2009 Patriots Off-Season Thread

[YanksHater213]

RE: The Lewis trade

 

Philadelphia traded him and gave up a pick to do so. Philadelphia.

 

I'm not sure what everyone else was expecting, but I saw it as a replacement for Kelley Washington, maybe a marginal 4th/5th receiver at best. I like it for that fact that maybe he can duplicate his special teams play-making abilities but I have no expectations of him past that.

 

I'm still hoping we can sign/draft another legit 3rd receiver.

[CrespoBlows]

Heath Evans is f***ing mediocre. At best.

 

Why do Patriots fans lament every single player they lose? "heth evns is gon feva :(" It's borderline psychopath.

[TheKilo]

BB likes Greg Lewis - SLEEPER FANTASY PICK LOLZ

[mtbykr]

Heath Evans is f***ing mediocre. At best.

 

Why do Patriots fans lament every single player they lose? "heth evns is gon feva :(" It's borderline psychopath.

 

Evans was good at what he did. He had good hands out of the backfield,(especially as a checkdown) he could run successfully when needed which was usually short yardage, and he did a great job blocking both in the running and passing game. With him gone the pats don't have a true fullback, and in times past when they didn't they struggled in short yardage. The pats backfield has been injury prone in past years with the exception of Evans....he never missed a game in 3 1/2 years.

 

 

Evans is gone and the pats move on. However wishing the pats could have kept him (which they tried to do, just not at the price he got) isn't "borderline psychopath"

[mtbykr]

Lewis is a special teamer and reserve WR......nothing more.

[CrespoBlows]

Evans was good at what he did. He had good hands out of the backfield,(especially as a checkdown) he could run successfully when needed which was usually short yardage, and he did a great job blocking both in the running and passing game. With him gone the pats don't have a true fullback, and in times past when they didn't they struggled in short yardage. The pats backfield has been injury prone in past years with the exception of Evans....he never missed a game in 3 1/2 years.

 

 

Evans is gone and the pats move on. However wishing the pats could have kept him (which they tried to do, just not at the price he got) isn't "borderline psychopath"

 

Oh, I wasn't talking about you, I was talking about that overblown tribute to Heath Evans in that article. The man deserves a sentence. Heath Evans filled in a few times at RB, blocked a little bit, and caught passes. In other words, 10,000 other RB's like him can be found on the scrap heap.

 

That was two, but point stands.

[mtbykr]

Oh, I wasn't talking about you, I was talking about that overblown tribute to Heath Evans in that article. The man deserves a sentence. Heath Evans filled in a few times at RB, blocked a little bit, and caught passes. In other words, 10,000 other RB's like him can be found on the scrap heap.

 

That was two, but point stands.

 

 

 

Fair enough

[Southie Sox]

Belichick's got something planned--i cant imagine the Cassell thing was a "gift."

[YanksHater213]

Too lazy go go grab the link but Boston.com reported the Pats signed Leigh Bodden to a 1 year deal.

[mtbykr]

Great signing IMO.

 

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2009/03/patriots_agree_2.html

 

 

According to a league source, the Patriots have agreed to terms on a one-year deal with free agent cornerback Leigh Bodden.

 

The 27-year-old Bodden was released by the Detroit Lions on Feb. 9, after a season in which he had one interception -- although it was the only interception by a defensive back for the 0-16 Lions, who had just four all season.

 

The Patriots brought Bodden in for a visit on the first day of free agency (Feb. 27), but Bodden departed Foxborough without a deal. Now, he has one.

 

In 2008, Detroit traded massive defensive tackle Shaun Rogers to Cleveland to obtain Bodden (as well as a third-round pick) and then signed him to a four-year, $27 million contract extension. They cut him before a large roster bonus that would have kicked in the contract was due.

 

The 6-foot-1-inch, 193-pounder is a good fit for the Patriots because he flourished in Cleveland when former Patriots defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel was his coach.

 

Bodden, who spent the first five seasons of his career with the Browns, had a career-high six interceptions in 2007 with Cleveland. He picked off 11 passes and was credited with 39 passes defended in the three seasons Crennel was his head coach. During that same period, Bodden, who spent his first two NFL seasons as primarily a special teams player, started 36 of the 38 games he played in for the Browns.

 

Bodden now joins Shawn Springs in a retooled secondary.

 

Upgrading that unit was apparently a priority for Bill Belichick and the football operations staff after a 2008 season in which only the Arizona Cardinals (36) allowed more touchdown passes than New England (27).

 

The Patriots were also tied (with Detroit and San Francisco) for second in the NFL in most opponents' completions of 40 yards or more, allowing 12; only the Jacksonville Jaguars (17) allowed more.

