Wilfork and Seymour are absolute NFL studs as good as any in the game. Ed Reed is a great Safety but Ray Lewis is highly over rated at this point.
I see what you're saying but to me, I didnt see a pass rushing OLB like Thomas as that big of a need. They already get a great pass rush from their front 3, Colvin and BB'S creative blitz packages. I'm just not sure it can GET any better than it already is. Their biggest needs are obviously a true # 1 WR who can develop good chemistry w/ Brady, and secondly help at middle linebacker, where they essentially have NO ONE. The moves of adding Welker and Thomas, certainly add depth to the team, but considering the cap space they will be taking up, and the teams main weaknesses, I just don't think this was very cost effective for them. Even w/ the 2 #1 picks.
Wilfork Warren and Seymour are the best defensive line in football. Vrabel is MUCH more effective on the outside and I bet you money they draft that Willis kid.
The Pats lost a lot when Phiffer and McGinest left. Thomas gives them a guy who can play either one of those roles which I think they really missed last year.
Bro, there is no Welker deal. There is a backloaded sheet designed to prevent the fish from matching. He will never see close to 35 million. The had 29.5 million this year. They are in no sort of cap trouble at all. Dillon was cut, Brown and Brewski are going to retire if not this year next. Until the figures come out we have no idea what kind of cap "hit" these guys create. They will have space after these signings. If my figures are correct they will have spent about 19 - 20 of there 29 million. They still have more money then some of there biggest rivals started with.
Regardless of whether they are "in cap trouble now". It pays to spend money wisely when it comes to player personell, specifically in free agency. It is my opinion that they are overpaying for what they are essentially getting. Tell me this... Does last year's Patriot team w/ the additions of A Thomas and Wes Welker scare you anymore than they did 2 months ago??
I am going to have to say that the pats track record of spending money wisely is pretty good. belichick is pretty good at evaluating talent. Welker had 700 yards and 68 receptions in Miami. In the horrible offense, with that horrible qb. he is going into a great system with (hate to say it) one of the best hurlers ever. It is a fact Brady brings out the best in guys. troy has lacked explosiveness and speed for the last few year due to his age. This walker guy has a high moter and bring a skill set of a young brown to the table. Expect them to adress the wr issue with one of the two pics. Wes is a guy for the slot, returns and to move the chains. One of the patriots biggest weakness's last year was at the lb corps. Bringing in a guy who can play five defensive positions and pairing him with one of the greatest defensive minds ever can only make things better. The overpaying shit is a cop out imo. They have 29.5 million and are making moves to fill there holes. There is what there is out there. They are not the jets. They have an established team that needs a few cogs to be complete. This is not a team building. This is a built team adding the parts they need. No one knows the numbers in any of these deals. Until that happens you cannot say they overpayed for anything. People are claiming Welker is signed and he is overpayed and they do not even have a deal yet. Pure speculation. No matterwhat it is, it is not going to be 35 million.Thomas could have gotten more money then in NE. if his projected cap hit of aroun 8 is correct that is a fact! They are better.
Do you understand the contract itself doesn't mean a thing, it's the GUARANTEED MONEY and they are going to be paying him alot more than he is worth. he is a #3 WR and a medicore STer. It's not about being in cap trouble either, they have cap room but how does it look when they rid themselves of core Championship players and overpay FAs? It's not going to sit well in the LR. They might have a more talented roster toady but they are less of a team.
I understand how it works. I was one of the ones explaining it last night. My point is you have no idea what the GUARANTEED MONEY is. There is NO OFFER as of right now. If there is one no one knows what it is. Meatballs see speculation of 7 years 35 million!!!! Then think that is the actual amount he will get. Not only is that speculation, it is not even close. Every shred of articles I have read have this guy as a steal... The only people I hear claiming he is worthless is people on this board. he absolutly killed the pats lasttime they played. They have about 100 hours of tape on him. I guess they got drunk and went crazy since they see something they like in him.
I do not really want to get in between the circle jerk with you and jet but are you that freakin obtuse? I would take any of the Patriots front 3 over those 2, any of them, any day of the week!. They are as young, if not younger, just as dynamic and they win football games. They have won a hell of a lot more than those two you just mentioned. That front 3 is in the top 2 defensive fronts in all of Football. It ain't even close. There are the Pats, the Chargers and the other shit! I know A Thomas was signed for too much. However if you can not see how he is going to thrive in front of those 3 then really what sport do you watch?
The reality of the NFL is the cap is going to go up and contracts today are going to be less than contracts tomorrow. You can look at the Pats and they really are in very good cap shape with a real opportunity to compete at an elite level next year for a SB. The Pats have been really good at unloading players a year early rather than a year late, that's why they are in a position to make these kind of moves and a team like Baltimore isn't. I think your point is valid except the Pats have been really good at determining which guys to overpay for like Dillion and which guys to unload, like Malloy and Law. Until we see them really fall on their faces, I'm not convinced these are either panic moves or bad moves. The Pats are just doing what the always do having a solid off season.
I will be shocked if it's anything less than 17-18 mil and even at $15 mil he was overpaid. We'll see whbat happens, I am happy NE is changing their philosphy. I am not scared of the moves they have made, I think they are looking like the post-dynasty Yankees desperate to return to glory. Maybe I am wrong, time will tell but I am very happy we aren't the team that overpaid for him.
The bal D is better than the NE D and it's not close. bal hasn't won as much b/c they don't have Tom Brady, Bal's D carried bal to a Championship but there is only so much you can do. They held manning & Co. to 15 pts a week before Manning tore apart the Pats D.
That was a good debate. You make some great points and I feel better now! How do you feel about porter?
They had Manning and Co outdoors in their ball park and Manning had the Baltimore Safties 20 yards behind the LOS in the fourth Quarter and they ran the ball down their throats. The Colt/Baltimore game wasn't even close midway through the third, the Ravens were done.
It was close. At the end of the regular season the pats had the second fewest average points allowed. Baltimore was at 12.8... The pats where at 14.6, better then all there superbowl teams. They also hade the fewest passing touchdowns allowed during the season. One game does not tell how an entire season went. There where several factors that weakened the pats defense in that one game. I go by the stats over 16 games, which are listed above.
You are correct. Forget 16 games of stats. Lets just base the entire season on one game. The 12.6 - 14.6 stat is stupid. Fewest passing touchdowns means nothing (with half the secondary injured) It was only over sixteen games anyway. Games which included the colts and the bengals.The pats faced no good qb's over the regular season. Rivers, Manning and Palmer are terrible. This means the colts had the best run defense in the nfl. Forget that 5th worst in nfl history nonsense, it was only over 16 games. The afc championship game dictated the entire season.
LOL. Yup obtuse it is! You can not accurately compare just using those two games. Manning has ripped the Ravens D many a time. This was the first time he had got the best of Belichick in the playoffs, though. Let me repeat the first time. You can attribute that to Brady all you want. Last time I checked Brady does not play opposite Manning. In the last 5 years (PLAYOFFS) he is 1-2 against New England yet against the vaunted defense of the Ravens he is 2-0, in fact he has never lost to the Ravens in the last 5 years 4-0. You can have the Ravens D, I will take that front 3 any day of the week over any three players the Ravens can put forth.
I hate the pats...... I have to give credit where it is due. Warren,Wilfork and Seymour are plain nasty. I would take that three over anyone in the NFL. 26, 26 and 28. They will only improve.
