2018 Patriots Roster
- Thread starter RedOctober3829
- Start date
Indeed. Bad for NE but good for him. I don't know much about him as a person but he seems like a good dude.
I think one thing we can agree on with the holes and the $ being leaked for some guys is that Ben Volin is an absolute moron for suggesting they could feasibly franchise Jimmy and fill out the roster.
Agreed. Volin was taking Felger's infamous "the cap is crap" approach, an approach that has worked out oh so well for so many teams across the league.
I'm happy to see Volin and Felger maligned any day, but they weren't alone. There were plenty in the media and on this forum who were of the same mind. I would imagine that watching Brady put up 33 and lose anyway perhaps drew some attention to the fact that the salary cap space might be put to better use on the other side of the ball.
Guilty.
I think the QB position is so important and difficult to get right that they’d bend over backwards to make it work. And they reportedly did, to the tune of an offer of 17 a year.
When I wanted them to franchise him, I shared a commonly held belief that the defense was top half at least, maybe top third in terms of potential. They didn’t come close.
The Patriots evaluation of JG — or at least BB’s — was validated by the contract SF signed with him, and the importance of the position will be further underscored by the Cousins’ contract, and the Rodgers’ and Ryan extensions to follow.
Now the succession issue almost certainly will have to be addressed via the draft. Nobody on the cusp of starting in the NFL — maybe McCarron, if you like him, maybe Bridgewater, if you think he can get healthy again — is going to want any part of New England.
In terms of succession planning, the timing could not have been worse.
I think the QB position is so important and difficult to get right that they’d bend over backwards to make it work. And they reportedly did, to the tune of an offer of 17 a year.
When I wanted them to franchise him, I shared a commonly held belief that the defense was top half at least, maybe top third in terms of potential. They didn’t come close.
The Patriots evaluation of JG — or at least BB’s — was validated by the contract SF signed with him, and the importance of the position will be further underscored by the Cousins’ contract, and the Rodgers’ and Ryan extensions to follow.
Now the succession issue almost certainly will have to be addressed via the draft. Nobody on the cusp of starting in the NFL — maybe McCarron, if you like him, maybe Bridgewater, if you think he can get healthy again — is going to want any part of New England.
In terms of succession planning, the timing could not have been worse.
Jonny Manziel is willing to sign for the minimum with zero dollars guaranteed. Is he worth a roster spot?
Rumor has it that Earl Thomas can be had for a 2nd or 3rd round pick. He has one year left and the Patriots would only be on the hook for $8.5 million.
Latest rumors seem to be that the Seahawks are keeping Thomas and trading Bennett. Reuniting the Bennett brothers would definitely fill a position of need... Mohammed Wilkerson is also on the market and is younger.
Pats will not pick up Branch's optipn. Assuming that is official before the league year, the Patriots will pick up another $3.55 million in cap space and their total will be $18.2 million.
Kenny Britt's option was picked up for 2018. His cap hit is $1,468,750. That will bring the Patriots' total cap space down to $16,731,804.
Will this help with compensatory pick calculations for 2019? Or does he have to actually sign with another team for it to matter?
I am pretty sure he has to sign with another team. But in any case, I don't see him netting a pick given his near zero playing time last season.
I still remain skeptical that someone is going to offer a ton for a RB who will be 28 in September and who has played 1 full season. I’m sure he wants a contract greater than what White got but I can’t see him getting it.
It will be sad when Dion leaves.
Always amazes me how BB continues to find the next guy, not only RBs but also WRs. If anyone can find for me the post from 2015 season where the WRs were falling like flies, and somebody here posted that BB sent him in (he was of course incredulous "But Coach I don't play football..."), and he scored 3 TDs (or something like that), I would be grateful. Was one of my favorite BB related posts -- wish I had saved it.
Always amazes me how BB continues to find the next guy, not only RBs but also WRs. If anyone can find for me the post from 2015 season where the WRs were falling like flies, and somebody here posted that BB sent him in (he was of course incredulous "But Coach I don't play football..."), and he scored 3 TDs (or something like that), I would be grateful. Was one of my favorite BB related posts -- wish I had saved it.
The 49ers have so much money to spend that they could overpay for a player like Lewis.
We say this alot. And it happens occasionally.
Its also why these teams stay (or eventually get again) so bad that they end up with alot of money to spend. Its a vicious cycle.
We always assume that they will take just one leap of faith. Instead they overspend on Dion, and another guy and another guy. Pretty soon all that Cap space is gone.
It will be interested to see how they handle Duane Allen. Will it be a cut and re-sign later or a renegotiate/extend or simply a cut?
If they cut him, it's $5 million saved against the cap with no dead money. They absolutely should cut him and try to bring him back at a lower price if they want him back.
