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Seau expected to sign with Patriots (1 Viewer)

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Seau expected to sign with Patriots

Written by: Jim Trotter ¦ 8/17/2006

Source: www.signonsandiego.com

Three days after announcing his retirement from the National Football League, former Chargers linebacker Junior Seau is on the verge of returning.

League sources confirmed that Seau will fly to New England tonight and, barring a last-second complication, will sign with the Patriots no later than Friday.

Injuries and free-agent losses have depleted the Patriots' linebacking corps, particularly in the middle. New England targeted Seau late last weekend, soon after word began circulating that he would announce an end to his 16-year career.

Seau, 37, is expected to play middle linebacker with New England. Current starter Tedy Bruschi is sidelined with a wrist injury and fellow inside linebackers Monty Beisel and Freddie Roach have been battling injuries as well.

Finding a big, physical interior presence took on greater importance for the Patriots after they were gashed for an average of nearly 6 yards a carry and 196 yards rushing overall last weekend in an exhibition-opening loss to Atlanta.

At 6-feet-3, 250 pounds, Seau has the size, instincts and physical nature to help slow opposing running games. He played most of his career on the outside, including the past three seasons with Miami, but filled in at middle linebacker in San Diego when other players were sidelined with injuries.

Before his retirement ceremony Monday, Seau, a 12-time Pro Bowl selection, said he was leaving the game because there wasn't a team that needed him. He said there were clubs that wanted him, but not one that viewed him as a key element to winning a championship.

That isn't the case with the Patriots, who have claimed three of the past five Super Bowls and could be among the favorites again if they're able to improve their linebacking corps and upgrade at wide receiver, where former Super Bowl MVP Deion Branch is holding out in a contract dispute.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick likely got an extensive scouting report on Seau from strong safety Rodney Harrison, who teamed with Seau for nine seasons in San Diego. The players parted company after the 2002 season, when Harrison was released (and signed with New England) and Seau was traded to Miami.

Former Chargers coordinator Joe Pascale said he used to balance his defense by playing Seau on the weak side and Harrison on the strong side, adding: "You had to pick your poison."

Seau declined comment this afternoon, but he is said to have informed Chargers President Dean Spanos of his decision.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/

 
So I guess San Diego waiving the mandatory waiting period for him to go into the Chargers Hall of Fame looks pretty suspect right now. I guess there is a reason why you have those waiting periods in place.

 
Its actually in preparation for his evential campaign run

Dean/Seau 2008.

Could be in for some wild times. Imagine thier post-victory celebratory speech.

Seau: “Don’t think you’re going to come here and get a press conference where I’m going to cry,” he said. “Listen, I win. I’m not going to cry. You know what? I won.” [pumps fist]

Dean: Yeeeeehaawwww [pumps fist]

 
The San Diego Chargers just released the following statement regarding linebacker Junior Seau’s intentions to visit and possibly sign with the Patriots:

“Junior left a message for Chargers President Dean Spanos today alerting him that he may sign a contract and play for the New England Patriots. If in fact he chooses to continue his playing career, we wish him good health and the best of luck this season. Junior’s place in the Chargers Hall of Fame awaits him when his career is over.”

 
The really sad part is they need him...

I just don't understand what the hell the Pats have been thinking with the LB position. Especially ILB. They are very thin inside and this was very apparent after last season. Right now they have a stud in Bruschi and not much else unless they move Vrabel back inside. Beisel shows very little and after that you have nothing more than high quality special teamers, role players and some prospects. The team is sitting on a boatland of cap space so there's just no reason why this area was not addressed this offseason when there were more options. That's the frustrating part. This could easily have been addressed. If they can't figure something out here I would not be surprised to see them play a ton more 4-3. With Wright developing and able to play inside and out that scheme may just fit their roster better.

No doubt I fully subscibe to the "in Bill we trust" mantra but I'd be lying if I didn't say that having 13 million in cap space isn't bugging the hell out of me. This team is definite contender but sprinkling a few more quality veterans on the roster would do nothing but help. They have a ton of young talent throughout the roster but there are definite areas that could be reinforced. In the past these are the type of moves that have helped them get over the top but they seem reluctant to do it this year. Add in the fact they have always spent to the cap in the BB area and it becomes that much more of a mystery. I'm sure there's a reason for what they are doing (there always is) and it will eventually make sense but right now it's a headscratcher.

 
I thought this was going to be a link to a story from The Onion or somesuch bastion of journalistic integrity. Sadly, I was mistaken.

I do think it's funny, though. I've been saying for the past year that the Pats are hemorrhaging talent. It's pretty hard to deny that now, when they're begging people out of retirement to try to plug holes.

The good news is, if Deion Branch keeps holding out, Cris Carter has already demonstrated that he's more than willing to give things another go. And since Law snubbed them, they could always make some offers to Deion Sanders.

