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Pat' off season and next year (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter PMENFAN
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David Yudkin
Footballguy
IMO, the Pats generally don't too much negotiating. They have a number in mind for each player and a limited range that they would stray from. Once someone exceeds that threshhold, they won't really consider that guy very seriously.If the Pats were given the opportunity to match the Colts' offer, I doubt they would have. They had the chance to franchise Vinatieri for $3 million and didn't want to pay that much. They would have had to shell out $5+ million this year to match (adding in the bonus $).It remains to be seen if this approach is going to be effective. I suspect that the Pats have underestimated the market and the fact that the salary cap jumped up $17 million from last year, thus adding $540 million for teams to work with.The Pats are still $20+ million under the cap, and I wonder if their plan of waiting to find value for potential signings will only get them in a bidding war with the other teams that have a lot of cap room. So they could overpay for players even down the road once the talent pool really thins out.We may have to debate if $5 million a year for Givens would have been a better option than $5 million for Kewyshawn . . . or $7 million for Moulds . . . etc.
Boston
Footballguy
While I am as frustrated as every other Pats fan this guys rant is a little soft. He's using the exact logic that helped put the Celtics into a demise they never really recovered from. By sticking with the fan favorites like McHale and Chief for too long the C's went deep into mediocrity and have never really got out of it for last 15 or so years. That being said I don't understand why the Pats are simply letting players walk out the door this easily. Not overpaying is one thing, that's smart business. Yet, letting these situations get to the point where they are losing players without making too much of an effort to keep them is beyond puzzling. They are consistent in what they are doing this offseason so it appears there is a plan in place...what that plan is I have no idea.I was thinking about this...and how the fans would react...
(from Boston.com)
The fans need there Heroes...Adam, Willie, Tom and Tedy are the big ones...Seymour up and coming. The favorites are quickly leaving ship by no choice of their own.
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nerangers
Footballguy
Except for Troy, I think all of the other players I mentioned are still in prime shape to help you get back to the SB again. You are very correct about underestimating the Market, especially when the Cap went up as high as it did. It gave room for teams to make offers that might have not happened with the 94.5 Million salary cap.If Vandy comes in as Adam's replacement, I am sure that was not in the Plan!!! :XWhile I am as frustrated as every other Pats fan this guys rant is a little soft. He's using the exact logic that helped put the Celtics into a demise they never really recovered from. By sticking with the fan favorites like McHale and Chief for too long the C's went deep into mediocrity and have never really got out of it for last 15 or so years. That being said I don't understand why the Pats are simply letting players walk out the door this easily. Not overpaying is one thing, that's smart business. Yet, letting these situations get to the point where they are losing players without making too much of an effort to keep them is beyond puzzling. They are consistent in what they are doing this offseason so it appears there is a plan in place...what that plan is I have no idea.I was thinking about this...and how the fans would react...
(from Boston.com)
The fans need there Heroes...Adam, Willie, Tom and Tedy are the big ones...Seymour up and coming. The favorites are quickly leaving ship by no choice of their own.
Part of business is always remembering who your audience is...I think locking down Adam at 2.5 Million a year for the next four years would have been a good business move seeing what other options are out there right now. Personally if the Kicker market did not look good, they should have tagged him and tried again next year.
I have not question the leaving of the other guys, but Willie and Adam were part of the heart and soul that make the Patriots run. For a team that is said not to have Stars, as fans there are a few we love to see in Red, White, and Blue. There was no way the Pats were going to keep Givens since he is the #2 WR and every suitor was offering #1 WR money.
I know a lot of people were upset when Bledsoe left, then Milloy, and then Law...all worked out in hindsight. This just as a very different feel to it IMHO.
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Whoa. Keep this to a Patriots discussion. The C's demise had more to do with Bias & Reggie dying too young and the ping pong balls yielding Mercer and Billups rather than Duncan. There's no comparison to what the Pats are doing.Now, the Pats are sticking by their player valuations to a fault. They're reportedly $21Mil under the cap with Seymour and Branch to (hopefully) receive large contract extensions. If I'm Seymour or Branch I's shoot for the moon now as I know the Pats are going to lo-ball come free agency next year.
nerangers
Footballguy
Open Letter to the Patriot Organization
Dear Robert, Bill and Scott,
First I wish to thank you for turning the Patriots into a 1st class NFL franchise. What you have done with this organization is nothing short of remarkable. I can't thank you enough for giving me some of the most thrilling moments I have ever witnessed in New England sports history. But you are not perfect. No person or organization ever is. They can always find ways to improve, that's what keeps great organizations great.
Let's take communication for instance. As a season ticket holder I don't think it's too much to ask to be kept informed of what is happening with the team. I am not talking about intricate details but at least a very general communication about what the team is doing and why. I understand that players come and go but don't always understand why. Players that have given their heart and soul to your organization and still can perform at a high level. Or maybe they can't. But I don't know this because the shroud of secrecy that permeates your organization does not allow for any level of explanation. That doesn't mean I don't trust your decisions, you certainly have earned respect for what you have accomplished in the past 4 years. But even a small amount of information would be welcomed.
I happily pay the highest ticket prices in the NFL as well as the highest parking fees. I do this because the Patriots are one of the best sources of entertainment in the area. But don't forget that I, and many millions of fans like me, allow your football team to flourish financially. The fans allow the equity in your franchise to grow from a 140 million dollar investment to a worth of nearly 1 billion dollars. The fans allow grown men that play a game to become millionaires. The fans, all of us, are the people that butter your bread. We deserve to be kept informed and be given at least a high level of explanation as to why the team is losing such remarkable players with no apparent concern from your organization. Is that too much to ask for our unwavering support ?
When I take my automobile into the dealer for servicing, I am presented with an explanation of what was done for the money I paid. They tell me what was wrong, what needed scheduled maintenance, what parts had to be replaced and why. This is how every business behaves. It's called keeping the customer satisfied. I don't care if they are rated as the best service department in the entire country, if they don't explain the repairs fully and to my satisfaction, they not only would hear my complaint but they would expect it. I keep hearing that sports is now a "business", so let me ask you this....what makes the Patriots so special that they should be the only business that does not feel it necessary to meet the needs of it's customers ? If you want to be a "business" then start acting like one when it comes to customer service.
Whether accurate or not, the New England Patriots seem to be cultivating a reputation for being cold and calculating. This bothers me because I believe that will hurt the organization in the long term. Free agents will see that perception and will chose to play elsewhere. Some fans are wondering if this has started to take place. This may not even be true but if that perception continues to evolve then it might as well be true because the impact will be the same. Communciation can go a long way to keep a negative perception from taking hold. I don't want the Patriots to have that perception and I hope it's not really true. But again we, the fans, have no way of knowing because the lines of communication between the organization and the fans is nearly non-existent.
I am not a bandwagon fan. I have supported the team for 30 years. Attending games in Harvard Stadium, Fenway Park, Schafer/Sullivan Stadium and now Gillette. I watched and supported the team when they were one of the laughingstocks of the NFL. I had to suffer through horrible head coaches and horrible ownership. You have righted the ship in a big way. But there is one thing you could learn from the "lovable losers" of yore. The Patriots and their fans are not just a "business", they are, in essence, a family. You all know the passion that New England sports fans have. It's more than just a game. There are people that remember points in their lives as they relate to thrilling moments in New England sports history. Every knows where they were when the Patriots made the NFL playoffs for the first time, when the ball rolled through Buckner's legs, when Bobby Orr scored the goal that won the Stanley Cup, when Larry Bird and the Celtics beat the Lakers in the NBA Finals, when the Red Sox finally ended the curse. It's not just a game to a lot of people and it's certainly not just a "business". When some of our favorite sports legends are allowed to leave without as much as the perceived batting of an eye by the team, there needs to be an explanation.
We, the fans of the New England Patriots deserve to know. We shower you with our hard earned money and give you our much needed leisure time. You need to treat us like you care about us. If there is a plan, let us know. If there is a business model, let us know. But most of all....let us know something....anything. Don't just become hear no evil, speak no evil and see no evil. Communicate with us on a high level at the very least. Because we, as fans of the New England Patriots, deserve nothing less.
Sincerely,
GJA - season ticket holder, Enfield, Connecticut
Dear Robert, Bill and Scott,
First I wish to thank you for turning the Patriots into a 1st class NFL franchise. What you have done with this organization is nothing short of remarkable. I can't thank you enough for giving me some of the most thrilling moments I have ever witnessed in New England sports history. But you are not perfect. No person or organization ever is. They can always find ways to improve, that's what keeps great organizations great.
