NFL Free Agency/Off-Season

[Jeff]

next up, Emmanuel Sanders

http://www.patspulpit.com/2013/3/15/4108604/report-patriots-host-steelers-rfa-emmanuel-sanders

Pats to NFL: All your WRs are belong to us.
Pats to their own WRs: meh, you can come or go

[connor]

Looks like Pats are going to try to restructure Lloyd's contract to keep him. I think this would be fantastic for the Pats.

Lloyd didn't live up to the hype, but he's better than average*, and I like him on the team.

*just a few stats to throw out there to put things in perspective, Lloyd had more yards and more 1st downs than TY Hilton, Dwayne Bowe, Larry Fitzgerald.  Now, I'm not saying Lloyd is as good as those guys, but he's not quite the "toss him on the trash heap" player that some Pats fans want to make him out to be.

I'm ok with Lloyd sticking around.  He and Brady really need to get together this offseason and get on the same page, tho.  I've never seen Tom so visibly frusterated with a wide reciever - but i think it's because Tom knows he's capable of being a legitimate weapon.

Not a big fan of Lloyd.  If the Pats can get an upgrade at the position and let him walk, I'm all for it.

I'd say if Lloyd restructures, the Pats are going to be pretty hard pressed to find an upgrade for comparable money. I know that the chemistry wasn't entirely there last season, but with Wes leaving I think there is something to be said for holding on to a guy who has developed at least some repor with Brady going into next season.

With them signing Amendola for a solid chunk of cap space, I can't see them making a move for another high end receiver given our other glaring needs.

I think the best you can expect is a kid from the draft and mix of veterans (Branch, Stallworth etc) and potential projects (David Nelson, Ramses Barden etc) to compete to fill out the WR corps.

[Donoghus]

Pats resign Kyle Arrington.  Ugh..

[connor]

Don't know what this means in terms of other additions to the secondary but we just resigned Kyle Arrington:

http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4741056/source-patriots-agree-with-arrington

Didn't think he showed enough last year to deserve to come back.

I expected a resign of Talib or someone of his quality and to fill the slot corner with someone from the draft or a lower end free agent (or god willing a healthy Ras-I Dowling).

Hope this doesn't mean Bill isn't going to spend big on a legit cover corner.

[Donoghus]

Looks like Pats are going to try to restructure Lloyd's contract to keep him. I think this would be fantastic for the Pats.

Lloyd didn't live up to the hype, but he's better than average*, and I like him on the team.

*just a few stats to throw out there to put things in perspective, Lloyd had more yards and more 1st downs than TY Hilton, Dwayne Bowe, Larry Fitzgerald.  Now, I'm not saying Lloyd is as good as those guys, but he's not quite the "toss him on the trash heap" player that some Pats fans want to make him out to be.

I'm ok with Lloyd sticking around.  He and Brady really need to get together this offseason and get on the same page, tho.  I've never seen Tom so visibly frusterated with a wide reciever - but i think it's because Tom knows he's capable of being a legitimate weapon.

Not a big fan of Lloyd.  If the Pats can get an upgrade at the position and let him walk, I'm all for it.

I'd say if Lloyd restructures, the Pats are going to be pretty hard pressed to find an upgrade for comparable money. I know that the chemistry wasn't entirely there last season, but with Wes leaving I think there is something to be said for holding on to a guy who has developed at least some repor with Brady going into next season.

With them signing Amendola for a solid chunk of cap space, I can't see them making a move for another high end receiver given our other glaring needs.

I think the best you can expect is a kid from the draft and mix of veterans (Branch, Stallworth etc) and potential projects (David Nelson, Ramses Barden etc) to compete to fill out the WR corps.

Would you rather have Sanders or Lloyd?

[connor]

Looks like Pats are going to try to restructure Lloyd's contract to keep him. I think this would be fantastic for the Pats.

Lloyd didn't live up to the hype, but he's better than average*, and I like him on the team.

*just a few stats to throw out there to put things in perspective, Lloyd had more yards and more 1st downs than TY Hilton, Dwayne Bowe, Larry Fitzgerald.  Now, I'm not saying Lloyd is as good as those guys, but he's not quite the "toss him on the trash heap" player that some Pats fans want to make him out to be.

I'm ok with Lloyd sticking around.  He and Brady really need to get together this offseason and get on the same page, tho.  I've never seen Tom so visibly frusterated with a wide reciever - but i think it's because Tom knows he's capable of being a legitimate weapon.

