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Post by rjp313jr on Mar 28, 2014 18:36:32 GMT -5
Yea less change is probably good the first year post Dante.
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Post by beasleyrockah on Mar 28, 2014 19:46:28 GMT -5
Connolly's cap hit is only ~$650k more than Wendell's.
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Post by rjp313jr on Mar 29, 2014 7:52:13 GMT -5
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Post by texs31 on Apr 1, 2014 9:59:58 GMT -5
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Post by texs31 on Apr 1, 2014 11:48:04 GMT -5
DE Will Smith and RB Michael Bush visiting with NE.
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Post by jmei on Apr 1, 2014 12:02:13 GMT -5
Will Smith is one of the forgotten guys I've been keeping an eye on. He's more of a power guy than a speed guy, turns 33 this year, and is coming off a torn ACL, but he's had some very productive years for the Saints and is well-rounded enough to be a capable fill-in guy if either of the starters suffers an injury.
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Post by mgoetze on Apr 1, 2014 21:41:15 GMT -5
You can only bring in 30 prospects for pre-draft visits, so ... Johnny Football? Yeah sure, why not.
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Post by texs31 on Apr 2, 2014 5:40:05 GMT -5
And Bridgewater apparently.
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Post by rjp313jr on Apr 2, 2014 7:19:04 GMT -5
One of these top QBs is going to fall and if the right one does BB wants to be prepared. You think the Packers are upset they wasted a late first on Aaron Rogers when Farve was still top notch?
Also, some say BB does this as a way to scout QBs that he doesn't know well so he can find some strengths and weaknesses. I'm not sure I buy this as much as I do, he's preparing should one of them fall.
Brady's replacement has to be a top priority starting now. They should have a few years to find it, but it's a hard spot to find so you should take it when the chance comes. Mallet is gone after this season so they need someone else next year at the latest to serve that role.
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Post by mgoetze on Apr 2, 2014 9:54:17 GMT -5
I dunno, I think it's still a bit early for the Patriots to be taking a QB in the 1st round. PFT theorized that BB wants to be prepared in case someone wants to trade back up into the 1st round for one of these QBs, that makes a bit more sense to me.
This draft sounds like a good one to trade away our 2nd round pick for a 1st round pick next year or some similar robbery, though.
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Post by jmei on Apr 2, 2014 10:15:00 GMT -5
I'm not sure it's that complicated. I think Belichick just wants to have the most accurate and informed draft board as possible, and he needed more information on these QBs, who can be the most difficult to evaluate based on tape alone (i.e., because you want to know what they're thinking on any given play). That information can then be used in a number of ways (to be prepared to trade down, to prepare for them if they play them next year, maybe even to draft them if they fall too far), but Belichick has always been big on doing all the necessary due diligence, and this seems like no more than that.
(Writers have noted that Belichick has said that he didn't evaluate Luck before the 2012 draft, but that's kind of a different scenario. Luck was a lock to go #1, but there's far more uncertainty for Manziel/Bridgewater/etc., and there's a plausible scenario where they fall to the back end of the first round.)
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Post by pedroelgrande on Apr 2, 2014 10:40:35 GMT -5
And it's not like using 2/30 visits is gonna change anything. This is much ado about nothing.
