2014 Patriots Offseason Thread

tns
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2014 Patriots Offseason Thread May 13, 2014 19:09:39 GMT -5

Post by tns on May 13, 2014 19:09:39 GMT -5

May 12, 2014 13:02:11 GMT -5 hockeypuck2008 said:

If the Jags end up cutting Blackmon the Pats need to sign him. He would the most talented receiver the Pats would have since Randy Moss. Does he need to cut down on the pot, hell yes, but talent like him comes a long often. I'd trade a conditional pic for him right now.

Blackmon was indefinitely suspended by the NFL. Blackmon's had issues with alcohol dating back to college, including being charged with more than 1 DUI. He needs to get clean and then get reinstated before he's even an option. Cutting down on pot isn't going to save his career, he has issues with substance abuse that need to be addressed.

If we're just throwing substance abuse issues and character question marks out the window in evaluating talent, let's just sign Colt Lyerla. At least he's eligible to play and can be signed now as an undrafted free agent. Freak athlete, major mismatch in the move TE role. I wouldn't be upset at the Patriots for taking a flier on him but I wouldn't be surprised if it blew up in their face either. Through the pre-draft process, NFL teams got an opportunity to gauge his level of commitment to football and if they think he will stay out of trouble. I think the fact that he is still an unsigned, undrafted free agent right now with his size and athleticism is a major red flag.

tns Rookie Posts: 66	2014 Patriots Offseason Thread May 15, 2014 22:04:20 GMT -5 Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by tns on May 15, 2014 22:04:20 GMT -5 Tyler Beck, one of the 3 UDFA TEs signed by the Patriots on Monday was cut today. Didn't last 4 days on the roster.

rangoon82
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2014 Patriots Offseason Thread May 18, 2014 9:35:43 GMT -5

Post by rangoon82 on May 18, 2014 9:35:43 GMT -5

Mike Reiss on that Manziel scouting report from Deadspin:

After exploring the topic further, I think the section of the scouting report that was posted is legitimate, right down to the correct initials of the team’s scout who would be doing the bulk of the work on Manziel based on the region he covers.

mgoetze
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2014 Patriots Offseason Thread May 18, 2014 14:37:19 GMT -5

Post by mgoetze on May 18, 2014 14:37:19 GMT -5

O-Line competition looks pretty fierce:
6 starters (counting both Vollmer and Cannon)
2013 waiver claim / backup Chris Barker
3 draft picks
4 2013 practice squadders (including Josh Kline who got a cup of coffee)

I'll bet that one of Wendell, Connolly or Cannon won't make the cut.

Dead Money:
Connolly $1,083,334
Wendell $850,000
Cannon $50,125

Ceterum censeo John Farrell esse dismissiendam.

mgoetze Veteran Posts: 5,057	2014 Patriots Offseason Thread Jun 2, 2014 19:09:48 GMT -5 Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by mgoetze on Jun 2, 2014 19:09:48 GMT -5 Adam Caplan of ESPN reports Jermichal Finley visited with Patriots on Friday. Sure seems like we will see a veteran TE signing, though Dustin Keller could also still be in play.
	Ceterum censeo John Farrell esse dismissiendam.

rangoon82 Veteran Posts: 549	2014 Patriots Offseason Thread Jun 3, 2014 18:39:25 GMT -5 Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by rangoon82 on Jun 3, 2014 18:39:25 GMT -5 Hmmm, so this is a thing.

jimed14 Veteran Posts: 25,829	2014 Patriots Offseason Thread Jun 5, 2014 14:50:23 GMT -5 Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by jimed14 on Jun 5, 2014 14:50:23 GMT -5 That was pretty damn funny towards the end.
	“We just lost a World Series game in 18 innings. But after that [meeting], it didn’t feel like we lost. It felt like we won.”

xxdamgoodxx Rookie Posts: 231	2014 Patriots Offseason Thread Jun 5, 2014 15:40:10 GMT -5 via mobile Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by xxdamgoodxx on Jun 5, 2014 15:40:10 GMT -5 I'm sure it's just some new technique to recover from a torn ACL...

justen
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2014 Patriots Offseason Thread Jun 6, 2014 10:10:26 GMT -5

Post by justen on Jun 6, 2014 10:10:26 GMT -5

www.nationalfootballpost.com/Patriots-sign-linebacker-James-Anderson-cut-Mark-Harrison.html

Patriots sign a linebacker (James Anderson) who started all 16 games for the Bears last year, finshing with 102 tackles and 4 sacks. Why did he hang around in free-agency for so long? Interesting name to bolster the linebacking-corp a bit.

Anderson has recorded 556 total tackles, 12 sacks, three interceptions, 23 passes defensed, five forced fumbles and eight fumble recoveries. Last season in Chicago, he started all 16 games and finished with 102 total tackles and four sacks.

Mark Harrison cut.

