2019 NFL: News & Transactions

luckiestman

Son of the Harpy
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Jul 15, 2005
32,617
Fish done with Sitton(G). Gase supposed to like him. Cimini (jets reporter) tweeted about it but nothing definitive.
 

Papelbon's Poutine

Homeland Security
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Dec 4, 2005
19,615
Portsmouth, NH
It's 89% and it's over 4 years. That wasn't an issue for them given my back of the envelope math. They were close to the cap in 2014 and 2015 - 99% and 95.5% respectively. they were at 86% and 88% in 16 and 17 before going about $22M over what the league cap in 2018 was.
Sorry on 3 vs 4; but my understanding is it was cash spending vs cap. I could be wrong there just as easily. NFL cap shit is a friggin quagmire.
 

Al Zarilla

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Dec 8, 2005
58,867
San Andreas Fault
Daylights savings time gets another one.
I happened to have NFLN on when Aditi Kinkhabwala, who has been like a beat reporter for the Steelers for a few years, reported on that and also said AB had a habit of being late over the years. One time he caused the TEAM PLANE to be late taking off by a half hour. Apparently, Big Ben said something like we don’t hold the team plane for just anybody. AB didn’t like that and it helped cause the rift between the two. Aditi didn’t try to sugar coat this at all. The jury is in, he’s an A-hole.
 

Cellar-Door

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Aug 1, 2006
34,457
Brown being late was a recurring story. Basically, he was late to meetings all the time, and Tomlin would generally let it slide because he was a star, which of course meant he never showed up on time to things he didn't care about. It was one of a number of areas where Brown was allowed to not follow the rules because he was a star. There have been plenty of stories written about it where his teammates talk about it (haven't seen one where they seemed particularly upset, just amused that he leveraged being the best player on the team into perks.)
 

BaseballJones

ivanvamp
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Oct 1, 2015
24,375
Jags releasing Blake Bortles. (1) Do you guys think anyone will pick him up? (2) If so, what might the contract look like? And (3) might it make sense for the Patriots to snag him?

I ask the third question for two reasons: First, because I think it's entirely possible that he's better than Hoyer, and second, because unlike Hoyer, Bortles might at least have a *chance* to be a good QB in the future. Hoyer is what he is, and it's not very good, and he's too old to be in any sense the QB of the future. Bortles hasn't been very good but he'll be just 27 next year, and still has some potential.

If they can get him for pretty cheap, worth taking a chance?
 

Cellar-Door

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Aug 1, 2006
34,457
Jags releasing Blake Bortles. (1) Do you guys think anyone will pick him up? (2) If so, what might the contract look like? And (3) might it make sense for the Patriots to snag him?

I ask the third question for two reasons: First, because I think it's entirely possible that he's better than Hoyer, and second, because unlike Hoyer, Bortles might at least have a *chance* to be a good QB in the future. Hoyer is what he is, and it's not very good, and he's too old to be in any sense the QB of the future. Bortles hasn't been very good but he'll be just 27 next year, and still has some potential.

If they can get him for pretty cheap, worth taking a chance?
Contract would likely be the minimum, offset from Jags is almost $7M, and I doubt anybody is beating that this offseason
 

InstaFace

The Ultimate One
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Sep 27, 2016
21,753
Pittsburgh, PA
Hoyer has value to the Pats beyond mere insurance (i.e. beyond his familiarity with the Pats' system). Even with him carrying a clipboard, his knowledge of other systems and tendencies from years in the league, his general QB intelligence, let him contribute to the defense's prep for e.g. the Rams SB. I think Belichick values that. Taking a flyer on a QB who plays kinda stupid (witness large INT totals, even after his league-leading 2015 number), but might have upside, seems unlikely. If he can't find any deal at all through which he might see his way to starting again, then maybe Belichick considers him a camp body to compete with Hoyer, but I find it unlikely that he's viewed as fitting the Patriots' profile. Especially at that position.
 

