What's the move you want to see before the season starts?

[Huckleberry1]

camp is going to very revealing this season as far as the O line is concerned.I agree Miguel, a cut is looming between Wendell and Connolly. Not sure which one has the more expensive cap hit.

Hopefully Wendell goes because Connolly is more versatile and they really don't need to save money right now they need to field the strongest team going into the season. Hopefully Stork wins the center job and it frees them to release Wendell.

 

[xlcjw72]

slightly off topic ( ok really off topic) i just got game rewind and i really am wanting to watch the game where wilfork got a sack or tackle and he did the seal dance

 

[mayoclinic]

Oh that's just Bull Spit, Mayo. There are no rules which state you have to ignore utter stupidity simply for the sake of not offending..... the overly sensitive

I might have been mildly hyperbolic in my rant, but I didn't neglect any of the the pertinent facts in this case. Nor was I intolerant on anyone's' position. Nothing I said was untrue. The Cardinals DID make 3 moves SPECIFICALLY designed to move on from Housler. My God Mayo they went out and signed the "immortal" John Carlson to be his replacehment. They used a top 50 draft pick to be his replacement. They kept a guy on the roster roster who hasn't been healthy since 2011.

He's a TE who flat out can't block. He supposedly has all these freakish combine times that sound sexy, but has only ONE TD catch in his career and averages only 10ypc. Not exactly standout stats for a guy you want as the "flex" TE Certainly not what would cause you to relinquish a 2nd day pick.

The Trades you mentioned DID end up being horrible, even though they were widely hailed at the time. And even though they all failed miserably, they were all solid examples of reasonable risks that simply didn't work out. The proposed trade of Rob Housley for a 2nd or 3rd round pick(or a 4th or 5th or 6th) doesn't even come close to that level of risk/reward.

And as for me being "condescending" Moi????? Sh!T Mayo I was going for a lot stronger than that in my rant. . I have reached my off season limit of the myriad of posts from those who think all problems are solved by adding Receivers. Somehow the fact that the VAST majority of great WR's never see the playoffs doesn't seem to register with the resident geniuses. If you draft/sign/trade for a #1 WR all your troubles will be over and life will go on happily ever after.

BTW- since you have seemed to set yourself up as the moral arbiter of what is the correct level or sarcasm or disdain for a position, please be careful. That first step is a long way down from that "high horse". Besides we generally agree on so much. And who knows. You could end up being right about Hightower.

I'm certainly not the moral arbiter of anyone or anything, and apologize if I give that impression. I detest "holier than thou" preaching, and I'm (certainly no "grasshopper", to use Pissah's term) just as equal as anyone else of being intolerant at times of other opinions, and have been set straight by others on this board. I also respect the hell out of you and your opinion, so anything you say carries a lot of weight with me. But I have noticed that you've been a lot more "absolute" in your statements recently, and wondered why. And if calling opinions that differ with your own "utter stupidity" isn't being intolerant, I'm not sure what qualifies.

Teams give up on good players and move in different directions all the time. That's why Darrelle Revis is a Patriot right now - because the Bucs changed management and moved in a different direction. Rob Housler hasn't set the world on fire, but he hasn't been a complete bust either. He was drafted by a regime with a different TE philosophy than the current one. We've seen a change of scenery greatly benefit players in the past, and we've also overpaid for guys who didn't pan out. We won't know which is the case unless something happens.

 

[Huckleberry1]

I can understand why people wouldn't want a high pick used for Housler, especially given that it is his contract year, but i don't see the harm in trading Mallett or a 4th or 5th rounder if they really like him. The ability to go to a quality two TE attack is really beneficial to this team and if they think Housler can help them do it then i am all for it. In all honesty i don't really care how they address the second TE spot, Keller, Finley, and Housler are all acceptable to me, i just want it addressed before the season starts because right now i don't like the depth on the unit. Imo the best solution would be Mallett to Arizona for Housler and sign either Keller or Finley.

If they can shore up the depth at TE and add one more decent LB for depth then this team is good to go and will field the best team they have had since 2007.

 

[supafly]

I guess we have to hope Tavon Wilson steps it up during camp. I am not going to hold my breath waiting for that to happen..

Yep. Wilson is still a very big wildcard in some aspects. He could be a fairly capable backup safety who sees 25-30-35 percent of the reps, he could be nothing more than a special teamer, or he may not even make the roster altogether. At the moment like you said, none of us are going to hold our breath waiting for that to happen.

Couple things -

- I said to trade Mallett for Housler because Carson Palmer has a history of injuries and they could use a solid backup. I did not say anything about a draft pick.
- Amendola being released in March was widely discussed among the media and members of this board due to his salary becoming guaranteed on 3/11.
- I opened a thread around October that this team was one the most impressive teams I ever saw even if it lost in the first round of the playoffs because it was able to overcome so much adversity. That does not sound like a thread opened by someone who considers any season that we do not win a SB a disaster.

Stop the insanity. Use the ignore feature.

I was just going to point out Brady6, that I did not believe that Joker was referring to you either.

