Where will that leave BB? How will the fans react? Just because of all the FAs signing for them does not guarentee success. On paper they all look to be worthwhile pick-ups , but as we know football can sometimes throw ip some nasty surprises along the way.
Call it crazy, but I don't see them being too great. Just a hunch... I think that they might miss the playoffs.
Talking of hunches , mine is that Brady is going to miss most of the season , injured , he took some serious hits last year. This isn't wishfull thinking either.
Yeah neither is mine actually... I don't thinik we're winning any more than 10 games as of now... That's my other hunch.
my hunch is there back in the superbowl run. tom brady got them to the afc chamionship game with nobody they made a big spaslh in the FA war. and then they still can go and hit the draft and plus they didnt lose but only three players who were replaceable
I can't see them missing the playoffs. Who in the division is going to come close to beating them out for the division title?
I don't see what is the big deal with the Patriots signing free agencies..Every year the situations are different. Read this article and you might learn something..... Good read March 12, 2007 Patriots Fatten the Deals to Acquire Free Agents By JUDY BATTISTA The New England Patriots of the Bill Belichick era have been celebrated for their fiscal responsibility, exercising a restraint in player acquisition that stands in sharp contrast to the annual splashes into the free-agent pool performed by the Washington Redskins and others. So what about that megadeal with guarantees up to $20 million given to Adalius Thomas, a linebacker, only hours after free agency opened last weekend? In a little more than one week of aggressive dealing, the Patriots signed Thomas, one of the most coveted free agents this year; tight end Kyle Brady; and running back Sammy Morris. They also acquired receiver Wes Welker for two draft picks. Yesterday, they bolstered their offense by signing receiver Donte’ Stallworth, a former first-round draft pick. After falling short of the Super Bowl the past two seasons, the Patriots, from the outside at least, seem to have undertaken a philosophical shift. They have eschewed the patient plucking of under-the-radar players who formed the foundations of three championship teams for the moves that grab headlines and award fat contracts. Belichick and the Patriots’ owner, Robert K. Kraft, see it differently. “In my mind, it’s not a philosophical thing to do or not do,” Belichick said Saturday, in a telephone interview before the Stallworth deal was done. “Just because something wasn’t done in another year doesn’t mean that if the opportunity had been there it wouldn’t have been done. In some years, we didn’t have much cap space. There was no money to spend. You work within the constraints you have. To me, we’re taking the same approach to the season that we have every season: do what you think is best.” In recent years, the Patriots have lavished rich contracts on quarterback Tom Brady and defensive lineman Richard Seymour. And the Patriots have long pointed to 2001 as proof of their free-agency activity. That year, 17 veteran free agents signed for a combined signing bonus of less than $3 million. But there were no Adalius Thomas-level stars in that group, either. Instead, there was linebacker Mike Vrabel, who had considering quitting football to go to law school. And in the past few years, the Patriots have, with mixed results, mined the low level free agents. Last year, their top free-agent signing was receiver Reche Caldwell, and although they made it to the American Football Conference championship game, it was clear that the Patriots had fallen behind a few other elite teams in talent. Thomas, then, does represent a departure for the Patriots, who happily found themselves in a situation to get him. The Patriots had held back a sizable amount of money last year, anticipating re-signing receiver Deion Branch. When it became clear that a lengthy holdout was in the offing, Branch was traded to Seattle, and the money allotted for his contract was moved to this year’s salary cap, Belichick said. The Patriots were more than $20 million under the $109 million cap when free agency began this year. With the linebacker position a glaring need, they were lucky to see Thomas, who like Vrabel can play multiple positions, become available when the Baltimore Ravens did not use the franchise tag on him. “That was an inefficiency in the system, a chance for us to get a player who most teams would have franchised,” Kraft said last week in a telephone interview. “I don’t think there have been many situations where there has been value like this in the marketplace, where you could get the player without having to give up draft picks.” Once the Patriots were done with Thomas, they moved on, signing Kyle Brady, a cheaper alternate to Daniel Graham for a blocking tight end, and Morris, who will replace the higher-priced and disgruntled Corey Dillon behind Laurence Maroney. Then, rather than risk that the Dolphins would match their offer for Welker, who was a restricted free agent, they traded for him. The addition of Stallworth, who played for the Eagles last season, gives Tom Brady a reliable deep threat that was lacking last season. Stallworth remained on the market for more than a week; his free-agent stock might have been hurt by a Philadelphia Inquirer report last week that said Stallworth was in the N.F.L.’s substance-abuse program. “If you cut Adalius Thomas out of the equation, they are acting kind of normal for them, maybe acting with more velocity than in other years,” said Brad Blank, a Boston-based agent. “Every once in a while, you’ll get a person whose talent they respect and can get a lot of money and yet it’s reasonable for them.” Blank wonders how long the Patriots’ luck can hold up, arguing that the odds of free agency — some mistakes are inevitable — are bound to catch up. Thomas is approaching 30, and with so much guaranteed money as part of the contract, a serious injury could turn one of the most-heralded signings of the Belichick era into one of his biggest mistakes. Belichick pointed to the Giants’ signing of LaVar Arrington last year; he sustained a season-ending injury in October, then was cut last month. “It’s a big deal if you pay a big deal — like the LaVar Arrington contract — and get nothing out of it,” Belichick said.