PedroKsBambino

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Apr 17, 2003
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Hoyer has value to the Pats beyond mere insurance (i.e. beyond his familiarity with the Pats' system). Even with him carrying a clipboard, his knowledge of other systems and tendencies from years in the league, his general QB intelligence, let him contribute to the defense's prep for e.g. the Rams SB. I think Belichick values that. Taking a flyer on a QB who plays kinda stupid (witness large INT totals, even after his league-leading 2015 number), but might have upside, seems unlikely. If he can't find any deal at all through which he might see his way to starting again, then maybe Belichick considers him a camp body to compete with Hoyer, but I find it unlikely that he's viewed as fitting the Patriots' profile. Especially at that position.
I don’t especially want Bortles, but all the upside benefits of Hoyer (save “knows the system”) you describe are equally provided by making him a coach.
 

tims4wins

PN23's replacement
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Jul 15, 2005
37,054
Hingham, MA
Well Bristol has learned something, it seems. ESPN has the Pats as one of the "winners" of free agency. Years ago losing a bunch of guys with top-dollar contracts would have landed them on the losers list.

Sometimes you win for the moves you don't make.

The Patriots were more than happy to sit back and allow left tackle Trent Brown to be squired away by the richest contract for a lineman in NFL history, much as they were last year when they bid farewell to Nate Solder. The same goes for their best pass-rusher, defensive end Trey Flowers, who agreed on a five-year, $90 million deal with the Detroit Lions.


It takes incredible discipline to sit tight while players at those positions walk away, but the upside is that it prevents overpayment that eats into other priorities across the roster. It would be a questionable strategy if the Patriots hadn't shown, multiple times over the years, that they're capable of identifying and developing cheaper replacement players.
 

pappymojo

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Jul 28, 2010
6,667
Well Bristol has learned something, it seems. ESPN has the Pats as one of the "winners" of free agency. Years ago losing a bunch of guys with top-dollar contracts would have landed them on the losers list.

Sometimes you win for the moves you don't make.

The Patriots were more than happy to sit back and allow left tackle Trent Brown to be squired away by the richest contract for a lineman in NFL history, much as they were last year when they bid farewell to Nate Solder. The same goes for their best pass-rusher, defensive end Trey Flowers, who agreed on a five-year, $90 million deal with the Detroit Lions.


It takes incredible discipline to sit tight while players at those positions walk away, but the upside is that it prevents overpayment that eats into other priorities across the roster. It would be a questionable strategy if the Patriots hadn't shown, multiple times over the years, that they're capable of identifying and developing cheaper replacement players.
I understand the narrative, but the Patriots don't really have much of a choice. Their cap space is limited.
 

DJnVa

Dorito Dawg
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Dec 16, 2010
53,837
I understand the narrative, but the Patriots don't really have much of a choice. Their cap space is limited.
Sure, but I think this is more an acknowledgement of how they've always operated. This year more because of straight numbers, but in the past they've had cash and not splurged. I think ESPN is finally saying "Maybe branding them as FA losers when guys leave isn't really the way to go. They're different."
 

bagwell1

New Member
Jul 31, 2006
442
Jacksonville
I understand the narrative, but the Patriots don't really have much of a choice. Their cap space is limited.
They have a choice. They have a ton of space in 2020 and If they really wanted to sign someone, they could. Could they sign a ton of guys? No. But they could make major moves if they wanted to. There are extensions/restructures/cuts that could be done if necessary.Flowers is 5/90 and the Detroit 2019 cap hit is 6.4 and could have been much less if necessary. Landon Collins is 6/84 with a 4m 2019 cap hit. The list goes on and on.
 

DennyDoyle'sBoil

Found no thrill on Blueberry Hill
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Sep 9, 2008
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They have a choice. They have a ton of space in 2020 and If they really wanted to sign someone, they could. Could they sign a ton of guys? No. But they could make major moves if they wanted to. There are extensions/restructures/cuts that could be done if necessary.Flowers is 5/90 and the Detroit 2019 cap hit is 6.4 and could have been much less if necessary. Landon Collins is 6/84 with a 4m 2019 cap hit. The list goes on and on.
Next year we need a primer on the cap before silly season. Collins’ number is low because he agreed to a small signing bonus but Flowers wasn’t going to. It could not have been done for “much less”.

The Patriots are at $12.5m, not counting 3 signings from yesterday. They will need $3 million for rookies. And — the part that everyone seemingly loves to forget at this point in the year — the number right now is artificially high. You need about $5 million in space on August 31 to deal with the rule of 51 going away on September 1.

The Patriots have effectively no space right now. In fact, they can’t even pay for what they have now plus a kicker and punter. They already have to make a move or two to start the season without any more significant signings.

They will find a way to free up $10 million or so. They don’t have a choice. Anything more than that gets very hard.
 

