The 2014 Offseason Thread
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Brace yourself for the next two weeks sounds cut related. The shocking stuff during the BB era has always been cuts. But I'm holding out hope in the tampering era of the NFL pre-free agency we are selling Talib, Revis, and Fitzgerald jerseys in two weeks.
NEP among preferred destination for Jared Allen: http://gnb.scout.com/2/1382902.html
Story last night was that he was heading to Denver.
Story last night was that he was heading to Denver.
Ian Rapoport @RapSheet 1m
#Patriots offered WR Julian Edelman a three-year deal, per source. Would like an answer by the start of free agency. They want to keep him
http://bostonherald.com/sports/patriots_nfl/the_blitz/2014/03/patriots_intensifying_contract_negotiations_with_julian
A tweet and a link to Herald article
#Patriots offered WR Julian Edelman a three-year deal, per source. Would like an answer by the start of free agency. They want to keep him
http://bostonherald.com/sports/patriots_nfl/the_blitz/2014/03/patriots_intensifying_contract_negotiations_with_julian
A tweet and a link to Herald article
Corsi said:
I'm all for this move. Woodyard, Collins and Mayo would go a long way towards solving our problems with TE's and RB's coming across the middle.
So is this a sign they've given up on Hightower as more than a two-down player?rodderick said:
Michael Johnson to bucs 5/44 with 24 million guaranteed. Above average player, but oof.
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/10588687/michael-johnson-tampa-bay-buccaneers-agree-five-year-contract-worth-4375-million
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/10588687/michael-johnson-tampa-bay-buccaneers-agree-five-year-contract-worth-4375-million
FWIW, PFF wasn't a big fan of Woodyard's play this year: -7.7 rating in 859 snaps. Only had 5 games with a positive rating out of 17 he played in. Interestingly, two of his worst games came against the Pats (-1.3 in week 12 and -0.5 in the playoffs. He was especially bad in pass coverage in those games).
Probably won't break the bank, and would allow Hightower to take over the Spikes role against the run and then get him off the field in obvious passing situations.
Probably won't break the bank, and would allow Hightower to take over the Spikes role against the run and then get him off the field in obvious passing situations.
Stitch01 said:
I've been saying for a while now that this move is nearly a no-brainer from a purely on-the-field standpoint unless he's willing to do a very team friendly restructure. I have no idea how much loyalty and Vince's presence in the locker room factor into the equation, but there is just no way that this team is eating a $11.6M cap hit for a 32-year-old DT coming off Achilles surgery, especially when Siliga probably gives you 90% or more of his production.
rodderick said:
Injuries are the obvious caveat, but when he's on the field he's still a productive player. He was due to make $6 million this year, so the cut isn't a surprise.
My guess is that he and the team couldn't work out a restructured deal, but that he ends up back with them.
He's certainly a good option as the second fiddle (1st when Gronk is out for 6 games or whatever the fuck he's out). I'd be intrigued if I were the Patriots.
In 2012 PFF had him as their #1 coverage 4-3 OLB. Not sure whether his dropoff this year is a real thing (he did shift from WLB to MLB; presumably he'd be a WLB with the Pats).ElcaballitoMVP said:
I don't understand why they need to add a LB here. They usually play a 4-2 on passing downs, and Mayo / Collins looks like a legit combo for those situations. Whoever was 4th LB barely played last year. Does this suggest Mayo is a potential surprise cut? He's a guy where overthecap.com and patscap.com disagree on how his contract is structured; if OTC is right, cutting him saves money and avoids a big roster bonus.
Kenny F'ing Powers said:
That's where I stand too. I've seen a lot of people saying the Patriots might be players for Finley, but Daniels would make far more sense to them.
Super Nomario said:
I was just looking at this issue. I really think OTC is wrong unless that $12M roster bonus in 2012 didn't actually happen and was restructured very quietly without Miguel picking it up.
Super Nomario said:
Maybe I'm missing something, but it looks like OTC's math is just wrong.
Either way, the best they're doing is saving just under 4 million bucks. To cut Jerod Mayo? Not a chance. You aren't replacing the hole Mayo leaves for anywhere near 4 million.
Ed Hillel said:
Or maybe they saw enough of the defense playing well without Mayo that they are taking a long look at this. I'm a Mayo guy, but the D played well whenever Talib was out there, and didn't miss much of a beat with no Mayo
Mike Giardi stating for CSN that Talib has no standing offers at this time.
http://www.csnne.com/blog/patriots-talk/no-standing-offers-yet-talib
http://www.csnne.com/blog/patriots-talk/no-standing-offers-yet-talib
I suspect you're right.Ed Hillel said:
*If* the OTC figures are right (and if the Pats perceive some sort of dropoff in Mayo's play), it would make sense because there's a roster bonus that kicks in and it makes it harder to cut him after 2015. I think you're probably right though - the numbers are wrong, and they ain't cutting Mayo anyway.Ed Hillel said:
They need depth, but there aren't enough snaps to go around. Spikes played 694 snaps last year; Fletcher 233. Mayo's return covers about 600 snaps of that, and a full-time role for Collins would be another 600. Re-signing a guy like Fletcher who's a core special teams player and can backup a few spots at LB makes sense. But the 4th LB doesn't play on defense unless someone is hurt.triniSox said:
Super Nomario said:
Unless they are looking at some sort of scheme change.