 
SSOG said:
I thought this was going to be a link to a story from The Onion or somesuch bastion of journalistic integrity. Sadly, I was mistaken.I do think it's funny, though. I've been saying for the past year that the Pats are hemorrhaging talent. It's pretty hard to deny that now, when they're begging people out of retirement to try to plug holes.The good news is, if Deion Branch keeps holding out, Cris Carter has already demonstrated that he's more than willing to give things another go. And since Law snubbed them, they could always make some offers to Deion Sanders.
Click to expand...
The issue is they aren't spending their cap space. They only lost two starters from last year (three if you count AV). There is a huge misconception that they lost more than they did because AV, Willie and Givens are big names. They've also done a fantastic job of turning over an older roster from 01 to a current roster with a ton of young talent. There are only three players over the age of 30 (Dillon, Faulk and Troy) on offense. On defense no one on the D line is over 30 and Hobbs, Wilson, Samuel and Gay are all very young and both Vrabel and Colvin are in their prime. Right now they are a much more talented team than they were early in the BB era. The problem with the Pats is some of their areas of exposure (mainly LB and WR and potentially Dline depth although Wright's development may really help that) were not addressed correctly this offseason (at least on paper). If they were capped out than this would be a major problem. Yet, with 13 million in cap space they easily had the opportunity to fortify these areas and put themselves closer to a championship. IMO they are not scrambling now because of hemmoraghing talent. They have always let players go and and replaced them quite well which is why they've won 3/5 but remained very healthy capwise. That's quite simply how they operate. They are scrambling now because they appear to have gone away from the business model that has worked so well for them in the past...spend wisely to the cap (i.e. no foolish long term deals), build as deep a roster as possible and sign a bunch of quality vets that come at team friendly contracts to compliment the youngsters (with their drafting ability they have an influx of high quality talent annually). Why they went away from that plan makes sense to me. It is a proven winner for them.The bottomline is the Pats issues could have been easily taken care of this offseason and infact they could be a much better team than they were last year. They most definetly had the resources but choose not to use them. They still could be better if the injury bug doesn't hit (their decimated injury situation in 05 is often overlooked) yet for the first time since BB/Pioli have taken over they (at least on paper) seem to have moved away from their strength of building a very deep roster. Since there is a plan for everything they do it may make sense later but right now I just don't understand why there's 13 million in cap space available on a team that has a chance to win a title.By the way mocking them for signing older guys that you feel are washed up doesn't make sense as well. In the past these type of signings have paid off huge for them. Guys like Phifer, Otis Smith, Rodney Harrison, Bobby Hamilton and Antowain (as well astrading for Ted Washington) were veteran moves that many thought not that important but turned out to have a major impact. To be fair they've also had plenty of whiffs with guys like Chad Brown and Victor Green being examples. Now, whether Junior will do anything in Foxboro remains to be seen. Yet, if he did it would not be the first time a seemingly nothing move that costs little paid dividends for them.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Boston said:
The really sad part is they need him...I just don't understand what the hell the Pats have been thinking with the LB position. Especially ILB. They are very thin inside and this was very apparent after last season. Right now they have a stud in Bruschi and not much else unless they move Vrabel back inside. Beisel shows very little and after that you have nothing more than high quality special teamers, role players and some prospects. The team is sitting on a boatland of cap space so there's just no reason why this area was not addressed this offseason when there were more options. That's the frustrating part. This could easily have been addressed. If they can't figure something out here I would not be surprised to see them play a ton more 4-3. With Wright developing and able to play inside and out that scheme may just fit their roster better.No doubt I fully subscibe to the "in Bill we trust" mantra but I'd be lying if I didn't say that having 13 million in cap space isn't bugging the hell out of me. This team is definite contender but sprinkling a few more quality veterans on the roster would do nothing but help. They have a ton of young talent throughout the roster but there are definite areas that could be reinforced. In the past these are the type of moves that have helped them get over the top but they seem reluctant to do it this year. Add in the fact they have always spent to the cap in the BB area and it becomes that much more of a mystery. I'm sure there's a reason for what they are doing (there always is) and it will eventually make sense but right now it's a headscratcher.
Click to expand...
Bill will do what he always does - put his players in the best position to succeed.
 
Boston said:
Yet, with 13 million in cap space they easily had the opportunity to fortify these areas and put themselves closer to a championship. IMO they are not scrambling now because of hemmoraghing talent.
Click to expand...
Belichick has heard all of that before with far worse situations. In the end, Belichick will get more out of his club's talent because he's the best coach in the NFL.
 
For $1 million it's a very low-risk move. The Pats will rely on Seau to stop the run on early downs.

Hey, the league thought Roman Phifer was washed up when the Pats signed him and he ended up being a contributor to two Championship teams. You could also say the same thing about Bryan Cox on the 2001 team.

Seau is obviously a shadow of his former self in terms of physical ability but his experience could really help out. And being reunited with Rodney Harrison can't hurt either.

 
Boston said:
By the way mocking them for signing older guys that you feel are washed up doesn't make sense as well. In the past these type of signings have paid off huge for them. Guys like Phifer, Otis Smith, Rodney Harrison, Bobby Hamilton and Antowain (as well astrading for Ted Washington) were veteran moves that many thought not that important but turned out to have a major impact. To be fair they've also had plenty of whiffs with guys like Chad Brown and Victor Green being examples. Now, whether Junior will do anything in Foxboro remains to be seen. Yet, if he did it would not be the first time a seemingly nothing move that costs little paid dividends for them.
Click to expand...
I'm not mocking them for signing older guys, or washed up guys. I don't think the Seau signing was a bad one. I'm just mocking them for signing RETIRED guys, and decided to start the rumors linking them to two more retired guys who (a) played in an area of need for the Pats (WR and DB), and (b) have already proven once that they're willing to come out of retirement.Just remember, when the Pats sign Carter and Sanders, you heard it here first. ;)
 
Kit Fisto said:
Class Dismissed said:
BGP said:
Bill will do what he always does - put his players in the best position to succeed.
Click to expand...
Like moving Bernie to the Bench, replacing him with Eric Zeir, Rhymes with "Fire" and paving the way for the Browns to win the Super Bowl, in Baltimore?
Click to expand...
Ancient history. Nice try. :fishing:
Click to expand...
How about Monty Beisel and Duane Starks? Are they "ancient history" and "off-limits", too?
 
Patriots officially sign LB Junior Seau

Written by: - ffLiveWire - ¦ 8/18/2006

Source:

Sirius NFL radio reports LB Junior Seau has agreed to terms with the New England Patriots.

 
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