[mtbykr]

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2009/03/pats_sign_longs.html

 

 

The Patriots have signed a replacement for long snapper Lonie Paxton, who defected to Denver on the first day of free agency, signing a five-year, $5.38 million deal. New England announced today it has signed longtime Arizona Cardinals long snapper Nathan Hodel.

 

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

 

 

Hodel (pronounced HOE-dul), 31, is a veteran of seven NFL seasons, all with the Arizona Cardinals (2002-08). The 6-foot-2-inch, 238-pound long snapper handled the Cardinals’ long snapping duties in every game from 2002-08, playing in 112 consecutive contests.

 

In 2005, Hodel served as the long snapper on each one of Neil Rackers’s NFL-record 40 successful field goals. That season, Rackers made 95.2 percent of his kicks (40-for-42) and was selected to the Pro Bowl. Hodel also served as the long snapper when Rackers tied an NFL record with three field goals of 50 yards or longer on Oct. 24, 2004.

[CrespoBlows]

I like how the article uses the word "defected."

[mtbykr]

I like how the article uses the word "defected."

 

I saw that and actually thought about putting an over/under underneath the quote on how long before you mentioned it The normal guy who writes this blog is on vacation, and this is a fill-in guy. Defecting to me would have been more apt describing someone who left to go to the Jest when Mangini took over. I get the feeling most people in NE hate the Jest, especially when Mangini was there......but wish Denver and McDaniels nothing but the best (unless they are playing the pats of course)

[CrespoBlows]

f*** Patriot propaganda.

[TheKilo]

Jest? really?

[mtbykr]

Got in the habit of calling them that after seeing this on ESPN:

 

http://www.daveconroy.com/res/jest.jpg

[mtbykr]

I thought I had seen it all until this. Apparently BB and Charlie Weis were doing a charity event with Bon Jovi (who they have been friends with for years). Bon Jovi offered to donate $50k if BB and Weis would get up and sing with him, then BB countered with $60k not to sing....but Bon Jovi won out in the end.

 

At least it was for a good cause:

 

[youtube=Bon Jobi, BB, and Weis]VzbMP7pLRkA

[mtbykr]

Joey Galloway to the pats, good signing if true:

 

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2009/03/report_galloway.html

 

 

The website Pro Football Talk is reporting that a Tampa TV station has reported that former Buccaneers wide receiver Joey Galloway has reached a one-year deal with the Patriots.

 

The 37-year-old Galloway, who was released by Tampa on Feb. 25, visited with the Patriots on March 4 and also had visits with the Buffalo Bills and the Pittsburgh Steelers, who according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette hosted Galloway on Monday.

 

The speedy Galloway spent the last five seasons in Tampa Bay. He had three straight 1,000-yard seasons from 2005 to 2007, but last year was limited to nine games last season after he broke two bones in his foot.

 

Galloway had 13 catches for 138 yards and no touchdowns in 2008.

[mtbykr]

I thought this was coming, he's been a good backup.

 

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2009/03/wright_deal_con.html

 

According to a report by ESPN's John Clayton, the Patriots have re-signed their top remaining free agent, defensive lineman Mike Wright, to a four-year deal worth $7.5 million.

 

Per Clayton the deal also has incentives/escalators tied to playing time that could add an additional $10 million to the value of the deal.

 

With both nose tackle Vince Wilfork and defensive end Richard Seymour entering the final years of their contracts, retaining Wright was a priority for the Patriots. The 28-year-old, who has played four NFL seasons, had a career-high 2.5 sacks and 33 tackles in 16 games, including a pair of starts, last season.

[mtbykr]

Personally I am skeptical of this report; Peppers is going to command high dollars, and I don't see the pats laying out that kind of cash for 1 player.

 

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2009/03/report_patriots_3.html

 

The Patriots are primed to acquire defensive end Julius Peppers from the Carolina Panthers, according to a report today on NFL.com.

 

 

From NFL.com's Vic Carucci:

 

"The trade that sent Matt Cassel and Mike Vrabel to the Kansas City Chiefs appears to be only the first phase of some major wheeling and dealing by the New England Patriots this offseason.

 

"The second phase, NFL sources say, is likely to involve a trade that would send Carolina Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers to the Patriots in exchange for the second-round pick (34th overall) they received from the Chiefs on Feb. 28.

 

"According to league sources, the Patriots and Panthers are hoping to complete the deal at some point between the March 22-25 NFL owners meetings and the start of the draft on April 25.

 

"Peppers, on whom the Panthers have placed a franchise tag that assures him of a one-year contract worth $16.68 million, would be converted to outside linebacker in New England's 3-4 defense."