Last Edit: Jun 6, 2014 10:10:43 GMT -5 by justen

"You should enter a ballpark the way you enter a church." - Spaceman Lee

mgoetze
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2014 Patriots Offseason Thread Jun 6, 2014 19:00:11 GMT -5

Post by mgoetze on Jun 6, 2014 19:00:11 GMT -5

Jun 6, 2014 10:10:26 GMT -5 justen said:

Patriots sign a linebacker (James Anderson) who started all 16 games for the Bears last year, finshing with 102 tackles and 4 sacks. Why did he hang around in free-agency for so long?

Maybe because he started for the Bears last year? I mean did you see their run defense?

Ceterum censeo John Farrell esse dismissiendam.

justen
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2014 Patriots Offseason Thread Jun 6, 2014 19:17:40 GMT -5 via mobile

Post by justen on Jun 6, 2014 19:17:40 GMT -5

Jun 6, 2014 19:00:11 GMT -5 mgoetze said:

Jun 6, 2014 10:10:26 GMT -5 justen said:

Patriots sign a linebacker (James Anderson) who started all 16 games for the Bears last year, finshing with 102 tackles and 4 sacks. Why did he hang around in free-agency for so long?

Maybe because he started for the Bears last year? I mean did you see their run defense?

To be honest no i didn't but i understand what you're saying, i was just basing it on the statistics. You don't get a hundred tackles by being a bad tackler, regardless.

"You should enter a ballpark the way you enter a church." - Spaceman Lee

mgoetze
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2014 Patriots Offseason Thread Jun 6, 2014 20:34:16 GMT -5

Post by mgoetze on Jun 6, 2014 20:34:16 GMT -5

Jun 6, 2014 19:17:40 GMT -5 justen said:

To be honest no i didn't but i understand what you're saying, i was just basing it on the statistics. You don't get a hundred tackles by being a bad tackler, regardless.

Oh, sure. But he probably got a lot of opportunities not because he was all over the field, but because the D-Line let everyone and his brother through.

Ceterum censeo John Farrell esse dismissiendam.

mgoetze
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2014 Patriots Offseason Thread Jun 10, 2014 6:43:40 GMT -5

Post by mgoetze on Jun 10, 2014 6:43:40 GMT -5

Jun 2, 2014 19:09:48 GMT -5 mgoetze said:

Adam Caplan of ESPN reports Jermichal Finley visited with Patriots on Friday. Sure seems like we will see a veteran TE signing, though Dustin Keller could also still be in play.

So, this isn't exactly what I was thinking when I wrote "veteran TE signing":

New England has added first-year pro Kyle Auffray, the club said Monday. The 27-year-old Auffray had a two-month stint with Arizona leading up to the 2013 season. He played for New Hampshire from 2009 through 2010, playing tight end and serving as the club’s punter as a senior.

Ceterum censeo John Farrell esse dismissiendam.

mgoetze Veteran Posts: 5,057	2014 Patriots Offseason Thread Aug 15, 2014 19:23:38 GMT -5 Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by mgoetze on Aug 15, 2014 19:23:38 GMT -5 Patriots Starters (sans Tight End du jour) really dominated the Eagles Starters.
	Ceterum censeo John Farrell esse dismissiendam.

pedroelgrande Veteran Posts: 4,148	2014 Patriots Offseason Thread Aug 15, 2014 19:33:22 GMT -5 via mobile Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by pedroelgrande on Aug 15, 2014 19:33:22 GMT -5 This dude Jimmy G is looking alright.

mgoetze
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2014 Patriots Offseason Thread Aug 24, 2014 18:06:42 GMT -5

Post by mgoetze on Aug 24, 2014 18:06:42 GMT -5

Tommy Kelly one of the first cuts. Didn't really see that one coming, though we do have quite a few young D-Linemen who have been showing some value like Vellano, Jones and Siliga. Also seems like the 4-3 base defense is mostly a thing of the past, will be mostly 3-4 (not that NFL teams spend a lot of time in "base" defense anymore).

Ceterum censeo John Farrell esse dismissiendam.

rjp313jr
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2014 Patriots Offseason Thread Aug 25, 2014 18:40:26 GMT -5 via Tapatalk

Post by rjp313jr on Aug 25, 2014 18:40:26 GMT -5

Not a fan of the 3 veteran cuts yesterday. Kelley is good and should've been given time to come back. Smith I'm less sure of but part of me wanted to give him more time to work back as well as the potential is pretty solid but I do like Buchanon. I know Jones is playing more of a OLB role but he needs to be off the field a lot more than last season.

Anderson is too valuable as a depth guy who can cover. I don't like keeping a crappy line backer who can only play special teams over him. I realize the importance of special teams but injury depth in the NFL is hugely important.

mgoetze
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2014 Patriots Offseason Thread Aug 25, 2014 18:57:16 GMT -5

Post by mgoetze on Aug 25, 2014 18:57:16 GMT -5

Garoppolo will be starting and perhaps playing all of the final preseason game. Tom Curran thinks Mallet is a goner.

Mike Reiss' current 53-man projection includes 10 O-Linemen. Seems excessive to me. My vote for player most likely to make the team who was left off that projection: Steve Beauharnais.