Gunfighter 09

wants to be caribou ken
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Jul 31, 2005
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The Raiders got Tyrell Williams for 4/44 with half of it guaranteed, all in the first two years. Nice partner for AB and allows Jordy Nelson to rotate in the slot with Brown. Probably means the end of Seth Roberts in Oakland.

 

DJnVa

Dorito Dawg
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Dec 16, 2010
53,837
The Raiders got Tyrell Williams for 4/44 with half of it guaranteed, all in the first two years. Nice partner for AB and allows Jordy Nelson to rotate in the slot with Brown. Probably means the end of Seth Roberts in Oakland.


Rumor is Jordy Nelson will be cut.
 

pappymojo

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Jul 28, 2010
6,667
The Patriots have a choice, sure, but it is not a very good choice.

I am mainly balking at the idea that ESPN is providing thoughtful analysis, but I am also balking at the idea that the Patriots approach would be the appropriate approach for all teams. I don't think you can compare the Patriots approach to free agency to that of, say, the Browns or the Jets and say one is better than the other. These teams are all at different stages of their life cycle.

If trying to identify trends and optimal strategies regarding roster construction, I would break teams into separate categories:

Group A Teams with QBs on rookie deals with lots of cap space (Browns, Jets, Bills, Texans, Cardinals, Chiefs)

Group B Teams with QBs on rookie deals with some cap space (Ravens, Bears)

Group C Teams with QBs on rookie deal with minimal cap space (Rams, Eagles)

Group D Teams with QBs on veteran QBs on big contracts with lots cap space (Raiders, 49ers, Colts, Bengals, Lions, Jaguars)

Group E Teams with QBs on veteran QBs on big contracts with some cap space (Giants, Titans, Seahawks, Chargers)

Group F Teams with QBs on veteran QBs on big contracts with minimal cap space (Vikings, Falcons, Buccaneers, Steelers, Panthers, Patriots , Packers, Saints)

Group G Teams that need a QB with some to limited cap space (Redskins, Dolphins, Broncos)

The bolded teams represent teams that made a Super Bowl in the past five years.

What group is a team in this year? What group will a team be in next year? If the team is changing groups, does that get them closer to the Super Bowl (even if, like say the Steelers or Giants, the hope is to go one step backward, two steps forward).

Edit: creating lists on a phone sucks. Some teams like the Giants probably belong in multiple groups (they both need a QB while also having a veteran QB on a big contract)
 
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bagwell1

New Member
Jul 31, 2006
442
Jacksonville
I never said it was a good choice. But they have a choice.That was the only point I was making.
And, Yes, this board needs a salary cap primer like you read about. I have an easier time with Roth vs Deferred discussions :)
 

tims4wins

PN23's replacement
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Jul 15, 2005
37,054
Hingham, MA
Sure, but I think this is more an acknowledgement of how they've always operated. This year more because of straight numbers, but in the past they've had cash and not splurged. I think ESPN is finally saying "Maybe branding them as FA losers when guys leave isn't really the way to go. They're different."
Yeah this is how I took it
 

DanoooME

above replacement level
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Mar 16, 2008
19,831
Henderson, NV
Solari must think he can get Iupati back to what he was since he graded out pretty bad last year. I hope this is a cheap deal with incentives or something. I hate the idea of paying for a big name that's pretty much toast. Fortunately, he was released, so he doesn't count against comp pick calculations.

Myers is dreadfully overpaid, but since they haven't had a decent kicker since Hauschka left, I smell some desperation on their part.
 

nattysez

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Sep 30, 2010
8,429
If the Pats are so cap-constrained, how were they offering Humphries something north of 4/$30?


 

Ed Hillel

Wants to be startin somethin
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Dec 12, 2007
43,558
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If the Pats are so cap-constrained, how were they offering Humphries something north of 4/$30?


Longer deal, they could have lowered the first year cap hit. Plus, Brady is gonna restructure and they’ll probably cut 94. They have some money to work with.
 

