Which scenario for the Patriots and Vince Wilfork:

[JackBauer]

I know. I am just venting. Also they SHOULD want him. I am mad they don't.

They probably don't want Melton because he's a drunk who likes to do weird things like go all Marv Albert on bouncers.

 

[BobDigital]

Melton is a fine player, but, with the latest signings we have little left under the cap, some of the savings from VW's contract has been spent - even if BB cuts Connolly and others. So, we can't afford another All Pro sized contract with the demands of FA's, camp cuts, bonus payments, and drafted and signed players.

VW has been great, but the business of the NFL forces us to move on.

The market set for DTs is not so bad actually. FA has shown a player of Melton's Caliber will cost 6-7M a year. Probably less cause of his injury concern. Also keep in mind an average of 6M a year over is lighter at the beginning than at the end.

This year he probably only cost 5M when all is said and done. That leaves you 2.5M extra you can either sit on or use depending. It is very doable. If he wants a 1 yr deal to set him up for next years FA it is even easier.

 

[everlong]

Released. Signs with Texans reuniting with RAC contingent on them firing and ending any affiliation with Ted Johnson

 

[Bobs My Uncle]

Allen doesn't want a part time role. I'd say with how BB plays it, looks like C.Jones/Ninko are entrenched there…even with cash, I don't know that Allen would be open to it.

If Allen were added it would be Nink who would become a part-time player. A guy of Allen's caliber I would want out there full time.

 

[Stylez]

If Allen were added it would be Nink who would become a part-time player. A guy of Allen's caliber I would want out there full time.

I could roll with that.

 

[Bobs My Uncle]

I could roll with that.

I just looked-up Allen's stats. Can you imagine pairing him up opposite Jones with Revis and Browner applying shut down pressure in the backfield?

 	Def Interceptions 	Fumbles 	Tackles 		
Year 	Age 	Tm 	Pos 	No. 	G 	GS 	Sk 	Int 	Yds 	TD 	Lng 	PD 	FF 	Fmb 	FR 	Yds 	TD 	Tkl 	Ast 	Sfty 	AV
2004 	22 	KAN 	RDE 	69 	15 	10 	9.0 											28 	2 		4
2005 	23 	KAN 	RDE 	69 	16 	15 	11.0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	5 	6 	0 	2 	0 	0 	50 	7 		8
2006 	24 	KAN 	RDE 	69 	16 	16 	7.5 	1 	3 	0 	3 	10 	5 	1 	6 	24 	0 	66 	11 		11
2007*+ 	25 	KAN 	RDE 	69 	14 	14 	15.5 	0 	0 	0 	0 	10 	3 	0 	0 	0 	0 	55 	9 		16
2008*+ 	26 	MIN 	RDE 	69 	16 	16 	14.5 	0 	0 	0 	0 	3 	3 	0 	0 	0 	0 	41 	13 	2 	17
2009*+ 	27 	MIN 	RDE 	69 	16 	16 	14.5 	1 	-4 	0 	-4 	4 	5 	0 	3 	54 	1 	43 	8 	1 	16
2010 	28 	MIN 	RDE 	69 	16 	16 	11.0 	2 	40 	1 	36 	6 	1 	0 	1 	0 	0 	45 	15 		10
2011*+ 	29 	MIN 	DE 	69 	16 	16 	22.0 	1 	14 	0 	14 	4 	4 	0 	4 	6 	0 	46 	17 	1 	14
2012* 	30 	MIN 	RDE 	69 	16 	16 	12.0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	3 	1 	0 	1 	0 	0 	36 	10 		10
2013 	31 	MIN 	RDE 	69 	16 	16 	11.5 	0 	0 	0 	0 	6 	2 	0 	0 	0 	0 	33 	19 		6
Career 					157 	151 	128.5 	5 	53 	1 	36 	51 	30 	1 	17 	84 	1 	443 	111 	4 	112
6 yrs 		MIN 			96 	96 	85.5 	4 	50 	1 	36 	26 	16 	0 	9 	60 	1 	244 	82 	4 	73
4 yrs 		KAN 			61 	55 	43.0 	1 	3 	0 	3 	25 	14 	1 	8 	24 	0 	199 	29 		39

 

[50-yard-line]

If he gets released and they feel the need to add a replacement, I vote Pat Sims. Solid player, not too expensive, and has shown spurts of being VERY good.

Or maybe they just go Kelly/Siliga/Chris Jones/Vellano inside, with Armstead playing DE and DT..in which case, YES, go get Allen.

 

[Stylez]

I thought I had read that he was averaging 15.1 a year and that last year he had 11.5. It would be nice to have that for a few years in NE

I'd say the move helps with LB depth as well where Ninko could pick up more snaps. I think BB will go with the same though and hope Buchanon develops. Going to see Jake gone soon I believe. I liked him at the start too, just didn't come along.

 

[Love The Drake]

Still have faith in Bequette he mentioned he's been working on getting stronger and faster I say he sticks and becomes a good situational player for us with split reps.
My prediction is he has a quiet camp then flashes playmaking ability in the third preseason game nets 3 sacks and assists on 2 more then the board starts going crazy and calls him the next Jared Allen JJ Watt Hybrid.
Hey his name begins with a J close enough right?

