Pats FA Watch: LGBT Back on a 1-year Deal

E5 Yaz

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Williams is a physical specimen whose antics have forced him out of the league. He's a guy who probably comes for vet min and has a high chance of not making the roster, but who also has a potentially high reward with almost no risk. I'd love such a a signing, fully recognizing he probably would amount to nothing.
I think you're confusing Mike Williams with Mike Williams
 

bakahump

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Boy, BB Loved the 2010 Draft Receiving corps.
Guys with Patriot "Connections"
Gronk
Hernandez
Lafell
Harbor
Hooman
Taylor Price
Emanuel Sanders
Mike Williams (Tampa)
 

tims4wins

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Mike Reiss ‏@MikeReiss 21m21 minutes ago


Terrance Knighton's 1-year deal with Patriots: Base salary: $900k; Signing bonus: $250,000. Salary cap charge: $2.018 million.


Mike Reiss ‏@MikeReiss 19m19 minutes ago


Terrance Knighton's 1-year deal with Patriots includes $300,000 in incentives, $500,000 in per-game roster bonuses, $100,000 workout bonus.

CapSpace=$6,597,756 ‏@patscap 2h2 hours ago


New cap space no of $6,597,756 7,866,506 reflects Chung's extension, Clay Harbor AND the Terrance Knighton signings.
 

SeoulSoxFan

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Still a little money out there to sign another vet FA....Anquan Boldin perhaps?
Would love to have him in camp. Still caught 69 passes last year at the ripe old age of 36.

I'd also be interested in bringing a corner, such as Greg Toler, per Russell Baxter's BR article (link not working atm):
There will be a lot of new faces in Foxborough, Massachusetts, this summer. One more could be cornerback Greg Toler, who has totaled eight interceptions and knocked down 51 passes in six seasons with the Arizona Cardinals and Indianapolis Colts.
 

TheoShmeo

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Still a little money out there to sign another vet FA....Anquan Boldin perhaps?
That's a tempting idea...but is there a veteran RB out there who could be had at relatively short money? RB seems a lot thinner to me right now than WR, particularly if you take into account TE/HB/FB in their capacity as receivers.
 

Stitch01

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Not sure there's a great thread to put it but hadn't seen it mentioned here; Mike Reiss mentioned Scott Chandler had knee surgery which will keep him out for '16 and which Chandler says is probably career ending. Shines a little light on why he was a mega bust here as a free agent.
 

SeoulSoxFan

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Not sure there's a great thread to put it but hadn't seen it mentioned here; Mike Reiss mentioned Scott Chandler had knee surgery which will keep him out for '16 and which Chandler says is probably career ending. Shines a little light on why he was a mega bust here as a free agent.
Yup. Saw that too. I guess I should have paid more attention to BB and Brady saying during the season that Chandler was doing all he can, working through some things, he's a tough player, etc.
 

Toe Nash

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Do you catch the ball with your knee?

The injury explains why he didn't get on the field more, but he dropped multiple open passes when he was out there.
 

E5 Yaz

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Do you catch the ball with your knee?

The injury explains why he didn't get on the field more, but he dropped multiple open passes when he was out there.
An athlete's body is not like yours and mine. It all has to be in working order for it to function properly. If he can't run, cut or plant at max capacity, then it will affect the rest of his abilities.

The reason why people will bring up Terrell Owens in the Super Bowl is because it's so rare; not because it happens all the time.
 

dcmissle

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In Belichick I trust. He knows Pot Roast was playing at 390 last year. Yup, 390. He also knows Pot Roast is not and never will be Ted Washington. Changes need to be made, or this guy will be a one-down player, as he was here. At most, cause he's a year older. Not at all surprised this deal seems to have come in well shy of the initially reported $4.5.
 

Bergs

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Yup. Saw that too. I guess I should have paid more attention to BB and Brady saying during the season that Chandler was doing all he can, working through some things, he's a tough player, etc.
So maybe BB should have stapled his crippled ass to the bench. Just a thought.
 