BaseballJones

ivanvamp
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Oct 1, 2015
24,375
Saints re-structure Brees' contract to free up $10.8M. He now has a 2020 cap hit of over $40M (lol). Wouldn't be surprised if this is his last year and they are stuck with a monster dead cap number next year.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001022586/article/saints-restructure-brees-contract-to-open-cap-space
This seems like it fits the whole idea of GFIN. $40 million cap hit in 2020? They’ll keep doing this I think, effectively punting the first year after he retires.
 

wade boggs chicken dinner

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Mar 26, 2005
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DennyDoyle'sBoil

Found no thrill on Blueberry Hill
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Sep 9, 2008
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If the Pats are so cap-constrained, how were they offering Humphries something north of 4/$30?
It's just about priorities. They had room yesterday to do a deal like this if they were willing to forego other stuff and maybe they still do, but not much more without something radical.

If the Patriots did a deal similar to the Titans -- so $5 million cap hit this year -- they probably would not have signed Dorsett or maybe even Simon or Jason McCourty. And maybe it means not Gostkowski or something else they have in the works. Etc.

They don't have zero room. But they do have significantly less today than they had after the three signings yesterday and who knows if any or all of them would have happened if they'd splurged on Humphries.
 

joe dokes

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Jul 18, 2005
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Ironically, it is the very nature of a team that plays in or for the Super Bowl EVERY SINGLE YEAR that there will be holes (or at least soft spots). It is nearly impossible to build a team that is really good and really deep in all areas AND compete year after year, without at least one salary cap correction year. That's why the patriots always seem to have one area that worries people. And perhaps why they the dont have many AFCCG or SB blowouts.
 

DennyDoyle'sBoil

Found no thrill on Blueberry Hill
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Sep 9, 2008
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Mike Silver is full of shit on that one, I think. Raiders beat writers Vic Tafur and Jimmy Durkin said as much on their podcast yesterday afternoon.
Do you think Roberts is worth his contract? Given what receivers are being paid, I'm wondering whether a 1 year deal for 4.5 million might be something a team spends a 7th rounder on. There's no rush to cut him, I wouldn't think, given Oakland's current cap space even after the signings.
 

DennyDoyle'sBoil

Found no thrill on Blueberry Hill
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Sep 9, 2008
42,271
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Ironically, it is the very nature of a team that plays in or for the Super Bowl EVERY SINGLE YEAR that there will be holes (or at least soft spots). It is nearly impossible to build a team that is really good and really deep in all areas AND compete year after year, without at least one salary cap correction year. That's why the patriots always seem to have one area that worries people. And perhaps why they the dont have many AFCCG or SB blowouts.
Yeah, it's a great point. I think this is likely to be a minor cap correction for the Patriots but they've done a great job at never mortgaging their future so that when the day(s) of reckoning come they are going to be mild.

Consider this -- for going on 20 years the Patriots had had an elite quarterback but they've managed prior to last year never to take a cap hit of more than $15 million on him, except once ($17 million in 2010). Some of this is due to Brady signing for under market -- although some of that is exaggerated. But the key is they've also never used Brady to take a big cap savings in any given year, except once (2012). They've essentially spread it out very well, never getting greedy.

But those millions here and there add up. Last year they took a $22 million hit. They paid for it by borrowing a bit from Gilmore's cap. And they got lucky in that they got two players who are essentially $30 million combined players on the open market in Brown and Flowers, for very little. But the Gilmore trick really only works once. At least for the next couple of years. And now Brady is at $27 million and the day of reckoning is here unless they want to saddle their future like the Saints are doing.

It's time for them to make a very fundamental choice this year in a way that they haven't had to worry about before, except maybe a bit last year. Do they make moves now that increase the severity of the day of reckoning but postpone it for maybe another year or two? Or do they trust themselves to find the next Cooks or Brown -- and get a useful starting player for very little by getting creative? You can't decide this in the abstract. It all depends on what comes along. Perhaps they liked Humphries enough that they were willing to stretch for example in a way they wouldn't for other players. But, by and large, I'm fine with them adopting the conservative approach and just taking their medicine on Brady this year and see what happens.
 

j44thor

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Aug 1, 2006
10,961
Geronimo Allison, a UDFA, tendered at original level by GB.
Was having a strong season in GB before injury last year.
Only 25 and a good size/speed combo. Would love to see NE get involved with him.
 

Super Nomario

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Nov 5, 2000
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Geronimo Allison, a UDFA, tendered at original level by GB.
Was having a strong season in GB before injury last year.
Only 25 and a good size/speed combo. Would love to see NE get involved with him.
Allison was undrafted so it wouldn't even cost compensation. But GB would get a chance to match any contract offer.