If you didn't like the Matt Cassell deal...(Peppers Rumor)

[Cman]

Is this even feasible?  It seems like maybe the Pats don't have the cap room this year.  And if they could work him under the cap this year, they'd be taking a huge hit in years to come.  Doesn't sound like a smart move financially.

It is feasible by signing him to a contract like Haynesworth got, a lot of money backloaded plus a signing bonus which could only give us a hit of 5 million this year. It might hurt in the future but if he's not playing up to it we cut him. Also there has been talk since the players agreement is almost up that the NFL might move away from a hard cap.

If the cap hit is around $5M, I am all for it -- that is pretty much what it would need to come in at.  Even at $5M, the Pats may need to restructure a few other contracts. 

Again, they only have about $7M to work with, and will need to keep about $3M to sign rookies....

[nickagneta]

Is this even feasible?  It seems like maybe the Pats don't have the cap room this year.  And if they could work him under the cap this year, they'd be taking a huge hit in years to come.  Doesn't sound like a smart move financially.

It is feasible by signing him to a contract like Haynesworth got, a lot of money backloaded plus a signing bonus which could only give us a hit of 5 million this year. It might hurt in the future but if he's not playing up to it we cut him. Also there has been talk since the players agreement is almost up that the NFL might move away from a hard cap.

If the cap hit is around $5M, I am all for it -- that is pretty much what it would need to come in at.  Even at $5M, the Pats may need to restructure a few other contracts. 

Again, they only have about $7M to work with, and will need to keep about $3M to sign rookies....

Don't forget that there are a couple or so veterans that the Pats might cut that could save them money that would allow for a bit higher of a first year cap hit on any contract Peppers might negotiate with the Pats. Kazcur just had his salary increase to $2.2 million because of escalaters in his contract. If the Pats cut him, and basically he's their fifth or sizth offensive lineman, that a nearly $1.8 million savings. Also, if I were Ben Watson, I wouldn't feel too secure with my position on the team either. Watson getting cut is another half million dollar savings. There's probably a couple of other guys who's savings from getting cut might be better than their production.

Also, I thought next year was supposed to be a no cap year. Unlimited spending due to the upcoming CBA renegociations. If that's the case, I wouldn't worry too much about who we need to extend next year.

[Chris]

Is this even feasible?  It seems like maybe the Pats don't have the cap room this year.  And if they could work him under the cap this year, they'd be taking a huge hit in years to come.  Doesn't sound like a smart move financially.

It is feasible by signing him to a contract like Haynesworth got, a lot of money backloaded plus a signing bonus which could only give us a hit of 5 million this year. It might hurt in the future but if he's not playing up to it we cut him. Also there has been talk since the players agreement is almost up that the NFL might move away from a hard cap.

If the cap hit is around $5M, I am all for it -- that is pretty much what it would need to come in at.  Even at $5M, the Pats may need to restructure a few other contracts. 

Again, they only have about $7M to work with, and will need to keep about $3M to sign rookies....

I wouldn't read too much into that number.  Those things can change very quickly by restructuring contracts and making cuts.  I would not be surprised at all to see a few cuts (maybe of some surprising guys), especially if they bring in a guy like Peppers.

Some of the guys who could suddenly become possible cuts (if they won't renegotiate), who would be surprising would be Kevin Falk (probably least likely), Ellis Hobbs, Nick Kaczur, Matt Light, Stephen Neal, Teddy Bruschi (although he would probably retire).

Belichick clearly has a bad taste in his mouth after last season, and he is clearly not content with minor tweaks.  He wants to make dramatic changes, and I have a feeling that Vrabel was just the beginning. 

[Chris]

Also, I thought next year was supposed to be a no cap year. Unlimited spending due to the upcoming CBA renegociations. If that's the case, I wouldn't worry too much about who we need to extend next year.

Now, I think this is something the Pats will really be taking into consideration.  From what I understand, it is almost certain that there will be no cap next year.  So that opens up a whole lot of new avenues for restucturing contracts.

I am by no means a capologist for football, but I have seen that there is a lot of flexibility in what teams can do, and I would imagine the capless year just adds to that...of course that is assuming the owners are willing to spend the extra money next year (or have the money to spend...from what I hear, Kraft is taking a big hit over in Patriots Place).

