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Post by patriotsk1d on Jan 27, 2016 14:32:38 GMT -5
Back from Denver after a very exhausting but fun trip. Denver had one of the best defensive performances I have ever seen, certainly the best I have witnessed in person. Their pass rush got to Brady on average of 2.19 seconds per play, and they hit him 20 times(most hits on any QB in a game since 06), and they did this all with 3/4 man rushes. Interesting stat I saw pregame. Brady was 20-2 in the postseason when scoring 19 points, while Peyton only had 2 wins when his opponent scored 19 points. Pats defense played an excellent game as well, but the Pats offense had two key turnovers that set Denver up for a combined 10 points. Pats basically played soft zone coverage on the first drive, which surprised me a little bit. Peyton got 60 of his 170 yards passing on that drive alone. Jerod Mayo underwent surgery for a torn pectoral muscle yesterday. That is a far more serious injury than I thought, but he should be ready for training camp. 0 chance he is back in New England with his current contract. Pats have a contract option on him, that if they decline frees up 8 million in cap and makes Mayo a free agent. This is one guy they would like back if not purely for a veteran presence, but I don't see them paying him much. He doesn't play special teams and they rarely keep guys like this on the roster who are not starters. All seven Patriots have backed out of the probowl lol. Pats sideline tablets stopped working in the Denver game, just imagine if the story if it happened to the Broncos. Patriots fired oline coach Dave DeGuglielmo. This is really the first time they have actually fired a coach under Belichick. I thought DeGuglielmo did a great job last season, and a pretty solid job this season. The oline has been pretty solid in pass protection(obviously not last week), but has been really bad in the run game. Pats have 3 future studs in Stork, Jackson, and Mason, but great oline cannot be built in oen season. And Divebitch all of the questionable designations were legit. Sorry you don't believe players can actually be hurt and congrats on one of your 15 teams advancing to the superbowl.
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Post by patriotsk1d on Jan 27, 2016 14:58:36 GMT -5
Pats strength and conditioning coach Harold Nash has been fired. Not a shocking move at all. Pats were number one in the league in injuries this season.
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Post by Jindred on Jan 27, 2016 15:18:46 GMT -5
So outside of the loss good trip?
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Post by patriotsk1d on Jan 27, 2016 15:32:12 GMT -5
So outside of the loss good trip? I don't really get along with Broncos fans, so not as if I was sitting with a bunch of "friends", but I bought my ticket with another Pats fan and we lucked out with a few Pats fans behind us and in front of us. A very fun game, but not exactly a fun walk back to my hotel. But overall a very good trip. I sat on the top level, but literally right on the 50 yard line. Its an easy trip for me. I could even fly out and fly back the same day and the travel time would be about the same as me driving to a 49ers game. Probably won't be back next year though, even with it being so easy. Maybe it was just this one game, but Broncos fans were extremely disrespectful, which is not my experience from going to multiple different away stadiums. Colts fans were friendly the last two years and the Pats fans I have witnessed have always been friendly at Gillete.
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Post by patriotsk1d on Jan 27, 2016 16:18:43 GMT -5
Pats really need to add tackle depth this offseason. When everyone is healthy the offensive line is solid. However this season every offensive linemen missed at least 3 games due to injury. Pretty clear Marcus Cannon is not a capable NFL tackle, although I think he has been hurt by the team trying to develop him as a guard and then having to play him as a tackle due to injuries. Could save 3 million in cap space by releasing him, and I think that is a very likely possibility.
Will likely restructure or move on from Sebastian Vollmer this offseason. Hasn't played consistent for the last two seasons and there are health concerns.
Solder, Mason, and Stork are the only consistent pieces on this offensive line. Mason was the only guy who actually played well against Denver. I like Jackson's potential, but I see him as more of a project at this point. A veteran starter at the guard position seems like a likely move in free agency. Maybe something as simple as just bringing back Wendell for another year.
