reserve.

Yeah that receiver core is scary.....for us. People put way too much faith into young guys. Need two more vet wide outs.

 

[Kontradiction]

Lmfao on Mallott

I strongly endorse draft a TE on the 1st round

You'd probably be reaching, then. The two top TE's in the draft (Ebron and Amaro) will probably be gone and the remaining TE's have not graded out to be first rounders pre-Combine.

 

[Froob]

Jared Allen alone probably gets more money than Edelman. Let alone throwing in Scott Chandler who's probably a 3 millon dollar player. Edelman is like 5-6. Noway this plan happens without Allen taking a huge paycut.

 

[varjao]

You'd probably be reaching, then. The two top TE's in the draft (Ebron and Amaro) will probably be gone and the remaining TE's have not graded out to be first rounders pre-Combine.

I'm not sure Amaro will be gone, a lot of mock drafts have us drafting him. Anyway I would rather go with ASJ.

 

[part-timer]

Good day patsfans....Looks like a good discussion...
I will attemt to address some of the concerns in a few posts...
First off I will revisite the TE Possition....It is the perfect opertunity to get Chandler...first off he has never made over 3 mill
Contract: 2 yr(s) / $5,450,000 Signing Bonus $1,250,000 Average Salary $2,725,000 Guaranteed: $1,250,000 Free Agent: 2014 / Unrestricted

Year Base S. Bonus Misc. Cap Hit Dead
2012 1,800,000 625,000 50,000 2,475,000 -
2013 2,050,000 625,000 300,000 2,975,000 625,00
and he is coming off an off year with reduced production because of it being the first year back from acl surgery and he will be 29 before the season starts...
This may make him lean twards a show me short term contrect...He is current ly ranked 6th among current TE FA's


Scott Chandler, TE, Bills. Age: 29.
Scott Chandler is just an average tight end. His size (6-7, 263) makes him a solid end-zone target

I feel confident we can sign him in the range of 2.5 mill per for 1-2 years(incentive laden) and he should be what we are looking for as a no 2 TE.

Hooman is still an adiquit 3rd and should not demand more than what he played for last year with proper incentives for play time...Last year he played for just over 600,000, so easyly under 1 mill with incentives...

So money and timeing with the off year(second year off of ACL surgery is the make or break year) would make this a good value pick

Again adding a NO 1 TE with the first pick(that the only pick you will get a NO1 TE with) will not provide as much improvement to the team as DT will...

 

[part-timer]

Jared Allen is not as easy to negociate... He is coming off a bloated contract that was signed 6 years ago that the team never thought would be completed.
Contract: 6 yr(s) / $73,260,069 Signing Bonus $15,500,069 Average Salary $12,210,012 Guaranteed: $31,000,000 Free Agent: 2014 / Unrestricted

Year Base S. Bonus Misc. Cap Hit Dead
2008 750,000 2,583,344 - 3,333,344 -
2009 11,950,000 2,583,344 - 14,533,344 -
2010 6,380,000 2,583,344 4,000,000 12,963,344 -
2011 8,979,438 2,583,344 200,000 11,762,782 -
2012 11,619,850 2,583,344 - 14,203,194 -
2013 14,280,612 2,583,344 200,000 17,063,956 2,583,344

At age 32 he has started to show a decline and would be more suited to a back up or rotational roll which greatly reduces his earning capacity. He is currently ranked 5th or 6th with a large FA crop.
Jared Allen, DE, Vikings. Age: 32.
Jared Allen has been one of the NFL's top pass-rushers over the past seven years, but he struggled a bit at times this past season. A sign of age, or was this just a fluke? The team that signs him to a big contract will have to worry about Allen declining at 32.


So I see him as a 5-6 mill per year on a 1-2 year deal with a heavey laden incentive package. WE are not looking for a starter with questions. More like an impact rotational back up. The bottom falls out quickly on these big men with age...Besides looking at retirement he may like to take a shot with a winner...

 

[All22PatsFan]

Jared Allen Scouting report via Louis Ridick
" he'll turn 32 in April and Riddick envisions the "wall" coming in a hurry. "With Jared, I see a player with diminishing get-off quickness, an inability to win on the edge against quality competition without benefiting from the QB holding the ball too long, marginal stamina as an every-down end and an average point-of-attack run defender that does not play with a consistent level of competitiveness," said Riddick. The Vikings are not expected to make Allen an offer"

I completely agree with Riddick said. however I do like Everson Griffen on the Vikings, speedy pass rushing specialist who shouldn't be too expensive.

 

[part-timer]

You didn't upgrade DT by cutting Kelly. Guy's a beast.

If he can come back from that injury (and it didn't sound that serious, so I think he can) the Pats will be glad to have him.

No.....WE upgraded DT by adding Haseman....We reduced the cap and risk cutting Kelly who will be 35 before the season ends, is coming off an ACL injury and has over a 2.6 mill cap charge (shadow roster potential). Not to mention Sopoaga's 3.5 mill cap. 5 mill in cap savings

 

[part-timer]

Um.......No

Revealing rationel...