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Still have faith in Bequette he mentioned he's been working on getting stronger and faster I say he sticks and becomes a good situational player for us with split reps.
My prediction is he has a quiet camp then flashes playmaking ability in the third preseason game nets 3 sacks and assists on 2 more then the board starts going crazy and calls him the next Jared Allen JJ Watt Hybrid.
Hey his name begins with a J close enough right?

Sadly, I can see that it's gonna be wicked hard to remain in the Top 10 Homos this season

 

[SalemPats]

Scenario 5. Trade him for a 1st round pick to Tampa Bay

Scenario 6. Package him with Mallet to get JJ Watt

I think he will redo his deal (which wasn't one of the options given.)

There are some bad GMs, but i don't think that bad. I don't think Houston would trade Watt for Brady (because of age)

 

[varjao]

They should cut him asap before he changes his mind.

It would be painful but the right thing to do would be cut him even against his will, if he gave us this gift making things easier, do not hesitate.

Cut and free up that money right now.

 

[mgteich]

The patriots are not willing to guarantee Wilfork $8M. Even if Wilfork extends at $4M a year, he still would want a guarantee of this year's $8M. It's NOT happening, and it shouldn't happen.

The open issue is how long the patriots will go before making the decision not to have Wilfork come to camp where he could certainly end up on IR or PUP.

The team should NOT continue to risk the $8M. There are better ways to spend the cap money.

 

[Mike the Brit]

Sadly, I can see that it's gonna be wicked hard to remain in the Top 10 Homos this season

True ...

I still think that Adrian Wilson will be the starting safety alongside McCourty.

 

[Aßßynormal]

How many DTs have been brought in?

It sure looks like we now need to draft a DT but we haven't cut Vince ....... maybe it's a draft ruse and we have a deal (providing he progresses health wise) set up for late May. Otherwise, he'd be screaming to be cut NOW, while other teams have money.

Tinfoil hat off.

 

[BradyFTW!]

They should do the right thing and cut him.

If he won't take a salary cut and that's what they demand then cut him. They should have already worked this out and cut him.

How do you let him "test the achilles"? If he's in training camp and gets injured, doesn't he go on IR costing them the whole 7.5M?

The dead cost cap hit of 3.6M or whatever is irrelevent. That cost hits if he's here or not.

I don't think the "extend and reduce the cap hit" works. If he can't play, then you're looking at an additional 7.5M in cap hits for a guy you have questions about.

If you don't know if he'll ever be the same, you don't guarantee him 7.5M even if you can theoretically spread those cap hits over more than one year. Also he may not agree to the renewal year salaries. If they're much less than 7.5M, you take the risk he just retires after this year and then you a dead cap of 5M or so next year in addition to the 6.1M this year.

Best bet is to cut him and start anew.

I'm a huge Wilfork fan, but I agree that this is the right answer. Don't put him out on the field. Don't even bring him to OTAs. Don't leave any opportunity out there for him to get re-injured playing on this contract. Just do what he requested and cut the guy.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Still have faith in Bequette

.... but why? What possible reason is there to have any faith in him?

 

[patfanken]

There is only one scenario for Vince at this point, and its to release him. There are 3 reasons to do so.

1. That's what he wants

2. There is no way any reasonable restructure that will get close to the $7.8MM in cap space a release will

3. We really, really need that kind of additional cap space to complete the solid off season we started, because we still need to sign a swing T and C. We also HAVE to sign a DE, LB, and TE

Miguel has us at around $7MM not counting Edeleman. So if Vince is released and Edelman comes in with a 2014 cap number around $2MM We'd have about $12MM in cap space to spend on FA's from now until the day of the draft. By draft day we will have to come up with an additional $4MM in order to sign our rookies and UDFA's. So unless we create more space between now and then, we realistically only have about $7MM to spend on FA's to fill those important needs, even after releasing Vince.

And pass rushing DE like Ayers or Will Smith is going to cost you $3MM on this year's cap. Any FA worthy of a starting C job is going to cost you at least $2.5MM. That leaves about $1.5MM left to sign a move TE, LB to replace Fletcher, and a swing T if Cannon goes to RG.

Clearly more money needs to be found, and from all I can gather the 3 best possible places, at this point, are Connolly, AWilson, and Mankins, and even then you are probably only looking at, at best, $3MM from Connolly and Wilson, and some unknown sum from Mankins. That's doesn't add much, assuming you cut Wilson and Connolly and Mankins agree to a restructure that doesn't cost them much if at all.

So maybe if all goes well, we can get that $1.5MM number up to around $6MM. So then you can grab Keller on a one year deal for $1.5MM total including game incentives and $3MM for Shaun Phillips, and $1.5 can get you that swing T

The key thing to remember is that whatever cap number is quoted, you have to deduct $5MM to account for drafting rookies and a $1MM reserve.

 

[mgteich]

I believe that it was $7.85M before LeFell and Edelman.

Miguel has us at around $7MM not counting Edeleman.

 

[IcyPatriot]

The patriots are not willing to guarantee Wilfork $8M. Even if Wilfork extends at $4M a year, he still would want a guarantee of this year's $8M. It's NOT happening, and it shouldn't happen.

The open issue is how long the patriots will go before making the decision not to have Wilfork come to camp where he could certainly end up on IR or PUP.

The team should NOT continue to risk the $8M. There are better ways to spend the cap money.

You whiffed ..........