I would really be surprised if we don't try to add a decent RB in the draft or free agency. James White/Dion Lewis have potential to be the best passing back combination in the league, but there is no one that consistently compliments them. Blount was ok, but needs good blocking to be consistent. Pats will never break the bank on a RB, but there is the Corey Dillon exception. He got a little over 5 million a year on average(although never truly got that). Matt Forte seems like the perfect fit for this year. Great pass catcher, blocker, and good RB fit for this system. Forte is old enough where he would likely not demand more than 5 million a year, but still has a few good seasons left. Could opt to draft RB's too, but I really think this is the year we need to add a consistent veteran to the mix and not a project rookie.
Demarco Murray also seems like a great fit if he redid his contract. Wouldn't have to deal with the free agency competition to get him and shouldn't cost more than a late round pick if the Eagles truly are done with him.
Pats have a couple of decisions to make at the receiver position. First off LaFell missed half of the season due to injury and was pretty clearly hurt when he was on the field. You can release him and save two million in cap space, or keep him and pay him 3 million. You are not going to find a receiver on the free agent market who offers what he does for 3 million a year.
Amendola needs to restructure his contract again or he will surely be released. I think it is pretty clear how good of a fit he was in this system this year, but they are not going to pay him 5 million a year for a number 2/3 receiver role.
If Dobson can stay healthy(which has been a huge if) he can potentially take on a good role as the deep threat. It has always been clear he has legit deep ball talent, his problem has always been health. He has yet to be healthy for an entire offseason. Contract year for Dobson, maybe he steps up.
One thing that certainly wont happen is Calvin Johnson/Jeffery. I am not even sure why people think these would be great signings. Yes they are super talented receivers, but really both of them are fairly sloppy route runners and they win battles based on their talent. Don't see them as a great fit and it would be a huge expense.
Mohamed Sanu is the receiver who has to sign with us. Such a perfect fit for this offense and Rutgers graduate. Should be relatively cheap and would offer exactly what we need, a consistent number 3/4 outside receiver.
DeGuglielmo wasn't really fired, his contract came up and they opted not to renew. Same type of situations with Dean Pees.
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Post by Jindred on Jan 27, 2016 19:31:40 GMT -5
So outside of the loss good trip? I don't really get along with Broncos fans, so not as if I was sitting with a bunch of "friends", but I bought my ticket with another Pats fan and we lucked out with a few Pats fans behind us and in front of us. A very fun game, but not exactly a fun walk back to my hotel. But overall a very good trip. I sat on the top level, but literally right on the 50 yard line. Its an easy trip for me. I could even fly out and fly back the same day and the travel time would be about the same as me driving to a 49ers game. Probably won't be back next year though, even with it being so easy. Maybe it was just this one game, but Broncos fans were extremely disrespectful, which is not my experience from going to multiple different away stadiums. Colts fans were friendly the last two years and the Pats fans I have witnessed have always been friendly at Gillete. That really surprises me, the fans that I encountered there were all really polite to the Dolphins fans. There was some good natured ribbing back and forth but nothing bad. I guess it all depends where you sit, as well as the rivalry, and it was an AFC champ game. No excuse to be disrespectful, but it definitely ups the tension factor. Sorry the fans were shit heads! I've been on the other side of that watching the fans of the team I love be assholes to people, and it makes me sad.
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Post by patriotsk1d on Jan 28, 2016 2:05:29 GMT -5
I don't really get along with Broncos fans, so not as if I was sitting with a bunch of "friends", but I bought my ticket with another Pats fan and we lucked out with a few Pats fans behind us and in front of us. A very fun game, but not exactly a fun walk back to my hotel. But overall a very good trip. I sat on the top level, but literally right on the 50 yard line. Its an easy trip for me. I could even fly out and fly back the same day and the travel time would be about the same as me driving to a 49ers game. Probably won't be back next year though, even with it being so easy. Maybe it was just this one game, but Broncos fans were extremely disrespectful, which is not my experience from going to multiple different away stadiums. Colts fans were friendly the last two years and the Pats fans I have witnessed have always been friendly at Gillete. That really surprises me, the fans that I encountered there were all really polite to the Dolphins fans. There was some good natured ribbing back and forth but nothing bad. I guess it all depends where you sit, as well as the rivalry, and it was an AFC champ game. No excuse to be disrespectful, but it definitely ups the tension factor. Sorry the fans were shit heads! I've been on the other side of that watching the fans of the team I love be assholes to people, and it makes me sad. Probably just had something to do with it being the playoffs. I have never actually been to a road playoff game, but my postseason experiences at Gillete have always seen only good interaction between fans.