Ceterum censeo John Farrell esse dismissiendam.

rjp313jr
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2014 Patriots Offseason Thread Aug 26, 2014 8:38:31 GMT -5 via the ProBoards App

Post by rjp313jr on Aug 26, 2014 8:38:31 GMT -5

I look at SB as a Tracy White type. I'm not so excited about him. Oline is just so important I wouldn't mind having more depth. Plus, SB could go to the practice squad. I don't see him getting picked up elsewhere. Storks injury wasn't good. Wendell should be cut and I'm curious as to if they can right now....

texs31 Veteran Posts: 5,508	2014 Patriots Offseason Thread Aug 26, 2014 12:44:57 GMT -5 Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by texs31 on Aug 26, 2014 12:44:57 GMT -5 Several outlets are reporting that Pats have traded Logan Mankins to TB for TE Tim Wright and a pick.

awall
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2014 Patriots Offseason Thread Aug 26, 2014 13:20:42 GMT -5

Post by awall on Aug 26, 2014 13:20:42 GMT -5

Outstanding! the Pats have taken TB to the cleaners. Brilliant move by BB. Mankins has been overpaid and overrated for a couple of years now. His numbers as a run blocker are still excellent, but his effectiveness in the passing game has been terrible lately.

rangoon82 Veteran Posts: 549	2014 Patriots Offseason Thread Aug 26, 2014 14:00:51 GMT -5 Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by rangoon82 on Aug 26, 2014 14:00:51 GMT -5 Pats got a 4th rounder too.

adiospaydro2005
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2014 Patriots Offseason Thread Aug 26, 2014 18:41:35 GMT -5

Post by adiospaydro2005 on Aug 26, 2014 18:41:35 GMT -5

While I get that BB traded Mankins to clear some salary cap room to possibly sign Revis and/or
McCourty, this trade also appears to finally get a decent reserve TE to fill in when Gronk is out. I would have preferred they drafted a tight end in the first or second round rather than weaken the OL.

Last Edit: Aug 26, 2014 18:42:03 GMT -5 by adiospaydro2005

mgoetze
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2014 Patriots Offseason Thread Aug 27, 2014 8:00:42 GMT -5

Post by mgoetze on Aug 27, 2014 8:00:42 GMT -5

Mankins was certainly not a bad player, but it's pretty hard for an offensive guard to provide excess value over a $6.75m salary, and he probably doesn't clear that bar anymore. With talented rookies available to fill the job, getting any real value in return, which the Patriots obviously did, has to count as a win.

Ceterum censeo John Farrell esse dismissiendam.

mgoetze Veteran Posts: 5,057	2014 Patriots Offseason Thread Aug 30, 2014 21:21:18 GMT -5 Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by mgoetze on Aug 30, 2014 21:21:18 GMT -5 Danny Aiken among those cut/waived. Hope they don't go out and get another dedicated LS, such a waste of a roster spot. Ninkovich can do it, or have one of the backup linemen learn it.
	Ceterum censeo John Farrell esse dismissiendam.

Post by tns on May 13, 2014 19:09:39 GMT -5

Post by tns on May 15, 2014 22:04:20 GMT -5

Post by rangoon82 on May 18, 2014 9:35:43 GMT -5

Post by mgoetze on May 18, 2014 14:37:19 GMT -5

Post by mgoetze on Jun 2, 2014 19:09:48 GMT -5

Post by rangoon82 on Jun 3, 2014 18:39:25 GMT -5

Post by jimed14 on Jun 5, 2014 14:50:23 GMT -5

Post by xxdamgoodxx on Jun 5, 2014 15:40:10 GMT -5

Post by justen on Jun 6, 2014 10:10:26 GMT -5

Post by mgoetze on Jun 6, 2014 19:00:11 GMT -5

Post by justen on Jun 6, 2014 19:17:40 GMT -5

Post by mgoetze on Jun 6, 2014 20:34:16 GMT -5

Post by mgoetze on Jun 10, 2014 6:43:40 GMT -5

Post by mgoetze on Aug 15, 2014 19:23:38 GMT -5

Post by pedroelgrande on Aug 15, 2014 19:33:22 GMT -5

Post by mgoetze on Aug 24, 2014 18:06:42 GMT -5

Post by rjp313jr on Aug 25, 2014 18:40:26 GMT -5

Post by mgoetze on Aug 25, 2014 18:57:16 GMT -5

Post by rjp313jr on Aug 26, 2014 8:38:31 GMT -5

Post by texs31 on Aug 26, 2014 12:44:57 GMT -5

Post by awall on Aug 26, 2014 13:20:42 GMT -5

Post by rangoon82 on Aug 26, 2014 14:00:51 GMT -5

Post by adiospaydro2005 on Aug 26, 2014 18:41:35 GMT -5

Post by mgoetze on Aug 27, 2014 8:00:42 GMT -5

Post by mgoetze on Aug 30, 2014 21:21:18 GMT -5