Trey Flowers

[Kontradiction]

I unfortunately think he's gone in the offseason. He's had a very good year. Really, the only guy on the DL that consistently demands a double. He will have probably priced himself out of New England.

 

[maineman209]

Just reading this and I find it crazy that anyone would think 15 mil is chump change. Money isn't everything when deciding free agency, but it should be the primary factor especially for people that have poor backgrounds. Bad teams are an easy choice. I can definitely see how playing only 16 games a year while making more money is ideal for many players when winning a superbowl is far from a guarantee especially in our one game elimination set up.

Who knows what Flowers will choose but I think he is gone for many reasons. He is a beast but I don't necessarily think it is a good idea to pay him what he could fetch. At the end of the day he isn't a 10+ sack guy and might be better to spend that money on better defensive tackles than what we have at the moment.

I think Flowers is a much better all-around player than most 10+ sack guys, and a much better fit for the Pats schemes.

Flowers and Guy accounted for 116 of 258 tackles (45%) made by Pats DL players this season. Shelton, Brown, Butler, Wise, Simon, Davis, Clayborn and Rivers combined for the other 142.

Flowers and Guy also accounted for 47% of all DL pressures.

Even, if the Pats end up paying Flowers $15m AAV over five years, his 2019 cap hit is likely to be $7M or less. That's unlikely to cover the cost of a DT who would be capable of replacing Flowers' contributions.

 

[Brewskies]

I can't control what happens with Flowers. I would like him to stay but if not I would like an equal replacement. Is that asking too much?


Go Pats

 

[maineman209]

I think one things a lot of fans forget is that they care a lot more about game outcomes than a lot of players do. Sure, the players want to win and get upset when they don't, but ultimately it's a job. I could absolutely believe one could have a much higher quality of life (and have more money) playing for a players' coach and going 8-8 year after year than playing for less for a hardass like Belichick.

OTOH, if the Pats offer turns out the be $15m AAV, it's not as if he's likely to be choosing between that and the (ridiculous) $23.5m AAV that Mack is getting. Is, say, $1m a year difference worth going to a perennial loser that may change DCs and schemes every other year?

 

[maineman209]

Is that asking too much?

Probably. If such guys were easy to come by, they probably wouldn't be getting $14m+ per yer on their second contracts.

 

[supafly]

I don't think it's extreme. I chose a career that doesn't pay that well because I like it vs taking a job in a field that pays more and means less to me.

While I think that’s very noble and I respect you for making that decision, I’m guessing that you probably didn’t turn down 15-25m dollars, that’s all.

If Flowers took a deal where he made slightly less to stay here, I think we’d all appreciate him a great deal. Here’s hoping that he stays.

 

[farn]

While I think that’s very noble and I respect you for making that decision, I’m guessing that you probably didn’t turn down 15-25m dollars, that’s all.

If Flowers took a deal where he made slightly less to stay here, I think we’d all appreciate him a great deal. Here’s hoping that he stays.

I DON'T think he stays and I DO think he chooses the $... Further, he is not my friend, so I have no idea what makes him happy. I am just saying that for me, money isn't that important as long as I have food and comfortable shelter. I do very much think that I'd be perfectly fine with tens of millions of dollars even if it meant leaving millions on the table. When I die, I'm not taking any $ with me, so it's not really something I care much about (as long, as stated, I live relatively comfotably).

 

[FreeTedWilliams]

The time to get Flowers re-signed has already passed. The Pats should have come to him with an offer like they did Shaq, up his salary for this year, in hopes that he takes the "bird in the hand" approach. Now that he is set to hit free agency, there will be no hometown discount.

I still say franchise him, it will be $18, but he is worth it, and maybe it would lead to a long term deal. Unlike Solder last year, Flowers will be hitting the FA market along with Lawrence, Ansah, and Graham. So hopefully it he won't get a ridiculous offer like Solder, that the Pats can not match.

 

[mcmurtry86]

Should have re-signed Flowers instead of giving Mason a huge extension

The Pats have won pretty consistently plugging in solid, mid tier players along the interior OL (and won no Super Bowls with Mankins who was better than Mason).

