Patriots 2011 Regular Season

[Eja117]

This is one of those things that annoys me. Sometimes I'd rather not get anything than accept some horrid pick for him.  If some other team signs him we get a compensatory pick, right? What's the going rate for a two time pro bowler who's young?  See what I mean? I'd just rather get the comp pick than just give him away.  It's like "hey fine. You don't want to give us anything good, because you think you can just sign him? Fine. Compete with 30 other teams. We'll just take the comp pick."

[Bahku]

Just wanted to let folks know that I'll be doing the weekly game threads for the rest of the season. Most pre-game analysis, etc. isn't posted until the night before, so that's probably when I'll do the game threads. Feel free to PM me with any suggestions/ ideas.

Thanks!

[Cman]

If some other team signs him we get a compensatory pick, right?

I think it depends on other things such as the FA players the Pats sign and his performance on the new team.

[Donoghus]

If some other team signs him we get a compensatory pick, right?

I think it depends on other things such as the FA players the Pats sign and his performance on the new team.

There's some ridiculous formula that the NFL uses to determine compensatory picks that I still haven't quite figured out yet.

[Eja117]

according to wiki

In addition to the 32 picks in each round, there are a total of 32 picks awarded at the ends of Rounds 3 through 7. These picks, known as "compensatory picks," are awarded to teams that have lost more qualifying free agents than they gained the previous year in free agency. Teams that gain and lose the same number of players but lose higher-valued players than they gain also can be awarded a pick, but only in the seventh round, after the other compensatory picks. Compensatory picks cannot be traded, and the placement of the picks is determined by a proprietary formula based on the player's salary, playing time, and postseason honors with his new team, with salary being the primary factor. So, for example, a team that lost a linebacker who signed for $2.5 million per year in free agency might get a sixth-round compensatory pick, while a team that lost a wide receiver who signed for $5 million per year might receive a fourth-round pick.
If fewer than 32 such picks are awarded, the remaining picks are awarded in the order in which teams would pick in a hypothetical eighth round of the draft (These are known as "supplemental compensatory selections").
Compensatory picks are awarded each year at the NFL annual meeting which is held at the end of March; typically, about three or four weeks before the draft.

[Cman]

according to wiki

In addition to the 32 picks in each round, there are a total of 32 picks awarded at the ends of Rounds 3 through 7. These picks, known as "compensatory picks," are awarded to teams that have lost more qualifying free agents than they gained the previous year in free agency. Teams that gain and lose the same number of players but lose higher-valued players than they gain also can be awarded a pick, but only in the seventh round, after the other compensatory picks. Compensatory picks cannot be traded, and the placement of the picks is determined by a proprietary formula based on the player's salary, playing time, and postseason honors with his new team, with salary being the primary factor. So, for example, a team that lost a linebacker who signed for $2.5 million per year in free agency might get a sixth-round compensatory pick, while a team that lost a wide receiver who signed for $5 million per year might receive a fourth-round pick.
If fewer than 32 such picks are awarded, the remaining picks are awarded in the order in which teams would pick in a hypothetical eighth round of the draft (These are known as "supplemental compensatory selections").
Compensatory picks are awarded each year at the NFL annual meeting which is held at the end of March; typically, about three or four weeks before the draft.

Interesting.  Anyone think a team would offer Meriweather $5M/year in FA?  That seems a bit rich.  So  maybe the Pats would be looking at a 5th round compensatory pick, if they were lucky.

[Donoghus]

according to wiki

In addition to the 32 picks in each round, there are a total of 32 picks awarded at the ends of Rounds 3 through 7. These picks, known as "compensatory picks," are awarded to teams that have lost more qualifying free agents than they gained the previous year in free agency. Teams that gain and lose the same number of players but lose higher-valued players than they gain also can be awarded a pick, but only in the seventh round, after the other compensatory picks. Compensatory picks cannot be traded, and the placement of the picks is determined by a proprietary formula based on the player's salary, playing time, and postseason honors with his new team, with salary being the primary factor. So, for example, a team that lost a linebacker who signed for $2.5 million per year in free agency might get a sixth-round compensatory pick, while a team that lost a wide receiver who signed for $5 million per year might receive a fourth-round pick.
If fewer than 32 such picks are awarded, the remaining picks are awarded in the order in which teams would pick in a hypothetical eighth round of the draft (These are known as "supplemental compensatory selections").
Compensatory picks are awarded each year at the NFL annual meeting which is held at the end of March; typically, about three or four weeks before the draft.

Interesting.  Anyone think a team would offer Meriweather $5M/year in FA?  That seems a bit rich.  So  maybe the Pats would be looking at a 5th round compensatory pick, if they were lucky.

Any idea if its base salary or cap figure? Just for curiosity sake.

[Cman]

according to wiki

In addition to the 32 picks in each round, there are a total of 32 picks awarded at the ends of Rounds 3 through 7. These picks, known as "compensatory picks," are awarded to teams that have lost more qualifying free agents than they gained the previous year in free agency. Teams that gain and lose the same number of players but lose higher-valued players than they gain also can be awarded a pick, but only in the seventh round, after the other compensatory picks. Compensatory picks cannot be traded, and the placement of the picks is determined by a proprietary formula based on the player's salary, playing time, and postseason honors with his new team, with salary being the primary factor. So, for example, a team that lost a linebacker who signed for $2.5 million per year in free agency might get a sixth-round compensatory pick, while a team that lost a wide receiver who signed for $5 million per year might receive a fourth-round pick.
If fewer than 32 such picks are awarded, the remaining picks are awarded in the order in which teams would pick in a hypothetical eighth round of the draft (These are known as "supplemental compensatory selections").
Compensatory picks are awarded each year at the NFL annual meeting which is held at the end of March; typically, about three or four weeks before the draft.

