Patriots Offseason

[Geoffrey P]

After yet another disappointing season

Free Agents:
WR: Welker, Branch
DL: Anderson, Ellis, Carter
RB: Law Firm, Faulk
G/C: Connolly
FS: Slater
DB: Moulden, Ihedigbo, Jones
LB: White, Guyton, Koutouvides

Some guys I'd definitely like to keep are Welker, Anderson/Carter and Law Firm. They definitely need a better secondary line and some pass rushers and most mock drafts have them taking a CB or a pass rusher. I think that a big WR would help as well with Ocho being next to useless and Brach/Welker both being undersized. And for the love of god please don't waste picks on more running backs or another QB...

[Wingy]

An older article, but I heard them talking Lloyd on either NESN or CSNNE tonight. Would be a decent pickup if we get him on a reasonable contract.

http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/brandon_lloyd_says_he_will_follow_josh_mcdaniels/9036481

A great WR class to fill that gap in general. Obviously would want to resign Wes. Surely some would resign or maybe even franchised, but I think there will be some good talent left. I think I'd like Meachem due to age/deep threat/probably not going to break the bank.

http://www.footballsfuture.com/2012/fa/wr.html

Then use our picks to shore up the defense. I think the Giants have shown what a great pass rush can do in taking us out 2x in the Super Bowl and defeating the Packers along the way as well. The QB's are just too good now to give them so much time. They are just going to keep carving us up and it exposes our secondary even more.

I wouldn't mind loading up on pass rushers this draft - turn a weakness into a strength. Get enough guys so they have to stop doubling Vince and our DB's probably won't seem so bad if they don't have to cover nearly as long.

[KGboss]

Welker and Branch seem to be a no-brainers to bring back.

I really hope we improve this teams defensive line in the off season though. Maybe pick up another couple wide receivers as well.

I think this team can get back to the super bowl again, but they really need to improve the defensive unit, or there is no point.

[Joselo16]

What Super Bowl?!? Didn't you guys hear....it was the end of a Dynasty.....AGAIN! Funny how you hear that every time we lose an important game, LOL!

DEFENSE is what wins championships...we saw it in 07 and this year. Our offense was the greatest ever in 07, but it stalled when the defenses took over, and ours was just not up to par in both years. When we won, it was due to talent on the defensive side, as well as Brady and a good to great running game, which we haven't had in years. Look how much better Eli was when he can hand to ball off and get good yardage on run, instead of having to throw for 3 downs, which the opposing D can just pin their ears back on the pass rush and load up the backfield with D-Backs to crowd it up for the QB.

We (STILL) need an elite consistent pass rusher who opponents have to game plan against and a good to great RB! We get this and Brady will finally get more jewelry.

[Geoffrey P]

Reggie Wayne, anyone?

If Wayne does move on, one potential landing spot is New England, where former Patriot Willie McGinest told the Boston Herald that he thinks Wayne is a natural fit. McGinest said he asked Wayne if he’d like to play in New England, and Wayne answered, “Who wouldn’t want to play there?“

Patriots coach Bill Belichick has been a longtime admirer of Wayne’s, saying during the 2009 season that he thought Wayne was the best receiver he had coached against.

From NBC Sports

[Celtics_Champs]

Argh...why are reporters dragging me back so fast! I can't help but look at every report about this team. It's not even the combine yet.

Definitely gotten over it faster than 07. I don't think it was a disappointing season. I know it was a disappointing finish, but to think we got to the SB yet again with such a bad defense, well damn. I liked it, had a lot of fun.

There are only a few glaring holes imo with this team.
-Need one WR
-Need more Pass Rushers
-Need a starting CB or Safety (depending on how you use McCourty next year)

Am I wrong thinking that everything else is fine. Our offense is fine, and our defense was filled with patches for most of the year because guys like Mayo, Chung, Spikes and them all going down. I really think we have some young talent on that squad though. Wilfork (not young anymore) with his fat buddies is a good d-line, just need some rush. I don't care what anyone says I love this LB core. The secondary could use some work, but the four of McCourty, Chung, Arrington, and Idehbgo is a good starting point.

Anyway I agree that Welker, Branch, Law-Firm, and Anderson/Carter are the number one targets to re-sign.

Welker will be the toughest along with Anderson. I don't really know this Anderson fella's mindset, he could be looking to cash in now after a great year. If not, I'd sign him for the discount. Welker, well, he's number one, no doubt about it. He coulda dropped 80 balls in the SB and we'd still be saying he's key. He helped get us there. I believe they sign him to a 3 year sort of deal.

Law-Firm seems like a humble dude, he'll probably be back for cheap. Branch will live out the rest of his playing career on Tim Wakefield like one year deals to stay in New England. We all know this. Carter is getting up there and age and enjoyed his finest season in the last few years with NE. He likes it here, will probably take a 1 or 2 year deal.

So best case scenario
Welker - 3 years 9 mill a year
Branch - 1 year discount
Law-Firm - 3 years low money
Anderson - 2 years
Carter - 2 years low money

I don't think Anderson stays though the more I think about it.

----------
As for other FA's, I don't know how much we'd have to spend. But this is where BB hit it big last year for cheap. With Carter, Anderson and Waters being three huge members of a SB team.

The report on Wayne is interesting. I wonder if he signs with the rivals, if he does, he knows what's up. It seems like he understands the hurry up and audibles, having peyton all those years. He'll fit right in.