Hard to win with a garbage front 7 and Flowers is the only high end talent in that group. It would be a shame to see him leave with no real ability to replace him. It’s going to be to be a downgrade of an already bad unit. The entire DL needs replacing next year (Brown, Shelton, Flowers all free agents and Clayborn likely cut). That’s a terrible spot to be in.

 

[203Pat]

Should have re-signed Flowers instead of giving Mason a huge extension

The Pats have won pretty consistently plugging in solid, mid tier players along the interior OL (and won no Super Bowls with Mankins who was better than Mason).

Hard to win with a garbage front 7 and Flowers is the only high end talent in that group. It would be a shame to see him leave with no real ability to replace him. It’s going to be to be a downgrade of an already bad unit. The entire DL needs replacing next year (Brown, Shelton, Flowers all free agents and Clayborn likely cut). That’s a terrible spot to be in.

I think based on what we have seen this season they realized they wanted to invest in the run game. They paid Mason and drafted a lineman and RB in the first round. I’m hoping Flowers is back but I agree if he was likely to re-sign he already would have.

 

[Angelpats]

It would be nice to keep a three down player that is impactful. It should be easy to make cap room for him considering we have quite a few that rarely plays and take up too much cap for what they contribute.

 

[Ring 6]

$15 million buys you the secured wealth of another generation or two. It's huge.

Most people don’t make 15 mill in their lifetime. I’m not sure how it became “who needs that pittance”.

 

[SBLIII]

The time to get Flowers re-signed has already passed. The Pats should have come to him with an offer like they did Shaq, up his salary for this year, in hopes that he takes the "bird in the hand" approach. Now that he is set to hit free agency, there will be no hometown discount.

I still say franchise him, it will be $18, but he is worth it, and maybe it would lead to a long term deal. Unlike Solder last year, Flowers will be hitting the FA market along with Lawrence, Ansah, and Graham. So hopefully it he won't get a ridiculous offer like Solder, that the Pats can not match.

wasn't that a similar situation with Hightower? He tested the market and also re-signed.

 

[203Pat]

wasn't that a similar situation with Hightower? He tested the market and also re-signed.

Because he reportedly failed at least one other teams physical.

 

[The Brandon Five]

I think it might be hard to argue "quality of life" means living in New England given that we currently have a net migration south and west out of the area, especially for a guy who grew up in a warm climate He might also want to factor in the impact of state and local taxes. Playing in Cali would cost him over 13% while playing in TX or FL would cost him nothing.

 

[SBLIII]

Because he reportedly failed at least one other teams physical.

fair point. Maybe they re-sign him close to the begin of free agency though, similar to McCourty in 2015.

 

[TheFlyingWedge]

Next man up: Derek Rivers

 

[203Pat]

fair point. Maybe they re-sign him close to the begin of free agency though, similar to McCourty in 2015.

I believe McCourty actually received at least one other offer and Hightower went on visits so both of them we had a realistic shot of losing. I just believe Hightower would have been gone had he received a comparable offer.

 

[SBLIII]

I believe McCourty actually received at least one other offer and Hightower went on visits so both of them we had a realistic shot of losing. I just believe Hightower would have been gone had he received a comparable offer.

I agree with that. Still hope Flowers stays though.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Terrible free agent signing as a rotational DE. Pretty much the opposite of what we got from Chris Long.

Oh, he’s long gone. He’s not worth the cap hit and he’s recently been a healthy scratch after a mediocre year at best.

I hated the signing guy got 6 sacks in 2017 courtesy of an Injured Cowboys OLine. Adrian Clearout had buyer beware written all over him in FA *sighs*. I hope they have a thank you out clause in the offseason.

Aside from him not being very effective, wouldn't shock me if he’s been scratched due to what he did in Pittsburgh giving up on a play. There was a replay showing Samuels running past him and he looked like he was barely jogging after him. This was definitely a Steve Martin esque signing.