New England Patriots Discussion

[Vaylor]

Originally Posted by Matthew Jones

By the way, listed below are the differences between my 53-man roster projection and Mike Reiss', which you can find here:

http://espn.go.com/boston/nfl/story/...ew-guys-fit-in

Matthew:

RG Brian Waters
DT Gerard Warren
LB Bobby Carpenter

Mike:

DE Trevor Scott
LB Jeff Tarpinian
CB Will Allen

Im guessing he thinks Waters will retire.

[Razor]

We're sweeping the Jets next season. Mark it down.

[Nalej]

Mark Patricia's been named DC. Last year's safeties coach.
lol @ S's being our worst position on D last year

[Nalej]

Originally Posted by Razor

We're sweeping the Jets next season. Mark it down.

Best defense in the NFL, suck my dick

[Razor]

Originally Posted by Nalej

Mark Patricia's been named DC. Last year's safeties coach.
lol @ S's being our worst position on D last year

Damn, I was hoping for Pepper Johnson. Patricia just screams Dean Pees to me. They also hired Steve Belichick as a coaching assistant.

[Matthew Jones]

Originally Posted by Razor

Damn, I was hoping for Pepper Johnson. Patricia just screams Dean Pees to me. They also hired Steve Belichick as a coaching assistant.

The sad thing is that Pepper is probably going to leave the team within a couple of years unless Patricia gets a head coaching offer; Pepper has deserved a defensive coordinator job for years.

[descendency]

Originally Posted by Nalej

Mark Patricia's been named DC. Last year's safeties coach.
lol @ S's being our worst position on D last year

Maybe Belichick is trying to trick the next team to steal one of his coordinators...

(though, it's more likely that Matt Patricia is just a good coach)

[Razor]

Originally Posted by Matthew Jones

The sad thing is that Pepper is probably going to leave the team within a couple of years unless Patricia gets a head coaching offer; Pepper has deserved a defensive coordinator job for years.

I agree 100%. Patricia doesn't seem to have the same fire, intensity and leadership skills that Johnson has. Maybe he leads in another way like Mayo, but I prefer a hothead down there who'll tell BB to go **** himself when it's needed. I don't think Patricia (or McD for that matter) will do that. Still, I give Patricia the benefit of the doubt. If not because I believe in him, then because BB has earned my trust over the years.

In Bill I thrust. ;)

[ElectricEye]

Rookie Camp photos for the day are up on the team website.

Linkage

[descendency]

Last year, pick 21 (Phil Taylor) was a very hard contract to negotiate.

Pick 22 could be fully guaranteed by the Browns because it's a QB, which makes the pick 21 situation even more stressful.

Mike Florio (I know... lol) seemed to think that the Patriots have two very difficult to negotiate contracts (21 and 25) ahead of themselves. Hopefully not.

edit: Apparently, Florio negated to mention that picks 17, 18, and 19 were not guaranteed and that pick 20 was an abnormality. It still could make for an interesting signing predicament.

[descendency]

Tavon Wilson becomes first drafted player to sign.

[Jvig43]

Originally Posted by descendency

Tavon Wilson becomes first drafted player to sign.

Thank God, now we don't have a glaring need at Safety.

[Jvig43]

Originally Posted by Razor

We're sweeping the Jets next season. Mark it down.

The irony of everything Revis was saying is just too much for me to handle. Especially the part where he said that we were doing all the talking and nothing came from the Jets side. Dude, you are on the biggest trash talking team in the league, thats like us calling out the Saints for being cheaters lol.

[Nalej]

Originally Posted by Jvig43

The irony of everything Revis was saying is just too much for me to handle. Especially the part where he said that we were doing all the talking and nothing came from the Jets side. Dude, you are on the biggest trash talking team in the league, thats like us calling out the Saints for being cheaters lol.

Couldn't of said it better myself. I hope he was holding back laughter or chuckles while he was saying that bc it's the whole kettle/pot analogy personified.

[descendency]

Originally Posted by Jvig43

Thank God, now we don't have a glaring need at Safety.

Good to see we nailed down that backup spot.

[descendency]

QB:

1. Tom Brady
2. Brian Hoyer
3. Ryan Mallett
   I can't see NE carrying 4 QBs. If Hoyer isn't somehow moved, Hartline isn't making this team and I really wonder if he would anyways (the extra roster spot could be useful).
   
   RB:
4. Stevan Ridley
5. Shane Vereen
6. Danny Woodhead
7. Joseph Addai
8. Spencer Larson (FB)
   I picked Spencer Larson over the other options at FB because he has played special teams really well and I doubt FB becomes a serious part of the Patriots offense. Joseph Addai is tenatively penciled in as the 4th RB on this team, but Brandon Bolden (UDFA, Mississippi) has just as good of a shot of making this team. It should be interesting.
   
   TE:
9. Rob Gronkowski
10. Aaron Hernandez
11. Daniel Fells
    Daniel Fells and Brad Herman will have to compete with an OL more than likely for a spot (as well as each other).
    
    WR:
12. Wes Welker
13. Brandon Lloyd
14. Jabar Gaffney
15. Deion Branch
16. Julian Edelman
17. Matthew Slater
    This is a mess. 4 of the spots are locks (Welker, Lloyd, Slater, and Edelman) 2 of them as WRs and 2 as specialist. The others (Branch, Gaffney, Gonzalez, Ochocinco, and Stallworth) are definitely in a dog fight for a position. Gonzalez isn't going to make my roster unless there is a magical "extra spot" that opens up for him. He's a huge injury risk. Branch looked done last year. Gaffney was a Redskin (one of the worst WR groups in the NFL). Stallworth was terrible in the 07 offense. Ochocinco was terrible last season. None of them offer special teams ability.
    