Not meaning to get between any differences, just that I never thought he was referring to you--for whatever it may be worth.

 

[supafly]

And who was our #2 TE last year?

Obviously, it was the same guy it is now with Hooman, but that doesn't mean that they weren't caught off guard just the same with the horrible showing by Sudfeld, and another major injury from Gronkowski.

I agree with you that as long as Gronk plays, our offense should be just fine; however, based on the pattern we've seen lately, it wouldn't hurt to have an actual TE2 who was capable of catching a football every now and then.

 

[Brady6]

I was just going to point out Brady6, that I did not believe that Joker was referring to you either.

Not meaning to get between any differences, just that I never thought he was referring to you--for whatever it may be worth.

As I said in my post, I did not think he was at first either until he made the comment about the 4 straight posts, and that was me. Honestly, I do not really care, nor do I really have any differences with Joker, I do not want to be at odds with anyone on this board. One of the reasons I enjoy having discussions with you is your ability to disagree without any animosity, when you post something even if it is pointing out my being wrong it matriculates in my mind because it is conveyed in a way that I can be very receptive to.

Joker may not have been referring to me, and if that is the case I apologize for jumping down his throat, I am defensive with Joker because we have had a lot of friction in recent months. I would really like to get passed that.

 

[Brady6]

Craig, bringing Finley in means you have to subtract an offensive player somewhere else. Who is THAT player? Hooman? That would be hard to fathom considering the high praise he gets from the staff and the fact that he was just signed again this March. BB is going to cut Hooman and sign a player for significantly more money that has zero understanding of the offense? Not likely.

OK, then it has to be a WR then. You are effusive about all three young WR's, so who goes, LaFell? You don't even mention the Patriots leading receiver, Edelman or Amendola , why is THAT? They aren't dynamic enough?

Finley had controversial blowups in 2012 with Rodgers that are well documented.You think for even a millisecond he could come here and pull that kind of crap? Look, the guy can still play somewhere in this league but the Pats are about the worst fit when all the factors, scheme, price, need etc. are considered.

The one mitigating element that could come into play is injury. If Gronk can't go I guess Finley would be an option, Otherwise, I just don't see the fit.

I tend to agree with you on Finley not being a likely signing here. I think he is the type of player that Brady would go sour on similar to Chad Johnson in 2011, Finley drops many footballs and Brady may have accepted that from players like Dobson, Thompkins, and Boyce but he is not likely to be as understanding for a veteran.

 

[supafly]

I've pretty much given up on Finley myself. I do wonder what the deal is with Dustin Keller though, in terms of injury situation, etc?

 

[Deus Irae]

Mayo was 240 when drafted. He also isn't the impact player Bowman/Willis are. Since he added weight his coverage skills have declined. Collins is nearly 6'4 at 250. Besides I would rather have Collins blitzing with his length and explosiveness. Mayo is closer to the play size of the forementioned impact players. This isn't about Mayo its about Hightower and his vast limitations due to lack of burst/agility. I listed impact LBs and how none are near 270. How in today's NFL burst/explosion/agility is a must in an increasingly pass happy league that's getting faster and more and more explosive everywhere.

Mayo's a top tier LB, so I have no idea where you're getting your argument from. It's simply nonsensical.

 

[ausbacker]

Mayo was 240 when drafted. He also isn't the impact player Bowman/Willis are. Since he added weight his coverage skills have declined. Collins is nearly 6'4 at 250. Besides I would rather have Collins blitzing with his length and explosiveness. Mayo is closer to the play size of the forementioned impact players. This isn't about Mayo its about Hightower and his vast limitations due to lack of burst/agility. I listed impact LBs and how none are near 270. How in today's NFL burst/explosion/agility is a must in an increasingly pass happy league that's getting faster and more and more explosive everywhere.

In your opinion. How many times does it need to be pointed out how freaking good Mayo is? The guy has been covering the inadequacies of a poor Linebacker unit for years and all of a sudden he's not as impactful as Willis and Bowman?

Sit back and enjoy Mayo's skills as Hightower and Collins develop.

 

[Brady6]

I've pretty much given up on Finley myself. I do wonder what the deal is with Dustin Keller though, in terms of injury situation, etc?

I really think that they will be able to scoop a decent depth tight end or two at final roster cuts. These are all players on other teams I will be keeping an eye on in terms of potential cuts.

Blake Annen – Eagles
David Ausberry – Raiders
Jake Ballard - Cardinals
Rob Blanchflowers – Steelers
Trey Burton – Eagles
Joel Dreessen – Broncos
Michael Egnew – Dolphins
Chris Gragg – Bills
James Hanna - Cowboys
Gator Hopkins – Dolphins
Rob Housler – Cardinals
Marcel Jensen – Jaguars
Colt Lyerla – Packers
Jake Murphy – Raiders
Tony Moeaki – Bills
Dion Sims – Dolphins
Lee Smith – Bills
Zach Sudfeld – Jets
Erik Swope – Colts
Jacob Tamme – Broncos

 

[supafly]

I really think that they will be able to scoop a decent depth tight end or two at final roster cuts. These are all players on other teams I will be keeping an eye on in terms of potential cuts.