Not a big fan of Lloyd.  If the Pats can get an upgrade at the position and let him walk, I'm all for it.

I'd say if Lloyd restructures, the Pats are going to be pretty hard pressed to find an upgrade for comparable money. I know that the chemistry wasn't entirely there last season, but with Wes leaving I think there is something to be said for holding on to a guy who has developed at least some repor with Brady going into next season.

With them signing Amendola for a solid chunk of cap space, I can't see them making a move for another high end receiver given our other glaring needs.

I think the best you can expect is a kid from the draft and mix of veterans (Branch, Stallworth etc) and potential projects (David Nelson, Ramses Barden etc) to compete to fill out the WR corps.

Would you rather have Sanders or Lloyd?

I like Sanders better than Lloyd in terms of potential (6 years younger) and is more of a speed threat than Lloyd who is a pure possession receiver.

But it all depends on what Lloyd is willing to restructure to and if the Steelers would match our offer sheet. I don't like the idea of giving up our 3rd rounder in a back loaded draft to pick up Sanders, unless he is coming in on a team friendly deal (which I doubt).

If we make an offer for Sanders that the cap strapped Steelers can't match and we don't have to give up the 3rd I'd much rather Sanders, but if we have to give up our 3rd rounder I'd go with Lloyd if he is bringing his cap number down significantly.

[kozlodoev]

Don't know what this means in terms of other additions to the secondary but we just resigned Kyle Arrington:

http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4741056/source-patriots-agree-with-arrington

Didn't think he showed enough last year to deserve to come back.

I expected a resign of Talib or someone of his quality and to fill the slot corner with someone from the draft or a lower end free agent (or god willing a healthy Ras-I Dowling).

Hope this doesn't mean Bill isn't going to spend big on a legit cover corner.

We need depth at corner either way, so Arrington is probably a good piece to have if on a team-friendly deal. I thought he did ok in the slot last year. And with so many question marks surrounding Dowling and Dennard, you can't have enough CBs on this team.

[kozlodoev]

Apparently Woodhead signed with the Chargers. Not that we didn't know this was coming...

edit: Also, we're apparently finalizing contract with John Abraham.

[kozlodoev]

Also, twitterworld just exploded with posts from girls of apparent college age vehemently questioning letting Woodhead go.

That's so hilarious.

[BleedGreen1989]

Apparently Woodhead signed with the Chargers. Not that we didn't know this was coming...

edit: Also, we're apparently finalizing contract with John Abraham.

Source on John?

[kozlodoev]

Apparently Woodhead signed with the Chargers. Not that we didn't know this was coming...

edit: Also, we're apparently finalizing contract with John Abraham.

Source on John?

May have jumped the gun on this a bit:

Ian Rapoport@RapSheet2 updates: Abraham is still meeting with the #Patriots. Nothing imminent yet.

[angryguy77]

Come on Jennings, sign with Minn and put the whole team on your back

[Cman]

Apparently Woodhead signed with the Chargers. Not that we didn't know this was coming...

ugh, too bad. I liked him as a Pat.

[Cman]

Don't know what this means in terms of other additions to the secondary but we just resigned Kyle Arrington:

http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4741056/source-patriots-agree-with-arrington

Didn't think he showed enough last year to deserve to come back.

I expected a resign of Talib or someone of his quality and to fill the slot corner with someone from the draft or a lower end free agent (or god willing a healthy Ras-I Dowling).

Hope this doesn't mean Bill isn't going to spend big on a legit cover corner.

We need depth at corner either way, so Arrington is probably a good piece to have if on a team-friendly deal. I thought he did ok in the slot last year. And with so many question marks surrounding Dowling and Dennard, you can't have enough CBs on this team.

4 years at $16M.. a bit more than I would've expected.
I hope we can bring back Talib.

[jgod213]

If we make an offer for Sanders that the cap strapped Steelers can't match and we don't have to give up the 3rd I'd much rather Sanders, but if we have to give up our 3rd rounder I'd go with Lloyd if he is bringing his cap number down significantly.

Well said.  If we're talking a simple pick 'em between the two I think we'd all give Sanders a go over Lloyd, but the 3rd rounder has to factor in here.

Even if we don't pluck Sanders, maybe Bill opened up Pandora's box here?  Although I'm iffy on the Pats giving up a 3rd I could see this being a wise move for another team.  The Steelers have very little cap flexibility and even less talent left at the skill positions. Someone could really strike a blow to that team with this kind of move.