SeoulSoxFan

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As we wind down the FA season, a quick review of my knee-jerk FA predictions right after the Denver poopy loss.
Surely/hopefully gone:
  • Blount: UFA > YES
  • Chandler: $3.05m cap hit, $1m dead cap > YES
  • Mayo: $10.5m cap hit, $1m dead cap > YES
  • LaFell: $3.7m cap hit, $1m dead cap > YES
Quick wish list:
  • Keep Akiem Hicks, who's a UFA > NO
  • Replace Blount with... shall I dream of Lynch if cut by Seattle?* > NO
  • Replace LaFell with.. oh what the hell go get Megatron if cut by Detroit, and negotiate a Moss-like deal* > LOL NO
  • Shore up depth on the OL, especially at the tackle > KINDA (still need tackle depth)
  • Restructure Solder (currently at $11.2m cap hit with $4.2m dead cap) > NO
  • Take flyers on future contracts to someone like WR Griff Whalen (former Colt, of the botched punt fame) > NO
  • Extend both HT & Collins (yes, there'll be room) > NO
  • Do not extend Chandler Jones (no, there won't be room) > YES
Certainly didn't see the Jones trade, but that helped to stem Hicks loss (Pot Roast), bring in Long, and shore up OL depth in Cooper. I like Hogan much more than LaFell or someone like Whalen, plus we have Bennett on board.

I'll have to give a solid A- so far. Hopefully, the draft will address RB, corner, and tackle depth.
 

j44thor

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As we wind down the FA season, a quick review of my knee-jerk FA predictions right after the Denver poopy loss.

Certainly didn't see the Jones trade, but that helped to stem Hicks loss (Pot Roast), bring in Long, and shore up OL depth in Cooper. I like Hogan much more than LaFell or someone like Whalen, plus we have Bennett on board.

I'll have to give a solid A- so far. Hopefully, the draft will address RB, corner, and tackle depth.
Tackle was arguably the reason they didn't make the SB last year. Surprised, concerned they didn't address that at all in FA. Scar and Solder coming back will help but I'd be very surprised if Vollmer lasts the year which means more Cannon et all.

Hopefully they grab a tackle early in the draft because either way they need to replace Vollmer next year and possibly Solder as well.
 

SeoulSoxFan

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Tackle was arguably the reason they didn't make the SB last year. Surprised, concerned they didn't address that at all in FA. Scar and Solder coming back will help but I'd be very surprised if Vollmer lasts the year which means more Cannon et all. Hopefully they grab a tackle early in the draft because either way they need to replace Vollmer next year and possibly Solder as well.
Yup. Need to grab a tackle in the draft.

I had posted this in the draft thread (hate that Tapatalk puts stickied threads under a folder that requires a click), but someone like Joe Haeg would be perfect: http://sonsofsamhorn.net/index.php?threads/2016-draft-thoughts-without-threads.12733/#post-1626804

Regarding Vollmer, I'm not as concerned. Since his rookie year in 2009, he has played (games in playoffs):
  • 2009: 16 (1)
  • 2010: 16 (1)
  • 2011: 6 (1)
  • 2012: 15 (2)
  • 2013: 8
  • 2014: 15 (3)
  • 2015: 14 (2)
He only missed a significant number of games in 2011 and 2013. It does feel like more, but numbers don't bear that out.
 

Bowhemian

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So maybe BB should have stapled his crippled ass to the bench. Just a thought.
You might be right, but I am pretty sure the Pats had numerous injury issues. I am not sure they had the depth at TE or WR to leave him on the bench.
 

SeoulSoxFan

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I was just kindly reminded of LaAdrian Waddle, who signed a 2-year deal in March.

Didn't contribute much last year recovering from his shoulder injury, but started 8 & 10 games in 2013+2014 seasons. Only 24, he does have the size NE is looking for at 6'6" and 328 lb.

The fact that he was a UDFA but beat out vets in his rookie year says something about his coachability.
 

j44thor

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Yup. Need to grab a tackle in the draft.