Blake Annen – Eagles
David Ausberry – Raiders
Jake Ballard - Cardinals
Rob Blanchflowers – Steelers
Trey Burton – Eagles
Joel Dreessen – Broncos
Michael Egnew – Dolphins
Chris Gragg – Bills
James Hanna - Cowboys
Gator Hopkins – Dolphins
Rob Housler – Cardinals
Marcel Jensen – Jaguars
Colt Lyerla – Packers
Jake Murphy – Raiders
Tony Moeaki – Bills
Dion Sims – Dolphins
Lee Smith – Bills
Zach Sudfeld – Jets
Erik Swope – Colts
Jacob Tamme – Broncos

I would suspect that you're right, and that they'll acquire at least one TE via roster cuts.

The only concern that I have with that is that I'd much prefer them to bring someone in now, so that they can have the benefit of working through the next 4-6 weeks, in an attempt to get the system under their belts.

I'm not sure how much confidence that I'd have in someone overtaking Hooman for the TE2 spot should they be brought in at the end of August. It may happen eventually, but I highly doubt they'd be contributing too much in the months of Sept and even possibly Oct.

 

[Brady6]

I would suspect that you're right, and that they'll acquire at least one TE via roster cuts.

The only concern that I have with that is that I'd much prefer them to bring someone in now, so that they can have the benefit of working through the next 4-6 weeks, in an attempt to get the system under their belts.

I'm not sure how much confidence that I'd have in someone overtaking Hooman for the TE2 spot should they be brought in at the end of August. It may happen eventually, but I highly doubt they'd be contributing too much in the months of Sept and even possibly Oct.

I think they will be looking at younger players and bring them along slowly, give them limited parts of the offense to learn at first. I think the Patriots like DJ Williams also, for some reason (not that I have a legit one) I feel like they really like him – I could be wrong though.

I think they will be looking at younger players and bring them along slowly, given them limited parts of the offense to learn at first. I think the Patriots like DJ Williams also, for some reason (not that I have a legit one) I feel like they really like him – I could be wrong though.

 

[supafly]

I think they will be looking at younger players and bring them along slowly, give them limited parts of the offense to learn at first. I think the Patriots like DJ Williams also, for some reason (not that I have a legit one) I feel like they really like him – I could be wrong though.

You may be right.

I think we can assume that a better plan is in place after Belichick being forced to scramble last season, although I can't predict what that plan may be aside from assuming that we'll be seeing more 3 wide looks, and more 2 RB looks.

It could be the use of a guy like Williams, or maybe even LaFell (although, personally, I am kind of doubting the latter--at least at this current point in time, anyway).

 

[Sticky Caulk]

I think they will be looking at younger players and bring them along slowly, give them limited parts of the offense to learn at first. I think the Patriots like DJ Williams also, for some reason (not that I have a legit one) I feel like they really like him – I could be wrong though.

I think they will be looking at younger players and bring them along slowly, given them limited parts of the offense to learn at first. I think the Patriots like DJ Williams also, for some reason (not that I have a legit one) I feel like they really like him – I could be wrong though.

DJ Williams was pretty nasty in college. he won the John Mackey Award as the 'most outstanding' TE his Senior year. Hernandez won the same award the year before.



He doesn't look too quick/fast or anything. I like that he gives a full effort on his blocks. Who knows. UDFAs and JAGs come out of nowhere to contribute all the time.

 

[Brady6]

DJ Williams was pretty nasty in college. he won the John Mackey Award as the 'most outstanding' TE his Senior year. Hernandez won the same award the year before.



He doesn't look too quick/fast or anything. I like that he gives a full effort on his blocks. Who knows. UDFAs and JAGs come out of nowhere to contribute all the time.

He is an interesting player in my opinion. He never really got a shot in Green Bay and then Jacksonville didn't keep him around to long. I don't have any delusions that he will be Hernandez but maybe he could allow us to do some of the things in certain situations.

Asa Watson and Justin Jones are both interesting players as well. I am excited to see them in camp.

 

[Bobs My Uncle]

Outside of luring T Gonzalez out of retirement or trading for A Johnson, I'm fine with the current roster.

 

[Fencer]

The move I want to see before opening night is sharp cut by Gronkowski.

If he's healthy I don't worry about the overall offense.

 

[RayClay]

Mayo was 240 when drafted. He also isn't the impact player Bowman/Willis are. Since he added weight his coverage skills have declined. Collins is nearly 6'4 at 250. Besides I would rather have Collins blitzing with his length and explosiveness. Mayo is closer to the play size of the forementioned impact players. This isn't about Mayo its about Hightower and his vast limitations due to lack of burst/agility. I listed impact LBs and how none are near 270. How in today's NFL burst/explosion/agility is a must in an increasingly pass happy league that's getting faster and more and more explosive everywhere.

It's about every starting linebacker under Belichick. I still don't see the 230 lb guys.