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.Get paid, Dion. Sure the team is looking for the next Lewis/Burkhead.
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 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.
Great player but seems like a luxury we can’t afford.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.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.
Leading club to pick him up is Panda ExpressPats 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.
Will this help with compensatory pick calculations for 2019? Or does he have to actually sign with another team for it to matter?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.
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.Will this help with compensatory pick calculations for 2019? Or does he have to actually sign with another team for it to matter?
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.
The 49ers have so much money to spend that they could overpay for a player like Lewis.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.
We say this alot. And it happens occasionally.The 49ers have so much money to spend that they could overpay for a player like Lewis.
They don't need to offer a ton. Just more than the pats can match.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.
Bennett move was completely expected. Pats now at $23 million in cap space.Marty B officially released.
Also Reedy.
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?Bennett move was completely expected. Pats now at $23 million in cap space.
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.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?
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).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'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 himI 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 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?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.
“Mike, they drafted a guy with blood clots in his lungs who has lost 40 lbs. he was already undersized, Mike.”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.
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.Ricky Jean Francois announced he's not coming back to the Patriots.
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."… I'd like to thank Robert Kraft, Coach Belichick, Coach Patricia and the Patriots front office for allowing me to be a part of something that not a lot of players get the opportunity to do - play for the New England Patriots. Playing in Foxboro made me appreciate this game a lot more. Thank you to everyone there for giving me a great experience that I'll remember for the rest of my life."
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.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
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.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 smell a conspiracy. You have no idea how high up this goes.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.
That's hilarious. I can imagine him saying this line in my head lol.“Mike, they drafted a guy with blood clots in his lungs who has lost 40 lbs. he was already undersized, Mike.”
Ffffuuuuu"This was a complicated situation," Rapoport said on NFL Network Thursday. "First of all, the Bennett brothers were going nuts trying to get it somehow so they could play together on the Patriots. I know Martellus Bennett was talking about taking less salary, trying to stick around so the Patriots could then trade for his brother. ... Now, from what I am told, this was basically done, a done deal between the Seahawks and Eagles -- this was Tuesday morning.
Trading for Shelton wouldn't preclude trading for Bennett. Two very different players. Both would / will help.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.
Not sure what was confusing.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.