I had posted this in the draft thread (hate that Tapatalk puts stickied threads under a folder that requires a click), but someone like Joe Haeg would be perfect: http://sonsofsamhorn.net/index.php?threads/2016-draft-thoughts-without-threads.12733/#post-1626804

Regarding Vollmer, I'm not as concerned. Since his rookie year in 2009, he has played (games in playoffs):
  • 2009: 16 (1)
  • 2010: 16 (1)
  • 2011: 6 (1)
  • 2012: 15 (2)
  • 2013: 8
  • 2014: 15 (3)
  • 2015: 14 (2)
He only missed a significant number of games in 2011 and 2013. It does feel like more, but numbers don't bear that out.
Regardless Vollmer has played a lot of football especially when you include playoff games. Add in concussion issues last year and I don't like his chances of starting more than 10 games this year.
He will be 32 when camp breaks and is much closer to the cliff than the peak of his career.
 

SeoulSoxFan

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Regardless Vollmer has played a lot of football especially when you include playoff games. Add in concussion issues last year and I don't like his chances of starting more than 10 games this year.
He will be 32 when camp breaks and is much closer to the cliff than the peak of his career.
As a glass-half-full kinda stat, Matt Light played all 16 games as a 32-year old and 15 games as a 33-year old. But yeah, you never know with concussions.
 

Ed Hillel

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It's nice to say the Pats should have addressed the Tackle position in free agency, but which starting caliber FA Tackle was going to sign up to play backup at a reduced price? The draft is almost always the best place to address the position. This is where robbing the first rounder really hurts.
 

Devizier

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Regardless Vollmer has played a lot of football especially when you include playoff games. Add in concussion issues last year and I don't like his chances of starting more than 10 games this year.
He will be 32 when camp breaks and is much closer to the cliff than the peak of his career.
I got shot down for saying this before, but the Patriots rarely sign offensive linemen through free agency. Rarer still that they sign someone expected to be a major contributor to the line. In the last ten years, you have Connolly and Waters. Waddle, if he makes the final roster.
 

Shelterdog

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I got shot down for saying this before, but the Patriots rarely sign offensive linemen through free agency. Rarer still that they sign someone expected to be a major contributor to the line. In the last ten years, you have Connolly and Waters. Waddle, if he makes the final roster.
Connolly? He's a homegrown guy they initially got for peanuts.
 

Super Nomario

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I got shot down for saying this before, but the Patriots rarely sign offensive linemen through free agency. Rarer still that they sign someone expected to be a major contributor to the line. In the last ten years, you have Connolly and Waters. Waddle, if he makes the final roster.
Haven't they already made what could be described as an unprecedented move, at least as far as the OL is concerned, in trading for Jonathan Cooper? We'll probably never know how critical he was to the Chandler Jones trade, but you could argue that they've never given up so much for a veteran OL.
 

( . ) ( . ) and (_!_)

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Haven't seen the money yet, but I can't image it's a big number.
I like it. He is not a guarantee to still be on the team after training camp and he is a reasonable Vet fallback option if a young player in camp does not look to be sufficient at this position when the season starts.
 

pappymojo

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Haven't seen the money yet, but I can't image it's a big number.
I like it. He is not a guarantee to still be on the team after training camp and he is a reasonable Vet fallback option if a young player in camp does not look to be sufficient at this position when the season starts.
Yup. Puts them in a better position to draft based on talent/trades available and less based on positional need. I would still love to come out of the draft with an upgrade to Blount (Jamaal Charles for a third?), although I understand that next year's draft is supposed to be very deep at RB.
 

SeoulSoxFan

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Yup. Puts them in a better position to draft based on talent/trades available and less based on positional need. I would still love to come out of the draft with an upgrade to Blount (Jamaal Charles for a third?), although I understand that next year's draft is supposed to be very deep at RB.
I understand how exciting Jamaal Charles may be as a Patriot, but he's due $5.3m cap hit this year and $7m next. Although that carries no dead money, I think it's too rich to give up a 3rd rounder for a 30-year old coming off a major injury.
 

RedOctober3829

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I understand how exciting Jamaal Charles may be as a Patriot, but he's due $5.3m cap hit this year and $7m next. Although that carries no dead money, I think it's too rich to give up a 3rd rounder for a 30-year old coming off a major injury.
I may be wrong here, but doesn't KC pick up the tab for the bonuses(provided Charles doesn't restructure as part of the deal)? That would reduce his cap hits to just the base salaries of $2.75 million this year and $3.75 million next year if he is traded and the original contract stays as is.
 