Let's take communication for instance. As a season ticket holder I don't think it's too much to ask to be kept informed of what is happening with the team. I am not talking about intricate details but at least a very general communication about what the team is doing and why. I understand that players come and go but don't always understand why. Players that have given their heart and soul to your organization and still can perform at a high level. Or maybe they can't. But I don't know this because the shroud of secrecy that permeates your organization does not allow for any level of explanation. That doesn't mean I don't trust your decisions, you certainly have earned respect for what you have accomplished in the past 4 years. But even a small amount of information would be welcomed.
I happily pay the highest ticket prices in the NFL as well as the highest parking fees. I do this because the Patriots are one of the best sources of entertainment in the area. But don't forget that I, and many millions of fans like me, allow your football team to flourish financially. The fans allow the equity in your franchise to grow from a 140 million dollar investment to a worth of nearly 1 billion dollars. The fans allow grown men that play a game to become millionaires. The fans, all of us, are the people that butter your bread. We deserve to be kept informed and be given at least a high level of explanation as to why the team is losing such remarkable players with no apparent concern from your organization. Is that too much to ask for our unwavering support ?
When I take my automobile into the dealer for servicing, I am presented with an explanation of what was done for the money I paid. They tell me what was wrong, what needed scheduled maintenance, what parts had to be replaced and why. This is how every business behaves. It's called keeping the customer satisfied. I don't care if they are rated as the best service department in the entire country, if they don't explain the repairs fully and to my satisfaction, they not only would hear my complaint but they would expect it. I keep hearing that sports is now a "business", so let me ask you this....what makes the Patriots so special that they should be the only business that does not feel it necessary to meet the needs of it's customers ? If you want to be a "business" then start acting like one when it comes to customer service.
Whether accurate or not, the New England Patriots seem to be cultivating a reputation for being cold and calculating. This bothers me because I believe that will hurt the organization in the long term. Free agents will see that perception and will chose to play elsewhere. Some fans are wondering if this has started to take place. This may not even be true but if that perception continues to evolve then it might as well be true because the impact will be the same. Communciation can go a long way to keep a negative perception from taking hold. I don't want the Patriots to have that perception and I hope it's not really true. But again we, the fans, have no way of knowing because the lines of communication between the organization and the fans is nearly non-existent.
I am not a bandwagon fan. I have supported the team for 30 years. Attending games in Harvard Stadium, Fenway Park, Schafer/Sullivan Stadium and now Gillette. I watched and supported the team when they were one of the laughingstocks of the NFL. I had to suffer through horrible head coaches and horrible ownership. You have righted the ship in a big way. But there is one thing you could learn from the "lovable losers" of yore. The Patriots and their fans are not just a "business", they are, in essence, a family. You all know the passion that New England sports fans have. It's more than just a game. There are people that remember points in their lives as they relate to thrilling moments in New England sports history. Every knows where they were when the Patriots made the NFL playoffs for the first time, when the ball rolled through Buckner's legs, when Bobby Orr scored the goal that won the Stanley Cup, when Larry Bird and the Celtics beat the Lakers in the NBA Finals, when the Red Sox finally ended the curse. It's not just a game to a lot of people and it's certainly not just a "business". When some of our favorite sports legends are allowed to leave without as much as the perceived batting of an eye by the team, there needs to be an explanation.
We, the fans of the New England Patriots deserve to know. We shower you with our hard earned money and give you our much needed leisure time. You need to treat us like you care about us. If there is a plan, let us know. If there is a business model, let us know. But most of all....let us know something....anything. Don't just become hear no evil, speak no evil and see no evil. Communicate with us on a high level at the very least. Because we, as fans of the New England Patriots, deserve nothing less.
Sincerely,
GJA - season ticket holder, Enfield, Connecticut
nerangers
Footballguy
In Bill we Trust Poll
In Bill we trust?
After all of the defections this offseason (David Givens, Willie McGinest, Adam Vinatieri), do you still take a "in Bill I trust" attitude? Or are you starting to worry about the direction the Patriots are heading?
I seriously question the Patriots' moves this offseason, and worry about the direction the team is heading in.
53.7%
Under this regime, the Pats have won three Super Bowls in five years. I still trust Bill Belichick and Co. to make the right decisions ... they know what they're doing.
46.3%
Total votes: 4714
In Bill we trust?
After all of the defections this offseason (David Givens, Willie McGinest, Adam Vinatieri), do you still take a "in Bill I trust" attitude? Or are you starting to worry about the direction the Patriots are heading?
I seriously question the Patriots' moves this offseason, and worry about the direction the team is heading in.
53.7%
Under this regime, the Pats have won three Super Bowls in five years. I still trust Bill Belichick and Co. to make the right decisions ... they know what they're doing.
46.3%
Total votes: 4714
David Yudkin
Footballguy
I've said it before and keep saying it again. We cannot evaluate the Patriots opening day roster until . . . opening day. We are months and months away from real football, and obviously they will have more (and different) players than they have currently. Free agents, trades, the draft are all on the horizon and people need to wait it out to see what happens.
How anyone can complain about the team they are fielding when they are not currently fielding a team is beyond me. Let's see who they wind up with before we right them off. The Chicken Little mentality is getting thin.
(For me, this is exacerbated by living in New England and me getting bombarded by naysayers demanding that I agree with them that the team is going right down the toilet and that they will be lucky to be .500.)
To be clear, I am not saying one way or another what the team will be like or how well they will do in 2006. They could muck things up roster wise and look terrible at the start of the season. The fact is, we just don't know what they will look like at this point.
How anyone can complain about the team they are fielding when they are not currently fielding a team is beyond me. Let's see who they wind up with before we right them off. The Chicken Little mentality is getting thin.
(For me, this is exacerbated by living in New England and me getting bombarded by naysayers demanding that I agree with them that the team is going right down the toilet and that they will be lucky to be .500.)
To be clear, I am not saying one way or another what the team will be like or how well they will do in 2006. They could muck things up roster wise and look terrible at the start of the season. The fact is, we just don't know what they will look like at this point.
David Yudkin
Footballguy
In other news, a friend of mine was telling me that he heard an interview last night with a Pats beat writer (sorry, he didn't remember who it was but he thought it was someone from the Herald) and according to him Adam V. was not coming back to N.E. under any circumstances.
As the story goes, Vinatieri was so sick of the two years as a franchise player, the low ball negotiating, and Coach B that he was not even considering coming back, and it was not about the money as the Pats eventually ponied up some cash.
It seems that the Pats came up with some data that suggested that Vinatieri was apparently the 17th best kicker last year and that he was not worth what he was asking for. That was the last straw for Vinatieri, who at that meeting then decided he was never coming back.
The Pats then tried to appease him and offered him a "real" contract that would have made him the highest paid kicker in the game per year--but of course with quirky contract terms (roster bonuses, phantom inflated last year, etc.). By then it was too late, and even though it seems like N.E. was willing to convert some of the roster bonus money to guaranteed money that Vinatieri would not even talk to the team anymore. Bottom line, he was one unhappy camper and was not even entertaining coming back.
Basically, this was backlash to the way the Pats operate, and Pats' fans better hope that current or potential players don't get sick of the Pat's mantra or they will have problems retaining or attracting players.
As the story goes, Vinatieri was so sick of the two years as a franchise player, the low ball negotiating, and Coach B that he was not even considering coming back, and it was not about the money as the Pats eventually ponied up some cash.
It seems that the Pats came up with some data that suggested that Vinatieri was apparently the 17th best kicker last year and that he was not worth what he was asking for. That was the last straw for Vinatieri, who at that meeting then decided he was never coming back.
The Pats then tried to appease him and offered him a "real" contract that would have made him the highest paid kicker in the game per year--but of course with quirky contract terms (roster bonuses, phantom inflated last year, etc.). By then it was too late, and even though it seems like N.E. was willing to convert some of the roster bonus money to guaranteed money that Vinatieri would not even talk to the team anymore. Bottom line, he was one unhappy camper and was not even entertaining coming back.
Basically, this was backlash to the way the Pats operate, and Pats' fans better hope that current or potential players don't get sick of the Pat's mantra or they will have problems retaining or attracting players.
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code
Footballguy
David, this post really got me thinking...there's a lot of talk about this being the end of the effectiveness of the "patriot way"...that players are getting frustrated, that eventually they will leave unhappy and no one new will want to come to the table...But I wonder if we aren't just seeing an inflection point in the process...that is to say, this isn't the first time the Pats have let some top players walk away and grab a big payday, yet they have (in many cases, but not all) found suitable replacements...
What's more, couldn't it be argued that these players earned their paydays in the Patriots system, or that the Patriots success increased these players expectations beyond reason...and that new players looking to both play in a winning system and improve their skills for a big payday of their own will be interested in coming here...
I have a vivid memory of Rodney Harrison, after his first Super Bowl win with the Patriots, walking up to Belichick and saying something to the effect "thank you for giving me a chance when no one else would"...I look at Washington, Harrison, and Dillon as guys that many thought were one the decline who were ecstatic to land in a Patriots uniform...what indication do we have that this trend won't continue?