Interesting.  Anyone think a team would offer Meriweather $5M/year in FA?  That seems a bit rich.  So  maybe the Pats would be looking at a 5th round compensatory pick, if they were lucky.

Any idea if its base salary or cap figure? Just for curiosity sake.

Hmm, important point.  Don't know.

[Eja117]

One unfortunate thing about compensatory picks is that they can't be traded. So a 5th rounder comp isn't as valuable as a 5th rounder, especially since all comp picks come at the end of the round

[Eja117]

Signed WR Tiquan Underwood and S Ross Ventrone. Released LS Matt Katula, TE Garrett Mills, S James Sanders, CB Jonathan Wilhite, DL Kade Weston, WR Tyree Barnes, WR Darnell Jenkins, DB Malcolm Williams, K Chris Koepplin, DE Clay Nurse and OL Mark Wetterer.

Eeeenteresting.  I find dropping Sanders to be borderline shocking.  The 7th rounder is gone. A 7th rounder from last year is gone. Butler has beaten out Wilhite. Did they just bring back Ventrone?

[Bahku]

Signed WR Tiquan Underwood and S Ross Ventrone. Released LS Matt Katula, TE Garrett Mills, S James Sanders, CB Jonathan Wilhite, DL Kade Weston, WR Tyree Barnes, WR Darnell Jenkins, DB Malcolm Williams, K Chris Koepplin, DE Clay Nurse and OL Mark Wetterer.

Eeeenteresting.  I find dropping Sanders to be borderline shocking.  The 7th rounder is gone. A 7th rounder from last year is gone. Butler has beaten out Wilhite. Did they just bring back Ventrone?

TP for the update, EJ ... I'm a bit surprised at the Sanders scoff, too, and Butler over Wilhite. More surprises to come, I'm sure.

[Cman]

Signed WR Tiquan Underwood and S Ross Ventrone. Released LS Matt Katula, TE Garrett Mills, S James Sanders, CB Jonathan Wilhite, DL Kade Weston, WR Tyree Barnes, WR Darnell Jenkins, DB Malcolm Williams, K Chris Koepplin, DE Clay Nurse and OL Mark Wetterer.

Eeeenteresting.  I find dropping Sanders to be borderline shocking.  The 7th rounder is gone. A 7th rounder from last year is gone. Butler has beaten out Wilhite. Did they just bring back Ventrone?

TP for the update, EJ ... I'm a bit surprised at the Sanders scoff, too, and Butler over Wilhite. More surprises to come, I'm sure.

Yes, very interesting about Sanders.  I figured he was a lock.  I'm especially shocked that they didn't wait until the 53 man cut down, bc you never know with injuries (e.g.: if Chung and Meriweather are hurt in the last preseason game, you're gonna bet BB will wish he still had Sanders). 

Also, Butler still has to survive the cut down to the 53 man roster, so he's not safe yet. 

[Chris]

Signed WR Tiquan Underwood and S Ross Ventrone. Released LS Matt Katula, TE Garrett Mills, S James Sanders, CB Jonathan Wilhite, DL Kade Weston, WR Tyree Barnes, WR Darnell Jenkins, DB Malcolm Williams, K Chris Koepplin, DE Clay Nurse and OL Mark Wetterer.

Eeeenteresting.  I find dropping Sanders to be borderline shocking.  The 7th rounder is gone. A 7th rounder from last year is gone. Butler has beaten out Wilhite. Did they just bring back Ventrone?

I wouldn't call the Sanders cut shocking.  Both he and Merriweather make a lot for a 3rd safety, so they were both fighting for that position.  Unfortunately for Sanders, coming into camp injured killed his chances of beating out Merriweather, combined with the fact that they save twice as much by cutting Sanders than Merriweather, and he was the one to go.

I also think the lack of depth at Safety is a bit overblown.  In addition to Merriweather and Chung, all of their CBs are more than capable of playing safety, and with such a strong front 7 compared to past years, Belichick may prefer to have more cover guys in the defensive backfield than run stoppers like Sanders. 

Particularly with McCourty and Bodden now on the outsides, it opens up more possibilities to use Arrington (a big hitter) and Dowling (another big guy) both in the Nickle, and filling in at safety, to add a little more range to the defensive backfield.

[Donoghus]

Sounds like Sanders may land on his feet with the Falcons.  That wouldn't be too surprising considering the Dimitroff connection there.

[Chris]

Sounds like Sanders may land on his feet with the Falcons.  That wouldn't be too surprising considering the Dimitroff connection there.

Yeah.  And I have to give the Pats credit for cutting him, and allowing him to go someplace he chose, rather than trading him (for a pretty worthless draft pick most likely).  Sanders has been a good soldier, and has done a great job stepping in and essentially playing above his head for the last few years. 

Classy move by the Pats.