    OL:
18. Nate Solder
19. Dan Connolly
20. Brian Waters
21. Sebastian Vollmer
22. Dan Koppen
23. Robert Gallery
24. Marcus Cannon
25. Nick McDonald
26. Donald Thomas
    I'm listing Logan Mankins on PUP to start the season. I have Warren and Zusevics on the PS. Ryan Wendell is the odd man out. When Mankins comes back, that will make potentially force one of these guys out the door. Waters is undecided about retirement, which could easily open up a spot for Wendell also.
    
    DL:
27. Vince Wilfork (NT)
28. Kyle Love (DT)
29. Jake Bequette
30. Chandler Jones (RE)
31. Jonathan Fanene (LE)
32. Marcus Forston
33. Brandon Deaderick
34. Trevor Scott
35. Markell Carter
36. Myron Pryor
    I really had a hard time with the DL. Some of these guys are locks because of their draft position (ie Bequette) and others got good contracts (Fanene). Forston is super talented if he can stay healthy. Forston is the reason Pryor may be left off for Gerrard Warren.
    
    LB:
37. Jerod Mayo
38. Brandon Spikes
39. Dont'a Hightower (OLB)
40. Rob Ninkovich (OLB)
41. Dane Fletcher
42. Bobby Carpenter
    Carpenter is my pick for the last LB spot because of his ST and coverage value. He could be the Patriots best coverage backer, something they severely lack. The rest of the guys competing for jobs had better get really good at coverage, because that's the key to making this roster (coverage and special teams)
    
    DB:
43. Kyle Arrington (CB)
44. Devin McCourty (CB)
45. Ras-I Dowling (CB)
46. Sterling Moore
47. Alfonzo Dennard
48. Patrick Chung (SS)
49. Tavon Wilson (FS)
50. Steve Gregory
    I really feel like this group is kind of obvious. I had 9 spots, but cut it to 8 when I realized the rest of the guys are terrible. Nate Ebner will likely be on the PS. I considered him as a ST.
    
    ST:
51. Zoltan Mesko (P)
52. Steven Gostkowski (K)
53. Danny Aiken (LS)
    Chris Koepplin is once again brought in to kick off for Gostkowski during the pre-season, but I doubt he makes the roster. Maybe there will be a hot LS competition in this off-season... /s

PUP:
* Logan Mankins

Cut:
Ryan Wendell (G/C)
Chad Ochocinco (WR)
Dante Stallworth (WR)
Anthony Gonzalez (WR)
Ron Brace (DT)
Jermaine Cunningham (DE)
Gerrard Warren (DE/DT)

[Jvig43]

Welker signed the franchise tag today. Now go out and trade him.

[Vaylor]

Originally Posted by Jvig43

Welker signed the franchise tag today. Now go out and trade him.

I would much rather keep him.

[Don Vito]

We could probably get something decent for him but I would rather keep him too, I don't think we would get anything better than a third

[GallopingGhost]

Originally Posted by Don Vito

We could probably get something decent for him but I would rather keep him too, I don't think we would get anything better than a third

Agreed, if we aren't getting anything under a second, i'd rather keep him. He's a pro and provides that vet presence. I wouldn't mind seeing him retire in NE.

[descendency]

Originally Posted by Vaylor

I would much rather keep him.

The problem is that Welker isn't worth a long term deal (even if he should have been paid more in the past) anymore.

The fan in me wants him back but the rest of me realizes that the contract he wants isn't reasonable for a 32 year old slot WR with a serious knee injury on his record.

edit: The only reason I'd keep him is because you won't get good offers for him.

[Jvig43]

I think we could sucker some team into giving up at least a second rounder for him.

[ElectricEye]

Honestly, neither possibility worries me all that much. I'm pretty confident we won't overpay him. We've consistently demonstrated that we aren't in the business of giving huge money to aging players. I think trading him would have a pretty big impact on the offense initially though, so I would prefer to try to hammer something out that's reasonable for both sides.

[Matthew Jones]

Descendency, regarding your roster projection:

Wendell has been in New England's system for a while and can play either guard spot or center, so I like him on the final roster over either McDonald or Donald Thomas. Like you, I think Gerard Warren could make the final roster; he adds a veteran presence/leader to the roster and can play a few different spots in the defense. My guess would be that he beats out Forston, Trevor Scott, or Markell Carter. Ron Brace could also make the final roster since he's the primary backup to Wilfork at NT. Tracy White seems like a lock to make the roster; he is a special teams stud. I'm hoping Nate Ebner makes it as well for the same reason. I'm pleased with the overall roster depth this year; should be some interesting battles.

[nepg]

Originally Posted by ElectricEye

Honestly, neither possibility worries me all that much. I'm pretty confident we won't overpay him. We've consistently demonstrated that we aren't in the business of giving huge money to aging players. I think trading him would have a pretty big impact on the offense initially though, so I would prefer to try to hammer something out that's reasonable for both sides.

I don't know that it would... Unless you're talking about the big impact being Edelman being useful again since Tom just can't seem to get the timing right with him when he's lined up in other positions.