<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>FOXBORO -- The Patriots’ pursuit of Ty Law has apparently gone beyond the casual, stay-in-touch phase to the point of hands-on evaluation.According to sources, the 32-year-old, five-time Pro Bowl cornerback was scheduled to undergo a physical with the Patriots last Friday as part of a free agent visit.It’s assumed that Law made it into town for the appointments (he was visiting Tennessee Thursday, where he reportedly passed a Titans physical), although Patriots officials would not confirm the visit.Pats coach Bill Belichick has kept in touch with Law this offseason through a series of private phone conversations.The Pats have an abundance of salary cap space (as much as $16 million). However, Law’s reported asking price of $10 million in first-year money is probably not in the Pats’ plans. If Law receives that money elsewhere (he’s also visited Seattle and talked with Chiefs coach Herm Edwards, who signed him to the Jets last year), the odds of the Pats matching appear slim.The Patriots must feel they are in Law’s ballpark. One source in Foxboro said recently the brunt of the talks are being handled personally between Belichick and Law.“It’s not like Scott (Pioli) or anyone else is calling up Carl and Kevin (Poston, Law’s agents) twice a day,” said the source. “If anything happens it’s because of Bill and Ty.”In October 2004, Law suffered a tricky Liz Franc injury (mid-foot ligament damage) to his left foot attempting to plant on the sloppy turf in Pittsburgh. Subsequent surgery forced him to play last year overweight and at less than 100 percent, but he still played all 16 games and tied for the league lead in interceptions (10). The Pats had only 10 interceptions as a team in 2005.Law still has many local ties, including some family members living in the area. He also remains close with several of his former Pats teammates, frequently driving up from New York last year to watch Monday Night football with Richard Seymour. One of the angles the Pats might be selling Law is the chance to retire a Patriot and increase his odds of entering the Pro Football Hall of Fame with multiple Super Bowl rings. Law is currently tied for the Pats’ career lead in interceptions with Raymond Clayborn (36).Whether that pitch would work remains to be seen. Law has resisted discount deals in the past.Providing Law is healthy, there’s little doubt he would improve the look of the Pats’ secondary, which sorely missed a big-play threat last year. Ellis Hobbs and Asante Samuel are currently penciled in as the starting corners, with free agent Eric Warfield and third-year veteran Randall Gay also expected to enter the mix. Law’s return would push each of those players down one rung on the depth chart.Re-signing Law would complete a circle that began in the spring of 2004, when he rejected a four-year, $26 million extension (with a signing bonus worth over $6 million) and charged Belichick with “lying to feed his family.” Belichick never responded, and Law returned for the 2004 season. Following the injury, the Pats released Law in February, 2005, instead of assuming his $12.5 million cap charge.The divorce was amicable, and Law and Belichick kept the lines of communication open. Law ultimately signed an incentive-laden deal with the Jets last summer and wound up making $6 million. The Jets released him in February rather than pay an $11 million bonus.If the Pats are to get Law back, they would probably have to match his 2005 compensation and get through his close personal relationship with Edwards.“Talks are on, and we’ll see where it’s at,” Edwards told the Kansas City Star last week. “He’s going to take some visits, but ultimately, he’ll have to make a decision. I know he wants to play at a place where he feels he can help and he can win. You can’t pressure him. He’s not that type of guy.” [continue]Of course, money will be a deciding factor. Belichick admitted yesterday that, in general, good corners never come cheap.“There’s a premium on defensive players that can rush the passer and defensive players that can cover,” he said. “That’s reflected in the draft, free agency and salaries. It has been as long as I can remember and probably always will be that way</div> http://patriots.bostonherald.com/patriots/...rticleid=139338
This is gonna be a battle between the Chefs and the Pats to get him. I'd say they both need secondary help pretty bad, Pats injuries there had them hurting bad late last season and the Chiefs couldn't tackle to save their lives last year. Who wants him more?
