Time Sensitive Roster Decisions - By Mar 11

[mgteich]

The free agency period starts on March 11 at 4PM after three days of allowed tampering (discussions between teams and UFA's to be).

We have talked about overall priorities for the team, of our UFA's and of free agents.

Real life is even more complicated.

We have the opportunity and the need to make some decisions before March 11.

What of anything should we do before March 11, to be executed on March 12th?
================

PER MIGUEL WE WILL START WITH $2.7M of cap room if there are no changes by March 11.

 

[BlueThunder]

With only $2.7M in cap space I'd make sure that all and any contracts of Pats players that BB wants to retain can be renegotiated and have been addressed with players and agents.

For some reason I thought the Pats cap space was in the $4M area.

 

[mgteich]

All patriot free agents will have offers from both the patriots and others as we enter free agency. There is a 3 day period before free agency where these players and their agents are available for inquiries from other teams.

The open is how many of these transactions will be ready for the first day of free agency.

With only $2.7M in cap space I'd make sure that all and any contracts of Pats players that BB wants to retain can be renegotiated and have been addressed with players and agents.

For some reason I thought the Pats cap space was in the $4M area.

 

[Miguel]

The free agency period starts on March 11 at 4PM after three days of allowed tampering (discussions between teams and UFA's to be).

We have talked about overall priorities for the team, of our UFA's and of free agents.

Real life is even more complicated.

We have the opportunity and the need to make some decisions before March 11.

What of anything should we do before March 11, to be executed on March 12th?
================

PER MIGUEL WE WILL START WITH $2.7M of cap room if there are no changes by March 11.

I need to fix that page. Where do you see that?

I now have the number as $7.33 million.

 

[mgteich]

Last updated on January 26, 2014 4:15 PM EDT

According to my figures the Patriots' 2014 current commitment is for $117,955,660 with 66 players. I have the Patriots' 2014 dead money as $5,683,721. $114,955,660 + $5,683,721 = $123,639,131. The 2014 projected cap is $126.3 milion so the Pats are under it by about $2.7 million. Please see my salary cap breakdown on the 2014 Patriots and their free-agents for my projections for the Patriots 2014 adjusted cap number and the amount of cap space the Pats should enter free agency with before any re-signings, restructures or releases.

I need to fix that page. Where do you see that?

I now have the number as $7.33 million.

 

[Miguel]

Last updated on January 26, 2014 4:15 PM EDT

According to my figures the Patriots' 2014 current commitment is for $117,955,660 with 66 players. I have the Patriots' 2014 dead money as $5,683,721. $114,955,660 + $5,683,721 = $123,639,131. The 2014 projected cap is $126.3 milion so the Pats are under it by about $2.7 million. Please see my salary cap breakdown on the 2014 Patriots and their free-agents for my projections for the Patriots 2014 adjusted cap number and the amount of cap space the Pats should enter free agency with before any re-signings, restructures or releases.

Fixed since no one is actually following the link

 

[Fencer]

Cut Sapoaga.

 

[mgteich]

Yes, this is one decision that is clear. It would add over $2M to the cap.

Cut Sapoaga.

 

[Miguel]

Since the Pats are under their projected 2014 adjusted cap number, the only roster/cap decisions that they truly have to make by 4PM March 11 is

1.) whether or not to franchise tag a prospective UFA by 4PM March 3rd
2.) make a RFA tender to Danny Aiken
3.) keep Danny Amendola on the roster. If so, $2 million of his 3 million 2014 salary becomes fully guaranteed.

 

[tatepatsfan]

I would start by (1) renegotiating and extending Wilfork's contract; (2) cutting Sopoaga; and (3) extending McCourty. I would also considering cutting Tommy Kelly. If I'm reading the chart right, that would save us about $1.7 mil on the cap next year. We may cut Adrian Wilson too ($670k savings) - I just have no idea what he has to offer, and many of us were talking about cutting him in the preseason. It would be wonderful if we could recover, or at least defer, some of that $7.5 mil in dead money.

I personally would not cut Amendola. I don't think his cap hit is so much of a disaster. He obviously didn't fully click this year, but I don't think cutting him after one season is the answer. Need some continuity.

I would try to lock up Edelman to a 3 year deal, somewhere around Amendola money. I would love to re-sign Talib on a 2 or 3 year deal and I hope we do, but my gut tells me that he'll get a bigger money offer somewhere else. As much as Blount came on at the end of the season, I would prefer to focus on our two RBs whose contracts expire at the end of next season. Unless we got Blount on a 1 or 2 year deal at a reasonable price. The last "marquee" free agent is Spikes. If he wants to get paid like an everydown LB, then bye bye. If he acknowledges that he is an elite run stopper and a liability in the passing game, then maybe we can work something out.

 

[patsfan-1982]

they will redo Wilfork contract and maybe even look to work something out with Mankins and Connolly but im not sure they will get anything done with them they may stay on the roster at there CAP hits, Sopoaga will be cut Adrian Wilson will retire,

I say they offer Aqib Talib a 3 or 4 year deal at market value. Julian Edelman will get a offer just under market value they will both test the market and in the end Talib will see no CB not named Sherman or revis is getting big money anymore and will re-sign with the pats and Edelman will walk, the pats will have a nuff money to sign a few JAG's for camp and the rookies

 

[goheels22002]

Mostly free agents addressed below:

#1 priority is keeping the secondary together as a unit which means slapping the non-exclusive franchise tag on Aquib Talib. If some other team really, really wants him they have to give up two 1st round picks. That's a great deal for the Patriots. Second, the Patriots should extend McCourty for the best long-term deal they can negotiate. They can release Tavon Wilson, and cut Adrian Wilson freeing up one spot for a draft pick or a free agent.

#2 Sign LeGarrette Blount - he's the best complement to Ridley and Vereen, and makes the Patriots running attack very tough to defend from week-to-week.

#3 Invite Austin Collie, Andre Carter, Will Svitek, Matt Mulligan to camp to see where they might fit in 2014

#4 Patriots need to make a firm decision on what Edelman is worth and stick to their guns. If some team wants to over pay, wish him well. This is is his biggest opportunity to make money that will keep him secure for the remainder of his life. Good luck to him, and I hope his best deal is with the Patriots. Look ahead to TJ Moe pairing with Amendola as the smurf patrol.

#5 Sign Ryan Wendell, Dane Fletcher and Michael Hoomanawanui to cap-friendly deals.

#6 Say farewell to Brandon Spikes, and wish him the best. Too bad

 

[Patsrock]

Mostly free agents addressed below:

#1 priority is keeping the secondary together as a unit which means slapping the non-exclusive franchise tag on Aquib Talib. If some other team really, really wants him they have to give up two 1st round picks. That's a great deal for the Patriots.

I don't think they use the franchise tag on Aqib Talib. That right there will take up at least 10.854 million.(Last yrs CB tag #) That is a lot of cap space to have used up before/during free agency period. And pretty much limits what the Pats can do till they agree to a LTD with Talib.

 

[PatriotReign]

Personally I'd cut Amendola and give his contract to Edelman. Then in camp we see what Collie and Moe bring to the table as backups.