Patriots Offseason Plans

[jsinger121]

No tag for Pats

The Patriots decided against using the franchise or transition tag today, which could have given the team leverage to retain any of their unrestricted free agents.

 

The decision primarily affects kicker Adam Vinatieri, who was a potential target for a tag.

 

Unless the Patriots and Vinatieri reach an agreement before free agency begins March 3, Vinatieri will be free to negotiate with all NFL clubs as an unrestricted free agent. The Patriots could have ensured Vinatieri’s return by naming him their franchise player, which would have come with a one-year, $3 million contract.

 

A few of the team’s other higher profile free agents include offensive guard Stephen Neal, offensive tackle Tom Ashworth and receiver David Givens.

 

The decision to not use either the franchise or transition tag comes at a time when NFL labor peace is on shaky ground, and the financial parameters by which teams will be operating are not yet finalized.

 

The 33-year-old Vinatieri has been the Patriots’ kicker since 1996 and became the franchise’s all-time leading scorer (1,158 points) in 2005. He is one of only two kickers, along with Denver’s Jason Elam, to total 100 or more points in each of his first 10 seasons.

 

Vinatieri made 20 of 25 field goals in 2005. The 20 field goals were a career low, as were the 25 attempts. He played with a one-year, $2.5 million contract after being named the team’s franchise player last year.

 

The market for kickers has increased significantly within the last year. Last March, the Rams’ Jeff Wilkins signed a four-year extension with a reported $3 million bonus. And during the 2005 season, the Eagles extended the contract of David Akers and the Cardinals did the same for Neil Rackers.

 

Rackers, who represented the NFC in the 2006 Pro Bowl, is considered one of the top kickers in the game at this time. His deal paid him $3.8 million in the first year and $4.6 million over the first two years. The total value of the contract, according to the firm that negotiated the pact (RSR), is $6.5 million over four years.

 

The difference, however, is that the Cardinals were able to limit Rackers’ salary cap hits in each year, because the total contract was four years. As the franchise player in 2005, Vinatieri signed a one-year deal, and thus his entire salary counted against the cap.

 

Other kickers scheduled to become unrestricted free agents this year include Matt Bryant (Buccaneers), Jose Cortez (Colts), Paul Edinger (Vikings), Ryan Longwell (Packers), Joe Nedney (49ers), Todd Peterson (Falcons) and Mike Vanderjagt (Colts).

 

Vinatieri is considered one of the best clutch kickers in NFL history, with two game-winning field goals in the final minute of Super Bowls, two game-winners in the divisional playoff round and a record-tying five field goals in the 2003 AFC Championship game. His game-tying 45-yard kick in the 2001 AFC Championship game, in the heavy snow against the Raiders, is considered one of the greatest clutch field goals in league history.

 

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/

[riverside sluggers]

I knew this was coming, and rightfully so

 

Rotoworld

Patriots released CB Duane Starks. Starks became the poster boy for all of New England's defensive failings this year. Like David Terrell, Chad Brown, Monty Beisel, Andre Davis, and Chad Scott, he was part of a lackluster offseason for New England last year.

----------------------------------

The Patriots have spoken to many third-down back candidates at the NFL Scouting Combine. New England could be looking for a mid-round backup to Corey Dillon. Mississippi State’s Jerious Norwood, New Mexico’s Dontrell Moore, and Florida State's Leon Washington are all possibilities.

 

The Patriots have showed interest in Michigan WR Jason Avant. New England is expected going to draft a receiver on the first day of the draft, possibly two. Mid-round players like Avant, Hank Baskett, and Skyler Green have all received attention.

[WildThing58]

Starks was god awful. I want them to draft lendale white or daengelo williams.

[stocker323]

Starks was god awful. I want them to draft lendale white or daengelo williams.

 

From what I've been reading and what RS just posted, it looks as if the Pats are looking for a back who would be more of a 3rd down back and not a lead back. I think White will be gone by the time he gets to Baltimore at 14 and Williams may be gone before that.

 

As far as Starks goes they had to get rid of him due to his large salary, but I've read in interviews that he was in some intense pain especially in that Denver game granted he shouldn't have even been out there but it was gutsy.

[WildThing58]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10909906/

 

I like this draft for the pats.

[jsinger121]

about time we got rid of starks.....his 5 million plus salary was definitely not going to be carried for his pathetic play last yr.

[Sox Fan on Cape]

Say good bye to Adam V. too !

[jsinger121]

Say good bye to Adam V. too !

 

i wouldn't say that yet.....now that starks is gone they will have money to give to vinateri. there is more cuts to make in order to save money for other players. tyrone poole is the next one to get axed.

[Sox Fan on Cape]

i wouldn't say that yet.....now that starks is gone they will have money to give to vinateri. there is more cuts to make in order to save money for other players. tyrone poole is the next one to get axed.

