Patriots & NFL Free Agency Updates 2015

[Jonny CC]

we just let go of the best cornerback of the last 20 years over a total of $4 million dollars. that's a difference of $1.3M over 3 years. and this is during an era when good corners are more important than ever.

and in regards to plugging that void, i've got news for everyone - bill parcells drafted most of the defensive studs during the pats' first 3 championship years. look it up.

rodney harrison, revis, and browner were of course also drafted by other people.

BB has never won a title without elite defensive players in the secondary.

BB has never built a dominant defense from scratch. he's a great coach and as a GM is good at filling out a roster, but he ignores the overwhelming evidence that championship defenses are anchored by elite players.

just look at the
seahawks
steelers
giants
ravens
even the packers, rams, and colts had some real studs on those clubs. i don't see those guys here now, especially at the cornerback position, a spot which plagued this team for years after harrison retired and samuel left.

but sure, BB will buck that trend and coach up some scrubs, right? even though NONE of our championship secondaries were anchored by scrubs.

we're in big trouble unless we either draft a bunch of defensive studs, or BB uses that cap space to get some real undervalued gems. and i mean GEMS. cause BB just gutted the only part of our defense that was truly elite.

and BTW, i COULDN'T CARE LESS about regular season achievements and consistency, obsessing over that is for losers. and manning and rodgers prove that elite all-time QBs will easily put up great regular season records every year anyways. but championships are all that matter. and once again it looks like we'll have yet another post-2004 defense that won't be good enough to seal the deal in the biggest moments.

Don't kid yourself...there was no way that Revis was coming back to the Pats.  He was hell bent on going back to NY.  If the Pats matched the Jets offer, the Jets would have increased it.  They had a ton of cap room to play with and the Pats didn't.  You can complain about the Pats and $4mil but the flip side of it is why would Revis sign with a craptastic team for only $4mil more.  As you pointed out...that's only 1.3mil a year and he has a limited chance at another Super Bowl.  He's made a fortune over his career so one could argue that he's chasing the money instead of chasing the rings.  His perogative.

Regarding Belichick, I think it's comical that you are ripping on his accomplishments as if you know better.  The guy has had the greatest success in the salary cap era.   You "COULDN'T CARE LESS about regular season achievements and consistency?!?!?  How about POST SEASON achievements and consistency?  6 Super Bowls and 4 Championships...no team has come close to that in this era!!!  Why don't you let him finish building the roster see how they do next season before peeing on the parade.  (Parade...like the duck boat parade we had last month).   

[SparzWizard]

Done deal:

"@AdamSchefter: Patriots signing former Browns LB/DE Jabaal Sheard to a 2-year deal worth $11 million, per source, including $5.5 million guaranteed."

WELCOME TO NEW ENGLAND, JABAAL SHEARD! 

[colincb]

#38 on Pro Football Focuses intial FA list (17th as of today)

Jabaal Sheard, Edge Defender: It’s never been easy for him in Cleveland, with constant position switches and competition that you’ve felt the team is more invested in seeing succeed. Sheard is strong against the run and has demonstrated an ability to get pressure.

[Jonny CC]

Done deal:

"@AdamSchefter: Patriots signing former Browns LB/DE Jabaal Sheard to a 2-year deal worth $11 million, per source, including $5.5 million guaranteed."

WELCOME TO NEW ENGLAND, JABAAL SHEARD! 

Great signing. This kid can really get after the QB.

[jambr380]

I guess the new Revis replacement is Chimdi Chekwa -

http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4779076/patriots-agree-with-cb-chimdi-chekwa

Seriously, though - he is really fast and may have just been in the wrong system. Hopefully Bill can bring out the best in him.

[jambr380]

And don't forget about Dorsey and Gibson. Will they be impactful wide receivers?

http://www.patriots.com/news/article-1/Patriots-sign-WR-Kevin-Dorsey-and-WR-Brandon-Gibson/39d082f9-81d9-4c86-8ce9-ab78317d5437

[Cman]

Done deal:

"@AdamSchefter: Patriots signing former Browns LB/DE Jabaal Sheard to a 2-year deal worth $11 million, per source, including $5.5 million guaranteed."

WELCOME TO NEW ENGLAND, JABAAL SHEARD! 

Welcome to NE. I'm excited by this signing. I remember when he was coming out in the draft and thinking Pats might pick him but didn't.

I think he'll be helpful this year, backing up Ninkovich and Jones. But... and here's the kicker....
you want to know the real reason the Pats signed him? He's option B if the Pats can't resign Chandler Jones who becomes a FA next season. That's called forward looking.

[Cman]

Wilfork apparently has three offers in the range of 2 years $10M total

Browner apparently received a multi year offer from Saints at over $5M per year

http://itiswhatitis.weei.com/sports/newengland/football/patriots/2015/03/12/free-agent-updates-vince-wilfork-brandon-browner-reportedly-offered-contracts/

[Donoghus]

Amendola just restructured.  Should lessen the '15 cap number but spread out potential dead money longer.

[the_Bird]

Amendola just restructured.  Should lessen the '15 cap number but spread out potential dead money longer.

Seems to be a fair deal.  I think we saw at the end of the year what Amendola is capable of doing, and with the way that Edelman plays it's nice to have an established guy backing him up.

[Cman]

Amendola just restructured.  Should lessen the '15 cap number but spread out potential dead money longer.

Seems to be a fair deal.  I think we saw at the end of the year what Amendola is capable of doing, and with the way that Edelman plays it's nice to have an established guy backing him up.

Nice. I'm glad this is getting done.

[kozlodoev]

Done deal:

"@AdamSchefter: Patriots signing former Browns LB/DE Jabaal Sheard to a 2-year deal worth $11 million, per source, including $5.5 million guaranteed."

WELCOME TO NEW ENGLAND, JABAAL SHEARD! 

Welcome to NE. I'm excited by this signing. I remember when he was coming out in the draft and thinking Pats might pick him but didn't.

I think he'll be helpful this year, backing up Ninkovich and Jones. But... and here's the kicker....
you want to know the real reason the Pats signed him? He's option B if the Pats can't resign Chandler Jones who becomes a FA next season. That's called forward looking.

Also, Ninkovich is pretty good but he's getting up there in age. Won't be surprised if they let him go in 2016.

[Donoghus]

I think we can just about chalk in Eagles/Patriots for the season opener in September, huh?

Murray to the Eagles plus all the Chip Kelly chaos.  That'll get ratings.

[kozlodoev]

Also, loos like we never had a chance with Revis anyhow:

“I felt like it was a no-brainer to just come home … be back home and make it a marriage,” Revis told reporters on the call.

http://itiswhatitis.weei.com/sports/newengland/football/patriots/2015/03/11/darrelle-revis-i-felt-like-it-was-a-no-brainer-to-just-come-home/

Given this, I wonder why they chose to let Browner go (and tender a contract offer later), given that his contract was possibly below market.

[colincb]

Also, loos like we never had a chance with Revis anyhow:

“I felt like it was a no-brainer to just come home … be back home and make it a marriage,” Revis told reporters on the call.

http://itiswhatitis.weei.com/sports/newengland/football/patriots/2015/03/11/darrelle-revis-i-felt-like-it-was-a-no-brainer-to-just-come-home/

Given this, I wonder why they chose to let Browner go (and tender a contract offer later), given that his contract was possibly below market.

Maybe because Patriots figured that they had to change to a zone concept after they bowed out on Revis on Monday and Browner doesn't fit.