Re: Offseason Plans
posted at 1/3/2013 12:34 PM EST
In response to JohnHannahrulz's comment:
Things I agree with: BB will make some low risk FA acquisitions (high reward.....Jarius Byrd?). If he doesn't get the player he wants in 1st or 2nd rounds he trades down. Brady (love or hate him; ) do you really believe that Bob Kraft would let BB trade his most marketable player. The Pats sell more jersies outside the U.S. (UK, Canada and Mexico) then any other team and one of the big reasons is Brady......another is Welker....whose fate will be decided after the season. I think Welker, Chung and Vollmer all need new contracts; I haven't seen the cap numbers so I can't determine who stays and who goes. One thing is clear Gronk, Hernandez, and Ridley are the future of the Pats offense. If Welker is jettisoned WR becomes a priority in either the draft or Free Agency (Amendola).
As for Alex Smith, its a QB league and there are numerous teams that will attempt to acquire him. The trade Brady for Smith is specious at best, especially coming from people (sic) who think that Kaepernick will s--t the bed in the playoffs. If that happens what makes you think SF will want to trade Smith. As stated, alot of teams will covet Smith (Cards, Jags, Jets, Titans etc...) and whoever offers the best package to SF will get him (players or draft picks). One of the reasons that SF could trade him is that they got to pay Goldson and some others to keep there D intact, however, Smiths value to SF skyrockets if CK fails in the playoffs. So the trade of Smith is predicated, in some ways, by how good or bad Kaepernick plays in the playoffs.
The Pats have a young D (Wilfork excepted) that will only get better. Do the chances to win another SB decrease or increase if they acquire Alex Smith or if they keep Brady? Brady is like Bird or Ted Williams you only trade a lifer if you get a great deal. And a great deal for me would be Brady for Smith and two firsts and a 2nd. This way the Pats have some pieces to put into play. The problem that I have is that some apparently believe that Brady's skills either have eroded or are due to start a steep decline; even though there is not much evidence other than sub-par SB play. Unless ofcourse they believe that Smith is straight up a better player than Brady or will be in the immediate future.
Brady has stunk up the postseasons recently. He just has. Sorry.
I'd be surprised if San Francisco does the trade straight up. They will probably want Brady and draft pick considering how terrible Tommy Boy has been recently.
And yes. Their chances of winning a Super Bowl increase exponentially with Alex Smith at quarterback instead of Brady. It's fact. FACT. The washers will deny it, but it's the truth.
If Kraft has any backbone, he will let the Brady go to pacific coast and take Alex Smith knowing that Super Bowls will follow. Super Bowls /> Money from jersey sales. It's the truth. Sorry.
If Welker is willing to take a team-friendly deal then keep him around, but no way in hell we should pay $10mil+ for an older slot-receiver.
And of course the defense is young and improving. It's a fact that the washers deny. BB has been building this defense for four years in a cap-era, and now you're seeing his success. Genius. Pure genius. GENIUS!
And to think some fools here think the Jets built a better defense.. Hurlie, RKrappy and Babe, I'm looking at you.