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So it's been a pretty insane past couple of days of free agency. Some good things for the Patriots, and some pretty bad things for the Patriots.
So let's start with the bad first. I think the one thing that's really bad for us at the moment is that Julian Edelman is not a New England Patriot. No one has picked him up yet as I'm writing this, but Brian Hoyer, ex Patriots QB, was lobbying for the Browns to go after Julian Edelman. I think Edelman should've been our top priority considering that he surely stepped up this past season, and filled the void that Welker left on our offense. The fact that the Patriots offered him a contract, and he didn't think it was fair tells me that the Patriots tried to lowball him pretty hard on that contract. Edelman's a hard worker, and he deserves a fair pay, and for whatever reason he's not signed by the Patriots by now is really bad for us. The last of Tom's security blankets could very well end up on another team, and of all the names being thrown around when leaving the team, Julian Edelman's name is the toughest to deal with.
Another bad is the failed attempt at getting WIlfork to restructure his contract.
I don't know what went wrong here other than the fact that the Patriots organization wanted him to restructure his contract, and he just doesn't want to. As of right now he's still on the team (7:26pm EST), but that could change at any time. This kinda came as a shock to me because of how involved Wilfork is with the Patriots on, and off the field. He's a community guy, and a fan favorite. He's a captain, and he's a dominant force on the line. For him to ask for his release is surely mind boggling. I'd like to know what went on between the two (Pats and Vince) that made him want this release. If anything I'm assuming the Patriots are pushing for a restructure to get some cap room. Vince is coming off of an achilles heal injury which is devastating for any player, and in Vince's situation it's a 32 year old, 350lb+ nose tackle which is surely an injury that's not in his favor. It's also not worth $7.5 million cap hit which eventually will turn into $11 million on the cap considering the bonuses and such. For a guy who probably has another 2-3 decent years left in him, you'd figure a guy who represented what a true Patriot is would want to be a team guy, and restructure his contract much like Brady's done a few times. I was expecting him to retire a Patriot, and as of right now, I don't think that's going to happen. The good news is that if he does get released then we'll save cap room. The bad news? Well, we're losing a HUGE name, and a HUGE part of our defense. I'd honestly hate to see him go, but if the past few days of free agency, and contract talks have taught me anything it's that this is a business, and at the end of the day it's about the money, and not the team.
Before I get into the good news, there's one more thing I'd like to talk about, and that's DARRELLE REVIS. Listen... I'm not a fan of this signing for a few reasons. Revis is a money guy, and he wants to be paid. He's a guy who's not afraid to hold out, and the second he puts the money ahead of this team, he's gone. It sucks, but it's true. I'll never deny the tremendous amount of talent that he brings to the table, but I really hope that he plays to his full potential, and I really hope that Revis stays with us long term. We have him for 2 years, but it's really a 1 year for $12 million, and year 2 is $20 million, but that won't be paid. I'm sure a long term deal will be discussed down the road, and I hope New England sticks with it. So is signing Revis a good thing? Of course! I don't like the cap hit with the $12 million for a year, I would've said anywhere between $8.5 and $10 million, but who am I to decide? The $12 million was a desperate attempt to fill the void that Aqib Talib left in our secondary. I think Talib is a better back than Revis going by last seasons stats, but Revis was coming off a big injury, and still performed very well, and he can only get better this season. I just liked Talib's size and versatility. I mean Revis is like a few inches shorter, and maybe 10lbs lighter, but that's no big deal. I'm truly excited to see him play as a Patriot, and I'm wondering what number he'll wear. Adrian Wilson paid for Arrington a year supply of baby diapers to take number #24, and now Revis will have to give something up to get #24. No idea what's going on with Adrian Wilson, but if he's not gonna play, drop him, get some cap space, and give Revis #24.
THE GOOD
Wasn't a fan of Brandon Spikes. He surely had his good moments, and his hard hitting was unmatchable, but he not for this team. He's gonna make a great mediocre LB somewhere else, and I'm sure they're gonna love his Peewee Herman dances. Jamie Collins is gonna be dirty for us in a few years. DIRTY.
Remember that guy Aqib Talib who didn't feel like he was a football player until he came to the New England Patriots? That guy is now a Denver Bronco. Another year, another player the Broncos liked from the Patriots, and overpaid to get from us. New England offered Talib a contract, and just like Julian Edelman, he didn't like it, and didn't sign with New England. Why is this good? Well... 6 years $57 million ($26 million guaranteed). That's why it's good. It's good because we didn't overpay for a guy who can't stay healthy, especially during big games for us. He took a shot at the Patriots saying something how his hip was never injured, and that's how New England does their injury reports, but if you watch those games where he was sidelined with an injury, he was favoring his non injured side of his hip. Food for thought. When he's on the field, he's one of the best, if not THEE best, but the guy's never played a full 16 game season + post season. I think when he came here he was disciplined by the Patriot way. When he was in Tampa he was trouble. I think him going to Denver, and signing that big contract will blow his head up off his neck, and he'll go back to the old Aqib Talib. I could be wrong though. Maybe I'm just hoping that happens haha. What I'll never understand is this. Why is this a good thing? We got a CB who's just as good, and we saved money doing so. Not one single Patriots fan is upset with Talib walking away, and us getting Revis. Not one.
Tommy Kelly restructured his contract for us! For a guy who's been on the team for a year, and he's already this dedicated. I like it.
As for the rest of the free agent days. We have some voids to fill. We have a good amount of cap room left, and I'd like to see us come through with the Woodyard signing, and also the Edelman signing. We were looking at Browner, and Lafell, and maybe those guys can come aboard as well. I was just reading that the Patriots asked about Steve Smith because he was recently released from the Panthers.
As for now, we'll just wait and see what happens.
Go Pats