My thoughts aren't well formed on this yet, but part of me can't shake the feeling that this is just a transition phase, not the end of the effectiviness of the value system...
As discussed on WEEI yesterday, think back to the day that Lawyer Milloy signed with the Bills...people were in an uproar...three years later, Rodney Harrison, and another couple rings, and the wheels keep on rolling...
nerangers
Footballguy
Dave,
I agree with you that it is too early to evaluate the Pats....but I think as a fan, we only see what is currently available, and what we had. What we had seems better than what we could get.
We know we need a kicker, and I am not so sure we would get better than Adam. I am not a Vanderjact fan, I think Edinger is not consistent enough, and I think it would take too much to get Josh Brown (that the seahawks would just match). The rest of the kickers I would not feel the assurance I felt when I saw Adam take the field.
I think the Pats are starting to get a reputation for how they handle negotiations, and it might sour players about coming to play for them.
They locked up Brady last year which was a good thing. Here is hoping the Seymour is next.
The only WR I see on the market that I hope they get is Eric Moulds...but I bet you he will want #1WR type money vs #2 WR type money. Branch is clealy the #1 WR for the Pats.
Now that I live in PA, I really miss all of the news on the Patriots you get to hear in NE. Keep us all in the loop!
I agree with you that it is too early to evaluate the Pats....but I think as a fan, we only see what is currently available, and what we had. What we had seems better than what we could get.
We know we need a kicker, and I am not so sure we would get better than Adam. I am not a Vanderjact fan, I think Edinger is not consistent enough, and I think it would take too much to get Josh Brown (that the seahawks would just match). The rest of the kickers I would not feel the assurance I felt when I saw Adam take the field.
I think the Pats are starting to get a reputation for how they handle negotiations, and it might sour players about coming to play for them.
They locked up Brady last year which was a good thing. Here is hoping the Seymour is next.
The only WR I see on the market that I hope they get is Eric Moulds...but I bet you he will want #1WR type money vs #2 WR type money. Branch is clealy the #1 WR for the Pats.
Now that I live in PA, I really miss all of the news on the Patriots you get to hear in NE. Keep us all in the loop!
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code
Footballguy
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GroveDiesel
Footballguy
Outside of my Bills, I'm the most interested to see how the Patriots and the Eagles do this season. Both teams have had a lot of success over the past 5 years or so, both teams believe in their systems first and foremost, both are "cheap" often times when it comes to their players, both have a ton of cap room that they're not spending, both had a lot of injuries last season, and both fell short of the expectations last season. It will be VERY interesting to see how these two teams do this season.
IMO, if the Eagles underperform this season, they should take away the GM role from Andy Reid. He's a great coach and won't overpay players, but IMO is not a very good talent guy at all. It's also caused loads of problems with players since he plays the dual role. With the Super Bowl success the Patriots have had, I think that their "system" gets a longer reprieve regardless of this year's outcome. But if the Patriots struggle this season I think we'll see the checkbook opened a lot wider next off-season.
IMO, if the Eagles underperform this season, they should take away the GM role from Andy Reid. He's a great coach and won't overpay players, but IMO is not a very good talent guy at all. It's also caused loads of problems with players since he plays the dual role. With the Super Bowl success the Patriots have had, I think that their "system" gets a longer reprieve regardless of this year's outcome. But if the Patriots struggle this season I think we'll see the checkbook opened a lot wider next off-season.
Kit Fisto
Footballguy
If winning championships is what a free agent is looking for, we'll get plenty of 'em to come here.
If making the big payday is more important to you; see ya. Enjoy Detroit.
This post from Tomahawk says it all. Dude, what a great post...
"...this isn't the first time the Pats have let some top players walk away and grab a big payday, yet they have (in many cases, but not all) found suitable replacements...
What's more, couldn't it be argued that these players earned their paydays in the Patriots system, or that the Patriots success increased these players expectations beyond reason...and that new players looking to both play in a winning system and improve their skills for a big payday of their own will be interested in coming here..."
I also like what David says about Chicken Little, and how it's only March, don't freak out just yet. How many Patriots fans freaked when the likes of Bill Parcells, Drew Bledsoe, Lawyer Milloy, Ty Law, Sam Gash, Brian Cox etc. left town? "HOW CAN WE LET THIS GUY GO!!!" We have to have a little more patience with Belichick and Pioli. Maybe they do have a master plan...
We talk about fantasy football here all the time, where it's the sharks that see the writing on the wall, and move first, before the rest of your league catches on. Maybe that's exactly what's happening here. Givens is solid, but in no way is a #1 WR who makes $5 mil per. No way. Willie, while a heart-and-soul guy, is on the back nine. Adam, while clutch, has never had the strongest leg. Eventually, all our guys will leave. So, we should overpay aging vets, get stuck in cap hell, and suck for a few years and have to rebuild all over again over the course of 4-5 years over sentiment? It's the fans job to be sentimental, not the front office. That's just bad business.
Belichick and Pioli have the FUTURE of the Patriots in mind. Not just this season, but many seasons down the road. I, for one, am glad our team's leaders have a little foresight. That's why we have 3 championships, and teams like the Cardinals and Lions are perennial jokes.
Patience, my fellow Pats fans, patience.
If making the big payday is more important to you; see ya. Enjoy Detroit.
This post from Tomahawk says it all. Dude, what a great post...
"...this isn't the first time the Pats have let some top players walk away and grab a big payday, yet they have (in many cases, but not all) found suitable replacements...
What's more, couldn't it be argued that these players earned their paydays in the Patriots system, or that the Patriots success increased these players expectations beyond reason...and that new players looking to both play in a winning system and improve their skills for a big payday of their own will be interested in coming here..."
I also like what David says about Chicken Little, and how it's only March, don't freak out just yet. How many Patriots fans freaked when the likes of Bill Parcells, Drew Bledsoe, Lawyer Milloy, Ty Law, Sam Gash, Brian Cox etc. left town? "HOW CAN WE LET THIS GUY GO!!!" We have to have a little more patience with Belichick and Pioli. Maybe they do have a master plan...
We talk about fantasy football here all the time, where it's the sharks that see the writing on the wall, and move first, before the rest of your league catches on. Maybe that's exactly what's happening here. Givens is solid, but in no way is a #1 WR who makes $5 mil per. No way. Willie, while a heart-and-soul guy, is on the back nine. Adam, while clutch, has never had the strongest leg. Eventually, all our guys will leave. So, we should overpay aging vets, get stuck in cap hell, and suck for a few years and have to rebuild all over again over the course of 4-5 years over sentiment? It's the fans job to be sentimental, not the front office. That's just bad business.
Belichick and Pioli have the FUTURE of the Patriots in mind. Not just this season, but many seasons down the road. I, for one, am glad our team's leaders have a little foresight. That's why we have 3 championships, and teams like the Cardinals and Lions are perennial jokes.
Patience, my fellow Pats fans, patience.
bostonfred
Footballguy
I've stayed out of this thread because you guys are doing a great job with it, but I wanted to say something.
Right now, even without Seymour, Warren, Wilfork and Green make up one of the best defensive lines in the league. They have a couple nice young players in the secondary, and Colvin at linebacker, plus Vrabel who's locked up for the medium term. On offense, they have Brady, Watson and Light in place for years.
But they still need to lock up some combination of Seymour, Koppen, Graham and Branch, and all of them come due next year. When I look at the choice of letting go a kicker, an aging linebacker, our starting center, our #1 WR, our most complete TE, and the MVP of the defense, it's hard to pick the kicker.
And there are still holes. They still need to improve at linebacker after last year's experiments failed. They need a lot more DB depth. They need a running back, although they can survive with Dillon another year. And all of their receivers except Branch had their contract come up this year because they threw a bunch of spaghetti at the wall last year and nothing stuck so hard that they were willing to break the bank.
Right now, their roster includes such greats as Michael McGrew, Todd Mortensen, Gene Mruczkowski, Rich Musinski, Jon Condo, Eric Alexander, Wesley Britt, Earl Charles, Ryan Claridge, Jeff Roehl, James Sanders, Zuriel Smith, Nick Steitz, John Stone, Antwain Spann, Santonio Thomas, Ross Tucker, Raymond Ventrone, Mike Wright and Billy Yates. That's 20 of the 60 people currently rostered by the Patriots.
So as it stands right now, yes, they're losing some good players, and it's frustrating. But this team was built around having quality depth, with very few superstars. It's great that some players we all love are getting an opportunity to become multi-millionaires. It's sad that we won't be able to root for Adam and Willie anymore.
But we have to face reality. We have at least 13 spots to fill on this team between free agency and the draft, plus we need to lock some players up long term. There's some quality free agents out there, and we may be able to afford one or even two of them, but it's going to involve - and has involved - some very difficult decisions.
