Would anyone kick the tires on RB Arian Foster?

[AvocadoIceCream]

Also, a handful of examples over a nearly 20 year period makes you look like a fool

 

[PatsFan2]

I don't get the hate for Foster by some he would be a perfect compliment for fragile Dion Lewis. Remember Foster was used as a workhorse in Houston he wouldn't be a workhorse here with Brady. Also Foster has never played with an Elite QB I hope we take a flier he should be a heck of alot cheaper than Forte.

 

[Kontradiction]

So you're saying RBs don't lose it younger than most positions? Oh.

Share some examples with me that are leading you to your conclusion that Forte is looking at a decline coming.

 

[Crazy Patriot Guy]

How old is he again? 26? Yeah

Not once did you mention age when it came to the Pats not spending big money in free agency. And as others have pointed out already, yes, we have spent more on older players.

They haven't historically spent on 30 year old free agent RBs for two reasons:

1. Not too long ago, that player would have cost twice as much as today, if not more.
2. There hasn't been a lot of RBs with Forte's abilities available to sign at that lower price.

FYI, they gave a 31 year old Corey Dillon a 5 year, $25 million extension back when only two of our players counted for more than $3 million against the cap.

 

[JMC00]

FYI, they gave a 31 year old Corey Dillon a 5 year, $25 million extension back when only two of our players counted for more than $3 million against the cap.

Gave a 33 year old Chad Johnson 3 years/$12m $5m of that was guaranteed


To think Pats haven't signed or acquired guys on the plus side of 30 that didn't cost money is just dumb. Ya it's not a normal occurrence for them but they have done it for guys Belichick has liked..

 

[AvocadoIceCream]

Gave a 33 year old Chad Johnson 3 years/$12m $5m of that was guaranteed

Yeah, more reason while they'll be more reluctant lol

 

[Huckleberry1]

Forte had a 1000+ yard rushing season AND caught 102 balls out of the backfield only a year ago when we won the SB. Those types of numbers aren't really a good indicator of someone who's suddenly lost all of their ability because they just turned 30 a couple of weeks before Christmas. Hell, if we received 2/3 of that production from a RB we'd be pretty happy. One can make a strong argument that it may have been the difference between winning the SB again this year.

While I think all of this talk will end up being moot due to his pricetag being too high, trying to sign him is a complete no brainer if he'll come here on a bit of a cheaper pact.

Other than the price tag I agree with all of this. 4 million a year isn't a big price tag. Could a team like the Cowboys outbid them, sure, but imo they will make him a good offer and it will take a team overpaying him to get it done for them. Belichick raves about Forte and considers him a complete back and I think he will be at the top of their list. We will find out shortly because of the legal tampering period before free agency, if they have him in the first weekend then they are really serious. I think Forte really wants a ring and going to the AFCCG every year and Super Bowl almost every other year is a big advantage for them.

 

[meatface]

Also LOL at thinking it's safer to pay an old free agent decent money than drafting a guy in the 4th

Why not both?

 

[Off The Grid]

Remember when they gave 33 year old Shaun Ellis $4m for 1 year?

Yes.

And it was a stupid move, wasn't it?

 

[AvocadoIceCream]

I've gone the cap figures......

Youre acting as if they have 13 mil to spend on FAs right now. That's incorrect.

They cannot afford to pay Forte 4 mil per year.

 

[JMC00]

Yeah, more reason while they'll be more reluctant lol

You are an absolute idiot if you think Shaun Ellis being signed 5 years ago when he was 33 would have any impact on Belichick regarding Forte.

 

[JMC00]

I've gone the cap figures......

Youre acting as if they have 13 mil to spend on FAs right now. That's incorrect.

They cannot afford to pay Forte 4 mil per year.

Just stop... You clearly have no clue about the cap.. $13m in cap space means they could absolutely afford $4m a year if that's what the cap hit was. Except any Forte deal that cap hit would be low the first year like it is on almost every multi-year deal that is signed in the NFL.

