Malcolm Mitchell released

Mugsy's Jock

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It's incomplete to list the Pats' receiving corps without mentioning Gronk and (to a lesser extent) White, who do a hell of a lot more WR work than garden-variety TEs and RBs.

They'll be fine, if Julian is Julian.
 

Harry Hooper

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Beetle and Zo were just talking about how Jordan Matthews was not going to make the team, regardless of injury. Apparently the Pats have other WRs in camp that they like better.
 
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BigSoxFan

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It's incomplete to list the Pats' receiving corps without mentioning Gronk and (to a lesser extent) White, who do a hell of a lot more WR work than garden-variety TEs and RBs.

They'll be fine, if Julian is Julian.
That's a big "if" though. The guy is 32 and coming off a major injury. Obviously, Gronk is another big "if" so if either situation turns bad, the offense may have some issues.

I really want to see what this offense can do with this potentially improved OL, a healthy Gronk, Edelman, and Michel. The upside is immense.
 

BaseballJones

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I think the WRs end up being:

Edelman (suspended)
Hogan
Dorsett
Patterson
Decker
Britt
Berrios

I think Britt and Decker will be fine. Nothing spectacular, but fine. Hogan - if healthy - could have a big year. And when Edelman returns, I suspect he'll be terrific. Berrios is a wild card that I think ends up being a real plus, but maybe he starts out on the PS.

But the keys to me are Patterson and Dorsett. Both have tons of talent, and Patterson is huge. Both have great big-play ability, and maybe we'll see Edelman, Decker, Britt, and Hogan be the "reliable" guys while Patterson and Dorsett are the guys they turn to for huge chunks.

I *think* they'll be fine at WR. And yeah, I agree with whomever said that we need to factor in that the Pats have the best TE in the world, plus one of the very best pass-catching RBs in the league in White. the passing game overall should be just fine, as long as #12 stays healthy and the line does the job.
 

dcmissle

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Because running an NFL team to have a shot at the SuperBowl every single year requires balancing the present and the future, in terms of both talent AND salaries.
I agree with this (“offseason of tough choices”, see above). But I can’t help feeling at times like the taxpayer in early April — “where did all my money go?”

A question triggered again by the $5 million Brady incentives, news which underscores, again, that they have Brady on a bargain and have for some time ($15 MM peanuts, really, for 2018).

So where does it go? What commitments do they have, for example, that make a Khalil Mack trade, and made a OBJ trade, out of the question because extending them is out of the question?

Is this death by a thousand cuts because they pay their burgeoning “middle class”? I know they spend to the cap every year, or damn close.

This isn’t trolling. Why are we always feeling cash strapped when our GOAT QB is, and has almost always been, underpaid relative to the League?
 

bigq

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Why are we always feeling cash strapped when our GOAT QB is, and has almost always been, underpaid relative to the League?
I think the answer to this is the salary Brady forgoes is doled out to the rest of the roster and enables the team to keep players like McCourtey, Hightower, Gronk, Edelman, Cannon, etc. The team does spend to the cap and it isn’t difficult to imagine the Pats not being able to hold onto one or more of the players previously mentioned if they were to pay Brady a salary commensurate with the top QBs in the league.
 

InstaFace

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Belichick spends a lot on the NFL's middle class. We have a lot of very good players, although depending on how you feel about Hightower or Gilmore, you could argue we only have two great players on the team.

Other teams have one of two things:

(1) A good QB on a rookie contract, or
(2) Massive holes in their roster, some of which may or may not come back to bite them, because of the usual stars-and-scrubs bifurcation
 

dcmissle

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Thanks. That’s what I thought.

And, I suppose, a determination nation not to compromise future years.

I thought I might be missing something.
 

Papelbon's Poutine

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Bradys cap hit this year is $22M before any new incentives.
11th in NFL this year. Jimmy G is at 37 but Carr is 3rd highest at 25.

https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/rankings/quarterback/
Jimmy G was specifically structured to have a huge chunk of cap hit this year because they had a shit ton of room; then it drops when they presumably have more high priced players to keep around or nab. Especially in a league with a cap floor, that’s the smart way to do it. It’s kinda foolish to compare the two without catering in how deals are structured/reported.
 

BigJimEd

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Jimmy G was specifically structured to have a huge chunk of cap hit this year because they had a shit ton of room; then it drops when they presumably have more high priced players to keep around or nab. Especially in a league with a cap floor, that’s the smart way to do it. It’s kinda foolish to compare the two without catering in how deals are structured/reported.
Yeah I didn't mean to compare the two. Just pointing out that while Bradys deal is a bargain they aren't saving Mack money.
 

dbn

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I'm late to this thread but want to say that, while increasing guaranteed money to young players would indeed seem a fair thing to do, anyone who has followed the NFL for even one nanosecond knows that it isn't happening.
 

Harry Hooper

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By Patriots standards, Britt and Decker are large receivers (both listed at 6'3") which could give Brady a different kind of target. I am riding on the Britt bus minivan.
The Britt minivan has been sent to the junkyard.
 

bakahump

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Was hoping that Mitchell had gone to Switzerland for an experimental antelope Knee replacement surgery and was back to replace Britt.
 
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I do wonder if, after a month or so more treatment, MM could come back to the Patriots, get examined, and if healthy, come back into the fold. He'd at least be someone young - albeit with a balky knee, hopefully healed up at that point - as well as a player well versed in the system.
 

DaveRoberts'Shoes

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I do wonder if, after a month or so more treatment, MM could come back to the Patriots, get examined, and if healthy, come back into the fold. He'd at least be someone young - albeit with a balky knee, hopefully healed up at that point - as well as a player well versed in the system.
That balky knee is never gonna be healed
 

rslm

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I do wonder if, after a month or so more treatment, MM could come back to the Patriots, get examined, and if healthy, come back into the fold. He'd at least be someone young - albeit with a balky knee, hopefully healed up at that point - as well as a player well versed in the system.
The scenario you describe is much more likely/possible with Matthew's or Britt.