[mtbykr]

I'm glad they are bringing back Tank Williams. He looked very impressive before he blew out his knee last year.

 

http://www.profootballtalk.com/2009/03/16/pats-sign-al-johnson-re-sign-others/

 

The New England Patriots have announced a slew of transactions via an e-mail circulated moments ago.

 

Free-agent center Al Johnson has joined the team after spending the last month of 2008 with the Dolphins.

 

Also, four players have re-signed with the Pats: offensive lineman Wesley Britt, safety Ray Ventrone, safety Tank Williams, and defensive lineman Mike Wright.

 

Johnson was drafted by the Cowboys in 2003. He missed his rookie season due to an injury, but then started 15 games in 2004 and 16 in 2005.

 

After losing the starting job to Andre Gurode in 2006, Johnson signed with the Cardinals in 2007. He started 14 games in his first season with the team.

 

The Cardinals released Johnson from injured reserve in October 2008, and he signed with the Dolphins on November 29.

 

Britt, Ventrone, and Wright have spent several seasons with the team; Williams signed last year and was taking some reps at linebacker before suffering a season-ending knee injury during training camp.

[mtbykr]

Off topic, but very cool just the same:

 

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/peter_king/03/15/union/1.html

 

 

Also unearthed this nugget while out in farm country: New England tackle Matt Light is evidently the year-'round Santa Claus of his old high school, Greenville High, in nearby Greenville, Ohio. Equipment and uniforms and shoes sometimes just show up there, and everyone asks, "Where'd this come from?'' But they figure it out pretty easily.

[TheKilo]

Personally I am skeptical of this report; Peppers is going to command high dollars, and I don't see the pats laying out that kind of cash for 1 player.

 

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2009/03/report_patriots_3.html

 

I hope the Pats trade for this guy and then experiment with him at OLB.

 

This just seems like the move this organization HASN'T made in the last decade.

[WhiskeyBreath]

I think Peppers would be a monster at OLB but how much is he going to demand in a new contract? I'm guessing it will be a lot and I would rather extend Wilfork right now.

[mtbykr]

It's complicated with Peppers; they can't just strait up trade for him because he brings a $16mil cap figure with him which the pats can't absorb right now. So they have to work out a contract with Peppers and then work out a trade with Carolina. Wilfork is a much more important piece to the D than Peppers would potentially be....and if they give high dollars to Peppers then Wilfork will want his payday. Personally I think Wilfork is the priority, and then Peppers. While I would love to see Peppers here, he would have to come here at a discount which goes against his history.

[Mr Crunchy]

I told anyone who would listen theyre going after this guy balls to the wall, all theyre doing now is working out the details of his new contract and hes here for the 2nd round pick we got from kc.

he dont want to play in nc and nc dont want him in the nfc south

he wants to come here as does everyone who really wants a ring so he'll take shorter money.

what history does julius peppers have?

he was drafted by carolina, played college in carolina and is still young

it isnt as if he's bent over other teams for more money, the guy has only 1 team on his resume.

put him on the outside with those 3 beasts up front and you got a pass rush all of a sudden, i think the pats are going to be a bit more aggressive on defense this year, blitzing more so than in years past.

[BSN07]

It's complicated with Peppers; they can't just strait up trade for him because he brings a $16mil cap figure with him which the pats can't absorb right now. So they have to work out a contract with Peppers and then work out a trade with Carolina. Wilfork is a much more important piece to the D than Peppers would potentially be....and if they give high dollars to Peppers then Wilfork will want his payday. Personally I think Wilfork is the priority' date=' and then Peppers. While I would love to see Peppers here, he would have to come here at a discount which goes against his history.[/quote']

 

Wilfork is going to want something comparable to what Haynesworth got. If this is the case NE won't have any chance to sign him.

[mtbykr]

Wilfork is going to want something comparable to what Haynesworth got. If this is the case NE won't have any chance to sign him.

 

I think Wilfork will want to get paid, but also realizes he has it good here. (which he has said numerous times) I think he won't demand anywhere near that contract, but if they pay a guy high dollars to come here....he will demand high dollars considering what he's already done here. If somehow Peppers takes a discount to play here, then we might be in good shape. If Wilfork stays he will get a good payday, but nowhere near what he could draw on the open market.....especially considering how many teams are switching to the 3-4 now and how few true nose tackles there are.

[mtbykr]

Schefter was on WEEI earlier and basically said he doesn't see this Peppers deal going down. He hasn't heard anything and doesn't know where Carucci is getting his info. He said he is 99.9% sure it isn't going to happen

[BSN07]

I think the main issue is money. Not sure if the Pats can work around that.