Also Pats aren't going to have just $13m, there'll be more cuts and some restructurings and maybe a couple of extensions that could free up at least another $10m which would put them up over $20m

$13m in space and they can't afford $4m.. lol come on. You lost this argument when you used Rashard Jennings as an example of a good deal...


Pats only had about $10m in cap space going into the '14 FA yet it didn't stop them from re-signing Edelman and bringing in Revis, Browner and LaFell which combined all were more than a $10m cap hit for '14. Revis alone was a $7.5m hit

 

[Ring 6]

Why are people constantly associating Matt Forte and injuries on this forum?

The guy has played in 15+ games in 6/8 seasons, and 12+ games in EVERY season. As a matter of fact, he's only missed time twice in his 8 year career, and those two times (2011 and 2015) saw a few games missed each time.

If anything, Matt Forte is the opposite of what people are suggesting. Had CHI not played on Thursday after a Sunday game during his injury this past year, he'd only have missed two games instead of three.



That's where someone like Dion Lewis could come in quite nicely

Its a fantasy football thing. He was a fantasy stud, then wasn't so he must always be injured.

 

[Froob]

Gave a 33 year old Chad Johnson 3 years/$12m $5m of that was guaranteed


To think Pats haven't signed or acquired guys on the plus side of 30 that didn't cost money is just dumb. Ya it's not a normal occurrence for them but they have done it for guys Belichick has liked..

People seem to love trying to craft a blueprint for BB's decisions. It's entirely situational. There's no he won't pay this position that or won't draft a certain position that high.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

Share some examples with me that are leading you to your conclusion that Forte is looking at a decline coming.

I would save your breath man

 

[supafly]

I've gone the cap figures......

Youre acting as if they have 13 mil to spend on FAs right now. That's incorrect.

They cannot afford to pay Forte 4 mil per year.

Just out of curiosity, why wouldn't they be able to spend 13m on free agents--"right now?"

That is their available cap space for the 2016 league year. As a matter of fact, it's now going to be about 15m dollars since the league will have to distribute about 50+ million (extra) to all 32 teams.

 

[AvocadoIceCream]

Well they do have a few of their own FAs to pay

Gotta save 3-5 for in season


Draft picks

Depth guys

So basically Forte is the only notable FA? That's not Revis.

 

[JMC00]

Money saved from no 1st round pick- $1.5m
Cap space added for nfl hiding $- $1.5m
=$3m

Which is around what Forte's cap hit would probably be....

 

[supafly]

Well they do have a few of their own FAs to pay

Gotta save 3-5 for in season


Draft picks

Depth guys

So basically Forte is the only notable FA? That's not Revis.

I think we all understand where you're coming from in terms of reminding people about in-season signings, incentives that may be reached, draft picks, etc---but those can be manipulated by making a move at that specific moment. We've got some smart people managing the cap, so I'm sure Belichick is well versed in these exercises.

In other words, there are MANY ways to free up cap space, whether that's restructuring Amendola, cutting guys like Cannon, LaFell, extending either Jones or Hightower etc, so at the moment 15m dollars (approx. after the cap increases again) is a fine position to be in. One way or the other, the Patriots are going to free up additional money. They haven't even really gotten started yet! The only thing that happened was someone retiring.

I share some of your concern about signing a guy like Forte to more than a 1-2 yr deal, and I also feel as though his pricetag may prevent us from bringing him here, but he's definitely someone who should be explored under the right circumstances. The same logic would apply to another "over the hill dinosaur" in Anquan Boldin, who still caught 70 balls this year and would be a fine candidate to contribute as a possession/over the middle type of receiver for a year or two.

These types of veteran/value signings have been one of the bigger reasons why we've been so successful over the long haul, although as you mention, one must be cautious when doling out big bucks to older players. I just don't see that applying to this situation, that's all.

 

[AvocadoIceCream]

Also, I don't think the Pats are very good at "manipulating" the cap.

I look at a team like Denver or Seattle and say, "how the hell do they have so many elite, high paid players on the roster, and here we are, with not a lot of cap space, and not a lot of high priced guys."

Seattles cap guy is elite