Right now, even without Seymour, Warren, Wilfork and Green make up one of the best defensive lines in the league. They have a couple nice young players in the secondary, and Colvin at linebacker, plus Vrabel who's locked up for the medium term. On offense, they have Brady, Watson and Light in place for years.
But they still need to lock up some combination of Seymour, Koppen, Graham and Branch, and all of them come due next year. When I look at the choice of letting go a kicker, an aging linebacker, our starting center, our #1 WR, our most complete TE, and the MVP of the defense, it's hard to pick the kicker.
And there are still holes. They still need to improve at linebacker after last year's experiments failed. They need a lot more DB depth. They need a running back, although they can survive with Dillon another year. And all of their receivers except Branch had their contract come up this year because they threw a bunch of spaghetti at the wall last year and nothing stuck so hard that they were willing to break the bank.
Right now, their roster includes such greats as Michael McGrew, Todd Mortensen, Gene Mruczkowski, Rich Musinski, Jon Condo, Eric Alexander, Wesley Britt, Earl Charles, Ryan Claridge, Jeff Roehl, James Sanders, Zuriel Smith, Nick Steitz, John Stone, Antwain Spann, Santonio Thomas, Ross Tucker, Raymond Ventrone, Mike Wright and Billy Yates. That's 20 of the 60 people currently rostered by the Patriots.
So as it stands right now, yes, they're losing some good players, and it's frustrating. But this team was built around having quality depth, with very few superstars. It's great that some players we all love are getting an opportunity to become multi-millionaires. It's sad that we won't be able to root for Adam and Willie anymore.
But we have to face reality. We have at least 13 spots to fill on this team between free agency and the draft, plus we need to lock some players up long term. There's some quality free agents out there, and we may be able to afford one or even two of them, but it's going to involve - and has involved - some very difficult decisions.
Boston
Footballguy
Calling the Pats cheap is not correct. Every year they spend to the cap. They do not leave money on the table. What they do is they tend to use money on two or three players instead of one. In the past they have had more million dollar a year players than any other team which gave them great depth. So with regard to their philiosophy it's not a case of being cheap but how they spend their money. Do they open up the wallet for a single player or do they continue going the quantity route. It has nothing to do with being cheap but how they use their resources.
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bostonfred
Footballguy
GroveDiesel
Footballguy
You're right, that is a mis-characterization on my part. They are not the Eagles. They are a team that believes in their system though and in the team concept over the individual. The only two players that I can think of off of the top of my head that they have paid large contracts are Brady and Colvin. Like I said, it's worked well for them and I'm really interested to see if they can continue to get it to work. Don't think that I'm necessarily ripping both of these teams. I think that what they do makes a lot of sense. I think that Marv Levy is actually trying to do a similar thing in Buffalo. A lot of Bills fans are upset at their signings but so far they haven't broken the bank on anyone and they've added some nice solid depth to the team. I'm not sure that it will work as well in Buffalo though because I think that the most important guy on the team is the QB (I think the Pats and Eagles would agree with that as they both make that the one position they pay well).
I do think that the Patriots have a leg up on the Eagles though because IMO, the Eagles really are just cheap to a certain extent. I don't know what point there is to having $8-$10M left over in cap room, especially when you are a team that close. The Eagles really do a good job cutting veterans before they are overpaid, but they're not nearly as good of drafters as the Patriots and should be spending more money to grab some better young players.
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Boston
Footballguy
I strongly disagre with you on this point. In 1986 the C's had just won their third title in six seasons. They also drafted Bias that year although he never played a game for them. Without Bias they still went to the finals in 87 and the conference finals in 88. Yet, by 1988 the core of this team was aging. Larry was 32, Chief was 35, DJ was 34 and McHale was 31. It was very apparent that this team was heading south. Injuries were creeping in and the Pistons had overtaken them. Under BB is there any doubt that this core would have been dismantled in a cold fashion? Yet, the C's continued with this core due to loyalty and the fact all these guys were legends who the fans were extremeley attached to. Therefore Bird remained a C until he retired in 92. McHale remained a C until he retired in 93. DJ remained a C until he retired in 90. Chief was the only one who didn't retire a C but he remained with the club until 94. The C's have never been the same since.As for Reggie he was a quality player. Yet, he was one-dimensional and not a franchise player. As for the Duncan fiasco that was a killer but was long after the Bird era had ended. The bottomline is the C's didn't make the hard (and yes heartless) decisions with this group and suffered the consquences throughout the 90's. Since than they have been rudderless for the most part although things are starting to show some promise.
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Pat Patriot
Footballguy
Boo friggin hoo for Adam Vinitieri. Vinatieri was so sick of the two years as a franchise player He has been the highest paid kicker in the league basically since the 2002 season.
The Patriots have NOT been cheap with him. They have paid him. They have just have not given him a long term bonus laden deal which is smart business. Kickers are so fickle that one little thing could throw them off their game.
I dont recall many long term deals for kickers being thrown out there (Akers of Philly being an exception) until this year. The Patriots did him a favor by not franchising him again. The Pats had plenty of cap room and COULD have just franchised him and moved on. However, it appears Belicheck promised him he wouldnt franchise him.
I only have positive thoughts for David Givens as he leaves. The chance to be a #1 receiver and get paid like one. Good luck David!
Willie Mc was one of my favorites. I used to see him around Quincy quite a bit when I lived there. Although a productive player, he was no longer a FT starter. Tough to pay Colvin, Vrabel and Willie over $4 million a year. I was upset that the Pats apparently didnt try to resign him. I wish him well and will always remember him as a great Patriot.
Good riddance to Adam Vinitieri. He acts as if the Pats have been screwing him over his whole career.
The Patriots have NOT been cheap with him. They have paid him. They have just have not given him a long term bonus laden deal which is smart business. Kickers are so fickle that one little thing could throw them off their game.
I dont recall many long term deals for kickers being thrown out there (Akers of Philly being an exception) until this year. The Patriots did him a favor by not franchising him again. The Pats had plenty of cap room and COULD have just franchised him and moved on. However, it appears Belicheck promised him he wouldnt franchise him.
I only have positive thoughts for David Givens as he leaves. The chance to be a #1 receiver and get paid like one. Good luck David!
Willie Mc was one of my favorites. I used to see him around Quincy quite a bit when I lived there. Although a productive player, he was no longer a FT starter. Tough to pay Colvin, Vrabel and Willie over $4 million a year. I was upset that the Pats apparently didnt try to resign him. I wish him well and will always remember him as a great Patriot.
Good riddance to Adam Vinitieri. He acts as if the Pats have been screwing him over his whole career.
nerangers
Footballguy
Article -It's all good for Vinatieri
By Nick Cafardo, Globe Staff | March 23, 2006
Adam Vinatieri's father, Paul, said last night that his son wanted to remain with the Patriots in the worst way.
''He loved the fans there," the elder Vinatieri said from his home in South Dakota. ''They treated him so well. He'll never forget that, but the Colts treated him very well in their talks. They were straightforward and upfront and were able to get it done quickly with Adam, who really appreciated their interest in him."
Paul Vinatieri had been instructed by his son not to reveal anything about the negotiations between the Patriots.
''He wants to leave there with good feelings. He doesn't want anyone to make any comments about the Patriots situation," said the elder Vinatieri. ''He's enjoyed his teammates and his coaches, and that's the way he wants to walk away."
Adam Vinatieri agreed to a long-term contract with the Colts late Tuesday, and the deal, along with a physical, was finished up yesterday in Indianapolis. Vinatieri is healthy, no longer bothered by the back spasms he had a couple of years ago.
''It's hard to say goodbye," Vinatieri told Channel 4 last night.
''There's a lot of amazing things with the New England Patriots I was fortunate to be a part of," he said. ''There's a part of my heart that will always be there."
Could the Patriots do what Bill Parcells did 10 years ago, when he went with an unknown rookie free agent kicker named Vinatieri? Then-special teams coach Mike Sweatman (now with the Giants) watched tape of Vinatieri in Europe and was convinced the Patriots should go with a young kicker. This year, the Patriots could wait until late in the draft and pluck any one of three top college kickers such as Stephen Gostkowski from Memphis, Jonathan Scifres from Southwest Missouri State, or Josh Huston from Ohio State. They could also look to NFL Europe for a kicker. The Jets drafted Mike Nugent in the second round last season.
The Patriots agreed to a two-year deal with cornerback Chad Scott, outbidding the Jets for his services. Scott was placed on injured reserve by the Patriots Oct. 12 with a shoulder injury, playing just three games . . . Vinatieri called Packers vice president Andrew Brandt to tell him he appreciated how well the Packers treated him during his visit to Green Bay last week. ''We were disappointed but wish him the best," said Brandt, who was Vinatieri's first agent . . . The Patriots have made an informal initial inquiry on Buffalo wide receiver Eric Moulds, who has been given permission to seek a trade after the former All-Pro wouldn't take a paycut . . . Left tackle Matt Light said he is progressing well after breaking his right fibula last season. ''I've been working out in Foxborough every day," Light said. ''I'm doing well. All that stuff is behind me."