[yall hate]

Also, I thought next year was supposed to be a no cap year. Unlimited spending due to the upcoming CBA renegociations. If that's the case, I wouldn't worry too much about who we need to extend next year.

Now, I think this is something the Pats will really be taking into consideration.  From what I understand, it is almost certain that there will be no cap next year.  So that opens up a whole lot of new avenues for restucturing contracts.

I am by no means a capologist for football, but I have seen that there is a lot of flexibility in what teams can do, and I would imagine the capless year just adds to that...of course that is assuming the owners are willing to spend the extra money next year (or have the money to spend...from what I hear, Kraft is taking a big hit over in Patriots Place).

you mean an outdoor 'mall' in new england hoping to generate revenue during the winter wasnt a good idea?   
For a smart businessman, that leaves me scratching my head.

I think it is a mistake to plan on an uncapped year, because even though everything points to it being one, if there werent one and that was the plan, it could leave the team screwed.

[Cman]

Belichick clearly has a bad taste in his mouth after last season, and he is clearly not content with minor tweaks.  He wants to make dramatic changes, and I have a feeling that Vrabel was just the beginning. 

Good point about BB having a bad taste in his mouth after last season.
BTW, congrats on #5000!

[rickyfan3.0...]

I heard this deal was done a while ago. The day of the Cassel trade I was told "this is basically done" but never heard another peep about it.

I am thinking they are banging out contract terms and this has been done for a while. I guess it all makes sense.

I LOVE the part about us drafting Maleuga. Imagine a LB core of Maleuga, Mayo, Peppers and Bruschi?

[Greenbean]

I heard this deal was done a while ago. The day of the Cassel trade I was told "this is basically done" but never heard another peep about it.

I am thinking they are banging out contract terms and this has been done for a while. I guess it all makes sense.

I LOVE the part about us drafting Maleuga. Imagine a LB core of Maleuga, Mayo, Peppers and Bruschi?

You mean Adalius Thomas? Then yes, I could imagine that and it would be unstoppable.

[nickagneta]

I heard this deal was done a while ago. The day of the Cassel trade I was told "this is basically done" but never heard another peep about it.

I am thinking they are banging out contract terms and this has been done for a while. I guess it all makes sense.

I LOVE the part about us drafting Maleuga. Imagine a LB core of Maleuga, Mayo, Peppers and Bruschi?

You mean Adalius Thomas? Then yes, I could imagine that and it would be unstoppable.

Yeah, definitely Thomas and not Bruschi. I love Ted, he's been one of my favorite Patriots for 7-8 years but his time is probably past and it might be a good time for him to hang them up before faced with the possibility of having Belichick decide his career as a Patriot is over for him. He would be a pretty substantial savings for the cap this year and if the Pats draft a LB in the first round, that player and Pierre Woods could be seeing most of the snaps and Ted might become very expendable.

[Greenbean]

I heard this deal was done a while ago. The day of the Cassel trade I was told "this is basically done" but never heard another peep about it.

I am thinking they are banging out contract terms and this has been done for a while. I guess it all makes sense.

I LOVE the part about us drafting Maleuga. Imagine a LB core of Maleuga, Mayo, Peppers and Bruschi?

You mean Adalius Thomas? Then yes, I could imagine that and it would be unstoppable.

Yeah, definitely Thomas and not Bruschi. I love Ted, he's been one of my favorite Patriots for 7-8 years but his time is probably past and it might be a good time for him to hang them up before faced with the possibility of having Belichick decide his career as a Patriot is over for him. He would be a pretty substantial savings for the cap this year and if the Pats draft a LB in the first round, that player and Pierre Woods could be seeing most of the snaps and Ted might become very expendable.

I definately agree although I hope Teddy sticks around if only to be a voice in the locker room and pass the torch to the new LB core. He is a pretty expensive voice though so well see past this year.

[StartOrien]

Just saw this on ESPN, and NFL.com confirms serious talks that would bring Julius Peppers to the Patriots. I don't know how I feel about the move, it could make us really nasty or it might just be a bad use of money.

"NFL.com - It is appearing more and more likely that the Patriots' cost-cutting trade with the Chiefs will allow them to land Julius Peppers.

According to several league sources, New England and Carolina are hoping to put the finishing touches on a trade involving Peppers sometime between the end of the month and the NFL Draft.

