Pats' Offseason: At Least The Jets Lost . . . ?

[Jason A]

No real football today for the first Sunday since Labor Day Weekend. So when I saw Super Bowl XXXVI highlights on NFLN (with XXXVIII and XXXIX coming up next hour), I figured: What better time to start this thread?

Looking at the roster, if you take away the guys whose contracts expired following this season, and add those who finished the season on IR, you actually end up with exactly 53 players:

QB (2): Brady, Hoyer
RB (2): Woodhead, Clayton
TE (3): Gronkowski, Crumpler, Hernandez
WR (6): Welker, Branch, Tate, Edelman, Price, Slater
C (2): Koppen, Wendell
G (4): Connolly, Neal, Kaczur, Ohrnberger
T (2): Vollmer, LeVoir
DL (10): Wilfork, T. Warren, Wright, Brace, Deaderick, Pryor, Love, Weston, Richard, Cohen
OLB (5): Ninkovich, Moore, Cunningham, Banta-Cain, Murrell
ILB (4): Mayo, Spikes, Guyton, Fletcher
CB (5): McCourty, Bodden, Wilhite, Butler, Carter
S (5): Chung, Meriweather, Sanders, Brown, Lockett
K (1): Gostkowski
P (1): Mesko
LS (1): Katula

RB Green-Ellis and CB Arrington are restricted FAs and will likely be back under any CBA. Other top targets probably include G Mankins, T Light, DL G. Warren, S Page, and LB White (for ST). (I'm assuming Faulk will retire.)

Areas of biggest need would appear to be DL, OL (both T and G/C), OLB, RB, and S (they have to dump Meriweather, right?). With Branch and Welker both entering the final years of their contracts, they could also target a WR.

2011 draft picks:
1 (17 OAK)
1 (28)
2 (33 CAR)
2 (60)
3 (74 MIN)
3 (92)
4
5
6

. . . plus whatever compensatory picks they end up with.

They also owe Kansas City a pick for Page, but it's never been reported whether that's a 2011 or 2012 draft choice.

Draft is April 28-30.

 

[peanut]

Re: Pats' Offseason: At Least The Jets Lost . . . ?

No real football today for the first Sunday since Labor Day Weekend. So when I saw Super Bowl XXXVI highlights on NFLN (with XXXVIII and XXXIX coming up next hour), I figured: What better time to start this thread?

Looking at the roster, if you take away the guys whose contracts expired following this season, and add those who finished the season on IR, you actually end up with exactly 53 players:

QB (2): Brady, Hoyer
RB (2): Woodhead, Clayton
TE (3): Gronkowski, Crumpler, Hernandez
WR (6): Welker, Branch, Tate, Edelman, Price, Slater
C (2): Koppen, Wendell
G (4): Connolly, Neal, Kaczur, Ohrnberger
T (2): Vollmer, LeVoir
DL (10): Wilfork, T. Warren, Wright, Brace, Deaderick, Pryor, Love, Weston, Richard, Cohen
OLB (5): Ninkovich, Moore, Cunningham, Banta-Cain, Murrell
ILB (4): Mayo, Spikes, Guyton, Fletcher
CB (5): McCourty, Bodden, Wilhite, Butler, Carter
S (5): Chung, Meriweather, Sanders, Brown, Lockett
K (1): Gostkowski
P (1): Mesko
LS (1): Katula

RB Green-Ellis and CB Arrington are restricted FAs and will likely be back under any CBA. Other top targets probably include G Mankins, T Light, DL G. Warren, S Page, and LB White (for ST). (I'm assuming Faulk will retire.)

Areas of biggest need would appear to be DL, OL (both T and G/C), OLB, RB, and S (they have to dump Meriweather, right?). With Branch and Welker both entering the final years of their contracts, they could also target a WR.

2011 draft picks:
1 (17 OAK)
1 (28)
2 (33 CAR)
2 (60)
3 (74 MIN)
3 (92)
4
5
6

. . . plus whatever compensatory picks they end up with.

They also owe Kansas City a pick for Page, but it's never been reported whether that's a 2011 or 2012 draft choice.

Draft is April 28-30.

Did you forget ballboys and cheerleaders?

 

[Jason A]

Re: Pats' Offseason: At Least The Jets Lost . . . ?

The Herald says Mankins will be tagged:

The Patriots will franchise tag guard Logan Mankins… but not today

The day began waiting for Patriots guard Logan Mankins to receive the franchise tag. And we are still waiting.