Another Article - No more Adam for the fall
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nerangers
Footballguy
Kraft on Adam
Speaking to Patriots.com, owner Robert Kraft commented on the departure of kicker Adam Vinatieri.
"I left a message with Adam just to thank him for all of his contributions during the past 10 years with the New England Patriots," Kraft told Patriots.com, the team's official Web site.
"I was proud of the way he represented the franchise, both on and off the field. He is a true champion. Adam will always be remembered for his many game-winning kicks and overall accoomlishments as a Patriot. He holds a special place in the hearts of all of us who are Patriots fans."
Speaking to Patriots.com, owner Robert Kraft commented on the departure of kicker Adam Vinatieri.
"I left a message with Adam just to thank him for all of his contributions during the past 10 years with the New England Patriots," Kraft told Patriots.com, the team's official Web site.
"I was proud of the way he represented the franchise, both on and off the field. He is a true champion. Adam will always be remembered for his many game-winning kicks and overall accoomlishments as a Patriot. He holds a special place in the hearts of all of us who are Patriots fans."
Godsbrother
Footballguy
Chad Scott stinks! (although he is probably an upgrade over Hank Poteat)
Franknbeans
Footballguy
“He’s been mad for a long time,” one of Vinatieri’s former teammates said yesterday. “He’s never been happy with the deals he got there.”
Not the forum to dig into this so lets agree to disagree. That said, I can't not comment that there would have been a solid lineage if Bias and Reggie had lived to play. If you add the fact that the NBA lottery system (i.e., luck) robbed the C's of Duncan (or Van Horn), it would have been 1998 and they would have been retooled (and they were with Mercer & Billips albeit poorly).
nerangers
Footballguy
Adding ‘idiot’ a dumb idea: Loser Vanderjagt no Patriot 
There would be only one thing worse than letting Adam Vinatieri walk to Indianapolis in free agency:
Signing former Colts kicker Mike Vanderjagt as his replacement.
Is there any way to describe Vanderjagt other than as a big-mouthed loser? He’s the most accurate kicker in NFL history, but he can’t kick in the clutch, can’t kick off and can’t keep his mouth shut.
On Jan. 12, 2004, the Herald ran a back page photo of Vanderjagt under the blaring headline: “Vanderjerk.” It was in response to Vanderjagt’s assertion earlier in the week that the Pats’ were “ripe for the picking” in their upcoming divisional playoff game. Belichick loved it, and that morning he held up a copy of the paper to show his players during the team meeting.
There would be only one thing worse than letting Adam Vinatieri walk to Indianapolis in free agency:
Signing former Colts kicker Mike Vanderjagt as his replacement.
Is there any way to describe Vanderjagt other than as a big-mouthed loser? He’s the most accurate kicker in NFL history, but he can’t kick in the clutch, can’t kick off and can’t keep his mouth shut.
On Jan. 12, 2004, the Herald ran a back page photo of Vanderjagt under the blaring headline: “Vanderjerk.” It was in response to Vanderjagt’s assertion earlier in the week that the Pats’ were “ripe for the picking” in their upcoming divisional playoff game. Belichick loved it, and that morning he held up a copy of the paper to show his players during the team meeting.
nerangers
Footballguy
Patriots | Team close to re-signing S. Neal?
Thu, 23 Mar 2006 06:30:09 -0800
Tom E. Curran, of the Providence Journal, reports sources said the New England Patriots may be close to re-signing free agent OL Stephen Neal (Patriots).
Patriots | Team close to re-signing T. Brown?
Thu, 23 Mar 2006 06:27:05 -0800
Tom E. Curran, of the Providence Journal, reports sources said the New England Patriots may be close to re-signing free agent WR Troy Brown (Patriots). Earlier reports said he was probably going to sign elsewhere.
Thu, 23 Mar 2006 06:30:09 -0800
Tom E. Curran, of the Providence Journal, reports sources said the New England Patriots may be close to re-signing free agent OL Stephen Neal (Patriots).
Patriots | Team close to re-signing T. Brown?
Thu, 23 Mar 2006 06:27:05 -0800
Tom E. Curran, of the Providence Journal, reports sources said the New England Patriots may be close to re-signing free agent WR Troy Brown (Patriots). Earlier reports said he was probably going to sign elsewhere.
code
Footballguy
This comment expanded my thoughts further on the continued desirability of the Patriots organization for free agents...I think there is a common misconception that the majority of players in the NFL make millions each year...in fact the large majority of players are making under a million...(if you haven't checked it out, Miguel's Patriots Salary Cap Information is fascinating)...
So, if we accept the notion that the Patriots are unwilling to overpay "elite" players, but grant that they spend the entire cap each year...is it possible that what they are actually doing is spending more money on mid-tier guys?...in fact it seems quite possible that they are spending more money than other organizations on these guys, since they haven't overspent on the top 5% of their roster...
Could this mean that they appear "cheap" to the elite players (and maybe to the fans that want the big name players in Foxboro), but in fact appear quite reasonable, even generous, to mid tier players?...and is it further possible that coaching these kind of guys up is what makes the team so balanced and so successful?
Bonuses obviously skew this thinking a little bit as more players count greater than one million against the cap this year, but I wonder if its possible that mid tier players in fact find the Patriots a highly desirable organization...its only the flashy big name guys that we hear so much about...
Thoughts?
David Yudkin
Footballguy
IMO, Pats would love to roster 53 underpaid players. Elite, mid-level, low end, rookies--it doesn't matter--they don't want to pay full price or over pay.Basically, they are looking to eke out $200 million worth of market value out of a $102 million salary cap.
Of course, that is somewhat unrealistic, but I don't see them spending more than market value for too many (if any) players. Who on their current roster might be classified as getting too much money?
Wouldn't every team want 53 underpaid players? If a franchise isn't looking to eke $200 million worth of talent for $102 million (or less), then how do they expect to win.I'm not really happy with what has transpired in the offseason thus far, but I also see nothing wrong with the business model so far.
code
Footballguy
A fair question and I don't have a great answer...it was more of a conceptual theory, that the Patriots are spending the money somehow so maybe they are more cash friendly to mid tier players...that doesn't necessarily mean anyone is being overpaid, but at least that Foxboro is more attractive to mid tier players looking for a mid tier contract...If you're a guy like Caldwell, looking in the $500k to $900k range, is it possible that the Patriots cash management scheme would actually make them a *better* suitor than say a team like the Raiders?Maybe a different way to look at it is, for a team like the Redskins, how are they filling out their 53 man roster?...at some point you don't even have enough cash to pay the remaining guys the minimum...
nerangers
Footballguy
I think the Patriots model works fine for the Patriots organization. You can't blame the fans for wanting some of their favorites to stay with the team, but that is not the model. The Pats want to keep up, and have young players step up. They have found ways of doing that in the last few years. As many have pointed out...it is March and we still have the draft, and FA signings to go. Except for the kicker market being weak, I think BB can fill the rest of the wholes. Both Moulds and Keyshawn want #1 WR money....so I don't think you will see them signing with the Patriots...and this will not be because the Patriots are cheap. It is because they are looking for #2 and #3 type WRs. Branch is clearly their #1.So the Colts said they were not going to jump into the FA market the first few weeks until the over pricing settled down. Were they just trying to be deceptive? They made Adam V the highest paid kicker. Were they thinking Adam would not be available, and jumped at the chance since he still was?
David Yudkin
Footballguy
As I see it, many teams take the model that they will pay at or above market value for marquee players (and maybe even some past their prime). They fill in other starting positions with lesser talent at A LOT lower salaries. They also forgo much depth.So conceptually they might spend $50M on offense, $50M on defense, $2M on special teams. But the breakdown might be $35M on 6 key guys on each side of the ball and the rest on marginal starters and backups.IMO, the Patriots model is to not "buy" such expensive high end players, have more mid-tier players, and compile more role players and depth. So they might have 3 high priced players, twice as many mid-tiered and maybe starter worthy players, and not many "scrubs" at all.I don't see them paying MORE to mid-tier players, I just see them accumulating more of them. That allows them to have backups and reserve players that might be paid $1-2 million a year while teams like the Redskins might fill up on rookies, retreads, and guys at the league minimum.It also allows them to rotate players and use guys situationally a bit better than other teams. It keeps players fresher and also can create mismatches and scheme problems for opponents.Well that's my take in theory on all this, others may disagree . . .
code
Footballguy
I think this is congruent with the idea I presented...I was just taking it one step further to suggest that such "mid tier" players may find the Patriots more interested in their talents, and thus drawing the conclusion that not ALL future free agents will look negatively on the Pats...
nerangers
Footballguy
Cowboys | Vanderjagt signed
Thu, 23 Mar 2006 10:05:37 -0800
Len Pasquarelli, of ESPN.com, reports the Dallas Cowboys have signed free agent PK Mike Vanderjagt (Colts). According to league sources, Vanderjagt signed a three-year deal. Financial terms of the deal were not available, but it's believed the contract is worth about $2 million annually.