Another receiver. Yes. Definitly. Brandon Lloyd would be good. Reggie Wayne would be good. Either or. All we need is just another target to go out there and do what Ochocinco couldn't do. As long as Gronk heals and Brady doesn't age years in a matter of months then the offense is not going to take a major decline.

Our only other hole IMO when looking for Free agents to fill them is pass rushers. This is because I think CB/S would be better filled via the draft. So I post this in no hope that we get him, but only because Mike Reiss had him suggested in an article. Mario Williams. I would love it, but no way. There's no way they spend that money on him considering we have gronkowski and hernandez both coming up looking for deals. Same with Chung and we just paid mayo.

[Geoffrey P]

Latest news is on WR Brandon Lloyd. He said he'd like to be with McDaniel's again.
Stats for 2011: 70 rec for 966 yards and 5 TD
http://news.bostonherald.com/sports/col ... ion=recent

I hope they're not going for Moss, and it doesn't seem like they are. The guy never put in the effort to get extra yardage.

And I don't know how credible this guy is but pretty interesting
http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/ ... d-who-goes


Oh and also Haynesworth was cut

[Celtics_Champs]

They can tag welker today. Will they?

[Geoffrey P]

- Matt Light could retire
- Spikes had surgery on his right knee
- Brandon Lloyd still interested in Pats

And I was listening to Felger and they brought up the idea of letting Wes go to the free market to see that he's not going to get that $7-$9m. That way they could sign him for cheaper than what he probably wants.

[KGboss]

Lloyd is a good pick-up. He will give this team something where Ocho just floundered.

I know they have to play 'the business' with Welker, but they need to keep him. Everyone will be regretting it if he just walks.

[Celtics_Champs]

Mike Wallace's comments sound awesome. If we could land him, look out AFC! He'd be our deep threat.

[Geoffrey P]

The Patriots will apply the franchise tag to Welker if the two sides cannot strike a deal on a long-term extension by the March 5 deadline, a source confirmed to the Herald. If Welker signed the offer, he would make roughly $9.5 million on a one-year deal.
http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/foot ... ion=recent

Patriots Look to Improve Super Bowl Odds, May Aim Higher Than Brandon Lloyd at Receiver
http://www.nesn.com/2012/02/patriots-lo ... eiver.html

At least there's alot of talk about a WR/pass rusher/secondary. Hopefully they fix those holes.

And Patriots are favored to win the 2013 Super Bowl (5-1) ahead of GB (11-2). But then again Eagles are T-3rd with Steelers (6-1) lol.

[Geoffrey P]

- Pats interested in Mario Williams, along with Cowboys
- Still no tag on Welker
- Possibly trying to get Ocho to restructure deal
and the greatest of all
- Ocho got pissed on by a lion

Not much going on

[Celtics_Champs]

Ehh I'm glad it hasn't been busy yet, I haven't been paying attention cause I needed the break of football talk. I still dont click on articles that talk about a dropped catch or something. Truth be told I wish this bounty gate stuff came out on feb 6th so we didn't have to go through two plus weeks of sb talk.

Mario Williams would be perfect. Where did you here that?

[Geoffrey P]

Peter King/Mike Reiss have mentioned it and Dan Pompei wrote about it on NFP (http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/NFP ... -7533.html)
Curran also wrote about it but mentioned some of the negative impacts that could come with signing him because he'd want big money and has only played 18 games the past two seasons.

Also they just franchised Welker today.

[KGboss]

From all the talk on sports radio around Boston, it seems like Lloyd is pretty much a lock to be a patriot next season. This will be a good pick-up for the team and a deep threat. deep WR threat was the only thing that the pats didn't have this past season.

I'm just hoping they improve the defense while they are at it as well.

[Captain_Caveman]

FWIW, I would trade a #1 for Tebow like yesterday, especially if Manning signs with the Broncos.

Then play him in the backfield, as Belichick bro Urban Meyer did when he was a frosh. They won the championship that year as well.

Let him run some options and WIldcat off of direct snaps, or run him off draws in Woodhead's role. It would be completely bananas and revolutionary. What team can prepare for all those offensive matchup problems in a week's time, other than no one? Would probably extend both Brady's and Tebow's careers, too.

Lest you think I am tripping, Bill actually took Tebow out to dinner prior to the draft he drafted several other Gators in, and might have taken him in the 1st round had he not been taken just ahead of McCourty.

[Celtics_Champs]

I see no problem with our offense so I would not waste a first rounder on him. I'd rather sign Mike Wallace and give up the first rounder.

KG-All signs point to him coming here. The start of FA should be interesting. We're gonna add some people. I don't think they go big for Super Mario, but I think they DEFINITELY should.

[Captain_Caveman]

They aren't going after Mike Wallace. We could add Lloyd, Tebow and draft another o-lineman in the 2nd round, and still have picks in each of the first 4 rounds for the defense. 15 touches a game for Tebow could help us tremendously IMO.

I'd do that in a minute.

[sully00]

I am ok with Loyd but there is reason to be concerned as Fauria laid out. I am a bigger fan of Wallace who is Randy Moss fast, but he is going to be super pricey.

One guy I really would like to see this team go after is Mike Tolbert, just a perfect fit for this offense.

Can't see Super Mario but maybe he sees Vince and Bill and decides that they only have to get close on the money and that is were he wants to be.