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Post by mgoetze on Apr 2, 2014 11:01:34 GMT -5
(Writers have noted that Belichick has said that he didn't evaluate Luck before the 2012 draft, but that's kind of a different scenario. Luck was a lock to go #1, but there's far more uncertainty for Manziel/Bridgewater/etc., and there's a plausible scenario where they fall to the back end of the first round.) I dunno, Manziel is so polarizing, there has absolutely got to be a team picking ahead of the Patriots who thinks they must have him in the first round. No way he drops past the Dallas Cowboys IMHO. Bridgewater, I guess it's possible. Almost all the draft analysts said last year that Geno Smith was sure to be picked in the first round, and the were wrong, so you never know. But I personally do believe Bridgewater will be long gone. Bortles seems like the more plausible candidate to drop to the bottom of the 1st and produce a trade-back-in scenario. This just from my feel for the buzz, I don't actually watch slave labor sportscollege football. |
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Post by jmei on Apr 2, 2014 11:27:40 GMT -5
The fact that it's even a question proves the point-- there's significant uncertainty about when they'll get drafted, unlike with Luck or RGIII where it was obvious that they'd go 1-2. And if that's the case, it makes sense to get as much information as possible about them. Even if a certain position isn't a priority (like quarterback or cornerback for the 2014 Patriots), you still have to evaluate every player who might be available at your pick, and I think that's what they're doing.
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Post by rjp313jr on Apr 2, 2014 11:43:18 GMT -5
Do people actually believe it's a scouting mission in case they have to play them?
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Post by mgoetze on Apr 3, 2014 13:11:19 GMT -5
Danieal Manning to Bengals.
Patrick Chung to Patriots.
WTF?
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Post by hockeypuck2008 on Apr 3, 2014 13:36:22 GMT -5
Danieal Manning to Bengals. Patrick Chung to Patriots. WTF? He was great on special teams once, what can it hurt? |
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Post by jmei on Apr 3, 2014 13:51:33 GMT -5
It's almost certainly a veteran minimum-type deal with little or no guaranteed money. It means they have some protection in case Harmon performs poorly or gets injured in camp. If Chung stinks, they can cut him with little consequence; if he performs well, he might push Harmon for the starting SS spot or be a depth option who is also a core special teams guy.
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Post by jimed14 on Apr 3, 2014 15:12:48 GMT -5
As an Eagles fan, let me just say that Chung was so bad last year it was pathetic. He was even terrible at the only thing he's supposedly good at - tackling. Some of the problem is that the Eagles play 2 deep and Chung has no business playing FS... He also never was healthy all year long, which seems typical for him.
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Post by jmei on Apr 3, 2014 15:24:09 GMT -5
Yeah, Chung is not a guy you want playing in space. He doesn't have the range or instincts to play deep centerfield, and his angles are often suspect as well (that seems to be one of the major knocks on him last year). But he's much better as an in-box safety who just plays run support and covers backs/tight ends in man coverage, which is the role he'd have in New England. It actually wouldn't surprise me if he ended up making the roster and getting some playing time.
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Post by jimed14 on Apr 3, 2014 15:33:17 GMT -5
Yeah, Chung is not a guy you want playing in space. He doesn't have the range or instincts to play deep centerfield, and his angles are often suspect as well (that seems to be one of the major knocks on him last year). But he's much better as an in-box safety who just plays run support and covers backs/tight ends in man coverage, which is the role he'd have in New England. It actually wouldn't surprise me if he ended up making the roster and getting some playing time. I hope he does make the roster because the Eagles have offset language in the contract that saves them $1m in cap space if he does. I'm sure he'll be better when used properly. The Eagles just needed bodies at safety last off-season. |
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Post by rjp313jr on Apr 3, 2014 20:08:50 GMT -5
Chung is terrible at anything coverage related if it's not special teams. He's probably here because it won't affect the cap either way and he knows the system so he can be a special teams/ emergency guy.
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Post by mgoetze on Apr 4, 2014 0:04:49 GMT -5
Mike Reiss opines Chung will probably be competing with Tavon Wilson for the Special Teams / Emergency Safety spot. Kind of sad to think they are both 2nd round picks.
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Post by texs31 on Apr 4, 2014 13:54:35 GMT -5
More movement among Patriot defensive backs. Adrian Wilson and Alfonzo Dennard released (though the latter is from the Lancaster County Adult Correctional Facility, while the former is from the team).
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Post by hockeypuck2008 on Apr 4, 2014 16:53:39 GMT -5
Chris Johnson would be a great addition. He doesn't run over people but he can run by them.
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