So the Pats will either sign Edinger as a stop gap, go after someone they had planned to get (that the fans don't know about), or wait till the draft and go with a rookie kicker. Patriot football at its finest!
Boston.com had Adam's introduction to the Colts interview online. Mixed feelings listening to it....Good Luck Adam. Vinatieri's remarks
On thoughts of the Patriots and their fans:“I have no animosity toward that organization. If there is any one thing I can say, I just want to say thank you to all the fans for all the support, for all the well-wishing, just all the people there that have supported not only myself, but the team. I’ve got big expectations for the people of Indianapolis. I’m sure their fans are amazing here, but I really, really appreciate what New England [fans] has done, not only for myself but for the team, the New England Patriot team. They’re great. They’re a great organization, and really a truly classy place. I have no animosity or any ill feelings toward them whatsoever. This to me was the right decision and that’s it. I don’t have any bad feelings toward them at all. It’s a great organization, a winning organization, they have great coaches and a great owner, and great players. Everything about it is fantastic. There is nothing negative for me to say about them at all.”
Thu, 23 Mar 2006 10:05:37 -0800
Len Pasquarelli, of ESPN.com, reports the Dallas Cowboys have signed free agent PK Mike Vanderjagt (Colts). According to league sources, Vanderjagt signed a three-year deal. Financial terms of the deal were not available, but it's believed the contract is worth about $2 million annually.
So the Pats will either sign Edinger as a stop gap, go after someone they had planned to get (that the fans don't know about), or wait till the draft and go with a rookie kicker. Patriot football at its finest!
Boston.com had Adam's introduction to the Colts interview online. Mixed feelings listening to it....Good Luck Adam. Vinatieri's remarks
On thoughts of the Patriots and their fans:“I have no animosity toward that organization. If there is any one thing I can say, I just want to say thank you to all the fans for all the support, for all the well-wishing, just all the people there that have supported not only myself, but the team. I’ve got big expectations for the people of Indianapolis. I’m sure their fans are amazing here, but I really, really appreciate what New England [fans] has done, not only for myself but for the team, the New England Patriot team. They’re great. They’re a great organization, and really a truly classy place. I have no animosity or any ill feelings toward them whatsoever. This to me was the right decision and that’s it. I don’t have any bad feelings toward them at all. It’s a great organization, a winning organization, they have great coaches and a great owner, and great players. Everything about it is fantastic. There is nothing negative for me to say about them at all.”
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nerangers
Footballguy
Found this over on the Patriot Message Board:
Rookie Kicker Stephen Gostkowski
Gostkowski kicked for Memphis for the past 4 seasons. Here is his breakdown from NFL experts:
Strengths: He is a four-year starter and had a long productive college career. Had a streak of 87 straight extra points at one point. Gostkowski was a perfect 10 of 10 from outside of 40 yards, including 3 of 3 from 50+ this past season and continues to get better year after year. He has enough leg to kick long field goals in the NFL. He has been very consistent and reliable. He is an above average athlete for the position and a hard worker.
Weaknesses: He hasn't played in many high stress games at Memphis or under a national microscope. Solid in all areas, but doesn't excel in any one area.
Overall: Gostkowski walked on at Memphis in 2002 and quickly earned a scholarship. He was 9/14 on field goals and 32/37 on extra points. He scored 101 points in 2003, going 19/28 on field goal attempts. He was named First Team All Conference USA in 2004, nailing 20 of 24, including a perfect six for six from outside of 40 yards. In 2005, Gostkowski was outstanding once again, going 22 of 25 on his field goals and a perfect 10/10 from outside of 40 yards and 35/35 on extra points. He was the active leader in the NCAA with 70 career field goals. Gostkowski has also handled all the kickoff duties for four years and was a pitcher on Memphis' baseball team. Gatkowski lacks great upside because of his just decent leg strength, but his consistent all-around production warrants late-round consideration in the 2006 draft.
ROOKIE KICKERS
# Name College Height Weight 40-Time
1. Connor Hughes Virginia 5-10 172 4.77
2. Josh Huston Ohio St. 6-1 195 4.97
3. Stephen Gostkowski Memphis 6-2 200 5.05
4. Jon Scifres Missouri St. 6-2 197 5.00
5. Deric Yaussi Wyoming 5-11 199 4.96
6. Ben Jones Purdue 6-1 213 5.25
Rookie Kicker Stephen Gostkowski
Gostkowski kicked for Memphis for the past 4 seasons. Here is his breakdown from NFL experts:
Strengths: He is a four-year starter and had a long productive college career. Had a streak of 87 straight extra points at one point. Gostkowski was a perfect 10 of 10 from outside of 40 yards, including 3 of 3 from 50+ this past season and continues to get better year after year. He has enough leg to kick long field goals in the NFL. He has been very consistent and reliable. He is an above average athlete for the position and a hard worker.
Weaknesses: He hasn't played in many high stress games at Memphis or under a national microscope. Solid in all areas, but doesn't excel in any one area.
Overall: Gostkowski walked on at Memphis in 2002 and quickly earned a scholarship. He was 9/14 on field goals and 32/37 on extra points. He scored 101 points in 2003, going 19/28 on field goal attempts. He was named First Team All Conference USA in 2004, nailing 20 of 24, including a perfect six for six from outside of 40 yards. In 2005, Gostkowski was outstanding once again, going 22 of 25 on his field goals and a perfect 10/10 from outside of 40 yards and 35/35 on extra points. He was the active leader in the NCAA with 70 career field goals. Gostkowski has also handled all the kickoff duties for four years and was a pitcher on Memphis' baseball team. Gatkowski lacks great upside because of his just decent leg strength, but his consistent all-around production warrants late-round consideration in the 2006 draft.
ROOKIE KICKERS
# Name College Height Weight 40-Time
1. Connor Hughes Virginia 5-10 172 4.77
2. Josh Huston Ohio St. 6-1 195 4.97
3. Stephen Gostkowski Memphis 6-2 200 5.05
4. Jon Scifres Missouri St. 6-2 197 5.00
5. Deric Yaussi Wyoming 5-11 199 4.96
6. Ben Jones Purdue 6-1 213 5.25
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nerangers
Footballguy
Patriots | Light progressing well
Thu, 23 Mar 2006 10:42:59 -0800
Nick Cafardo, of the Boston Globe, reports New England Patriots OLT Matt Light (fibula) said he is progressing well after breaking his right fibula in 2005. "I've been working out in Foxborough every day," said Light. "I'm doing well. All that stuff is behind me."
Thu, 23 Mar 2006 10:42:59 -0800
Nick Cafardo, of the Boston Globe, reports New England Patriots OLT Matt Light (fibula) said he is progressing well after breaking his right fibula in 2005. "I've been working out in Foxborough every day," said Light. "I'm doing well. All that stuff is behind me."
nerangers
Footballguy
More on Rookie Kicker Stephen Gostkowski, Memphis
A returning All-American who has lettered the last three seasons for the Tigers...Was a semifinalist for the Lou Groza award in 2004...Spends his spring pitching for the U of M baseball team...NationalChamps.net listed Gostkowski as a third team selection to their preseason All-America team for 2005...
Career: Kicked 88 consecutive PATs between 2002 and 2004 before missing an attempt in the 2004 Southern Miss game that was backed up from penalty...Holds the Memphis record for points scored in a career with 268 heading into the 2005 season...Also holds career records in PATs made with 124 and PATs attempted with 130...Needs just four more field goals made to garner the top spot currently held by Lou Groza Award winner Joe Allison who booted 51 FGs from 1990-93...As a sophomore, became just the second Tiger in history to score more than 100 points in a season with 101...Now that total is good for third and he is also second with 108 points in 2004 (RB DeAngelo Williams owns the top spot with his 138 points in 2004)...Has been named a C-USA Player of the Week three times in his career...