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Post by patriotsk1d on Jan 28, 2016 15:34:46 GMT -5
Some upcoming cap thoughts:
Sounds like the Pats will most likely give Brady a contract extension this offseason. I really have no idea how it would look, but I am pretty certain it will mostly benefit the team and free up some cap space. Brady's cap hit is 15 million this upcoming season, which is still incredibly low. I would bet we see something like a 3 year extension, that locks him up through 2020. Probably lower his cap hit by 3-6 million/
Amendola's situation is pretty straight forward IMO. He either takes a paycut, maybe with a chance to earn some of it back through incentives or gets released. He has a 6.8 million dollar cap hit, would save 3.5 million by releasing him. I really like Amendola, but he will not get paid almost 7 million a year as a number 2/3 receiver. Likely would only get 3-4 million annually on the open market.
Jerod Mayo's situation is very straight forward too. His contract has an option in it this offseason, that saves 6.5 million in cap space if it isn't picked up. There is a 0% chance of it being picked up. Now I wouldn't rule out him returning to the team on a significantly reduced contract.
I would be surprised if we didn't bring back Tarell Brown to a deal near the veteran minimum. I thought he played well in limited action this season before injury.
I expect Jabaal Sheard will get a contract extension this offseason in the range of 5 year 30 million. Would lower his 2016 cap number and lock up our best edge defender.
Chandler Jones is going to be an interesting situation. Jones, Hightower, and Collins all have contracts expiring going into 2017. Hightower and Collins are by far better and more important players to our defense than Jones and not to mention the LB position is a lot cheaper to lock up than a top DE. I feel like Jones has pretty much hit his peak as a pass rusher, which is a very good but not an elite pass rusher. I would opt to trade him this offseason while he still has high value. Could probably net a second rounder. Or we can hold onto him, let him walk and net a 3rd rounder in form of compensatory draft picks.
I do expect Hightower and Collins will be locked up this offseason. Probably at close to top LB dollar. Locking up Hightower would lower his 2016 cap hit, which would basically be offset by locking up Collins.
Pats should receive a 3.25 million dollar cap relief either this season or in 2017 from Aaron Hernandez.
Matt Forte just seems like the perfect fit for this team. Does everything the Pats require out of a RB and with his age shouldn't get paid more than 5 million a year. Probably looks for a Frank Gore like contract.
I misunderstood cap rules in regard to UDFA and my current understanding is a player can be signed to an extension after two seasons. Therefore Malcolm Butler is eligible for an extension this offseason and I fully expect the Pats will give him one. Works out well for both parties as the Pats will save significant money by doing it now, instead of when he hits the market and Butler will get his money now.
Pats extension priority is in this order: Hightower, Collins, Butler, Sheard, Jones, Ryan. Not impossible that all of those guys end of getting new deals this offseason.
Pats don't have any free agents they need to resign this year. Akiem Hicks is by far our best free agent, and while I would really like to have him back I doubt that happens. Some team is going to give him a solid contract. Pats should end up with a 3rd or 4th round compensatory pick in 2017 for him.
We probably end up resigning Nate Ebner. He has been one of the best special teamers in the league and could get close to the 2 million a year Slater is making. Could bring back Blount to a veteran minimum deal.
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Post by EagleDomiKnation on Jan 28, 2016 21:40:30 GMT -5
I guarantee we will not see Brady in the NFL for the 2018 season. But that will make him 40 right? Hes got two more years at most.
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Post by patriotsk1d on Jan 29, 2016 0:11:07 GMT -5
I guarantee we will not see Brady in the NFL for the 2018 season. But that will make him 40 right? Hes got two more years at most. Based on what? He has shown absolutely no signs of age or decline. There is no reason to believe Brady is going to simply fall off the map just because the average player doesn't play that long.
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