They have always spent all the way up to the cap. This year they have the ability to bring on new people because all there core players are locked up. That is what they did with there cap money last year, they locked up all there core players to long term deals. The pats have spent to the cap on every single year of there sb runs. Only difference is this year they a lot of cap space, and players retiring/leaving. They managed there salery cap well enough to have the ability to make moves. Moves that make sense, or are immediate needs. Since there is a salery cap, no team has any advantage over any other. The pats have no more money then any team in this leauge has the ability to have, through smart cap managment. They do not have a cent more then any team in the nfl COULD have if they manage there own players and the cap well. Aside from the Thomas signing (which compares to the Colvin pick up) that pats are not doing anything new here people. The stallworth and Washington deal are low risk one year deals where they hold all the power. They got them both for cheap money , and have the ability to walk if they choose to. Morris and Brady are vertran role player signings to replace Graham and Dillon for less $$$... Thomas was a much needed upgrade at a very important position. He also beings the ability to play 5 defensive positions. The obvious fa signing for a team that needs a talented lb immediatly while they draft and develope another player. They managed the cap well enough to have close to 29 million bucks... Of course they are going to use it. They still have nine draft picks to boot. Lets not forget every single one of these new players turned down MORE money from other teams to play in NE. After all these moves they still have over 8 million in cap space left. Check there cap, all these moves have very small cap hits. The entire wr roster is only against there cap for 7 million this year. That includes all of them.
gustoo, dont turn into junc.....The Pats are in! Unless of course Brady misses a large part of the season. Even though they signed adelius Thomas, I STILL think they can squeeze into the playoffs(feel the sarcasm?)
I think we'll be competitive in 2007. We still have a long way to go before the season. With the draft, mini-camp and then training camp, who knows who will even be on the team when the season starts. Look at Terrell, we cut him before the season. Just because we signed players doesn't mean they'll make the team. Will AD? Yes, but I'll reserve judgment until then. Also, The Pats, outside of last year, have usually spent to the cap. So, we had money and spent it. We also extended Koppen. I will say it has been weird to watch them be so proactive in the FA market. Can't wait until football season! :beer:
The Patriots have been so aggressive that one NFL observer has a theory: Bill Belichick is firing all his guns at once because he wants to go out on top. The folks at ProFootballTalk.com say the Pats' spending spree has all the makings of a run at one final Super Bowl before Belichick packs it in as a coach of the Pats. -- Boston Herald http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/scorecard/03/13/truth.rumors.nfl/index.html I've thought this from the begining. He's making a last ditch effort before he hangs it up.
He has stated numerous times he does not want to coach past 60. Brady is signed until 2010. He will coach at least until 2010 imo. The patriots have spent all there cap money for the last 6 years. The only difference this year is they have all there core players locked up to long term contracts. Last year they took care of the rest of the players they needed to (in house) with there cap money. In years past they spent all there money in house. They also had 29 million dollars this year. The only move that was "wow" for them was the Thomas singing. All the rest of the guys are role players or immediate replacements to free agency or retirment. Washington and Stallworth are one year, low coast deals.... The entire wr roster is against the cap fopr like 7 million bucks. Brady and Morris are role players due to losses. Nothing is un patriots like about most of these signings. They spent big bucks on colvin a few years ago. The reason you never heard about fa moves in the past is because they where mostly in house guys being taken care off. The m stream media doesent care if you pay all your signing bonuses in the offseason. Or if you extend o linemen and tackles that play for you. The patriots had 17 free agents signed the first year the one the superbowl. Keep in mind it is likley Brown and Brewski will retire this year or next......
OK. I'll bet $1 they miss the playoffs. If I win, you pay me $99. Sound good to you? I think on sheer coaching alone the Pats should get in unless the Jets can take the division back. It can be done.
But...but...does that mean the great, almight, infallible "Patriot Way" is nothing but "be smart?" My gosh...my world is shattered.
personally i see them winning the superbowl...which would be fine with me if that means BB retires... thats the only reason i think they signed all these guys...his final push..
I don't see why anyone would believe this is a 1 year gamble in NE. Thomas certainly isn't a rental. Stallworth may be but they still have 2 first round picks. It seems to me they are fixing their weaknesses from last year and will still be a force for quite awhile no matter who is coaching them.