2004: Named to the 2004 All-Conference USA first team as a kicker...Helped the Tigers to a 20-13 win over Ole Miss in the season opener by kicking two PATs and connecting on both of his field goal attempts...Kicked field goals of 39 and 45 yards in helping Memphis maintain its lead in the game...Made one of two field goal attempts in the victory over Chattanooga...Connected from 26 yards out but suffered his first miss of the season on a 39-yard attempt against the Mocs...Remained perfect on his PAT work booting seven on the night...Had another outstanding performance in the Tigers' win over Arkansas St., making four-of-four field goal attempts and all five PATs in the Tigers' 47-35 victory...His 17 points scored against Arkansas State rank as the second highest single-game total by a kicker in Memphis football history...Had field goals of 19, 41, 24 and 30 yards against ASU...Was named the C-USA Special Teams Player of the Week following the ASU meeting...Made two of three field goal attempts and four PATs in the UAB game...Hit on field goals of 47 and 19 yards against the Blazers, and his 47-yard effort was the third longest of his career...Booted two field goals of 47 and 30 yards in the win over Houston, and added five PATs...Made seven PATs in the Memphis victory over Tulane...Booted a 49-yard field goal against Cincinnati, which was his second-longest career field goal...Had an outstanding game against Louisville on national television when he connected on three-of-three field goal attempts and made four-of-four PATs...Totaled 13 points versus the Cardinals, which ranks in a tie for the sixth highest in school history....Was named the C-USA Special Teams Player of the Week for the second time this season following the UL game...Connected on one-of-three field goal attempts against USM...Missed his only PAT in 89 tries as the last one of the USM game was backed up because of a penalty on an attempted two-point conversion...Took control of the East Carolina game and provided the Tigers with the winning margin by booting a 35-yard field goal with just six seconds left in the contest...Also connected on five-of-five PAT attempts in the ECU win...Helped ice the Tigers' eighth win of the season with three first-half field goals against USF...Connected on field goals of 47, 19 and 37 yards in USF game...Totaled five PATs in the GMAC Bowl, but did not have a field goal try versus Bowling Green...Booted his only kick off of the season in the fourth quarter Named Special Teams Player of the Year at the Tiger banquet...Was an honorable mention pick on CollegeFootballNews.com's All-American team following the 2004 season...Completed his junior season as the squad's second-leading scorer with 108 points...Was 20 of 24 on field goals and connected on 48 of 49 PATs...Was ranked as high as second nationally in consecutive PATs during the season...
2003: Was the Tigers' starting kicker for the second-consecutive season, and handled all of the field goal and PAT duties for the Tigers...Had two field goals in the season-opening win over Tennessee Tech...Booted field goals of 39 and 23 yards against the Golden Eagles...Had a career-high three field goals in the Tiger victory over Ole Miss and was named the Conference USA Special Teams Player of the Week...Had field goals of 21, 42 and 17 yards against the Rebels...His 42-yard effort gave Memphis a fourth quarter lead and his 17-yard effort sealed the victory...Had two field goals against Southern Miss on kicks of 21 and 33 yards...Made two-of-three field goal attempts against Mississippi State... Kicked one field goal from 33 yards and connected on six-of-six PATs in the win over the Houston Cougars...Booted field goals of 30 and 23 yards in the win over East Carolina, giving him 11 points for the game...Tallied two field goals of 22 and 28 yards and made three PATs in the Memphis win over Louisville...Made one field goal in the regular-season finale against USF...Connected on 45-yard attempt against the Bulls...Tallied nine points in the New Orleans Bowl after kicking field goals of 21 and 42 yards and hitting three PATs...His 42-yard field goal with 2:26 remaining in the game locked the victory over North Texas...His 101 points scored in 2003 tied the Memphis record for the most points scored in a single season...His 28 field goal attempts in 2003 were a school record and his 19 field goals made were the second-highest total in school history...Came to the University of Memphis as a baseball signee, but earned a football scholarship in fall camp...Was the only player in Conference USA to be named to the All-Freshman Team in both football and baseball in 2002-03...Pitched for the Tigers in the spring of 2003...Compiled a regular season record of 4-4 with a 4.32 ERA in 61.2 innings pitched...Tied for second on the team in strikeouts with 45...
2002: Came to the Tigers as a walk-on kicker in fall camp and by the season opener, had earned a scholarship and was the team's starting kicker...Lettered while appearing in all 12 games of the 2002 season...Made nine-of-14 field goal attempts, including a 50-yarder in the season opener against Murray State...Also made 32-of-37 PATs in 2002...Opened his collegiate career making five-of-six PATs and his longest field goal of the season at 50 yards...Made five-of-five PATs in the win over Tulane and hit on a 48-yard field goal attempt...Had his only multiple field goal game in the season finale against TCU...Kicked off for the Tigers 58 times during the season and had 12 of his kickoffs declared as touchbacks...Had an average kickoff depth of the five yard line (5.10)...Was named to the 2002 Conference USA All-Freshman Team...Also named to The Sporting News All-Freshman Team...Prep: Lettered for four years in football and soccer and three years in baseball at Madison Central High...Earned all-state honors in all of the three sports...Complied an 8-2 record with a 1.40 ERA during his senior season...Had a batting average of .395 with three home runs and 25 RBI...Completed his high school baseball career with a 16-2 record and a 1.00 ERA...Led Madison Central to the 2002 Mississippi state championship...Holds the MCHS record for the longest field goal at 55 yards...
Personal: Stephen Carroll Gostkowski is the son of Larry and Cindy Gostkowski...Born January 28, 1984 in Baton Rouge, La...Majoring in exercise and sport science, and expects to graduate in May 2006...Also a member of the Tiger Baseball team.
GOSTKOWSKI'S STATISTICS
Field Goal G/S FGA FGM LG PAT's TP
2002 12/12 14 9 50 32-37 59
2003 13/13 29 19 45 44-44 101
2004 12/12 24 20 49 48-49 108
Total 25/25 67 48 50 124-130 268
Career Field Goal By Distance
Less than 20 yards 5/5
20-29 yards 14/16
30-39 yards 16/23
40-49 yards 12/20
50+ yards 1/3
GOSTKOWSKI'S CAREER HIGHS
Most Field Goals Made/Game: 4 vs Arkansas State (`04)
Most FG Attempted/Game: 4 Tennessee Tech (`03), Arkansas St. (`04)
Longest Field Goal Made/Game: 50 vs Murray State ('02)
Most PATs Made/Game: 7 vs Chattanooga, Tulane (`04)
Most PATs Attempted/Game: 7 vs Chattanooga, Tulane (`04))
Most Points Scored/Game: 17 vs Arkansas State (`04)
Most Points Scored/Season: 108 (`04)
A returning All-American who has lettered the last three seasons for the Tigers...Was a semifinalist for the Lou Groza award in 2004...Spends his spring pitching for the U of M baseball team...NationalChamps.net listed Gostkowski as a third team selection to their preseason All-America team for 2005...
Career: Kicked 88 consecutive PATs between 2002 and 2004 before missing an attempt in the 2004 Southern Miss game that was backed up from penalty...Holds the Memphis record for points scored in a career with 268 heading into the 2005 season...Also holds career records in PATs made with 124 and PATs attempted with 130...Needs just four more field goals made to garner the top spot currently held by Lou Groza Award winner Joe Allison who booted 51 FGs from 1990-93...As a sophomore, became just the second Tiger in history to score more than 100 points in a season with 101...Now that total is good for third and he is also second with 108 points in 2004 (RB DeAngelo Williams owns the top spot with his 138 points in 2004)...Has been named a C-USA Player of the Week three times in his career...
2004: Named to the 2004 All-Conference USA first team as a kicker...Helped the Tigers to a 20-13 win over Ole Miss in the season opener by kicking two PATs and connecting on both of his field goal attempts...Kicked field goals of 39 and 45 yards in helping Memphis maintain its lead in the game...Made one of two field goal attempts in the victory over Chattanooga...Connected from 26 yards out but suffered his first miss of the season on a 39-yard attempt against the Mocs...Remained perfect on his PAT work booting seven on the night...Had another outstanding performance in the Tigers' win over Arkansas St., making four-of-four field goal attempts and all five PATs in the Tigers' 47-35 victory...His 17 points scored against Arkansas State rank as the second highest single-game total by a kicker in Memphis football history...Had field goals of 19, 41, 24 and 30 yards against ASU...Was named the C-USA Special Teams Player of the Week following the ASU meeting...Made two of three field goal attempts and four PATs in the UAB game...Hit on field goals of 47 and 19 yards against the Blazers, and his 47-yard effort was the third longest of his career...Booted two field goals of 47 and 30 yards in the win over Houston, and added five PATs...Made seven PATs in the Memphis victory over Tulane...Booted a 49-yard field goal against Cincinnati, which was his second-longest career field goal...Had an outstanding game against Louisville on national television when he connected on three-of-three field goal attempts and made four-of-four PATs...Totaled 13 points versus the Cardinals, which ranks in a tie for the sixth highest in school history....Was named the C-USA Special Teams Player of the Week for the second time this season following the UL game...Connected on one-of-three field goal attempts against USM...Missed his only PAT in 89 tries as the last one of the USM game was backed up because of a penalty on an attempted two-point conversion...Took control of the East Carolina game and provided the Tigers with the winning margin by booting a 35-yard field goal with just six seconds left in the contest...Also connected on five-of-five PAT attempts in the ECU win...Helped ice the Tigers' eighth win of the season with three first-half field goals against USF...Connected on field goals of 47, 19 and 37 yards in USF game...Totaled five PATs in the GMAC Bowl, but did not have a field goal try versus Bowling Green...Booted his only kick off of the season in the fourth quarter Named Special Teams Player of the Year at the Tiger banquet...Was an honorable mention pick on CollegeFootballNews.com's All-American team following the 2004 season...Completed his junior season as the squad's second-leading scorer with 108 points...Was 20 of 24 on field goals and connected on 48 of 49 PATs...Was ranked as high as second nationally in consecutive PATs during the season...
