First it was Adalius Thomas, probably the 1st or 2nd most coveted FA in the open market. Then it was a couple of offensive role players in Sammy Morris & Kyle Brady. And then Kraft helped orchestrate a deal with Miami to land their leading receiver & special teams ace Wes Welker. Now the latest move is the signing of Donte Stallworth to a 6 year $30mil deal of which he'll most likely only see the 1st year of. The 2nd year of that deal calls for $11 million & so unless Donte is willing to redo the deal next offseason he's here strictly as a rent-a-player. The draft is fast approaching & the biggest area of need still appears to be at LB. They're starters are all 30+ in age & though they've been relatively healthy it's only a matter of time when durability becomes a major concern. The safety position would be my next priority come April. Harrison is close to retirement & Eugene Wilson hasn't been able to stay on the field the past 2 seasons. The Patriots love to clutter the deep zone with nickel & dime packages. Getting a sure tackler back there will be very important for this team's future success. The last position I would look to upgrade the depth at is WR. Acquiring Welker & Stallworth will go along way in giving Brady some serious weapons, but Welker is primarily a special teamer & it's likely Stallworth is just here for 1 year. Chad Jackson has to have a better year than his rookie season, but his development could be a year off. All in all the Pats have had a very productive offseason & with a solid draft the Pats should be well stocked to maintain future success.
I agree. I keep hearing peoplesay the Pats are favorites for the Super Bowl next season but that is a stupid way of thinking. I know the Pats will be good again but to put them in the Super Bowl when there is a full season of uncertainty ahead of them is not very smart.
The Pats have definitely had the best offseason IMO. I would be happy with the people you brought in. Instead, I'm stuck scratching my head at giving Bobby Wade a relatively huge contract.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (vikingfan)</div><div class='quotemain'>The Pats have definitely had the best offseason IMO. I would be happy with the people you brought in. Instead, I'm stuck scratching my head at giving Bobby Wade a relatively huge contract.</div> The deal is, VF, that Rick Spielman is making some of the decisions up in the Twin Cities and this looks like one of them.
The only problem I have with all these signings is that they totally threw out the gameplan that got them 3 SuperBowls. They use to get low to mid free agents that fit perfectly into the scheme. Now they are shelling out money left and right. The only move I dont like is trading a 2nd and a 7th for Wes Welker, way too high compensation for him, and the Patriots may have vioated the CBA by swaying the dolphins to trade him by adding a 7th round pick, if this happens Welker will get the 38.5 million which is more that double that his contract he just signed. Kffl.com "Harvey Fialkov, of the Sun-Sentinel, reports the National Football League Players Association is concerned the New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins may have violated the Collective Bargaining Agreement after putting together the trade of WR Wes Welker to the Patriots and has asked the NFL Management Council for an explanation, according to a source. "They may have violated the CBA rule that says one club can't offer the player's former team anything that would (sway) that team from matching their offer," the source said. "Anti-collusion (rule), that's another thing that may come into play." The inquiry was based, in part, on a series of media reports leading up to the trade that indicated the Patriots were ready to give Welker an offer sheet worth $38.5 million over seven years March 3. One media report added the Patriots were going to include a "poison pill" that said Welker's contract would become fully guaranteed should he play four games in Florida. No offer sheet was tendered by the Patriots and on March 5, the Dolphins traded Welker to the Patriots for a second- and seventh-round draft pick."
Adalius Thomas was the only player signed to a large guaranteed contract($20) which he admittedly could've gotten more had he played the market longer. The Welker deal was done in good faith between the 2 owners to avoid a similar situation that happened with Minnesota & Seattle last offseason. Yeah Wes got screwed, but I highly doubt the Pats did anything wrong here. If it turns out they have to honor the original contract tendered than that would only mean Wes leaves for FA again in a year or 2. Which is exactly what will happen to Stallworth based on the contract he signed that calls for $11 in year 2. The salary cap has expanded greatly over the last 2 years & therefore the climate has changed. The Pats are still holding true to their philosophy. It's the league that is changing. And btw Welker & Thomas fit the Patriot mold perfectly. They are versatile, high character players that give 100% on every play.
Going from the 7 yr 38 million contract to whatever compensation WW did get so quickly did seemed odd to me. But, if Wes & his agent and The Pats are fine with it then I don't see what the big deal is. If this were any other team dealing with the Pats this would not be an issue IMO. If both franchises as well as Wes and his agent are fine with it (& it appears so) then the NFLPA needs to shut up and butt out. I do like what the Pats have done. Though, it appears they are renting Washington and Stallworth for a year. Pioli & Bill B have done a better job than Cleveland or San Francisco for example. My AFCE FA grades so far; It'd go; NE A minus, Phins B/B+, jets B (hard to tell w/ so few moves), Buffalo C (getting those picks for Willis saved 'em IMO).
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (panthersare#1)</div><div class='quotemain'>The only problem I have with all these signings is that they totally threw out the gameplan that got them 3 SuperBowls."</div> I fail to see why you would say that??? Adalius Thomas is a very versital player that could play many positions for NE and fits pretty much any scheme!! Wes Welker is a Kick return specialist and makes a great #3 WR Stallworth Is now the deep threat that Brady has been lacking Kyle Brady was brought in to be the Blocking TE Sammy Morris will be nothing but a 10 carry back to relive Maroney If anything NE has greatly improved which is scary
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Bears#1Fan)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (panthersare#1)</div><div class='quotemain'>The only problem I have with all these signings is that they totally threw out the gameplan that got them 3 SuperBowls."</div> I fail to see why you would say that??? Adalius Thomas is a very versital player that could play many positions for NE and fits pretty much any scheme!! Wes Welker is a Kick return specialist and makes a great #3 WR Stallworth Is now the deep threat that Brady has been lacking Kyle Brady was brought in to be the Blocking TE Sammy Morris will be nothing but a 10 carry back to relive Maroney If anything NE has greatly improved which is scary</div> His point isn't that they haven't got better. I believe his point is spending money on free agents is something New England has not done during their Dynasty run. It is very uncharacteristic of them. However I would agree that they are the Super Bowl favorites. I thought they were before they made these moves. Now I think they're the overwhelming favorites.
I don't know that they are overwhelming favorites. Its so easy to crown paper champions in March & even August (right Bakes? lol). I'll hold off on anointing the dynasty just that until I see how the Former U of Tennessee WR's (Donte & Kelly) do. I guess DS & KW's college college mascot (Volunteers) explains the contracts they signed? ROFL. Lastly, They have to beat the Colts in 07 (does anyone else see the irony in that?) before they are actually champions.
I don't considerate the Pats too be heavy favorites. The schedule is very difficult & there are still some areas in need of improvement on the defense.
I think they had the best offseason, SO FAR. And yes, I wouldn't go as far as saying they're a SB team. As for the spending in FA, I don't think that it's somethin' the Pats have avoided in the past. They just had a good amount of cap room, and alot of players they liked out in FA.