Or, if they've decided that Hightower is a bust and will need to be replaced alongside Mayo & Collins going forward. Lower likelihood, I admit, but a possibility.
I can't see cutting Mayo. His salaries for 2014 (3.25M) and 2015 (4.5M) are guaranteed against injury. He has future prorations of 7.2M that would be accelerated.
By my math, that's about $15 million that would hit the cap as dead money (assuming the injury guarantee applies).
By my math, that's about $15 million that would hit the cap as dead money (assuming the injury guarantee applies).
Super Nomario said:
Sorry, but can you expand on this? I see his roster bonus in 2014 at 187.5K. How does that make him more difficult to cut after 2015?
What, do you fancy yourself some type of amateur agent or something?
My understanding is that Woodyard is also a special teams guy. I can't find his snap counts on special teams from last year easily but earlier on in his career, he was definitely a core special teams guy. I think Belichick is also still going to tinker with players at the hybrid safety-LB ("money") position. The way I see this move is an upgrade on Dane Fletcher by adding a slightly better player possibly with more versatility - I can't imagine him getting big money.Super Nomario said:
I found a link with some more details about him: http://espn.go.com/blog/denver-broncos/post/_/id/5442/free-agency-spotlight-wesley-woodyard
Morgan's Magic Snowplow said:
I dont think its a no-brainer. We should remember that what we saw last year was probably affected by an achillies injury he was nursing before it eventually ruptured. Perhaps he doesnt have the same explosion next year, but if he could just be a 'take up 2 OL during run plays' player, thats pretty valuable. Certainly thats not $11.6M valuable for a 2 down guy like that, but its something you have to think long and hard about at the very least.
That makes sense, thanks. I could see him as an upgrade in the Fletcher role, but I had assumed he would get more money than that.triniSox said:
OTC has Mayo with $3.6 MM in dead money if he's cut this offseason, $6MM if he's cut after next year. OTC is probably wrong, but if it's real, it might make sense to cut him now because otherwise you have to wait two years.Ed Hillel said:
What kind of scheme change are you thinking of here?soxfan121 said:
It's hard to imagine two LBs less similar than Hightower and Woodyard. WW wouldn't be a replacement for DHT; he'd be a statement that Belichick thinks the very idea of a run-stuffing MLB is dead.soxfan121 said:
Super Nomario said:
1. I dunno. Something that involves using 4 linebackers more often than the 2013 scheme would. Adding Woodyard, and his coverage ability, makes some sense if he's taking snaps from one of the existing starters (Mayo-Hightower-Collins) or being added to that group in a new, different scheme.
2. Well, yeah. I don't think it's likely, but it is possible that the coaches saw some flaw in Hightower last season that has them thinking - "we have to move on from this guy". In which case, sign Woodyard (remember the interest in D'Qwell, too?) or a replacement and try to deal Hightower for a pick. Or use him as quality depth until his rookie deal expires. Just spitballing.
wutang112878 said:
I'm hoping that he is willing to do a team-friendly restructure. If the choices are really just keep him at $11.6 or cut him, then I do think its a very clear no brainer from an on-field perspective. Chalking his declining play up to the Achilles seems like wishful thinking when the guy is 32 and in his natural decline phase. And the Achilles rupture will not help - that's an injury from which guys often never recover fully.
Morgan's Magic Snowplow said:
I am also optimistic that he does a restructure/extension type of deal. But, if they cut him and designated him as a June cut, they save ~$10M but also need to replace him with a solid starting DT. Say that costs $4M, now we have $6M more to spend and we are ignoring the leadership/locker-room piece. I want to know what the plan would be with that $6M before I cut him, and thats what I cant figure out. If we just add more depth guys, I dont want to cut him. If they think they can add a real solid starter type of guy and its an upgrade over what we have, then ok I guess I could stomach it.
ESPN live blog is up
http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/119798/live-blog-free-agency-central
http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/119798/live-blog-free-agency-central
Twitter died for me again, that was the only tweet in the last 20 or so minutes that popped up for me.
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/10588902/owen-daniels-released-houston-texans
Owen Daniels released. Could be a nice pickup as a move TE for the right $$.
Owen Daniels released. Could be a nice pickup as a move TE for the right $$.
He has one good year and wants to cash in. I don't blame him for going to shop the Patriots' offer. It's a decision of whether he wants to get paid by the likes of the Jets/Raiders/Jags or be relevant with the Pats.
The one team I'm scared he'd sign with is Indianapolis.
The one team I'm scared he'd sign with is Indianapolis.
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