2003: Was the Tigers' starting kicker for the second-consecutive season, and handled all of the field goal and PAT duties for the Tigers...Had two field goals in the season-opening win over Tennessee Tech...Booted field goals of 39 and 23 yards against the Golden Eagles...Had a career-high three field goals in the Tiger victory over Ole Miss and was named the Conference USA Special Teams Player of the Week...Had field goals of 21, 42 and 17 yards against the Rebels...His 42-yard effort gave Memphis a fourth quarter lead and his 17-yard effort sealed the victory...Had two field goals against Southern Miss on kicks of 21 and 33 yards...Made two-of-three field goal attempts against Mississippi State... Kicked one field goal from 33 yards and connected on six-of-six PATs in the win over the Houston Cougars...Booted field goals of 30 and 23 yards in the win over East Carolina, giving him 11 points for the game...Tallied two field goals of 22 and 28 yards and made three PATs in the Memphis win over Louisville...Made one field goal in the regular-season finale against USF...Connected on 45-yard attempt against the Bulls...Tallied nine points in the New Orleans Bowl after kicking field goals of 21 and 42 yards and hitting three PATs...His 42-yard field goal with 2:26 remaining in the game locked the victory over North Texas...His 101 points scored in 2003 tied the Memphis record for the most points scored in a single season...His 28 field goal attempts in 2003 were a school record and his 19 field goals made were the second-highest total in school history...Came to the University of Memphis as a baseball signee, but earned a football scholarship in fall camp...Was the only player in Conference USA to be named to the All-Freshman Team in both football and baseball in 2002-03...Pitched for the Tigers in the spring of 2003...Compiled a regular season record of 4-4 with a 4.32 ERA in 61.2 innings pitched...Tied for second on the team in strikeouts with 45...
2002: Came to the Tigers as a walk-on kicker in fall camp and by the season opener, had earned a scholarship and was the team's starting kicker...Lettered while appearing in all 12 games of the 2002 season...Made nine-of-14 field goal attempts, including a 50-yarder in the season opener against Murray State...Also made 32-of-37 PATs in 2002...Opened his collegiate career making five-of-six PATs and his longest field goal of the season at 50 yards...Made five-of-five PATs in the win over Tulane and hit on a 48-yard field goal attempt...Had his only multiple field goal game in the season finale against TCU...Kicked off for the Tigers 58 times during the season and had 12 of his kickoffs declared as touchbacks...Had an average kickoff depth of the five yard line (5.10)...Was named to the 2002 Conference USA All-Freshman Team...Also named to The Sporting News All-Freshman Team...Prep: Lettered for four years in football and soccer and three years in baseball at Madison Central High...Earned all-state honors in all of the three sports...Complied an 8-2 record with a 1.40 ERA during his senior season...Had a batting average of .395 with three home runs and 25 RBI...Completed his high school baseball career with a 16-2 record and a 1.00 ERA...Led Madison Central to the 2002 Mississippi state championship...Holds the MCHS record for the longest field goal at 55 yards...
Personal: Stephen Carroll Gostkowski is the son of Larry and Cindy Gostkowski...Born January 28, 1984 in Baton Rouge, La...Majoring in exercise and sport science, and expects to graduate in May 2006...Also a member of the Tiger Baseball team.
GOSTKOWSKI'S STATISTICS
Field Goal G/S FGA FGM LG PAT's TP
2002 12/12 14 9 50 32-37 59
2003 13/13 29 19 45 44-44 101
2004 12/12 24 20 49 48-49 108
Total 25/25 67 48 50 124-130 268
Career Field Goal By Distance
Less than 20 yards 5/5
20-29 yards 14/16
30-39 yards 16/23
40-49 yards 12/20
50+ yards 1/3
GOSTKOWSKI'S CAREER HIGHS
Most Field Goals Made/Game: 4 vs Arkansas State (`04)
Most FG Attempted/Game: 4 Tennessee Tech (`03), Arkansas St. (`04)
Longest Field Goal Made/Game: 50 vs Murray State ('02)
Most PATs Made/Game: 7 vs Chattanooga, Tulane (`04)
Most PATs Attempted/Game: 7 vs Chattanooga, Tulane (`04))
Most Points Scored/Game: 17 vs Arkansas State (`04)
Most Points Scored/Season: 108 (`04)
nerangers
Footballguy
Another Patriot gone: (from Boston.com)
March 23, 2006
Ashworth to 'Hawks
Offensive tackle Tom Ashworth, who emerged from practice squad player to starter in four seasons with the Patriots, has agreed to terms on a deal with the Seahawks today. Ashworth’s agent, Tom Mills, confirmed the agreement in principle.
The 28-year-old Ashworth appeared in 37 career regular-season games with the Patriots (30 starts). He played in 14 games in 2005, with 11 starts. Ashworth primarily shared time at right tackle with Brandon Gorin over the last two seasons.
Ashworth had also drawn interest in free agency from the Jets, Buccaneers, Dolphins, Saints and Texans.
The Patriots –- who have Matt Light, Nick Kaczur and Gorin atop the tackle depth chart -- also kept an open dialogue about the possibility of a return. Yet likely due to their personnel already in place, the team wasn't overly aggressive.
The Seahawks are an unexpected landing spot for Ashworth, because the team has two returning tackles in Sean Locklear and Walter Jones. But Seattle lost starting left guard Steve Hutchinson in free agency and was looking for reinforcements on the line. Much of Ashworth’s pro experience has come at tackle.
EXTRA POINT: On the heels of a Thursday Providence Journal report that the Patriots were close to re-signing Stephen Neal and Troy Brown, host Michael Holley of sports radio 850 WEEI in Boston said today that the Patriots have re-signed Brown.
March 23, 2006
Ashworth to 'Hawks
Offensive tackle Tom Ashworth, who emerged from practice squad player to starter in four seasons with the Patriots, has agreed to terms on a deal with the Seahawks today. Ashworth’s agent, Tom Mills, confirmed the agreement in principle.
The 28-year-old Ashworth appeared in 37 career regular-season games with the Patriots (30 starts). He played in 14 games in 2005, with 11 starts. Ashworth primarily shared time at right tackle with Brandon Gorin over the last two seasons.
Ashworth had also drawn interest in free agency from the Jets, Buccaneers, Dolphins, Saints and Texans.
The Patriots –- who have Matt Light, Nick Kaczur and Gorin atop the tackle depth chart -- also kept an open dialogue about the possibility of a return. Yet likely due to their personnel already in place, the team wasn't overly aggressive.
The Seahawks are an unexpected landing spot for Ashworth, because the team has two returning tackles in Sean Locklear and Walter Jones. But Seattle lost starting left guard Steve Hutchinson in free agency and was looking for reinforcements on the line. Much of Ashworth’s pro experience has come at tackle.
EXTRA POINT: On the heels of a Thursday Providence Journal report that the Patriots were close to re-signing Stephen Neal and Troy Brown, host Michael Holley of sports radio 850 WEEI in Boston said today that the Patriots have re-signed Brown.
nerangers
Footballguy
Seahawks | Ashworth agrees to terms
Thu, 23 Mar 2006 13:04:48 -0800
Mike Sando, of the Tacoma News Tribune, reports the Seattle Seahawks have agreed to terms with free agent OT Tom Ashworth (Partiots) on a five-year deal. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Ashworth is expected to be paid about $4.5 million in the first year.
Thu, 23 Mar 2006 13:04:48 -0800
Mike Sando, of the Tacoma News Tribune, reports the Seattle Seahawks have agreed to terms with free agent OT Tom Ashworth (Partiots) on a five-year deal. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Ashworth is expected to be paid about $4.5 million in the first year.
nerangers
Footballguy
Quick Shots survey
Vote in the survey below, and check out the "Quick Shots" feature in Sunday's Boston Globe to find out what several writers have to say about it.
Do you still buy into the "In Bill (Belichick) We Trust" motto in light of recent events?
Yes
53.0%
No
47.0%
Total votes: 10863
Vote in the survey below, and check out the "Quick Shots" feature in Sunday's Boston Globe to find out what several writers have to say about it.
Do you still buy into the "In Bill (Belichick) We Trust" motto in light of recent events?
Yes
53.0%
No
47.0%
Total votes: 10863
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