Patriots sign CB Bradley Fletcher

[j44thor]

 
 
So to sum up, it's not the system, it's the system.  Got it.

Yes, a system they will no longer be running without Revis. Thanks for making my point.

 

[richgedman'sghost]

Yes, a system they will no longer be running without Revis. Thanks for making my point.

You did not answer Stich's question. Would you rather have Browner or Fletcher and Branch? How about Browner or Fletcher and Chandler? I would take the two good players over one very good player in this equation.

 

[j44thor]

You did not answer Stich's question. Would you rather have Browner or Fletcher and Branch? How about Browner or Fletcher and Chandler? I would take the two good players over one very good player in this equation.

I would also take two good players but Fletcher does not qualify as a good player.

 

[Stitch01]

That's cool.  I think its safe to say the $2.5MM of cap space matters though.  
 
Im not as sure of my ability to judge whether Fletcher is going to be good this year in the Pats system as you are.

 

[j44thor]

That's cool.  I think its safe to say the $2.5MM of cap space matters though.  
 
Im not as sure of my ability to judge whether Fletcher is going to be good this year in the Pats system as you are.

Aren't there plenty of posts in the Browner thread about why a press corner no longer makes sense? Isn't Fletcher considered a press corner?
If yes to both then what an I missing?

 

[j44thor]

Obviously I hope Fletcher is an all pro next season, I just don't see the fit.
Clearly I was wrong about hightower and thus far I've been right about dobson.

I completely understand why they didn't bring back Browner, I don't understand why they signed a much worse version for any money. I'd rather that roster spot went to a udfa tbd.

 

[Stitch01]

I don't think the Pats are going to play zero man-to-man this year.  Having a corner whose strength is press man making $1.5MM against this years cap and shoring up in other places might make more sense for the '15 team then paying Browner $4.5MM or w/e given what scheme they are going to run.  Again, you can disagree, my big issue with your post was asking whether the $2.5MM of cap space matters that much.  I think, pretty clearly, the answer is yes.
 
Im not worried about roster spots at this point, they can keep 90 guys.  Fletcher is pretty cuttable in camp if he sucks.

 

[j44thor]

Agree to disagree, I think Fletcher is a bad use of cap space for any amount.
Would have rather seen them take a chance on Aaron Ball or someone else with upside.

 

[Super Nomario]

I completely understand why they didn't bring back Browner, I don't understand why they signed a much worse version for any money. I'd rather that roster spot went to a udfa tbd.

Partly playing devil's advocate here, but by way of possible explanations:
 
1) There are press corners who only press and there are corners who primarily press. Browner was a press corner who really wasn't successful when he couldn't press. The team struggled at times when they tried to play zone, like in the first half against Baltimore. Not all of that was Browner's fault, but they may see Fletcher as someone who, while primarily a press corner, has versatility to play in some other schemes.
2) Just because Fletcher primarily has been a press corner doesn't mean he will be in New England. They may like how he projects into another system.
3) Fletcher played worse than Browner last year, but that doesn't mean he's actually worse. Fletcher got torched by DeSean Jackson in Week 16, for instance - is there any doubt Jackson would destroy Browner, too? Let's not forget that Browner got benched in the AFCCG because there weren't any good matchups for him.
4) The money's a lot less. The most Fletcher can make is half of what Browner is making this year*, and his base cap number is about 1.5 MM - considerably less than Browner would have made. Fletcher's cap number is actually less than Dennard's.
 
EDIT: * Browner's cap figure this year is actually just $2.4 MM. I was using the $5 MM he's averaging over the course of the deal.

 

[( . ) ( . ) and (_!_)]

Partly playing devil's advocate here, but by way of possible explanations:
 
1) There are press corners who only press and there are corners who primarily press. Browner was a press corner who really wasn't successful when he couldn't press. The team struggled at times when they tried to play zone, like in the first half against Baltimore. Not all of that was Browner's fault, but they may see Fletcher as someone who, while primarily a press corner, has versatility to play in some other schemes.
2) Just because Fletcher primarily has been a press corner doesn't mean he will be in New England. They may like how he projects into another system.
3) Fletcher played worse than Browner last year, but that doesn't mean he's actually worse. Fletcher got torched by DeSean Jackson in Week 16, for instance - is there any doubt Jackson would destroy Browner, too? Let's not forget that Browner got benched in the AFCCG because there weren't any good matchups for him.
4) The money's a lot less. The most Fletcher can make is half of what Browner is making this year, and his base cap number is about 1.5 MM - considerably less than Browner would have made. Fletcher's cap number is actually less than Dennard's.

No. Football, things are black and white and only black and white. Get your shades of gray out of here.