I agree. Although it's about half a million less in savings, as they would need to count a league minimum salary ($480k, I think) against the cap after cutting his $5M).
But can a renegotiation be as steep as changing $5M in salary into something like 3 years, $3M in signing bonus, $1M/year in salary, so the cap hit drop to $2M? Or are there limits as to how low a cut can go?
I'm not sure if there are limits, but if there's a year left on the contract I wonder if you'd have to extend him
Zolak tweeted that he heard Solder's market is huge and it's no given he comes back. Says they have to come pretty close to his market value.
I listened to some of F&M in the car they other day and they were casually roasting the Pats saying how they left themselves wide open for this. And I started thinking, wait a minute, didn't they draft Antonio Garcia to groom him to replace Solder? Isn't that the prototypical planning ahead sort of move? Were they to blame when the guy got sick, and had to be put on injured reserve? How do you ignore that when it's your job?
Anyway, I hope Solder comes back unless Bill and Scar are somehow convinced that Garcia can play.
“Mike, they drafted a guy with blood clots in his lungs who has lost 40 lbs. he was already undersized, Mike.”
Brady’s last contract extension was announced March 10, 2016 and Miguel and others expect a new contract extension this spring. Would this be the first domino needed for the Pats or will the extension have little to no savings this year?
The 2016 extension created $1M in cap space that year.
The 2016 extension created $1M in cap space that year.
Lewis, we were behind and had no defense all Super Bowl. Enough about your use.
It's FA time and he should seek his one big payday, whatever.
It's FA time and he should seek his one big payday, whatever.
What's missing from the WEEI.com article on this -- http://www.weei.com/blogs/ryan-hannable/ricky-jean-francois-moving-patriots-which-could-mean-team-will-be-seeking -- is the why.
He says a lot of positive things.
Perhaps the Pats told him they were moving on. Or perhaps, despite all the happy talk, he doesn't want to stay. But like many things in PatsVille, this is clear as mud.
And yes, I know, the back story on this player is not very high on the list of need to knows. Still, the silence in the linked article is a little odd.
He was a desperation signing who played serviceably. They don't want him back, and he doesn't want to be back. It's pretty clear IMO
You’re saying it’s clearly a mutual thing. I mean, that’s possible, but where are you getting that from? It’s just as possible that either side independently/exclusively came to that conclusion.
Again, not a huge thing and I’m just curious how this developed. I will add that I thought he played reasonably well and hoped he’d be at least in the mix fo next season.
I am sure they want to get younger, more athletic, and better up front. The guy is 31. He was an emergency signing. As for why he wouldn't want to be back - playing time. He was cut after a few games and brought back. Clearly they didn't envision him getting snaps so why would he want to be back? Your line of posts is confusing to me. This seems like one of the most obvious things to happen all offseason, along with say the Bennett release.
Article on Pats defense in 2018 and roster construction: LINK
Basic points:
- Defensive scheme is gap control, read, and react
- Pats sacrifice getting penetration for controlling the line of scrimmage
- In 2017, defensive line struggled with gap control and athleticism of linebackers was exposed in space
Potential roster impact:
- Need another big body capable of controlling the line of scrimmage ala Ted Washington, Vince Wilfork, and good Alan Branch
- Need increased athleticism at the LB position. However, given the recent deals for Hightower and Van Noy and the current snap totals for a 3rd LB not sure how that is achieved.
- Belichick has made/attempted to make some roster moves to increase interior penetration (Easley, Bennett, playing DEs inside on 3rd down). None have quite worked out perfectly yet.
Basic points:
- Defensive scheme is gap control, read, and react
- Pats sacrifice getting penetration for controlling the line of scrimmage
- In 2017, defensive line struggled with gap control and athleticism of linebackers was exposed in space
Potential roster impact:
- Need another big body capable of controlling the line of scrimmage ala Ted Washington, Vince Wilfork, and good Alan Branch
- Need increased athleticism at the LB position. However, given the recent deals for Hightower and Van Noy and the current snap totals for a 3rd LB not sure how that is achieved.
- Belichick has made/attempted to make some roster moves to increase interior penetration (Easley, Bennett, playing DEs inside on 3rd down). None have quite worked out perfectly yet.
That's hilarious. I can imagine him saying this line in my head lol.
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Maybe I trust Bill too much but my assumption was the Bennett bros (more so Michael) were just too much damaged goods. Bill would have had the best offer from the outset. He went with this CLE guy instead.
Trading for Shelton wouldn't preclude trading for Bennett. Two very different players. Both would / will help.
Not sure what was confusing.
I can easily imagine why he would not want to be back and can easily imagine why the Pats would not want him back.
What remains unanswered in the article is whether the Pats said goodbye or he did. Or whether it was a mutual parting. Despite your response to me, the article never revealed how it came about.