TheoShmeo

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Exclusive rights free agents Brandon King and Justin Coleman were signed. Terms not in the link below.

http://www.patriots.com/news/2016/04/12/patriots-re-sign-rb-legarrette-blount-sign-exclusive-rights-free-agents-db-Justin

PS and unrelated: It seems almost inconceivable that if they are keeping DA, that they would leave his contract as is. He's just making too much given his anticipated role, it appears. Should we read anything into his level of involvement with Chris Long and Matellius Bennett, among other players, to support that they are indeed keeping Amendola around? I know this is down to mega tea leaves stuff but his profile has been reasonably high this off season and if he was on the way out, I would think it would be lower. Regardless of the carnac aspect of this postscript, I hope they keep him. He's good insurance and as we saw last year, having some depth can be key. And he's a good player; his late game performance against the Giants would have been long remembered had the Pats gone all the way, and it was huge in any event.
 
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lexrageorge

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Blount: Good move to bring him back on the cheap.

Amendola: I think too much attention is being paid to his current cap hit. He has a role on a team that is desperately thin at the WR position. The real number is $2.7M, which is the cap savings that the Pats would see by cutting him now. Some of that would of course be allocated to his replacement on the roster, which may not be all that easy to find. Then again, they could save more in this year's cap by cutting him in training camp if a suitable replacement appears between now and then.
 

Super Nomario

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Amendola: I think too much attention is being paid to his current cap hit. He has a role on a team that is desperately thin at the WR position. The real number is $2.7M, which is the cap savings that the Pats would see by cutting him now. Some of that would of course be allocated to his replacement on the roster, which may not be all that easy to find. Then again, they could save more in this year's cap by cutting him in training camp if a suitable replacement appears between now and then.
The 2016 cap savings is $4 MM and change; $2.7 is the dead money they'd incur cutting him now. The relevant number is $5.5 MM per OTC.

If Amendola plays this year and they cut him next year, he counts $6.8 MM against the cap in 2016 and $1.37 in 2017. If they cut him now, they take a cap hit of $2.7 MM - and they can spread that over two seasons. It's hard for me to see that as worth it, but as you note, they're not super-deep at WR.
 

BigJimEd

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Yes, the relevant number is 5.5M. This has been discussed here a few times. The 2.7 in prorated bonus is hitting the cap regardless. It's just a matter of when but it will hit the cap at some point whether Amendola is on the roster or not.
Amendola has a $5M salary this season plus another 500k in game day bonuses. That is the amount the Patriots can save in actual money and cap dollars if they were to release him.
 

BigJimEd

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I may be wrong here, but doesn't KC pick up the tab for the bonuses(provided Charles doesn't restructure as part of the deal)? That would reduce his cap hits to just the base salaries of $2.75 million this year and $3.75 million next year if he is traded and the original contract stays as is.
Incorrect. KC is only on the hook for any prorated bonuses Charles has already earned.

Any money, bonuses and salary, not yet earned become the responsibility of the new team.

I'm not sure of the details on Charles' roster bonus. If it kicked in at the start of the new league year in March than yes this year's will be on KC's cap. If it kicks in after a trade, say first game of season, then the bonus will be tied to his new team
 

RedOctober3829

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Incorrect. KC is only on the hook for any prorated bonuses Charles has already earned.

Any money, bonuses and salary, not yet earned become the responsibility of the new team.

I'm not sure of the details on Charles' roster bonus. If it kicked in at the start of the new league year in March than yes this year's will be on KC's cap. If it kicks in after a trade, say first game of season, then the bonus will be tied to his new team
Thanks for the clarification. I wasn't sure if all of the bonuses were paid by the original team. Miguel answered this question for me last night. In Charles' case, his bonuses are due either by reporting or game-by-game active roster status. That changes my stance on Charles.
 

boca

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From Curran -

The Patriots have released oft-injured defensive lineman Dominique Easley. Easley was a 2014 first round pick. Story to come…