I’m told the three-time Pro Bowl will receive the franchise tag, as expected.

It just won’t be today. It may be tomorrow, but it certainly will be within this 14-day period. My view was that the longer it takes, the more likely it is that the two sides could strike a deal. But now that I’ve learned it is definitely coming anyway, I guess the negotiating window extends for a while.

They could let him play one year for roughly $10.51 million and watch him walk, trade him, or sign him to a long-term deal. Stay tuned…

I also saw that a Colts source told someone that Manning would be tagged if they can't work out a deal. Remember the Boston media's speculation this summer -- about Brady being "lowballed," about difficulties in the negotiations, about the injustice of him not being offered a deal that rewarded him as a top-two NFL quarterback (even though he hadn't played like a top-two NFL QB since the divisional playoff round following the 2007 season)?

There was a ton of speculation that Brady would play out the year without an extension, and that would reflect poorly on those cheap ******** down in Foxborough! But the Manning deal never got worked out, and life went on in Indy. Funny how that works.

 

[Jason A]

Re: Pats' Offseason: At Least The Jets Lost . . . ?

So the Page trade with KC was for only a 2012 seventh-rounder. That turned out to be a steal.

http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4693234/patriots-draft-pick-reset

It does, however, leave NE with only five picks in the 2012 draft, with no picks after the fifth round. So that should be something to keep an eye on in this year's draft: moving down to acquire picks in the final two rounds of the 2012 draft (which you need in cases where you want to go get a guy like Tracy White or Jarrad Page right before the season).

 

[Jason A]

Re: Pats' Offseason: At Least The Jets Lost . . . ?

Ian Rapoport says Kaczur is probably gone.

The Patriots lost Nick Kaczur to a back injury this season, and he later injured his shoulder. It forced them to play without their potential starting guard all the way from training camp. Considering Kaczur had started at right tackle for five years, it was considered a big loss.

Now, Kaczur may never play for the Patriots again.

A source close to the situation told me that the Pats approached the seven-year veteran about taking a massive pay-cut based on his impending salary of $3.4 million for 2011. That is not something Kaczur is prepared to do.

When I asked if the Patriots would cut Kaczur rather than pay him all that money, I was told, “They’re going to have to.” Perhaps that comes before March 3, though not necessarily.

And really, this isn’t a bad move for either side. Kaczur will be a starter at guard or tackle for someone, while the Pats have moved on at guard with Logan Mankins (for at least a year) and Dan Connolly. And Sebastian Vollmer isn’t going anywhere at tackle. So you can’t pay $3.4 million for a backup.

 

[Jason A]

Re: Pats' Offseason: At Least The Jets Lost . . . ?

Can't say I feel great about signing Buffalo's rejects, especially since he couldn't pass their physical.

Defensive tackle Marcus Stroud, who was recently released by the Buffalo Bills, reached agreement Tuesday on a two-year deal with the New England Patriots.

 

[Jason A]

Re: Pats' Offseason: At Least The Jets Lost . . . ?

Neal is done. He had a great career, playing 10 seasons in the NFL after winning two national championships in wrestling while in college.

By Mike Reiss

Starting Patriots right guard Stephen Neal is retiring after 10 years in the NFL.

Neal had considered retirement last offseason, but ended up re-signing with the Patriots on a two-year deal. He was scheduled to earn $3 million in 2011.

Neal played in eight games in 2010 before landing on the season-ending injured reserve list with a shoulder injury.

Six-year veteran Dan Connolly filled in and is the projected starter at right guard entering 2011.

 

[bottomdweller]

Re: Pats' Offseason: At Least The Jets Lost . . . ?

And you can probably say goodbye to Brandon Merriweather:

http://deadspin.com/#!5780444/patri...ther-allegedly-guns-down-two-men-during-brawl

 

[Jason A]

Re: Pats' Offseason: At Least The Jets Lost . . . ?

Huh. I figured he had one foot out the door anyway.

 

[pirate]

Re: Pats' Offseason: At Least The Jets Lost . . . ?

And you can probably say goodbye to Brandon Merriweather:

http://deadspin.com/#!5780444/patri...ther-allegedly-guns-down-two-men-during-brawl

So he really only shot one guy, the other was just a grazing. That makes this half as bad as it sounds. Does he have any college eligibility left? There are several schools at which shooting only one guy puts you in the running for their annual character award ;-)

 

[bottomdweller]

Re: Pats' Offseason: At Least The Jets Lost . . . ?