 

[RIpats88]

IMO...re-sign Talib, Edelman. and then go after DL, OL, pass rushers, safeties in FA


use the draft to re-stock positions like TE...you arent getting a quality pass catching TE to compliment Gronk in FA

 

[RIpats88]

Yeah that receiver core is scary.....for us. People put way too much faith into young guys. Need two more vet wide outs.

just like putting faith into young TE's in 2011? or in Ridley in 2012?

sometimes you need to roll with the investment you made and turn the position over to them. the reason you made it is because you believe they will be the future of that position on your team. and to get same value in FA would cost far too much.

sure I expect the pats to sign some JAG WR's or a guy on a prove it deal like Nicks/Maclin

but overall I expect one of our Rookies to be starting WR next year on the outside.

 

[part-timer]

Jared Allen Scouting report via Louis Ridick
" he'll turn 32 in April and Riddick envisions the "wall" coming in a hurry. "With Jared, I see a player with diminishing get-off quickness, an inability to win on the edge against quality competition without benefiting from the QB holding the ball too long, marginal stamina as an every-down end and an average point-of-attack run defender that does not play with a consistent level of competitiveness," said Riddick. The Vikings are not expected to make Allen an offer"

I completely agree with Riddick said. however I do like Everson Griffen on the Vikings, speedy pass rushing specialist who shouldn't be too expensive.

Excelent find...exactly why I feel his roll diminishing to a rotational back up...

As far as Griffen, I find him to be limited to a 3rd down nickel pass rusher and not a 3 down rotational player...Although he is a more affordable option having only made @ 600,000 per year, BUT it looks like the Vik's are interested in resigning him...as opposed to them being resolved to let Allen go...that can be revealing...

 

[50-yard-line]

No.....WE upgraded DT by adding Haseman....We reduced the cap and risk cutting Kelly who will be 35 before the season ends, is coming off an ACL injury and has over a 2.6 mill cap charge (shadow roster potential). Not to mention Sopoaga's 3.5 mill cap. 5 mill in cap savings

First of all, Hageman is projected to Arizona at 20 or Green Bay at 21. Doubt he's around for us - would love the pick if he is.

You're very unlikely to upgrade over Kelly with a rookie. Kelly is legit - he was pushing two lineman backwards last year before his injury. He's a monstrous force inside. Sheldon Richardsons don't come around every year, and even with a talent like that, there are tons of rookie mistakes to be made.

Kelly will turn 34 in late December, not 35.

Draft Hageman if he's available, absolutely...but keep Kelly, if he can physically perform. He's a great locker room guy with a ton of talent and ferocity and sheer power on that interior DL.

I know he's possibly a cap hit, but I think that's a huge mistake if that leg is ready to go to work.

 

[part-timer]

just like putting faith into young TE's in 2011? or in Ridley in 2012?

sometimes you need to roll with the investment you made and turn the position over to them. the reason you made it is because you believe they will be the future of that position on your team. and to get same value in FA would cost far too much.

sure I expect the pats to sign some JAG WR's or a guy on a prove it deal like Nicks/Maclin

but overall I expect one of our Rookies to be starting WR next year on the outside.

Good insight....agreed that as we did last year we will take a flyer on Vet FA recievers and as we saw last year, non survived...

 

[part-timer]

First of all, Hageman is projected to Arizona at 20 or Green Bay at 21. Doubt he's around for us - would love the pick if he is.

You're very unlikely to upgrade over Kelly with a rookie. Kelly is legit - he was pushing two lineman backwards last year before his injury. He's a monstrous force inside. Sheldon Richardsons don't come around every year, and even with a talent like that, there are tons of rookie mistakes to be made.

Kelly will turn 34 in late December, not 35.

Draft Hageman if he's available, absolutely...but keep Kelly, if he can physically perform. He's a great locker room guy with a ton of talent and ferocity and sheer power on that interior DL.

I know he's possibly a cap hit, but I think that's a huge mistake if that leg is ready to go to work.

This may seem so if you take Walter football, and Cbs football mocks at the moment as the end all be all. We all know draft possition for players and teams is highly fluent. Just like the point that every one is picking a TE for the first pick for the Pats, because all the gossip has centered around it. And they all "think" the most important thing is to replace Hernandez.

ALL season what were the most talked about weekness's......Pass rush and pass blocking.....These are not the glamore picks, but the nessisary picks...No, they all want to talk about the glamor pick, dealing with the Hernandez loss. since his arrest the media and national attention has been fixated on the loss and the way to replace him. The luxury of having two starting quality TE's was a fluke and a CHANCE that we got burned on....Will not happen again...We got spoiled...

WE have an excelent secondary, but no secondary can cover forever which is what they had to do with no pass rush...The d is may be three defenders away from being awsom...Those being DT starter(we have no quality non geriatric answer),SS starter(None of the vet have worked out), and a quality rotational DE...

I also firmly believe that the Gronk and Hernandez duo covered up and conceiled the horendus OL play of Connolly and Wendell, so now that is gone it has surfaced and TB is getting killed.

 

[ashley]

IMO...re-sign Talib, Edelman. and then go after DL, OL, pass rushers, safeties in FA


use the draft to re-stock positions like TE...you arent getting a quality pass catching TE to compliment Gronk in FA

I agree we need to resign Talib and Edleman. However I think we need to draft the best defensive talent available. We need to get quicker and more athletic. I am not against signing a free agent defensive end to rush the passer but I think most likely it will not be cost effective.

I would also use the draft like you said in the 3rd or 4th round to add a tight end. We have to upgrade that position.

 

[part-timer]

To the TE for a 1st rd pick.....Please show who has TWO no 1 TE's eqivalent to what you are asking for