Adam is looking for a 3 Mill. / 4 Mill. X 3 or 4 years. ( which is what he heard form his agent he can get ) , the Pats are offering 2 yrs x 3 Mill. tops That's a big spread. There's also no agreement on the new contract ( thus the possibility of no cap this year ).

[jsinger121]

the pats are going to free up some money when they dump poole, renegoiate with mcginest to bring his number down as well as a few players. what adam does not realize is maybe he makes an extra million somewhere else but what he has here is new england is a chance to win every year and besides what kicker in the NFL has the endorsements that vinateri has in Ford, Papa Gino's and Bernie and Philys' where he makes extra money.

[Sox Fan on Cape]

the pats are going to free up some money when they dump poole, renegoiate with mcginest to bring his number down as well as a few players. what adam does not realize is maybe he makes an extra million somewhere else but what he has here is new england is a chance to win every year and besides what kicker in the NFL has the endorsements that vinateri has in Ford, Papa Gino's and Bernie and Philys' where he makes extra money.

Good thought on the endorsements, but they don't pay that much ( they're regional commercials ). Real money Pats = 6 Mil. vs Free agency 9-16 Mil. This is his most likely his last chance to grab the big money.

[jsinger121]

the only team likely to throw big money at a kicker is the cowboys and bill parcells. but it the end i believe vinateri stays with the patriots once other players contracts are renegoiated to bring their cap numbers down.

[Sox Fan on Cape]

the only team likely to throw big money at a kicker is the cowboys and bill parcells. but it the end i believe vinateri stays with the patriots once other players contracts are renegoiated to bring their cap numbers down.

You're assuming that there is a cap. Also, the reason the Pats didn't tag AV was ?

[jsinger121]

there is a cap for 2006 but as of now not 2007. the pats still have to bring players cap numbers down in order to sign other players.

[Sox Fan on Cape]

there is a cap for 2006 but as of now not 2007. the pats still have to bring players cap numbers down in order to sign other players.

Your'e getting confused with Calendar years and Fiscal years. The NFL runs on a Fiscal Year, which starts on or about March 1.

[jsinger121]

this coming season there is a salary cap but for the 2007-2008 season there is not.

[Sox Fan on Cape]

The 2007 season starts March 1 or there abouts.

[RedSoxRooter]

I don't know anything about the economics of the NFL. What exactly does making a player a "franchise player" or "franchising him" mean? Can you do it for more than a year?

[schillingouttheks]

The 2007 season starts March 1 or there abouts.

March 1st?!! Oh snap, that's my birthday nuckas.

[YanksHater213]

March 1st?!! Oh snap, that's my birthday nuckas.

Yeah, like we care...

[Sox Fan on Cape]

I don't know anything about the economics of the NFL. What exactly does making a player a "franchise player" or "franchising him" mean? Can you do it for more than a year?

That option expired a few dats ago. In Adam's case he was franchised two out of the last three years. Essentially it means he gets payed the average of the top players at his position for one year. If the Pats did tag him it would cost the Pats a little over 3 Mil for one year. Adam wants money, years, and a guarenntee.

[jsinger121]

I don't know anything about the economics of the NFL. What exactly does making a player a "franchise player" or "franchising him" mean? Can you do it for more than a year?

 

franchisng a player means that he gets the average of the top 5 player's salary at that position for 1 season with i believe no signing bonus. i believe if you franchise the same player 2 years in a row there are some ramifications the next season about using it.

[schillingouttheks]

Yeah, like we care...

Pft. Win favorite member and then talk to me bitch.

 

Kidding.

 

EDIT: Wow. I'm totally making this thread go off-topic. My bad, sorry.

[BoSox34]

The Pats should wait until E.James, J. Lewis, and S. Alexander are signed and then make a play for Ahman Green at less money than he deserves to build some security around Dillon. They could also draft Lendale White if he slips. I don't understand their move of not putting a tag on Vinatieri but I hope they re-sign him.

[jsinger121]

i doubt ahman green will take less money. some team will give him a contract that will be more than the patriots are willing to give out. jamal lewis is a better bet at less money because of his character issues and his injury history. the pats still need to bring players cap numbers down before any free agents are sought after.

[BoSox34]

Ahman Green will likely slip because of the many good running backs this offseason, causing him to get less money and maybe a job with the Pats.

[jsinger121]

jamal lewis is likely to get less than green because of the baggage he brings. right now the pats have other bigger needs to fill other than running back. safety, cornerback, linebacker and receiver are more pressing needs.

[BoSox34]

Running back is the second largest problem to CB if Dillon plays like he did last season.

[jsinger121]

to me it is not when the pats have 2 receivers under contract in deion branch and bethel johnson(likely to be gone). safety is a huge need because harrison might never make it back. running back is something that they can find anywhere and belichick will find it on the cheap.

[BoSox34]

Re-sign Givens, Draft Chad Jackson, set for years with Branch, Givens, Jackson...