Gotta love the Big Bang Glock... Chung is ready to take over his spot anyways...

 

[amherstblackbear]

Re: Pats' Offseason: At Least The Jets Lost . . . ?

Gotta love the Big Bang Glock... Chung is ready to take over his spot anyways...

Putting aside the labor dispute for a moment - 'cause I have no idea what all the implications are...

I wonder if this is the year that Belichick starts cashing in those draft picks that he's always stockpiling. Brady's window isn't going to stay open forever.

 

[bottomdweller]

Re: Pats' Offseason: At Least The Jets Lost . . . ?

Well, he can't trade his picks for players... but he can still trade picks for other picks.

 

[Jason A]

Re: Pats' Offseason: At Least The Jets Lost . . . ?

No compensatory picks for NE:

The NFL awarded compensatory draft choices to clubs today, and the Patriots did not receive any selections.

Under the rules for compensatory draft selections, a team losing more or better compensatory free agents than it acquires in the previous year is eligible to receive compensatory draft picks.

Tight end Benjamin Watson's signing with the Browns was part of the equation for the Patriots, although it wasn't enough to register in the NFL's complex formula. So the Patriots enter the draft with nine selections.

1a. 17th overall
1b. 28th overall
2a. 33rd overall
2b. 60th overall
3a. 74th overall
3b. 92nd overall
4. 125th overall
5. 159th overall
6. 193rd overall

 

[Jason A]

Re: Pats' Offseason: At Least The Jets Lost . . . ?

Some different teams on the PS schedule this year:

2011 PATRIOTS PRESEASON SCHEDULE
Aug. 11-15 -- vs. Jaguars (time TBA)
Aug. 18-22 -- at Buccaneers (time TBA)
Aug. 27 -- at Lions (8 p.m., CBS)
Sept. 1-2 -- vs. Giants (time TBA)

 

[Jason A]

Re: Pats' Offseason: At Least The Jets Lost . . . ?

Really great Brady documentary on ESPN tonight. Worth checking out the rerun if you missed it. I have ZERO recollection of that Patriots/49ers Hall of Fame Game in 2000. Who knew Giovanni Carmazzi now owns five goats?

 

[Jason A]

Re: Pats' Offseason: At Least The Jets Lost . . . ?

Schedule to be released tonight.

realpatriots New England Patriots
Patriots will open the season on the road this year for the 1st time in 4 years. Go to Patriots.com after 7 pm ET for the complete schedule!
3 minutes ago

 

[Jason A]

Re: Pats' Offseason: At Least The Jets Lost . . . ?

@ Miami (MON NIGHT)
San Diego
@ Buffalo
@ Oakland
New York Jets
Dallas
BYE
@ Pittsburgh
New York Giants
@ New York Jets (SUN NIGHT)
Kansas City (MON NIGHT)
@ Philadelphia
Indianapolis (SUN NIGHT)
@ Washington
@ Denver
Miami
Buffalo

 

[NMU8405]

Re: Pats' Offseason: At Least The Jets Lost . . . ?

@ Miami (MON NIGHT)
San Diego
@ Buffalo
@ Oakland
New York Jets
Dallas
BYE
@ Pittsburgh
New York Giants
@ New York Jets (SUN NIGHT)
Kansas City (MON NIGHT)
@ Philadelphia
Indianapolis (SUN NIGHT)
@ Washington
@ Denver
Miami
Buffalo

Some tough games on the schedule. The toughest ones, in my opinion, I highlighted. I hate playing at Denver. New England always has a hard time there, along with Brady.

 

[CLS]

Re: Pats' Offseason: At Least The Jets Lost . . . ?

Not a bad schedule, I'd say. The schedule will always be relatively tough as long as the Pats continue to finish in first place in the Division and the NFL retains its scheduling formula. The toughness of the schedule relative to teams outside the Division will depend on how good the NFC East and the AFC West are. The schedule relative to teams in the Division will depend on how much of a dropoff there is (or even if there is a dropoff) between the teams that finished in first place and second place in the AFC Central and South. Also it will matter how the west coast games and the Sunday and especially Monday night game line up relative to the bye. How many straight years does this make that the Pats play Indy?

And of course, if the season gets truncated, there's the question of which games get canceled.