Peppers would likely be converted to outside linebacker in New England's 3-4 defense"

Source: http://football.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/11350/20090316/sources_patriots_expected_to_land_peppers/ .

(Sorry about having to use the Real GM link, for whatever reason I can't copy and paste the nfl.com one)

[Donoghus]

Panthers: No Peppers deal, or talks
Carolina Panthers general manager Marty Hurney denied an Internet report Monday that the Carolina Panthers were working on a trade to send defensive end Julius Peppers to the New England Patriots for a second-round pick, 34th overall.

Furthermore, Hurney said he was unaware of any activity involving Peppers and other teams.

An NFL.com story indicated Carolina and New England were hoping to complete the trade sometime between next week's owners' meetings in Dana Point, Calif., and the draft in late April.

“By the rules of the (collective bargaining agreement), we cannot and have not had any conversations with other teams about Julius,” Hurney said in a statement. “Under the non-exclusive franchise tag, Julius and his agent, Carl Carey, are within their rights to talk to other teams about a potential contract. However, at this point, we are not aware of any such conversations.”

Carey did not return telephone messages.

Peppers' contract expired following the 2008 season, after which he and Carey said he wanted to move to another team. They said he was especially interested in playing in a 3-4 defense, which the Patriots employ.

Peppers and Carey were hoping the Panthers would not use their franchise tag on Peppers and instead allow him to become an unrestricted free agent. But the team tagged him just hours before the deadline last month after signing All-Pro left tackle Jordan Gross to a multi-year contract.

The Panthers have consistently said they want to keep Peppers, whose contract tender as a franchise free agent is counting $16.683million against the team's 2009 salary cap.

The team has very little salary-cap room, but seems willing to keep Peppers at that price. He counted nearly $14million against the Panthers' cap last season, when he had a career-high 141/2 sacks and was selected to his fourth Pro Bowl.

The CBA allows Peppers to talk to other teams, who could sign him to an offer sheet. The Panthers would have the right to match the offer sheet, or reject it and receive two first-round picks in return.

There also have been instances when teams have agreed to less compensation in trades involving franchise players, but the Panthers so far have been steadfast about the CBA's trade terms for franchise free agents.

   -- Charles Chandler

Beginning to think more and more that this rumor is a smoke screen (probably from an agent) to induce other teams to get in on the Peppers sweepstakes.

[Brickowski]

Well, Carolina has to deny it.  Who knows?

Frankly I don't see Peppers as an outside linebacker in a 3-4.  Has he ever dropped into coverage in his life?  The Patriots also just resigned Mike Wright so they are loaded up front.

Plus Peppers is extremely expensive: a 16 million dollar cap hit in year one, and who knows how much he will want to sign an extension.

Frankly, their best course both financially ands otherwise, is to extend Wilfork, keep that #2 pick and use it wisely. I would also sign Roosevelt Colvin on the cheap for more help at outside linebacker.  I thought Colvin played reasonably well when he came out of retirement last year, and he knows the system.

[Chris]

Well, Carolina has to deny it.  Who knows?

Frankly I don't see Peppers as an outside linebacker in a 3-4.  Has he ever dropped into coverage in his life?  The Patriots also just resigned Mike Wright so they are loaded up front.

Plus Peppers is extremely expensive: a 16 million dollar cap hit in year one, and who knows how much he will want to sign an extension.

Frankly, their best course both financially ands otherwise, is to extend Wilfork, keep that #2 pick and use it wisely. I would also sign Roosevelt Colvin on the cheap for more help at outside linebacker.  I thought Colvin played reasonably well when he came out of retirement last year, and he knows the system.

Well, they can negotiate a contract that doesn't have such a big cap hit.  Also, with the Pats defense, you put Peppers on the weakside, and he essentially is just a D-lineman rushing the QB.  Or course that means you will need Thomas to switch to the strong side, and be in coverage more. 

I also am pretty sure he has had to be in coverage at least a little since the Panthers have been known to use the Zone Blitz.

Also, with the resigning of Wright, I would not be surprised to see them cut Jarvis Green, which could save them a couple million dollars.

[Brickowski]

IMHO Jarvis Green is too good to cut.

As for Peppers' new deal, Carolina has veto power over the terms, does it not?