Patriots.. how do they look in 2007?

[Pard4Life]

Ok Pats fans, what do the Patriots need for next season? I know it's very soon after the game, but I seriously believe this loss is going to infuriate the team and give them the drive to win the 2008 Super Bowl..

Samuel.. how much money will he command? Too bad the Pats are playing hard-ball, but we really need some stable secondary players...

Mobile LBs? The middle of the field always seems open and it's what helped kill the Pats...

DL and OL.. one of the best in NFL.. anyone leaving?

..a solid reciever would be nice... Gaffney has turned out to be very good... but it'd be nice to have another *cough, Caldwell errors in mind...

[UNHWildCats]

i believe both 1st rounders will be spend on defense as they are real old at LB and weak at S and CB especially with the way Samuel came on late this season his price went much higher then New England will pay.

I then think they could turn to a WR in the 3rd round and wouldnt be surprised if they look at David Ball either in the 3rd or 4th round.

New England obviously has a great track record of getting players in the draft who contribute early.

A big question mark next season will be Chad Jackson, will he step up or is he just not serious enough about football? we will see.

A look at the unrestricted free agents and who I think will be back

Tully Banta-Cain, LB - Depends on whats available, but I dont see him returning.
Troy Brown, WR - May retire, but if they can build the WR group up he can still be a threat inside
Heath Evans, FB - His play this year ensured his return as a FB.
Chad Scott, CB - Tough call, I say he comes back
Daniel Graham, TE - His blocking is valuable, but it depends on his asking price. He's by far the best blocking TE on the roster.
Larry Izzo, LB - Valuable on Special Teams.
Ray Mickens, CB - bye.
Patrick Pass, FB - Evans emerged as a good blocker but Pass can be valuable, for the right price hes back.
Asante Samuel, CB - Too rich of a contract coming.
Todd Sauerbrun, P - Will probably return seeing the end of Josh Millers days in New England.
Junior Seau, LB - He's not gonna let his career end that way.
Vinny Testaverde, QB - Theres more of a chance for him staying home for good then Parcells.
Ken Walter, P - Done.


restricted free agents.

Rashad Baker, S
Randall Gay, CB - Should be back, played decent before his injury.
Gene Mruczkowski, C
Billy Yates, G

Not too familair with the others but I say Yates is probably definatly back the others not too sure.

[AZGrizFan]

Asante Samuel, CB - Too rich of a contract coming.




That guy may be the ONE guy that's worth the contract he'll command.

Un-freaking-believable. :eek: :eek: :eek:

[UNHWildCats]

That guy may be the ONE guy that's worth the contract he'll command.

Un-freaking-believable. :eek: :eek: :eek:

Yea but he goes for the big play a lot and doesnt always get it so it ends up a big play the other way. Im not sure hes worth a huge contract, how many times have we seen guys have huge contract year seasons then disappear after they have the checks?

[AZGrizFan]

Yea but he goes for the big play a lot and doesnt always get it so it ends up a big play the other way. Im not sure hes worth a huge contract, how many times have we seen guys have huge contract year seasons then disappear after they have the checks?

You can't coach speed. And he's got speed to burn. :eek: :eek:

And Deion Sanders made a pretty good living doing exactly what you just described. :twocents: :twocents:

[UNHWildCats]

Patriots picks:

2 first rounders
2nd rounder
3rd rounder
4th rounder
6th rounder
2 seventh rounders
and likely 4 compensation picks which is the max allowed

[UNHWildCats]

Patriots 2007 salaries

Andrews, Willie 378,345
Brady, Tom (http://www.patscap.com/capfootnotes.html#brady) 11,306,720
Bruschi, Tedy 2,581,720
Caldwell, Reche 1,006,720
Cassell, Matt 455,220
Colvin, Rosevelt 6,434,720
Dillon, Corey 4,429,220
Faulk, Kevin 3,253,720
Gaffney, Jabar 751,720
Gostkowski, Stephen 472,970
Green, Jarvis 2,306,720
Harrison, Rodney 3,438,483
Hawkins, Artrell 801,720
Hill, Marquise 746,720
Hobbs, Ellis 606,720
Hochstein, Russ 740,053
Jackson, Chad 913,586
Jones, Tebucky 901,720
Kaczur, Nick 573,720
Koppen, Dan 2,506,720
Light, Matt 4,758,387
Mankins, Logan 1,306,720
Maroney, Laurence 1,444,220
Miller, Josh 1,026,720
Mills, Garrett 482,345
Mitchell, Mel 856,720
Neal, Stephen 2,606,720
O'Callaghan, Ryan 414,345
Paxton, Lonie 787,720
Sanders, James 536,720
Scott, Chad 836,720
Seymour, Richard 7,706,720
Smith, Le Kevin 384,470
Thomas, David 526,907
Vrabel, Mike 4,090,220
Warren, Ty 1,456,720
Watson, Ben 1,093,386
Wilfork, Vince 1,240,053
Wilson, Eugene 969,220
Woods, Pierre 366,720

77,498,990 total


With a projected cap of around 109,000,000 the Patriots are $30,839,509 under the cap which gives them a lot of flexability and they certainly could be a huge play3er on the free agent market though they usually dont go after big dollar FAs

[UNHWildCats]

these are the top 5 CB salaries

Chris McAlister Baltimore$8.4 million
Champ Bailey Denver $8 million
Nate Clements Buffalo $7.2 million
Charles Woodson Green Bay $6.7 million
Ronde Barber Tampa Bay $6.5 million
Average $7.4 million
Source: NFLPA.org

This suggests that if the Patriots were to Franchise Asante Samuel next season it would probably cost them around $8 million.

[BigApp]

nice

[NoCoDanny]

Rebuilding mold, the "dynasty" is over.

[UNHWildCats]

Rebuilding mold, the "dynasty" is over.

So what happens if the Patriots come back and win 3 of the next 4 super bowls? is that a new dynasty or the same one?

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

The Pats aren't going anywhere anytime soon. As long as Belichick and Bill Polian are there the Pats will remain one of the top 3-4 teams in the NFL and be one of the favorites to win the Super Bowl. The offensive line and D-line are two of the best units in the NFL and of course they still have Brady. The only thing they need to ensure they maintain their lofty perch is to get some speed at LB. That was their only weakness this year and cost them against the Colts on Sunday. Samual is the wild card this offseason but i have to believe the Pats will dish out some money to keep him. He's one of the best CB in the league and is basically their next Ty Law.

[UNHWildCats]

The Pats aren't going anywhere anytime soon. As long as Belichick and Bill Polian are there the Pats will remain one of the top 3-4 teams in the NFL and be one of the favorites to win the Super Bowl. The offensive line and D-line are two of the best units in the NFL and of course they still have Brady. The only thing they need to ensure they maintain their lofty perch is to get some speed at LB. That was their only weakness this year and cost them against the Colts on Sunday. Samual is the wild card this offseason but i have to believe the Pats will dish out some money to keep him. He's one of the best CB in the league and is basically their next Ty Law.

The O Line is locked up til 2010 i think

[UNHWildCats]

The Pats aren't going anywhere anytime soon. As long as Belichick and Bill Polian are there the Pats will remain one of the top 3-4 teams in the NFL and be one of the favorites to win the Super Bowl. The offensive line and D-line are two of the best units in the NFL and of course they still have Brady. The only thing they need to ensure they maintain their lofty perch is to get some speed at LB. That was their only weakness this year and cost them against the Colts on Sunday. Samual is the wild card this offseason but i have to believe the Pats will dish out some money to keep him. He's one of the best CB in the league and is basically their next Ty Law.

Ty Law is still Ty Law and they didnt dish out the money for him, they will set a value, and if he dont want that he wont be back simple as that.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Ty Law is still Ty Law and they didnt dish out the money for him, they will set a value, and if he dont want that he wont be back simple as that.

Yeah, but Law was the cornerstone CB for a number of years until the Pats felt they got the most out of him and it was time to cut ties. Samual is still young, a lot younger than Law was when he left the Pats for the Jets. I think when you have a guy like Samual you need to lock him down for atleast 3-4 years.