A wide-ranging mailbag

Free agency and the draft have passed, and now teams are holding minicamps and organized team activities. That means that topics being discussed are wide-ranging – from business and the salary cap to personnel.

Let’s get right to the questions …

I was just reading about the salary cap being raised $12 million, which was more than expected. I know you frequently get asked how the team sits against the cap. Was this, or a lesser increase, already factored in to the cap figures provided? Where do the Pats stand now?
David

A: David, I think the way the information was framed in mainstream media reports could have created the impression that teams all of a sudden had an extra $12 million that they weren’t expecting. This isn’t the case. The $12 million figure reflects the overall increase from 2008 to 2009. The big news last week is that teams expected the cap to be at $127 million and were informed it is now at $128 million. So it just gives the teams $1 million more cap space than expected. As for the Patriots, they have approximately $5.7 million of space at this time. That is tight compared to other teams.

Hi Mike, I was surprised to read that new tight end Alex Smith has taken the No. 80 jersey. I was just wondering why the Patriots would not have retired the number of Troy Brown?
Kim C., South Australia, Australia

A: Kim, this was one of the more popular questions this week. I’m going to cut the team slack on this one. Because of the size of rosters (the Patriots currently have 92 players), my feeling is that the retiring of numbers should be re-evaluated, and that includes re-introducing some numbers (but not all) that have already been retired. I think there are ways to keep numbers in circulation but also honor the player, such as inducting him into the team’s Hall of Fame or putting him in a Ring of Honor. If I’m not mistaken, I believe the Packers – one of the NFL’s most tradition-rich franchises -- have just six numbers retired. The Patriots have more. In terms of what I’ve noticed, I think the Patriots usually wait one year before putting the number back in circulation (no one wore No. 80 last year), which is a sign of respect. With Troy Brown, his place in history can be reflected in the team’s Hall of Fame, or with his name erected in the stadium, and I think that is still a solid tribute. A player like Tom Brady, though, I would think retiring his number is the only option.

Do you think that Bill Belichick signed Fred Taylor to help mentor Laurence Maroney at all since Taylor was known to be injury-prone earlier in his career, similar to how Maroney is starting out?
Andy

A: It’s an interesting thought, Andy, because Taylor could certainly provide some advice to Maroney about how he dealt with the “Fragile Fred” label. Yet I tend to think the mentoring angle ranked low on the reasons why the Patriots signed Taylor. First and foremost, I think it’s about production. Because Maroney has experienced his run of injuries over the last three years, the team probably felt the need to protect itself. So more than mentoring Maroney, I think the addition of Taylor was geared toward the disappointing injury issues Maroney has faced than anything else.

Mike, what are your thoughts on Jarvis Green? His salary cap charge of $5.4 million seems large, especially considering last year's production (two sacks, both coming in the final game) It looks like we could save over $2 million if we traded him. Is he dispensable?
HH

A: I think you’ve hit on a good point here, HH. I’d start by saying that Jarvis Green has done a lot of good things for the Patriots in his seven-year career, although I felt 2008 was a down year for him. It wasn’t just the sacks, but just the general lack of pressure. I believe he was playing hurt and that could have contributed to it. If I was in the position of Bill Belichick, I’d start by attempting to extend the contract (Green’s deal expires after the 2009 season and by extending it, the salary cap charge can be reduced). If those attempts failed, I think a difficult decision would have to be made from a team-building perspective, because a $5.4 million cap charge is indeed high for Green.

Mike, do you think that Julian Edelman could be used in the Wildcat role?
Steve S., San Marino, Calif.

A: Steve, I thought Patriots director of player personnel Nick Caserio had a witty, Parcells-like line about this during last week’s “Speaker Series” at the Hall at Patriot Place. He said Edelman, who is making the switch from quarterback to receiver, needs to learn where to line up first before there can be any Wildcat talk. He’s right, because Edelman is making a position switch. At the same time, I’m fairly certain that it wasn’t a coincidence that Edelman spent some time in position breakdowns with the running backs at the team’s rookie minicamp, where he learned the simple fundamental of tucking the ball away after receiving a handoff. Caserio also mentioned that the Patriots worked Edelman out twice before the draft – once with their receivers coach, and once with a special teams coach. That is an indication to me that Edelman is at least projected as a factor as a ball-carrier in the return game, and I see no reason why they wouldn’t try some variation of the Wildcat with him. It’s early yet, but Edelman ranks high on my list of players I’m excited to see in training camp. What stood out to me: A lot of quickness and the ability to plant his foot in the ground and shake a defensive back with decisive change of direction skills.

Mike, it looks like the Pats grabbed three good developmental projects at offensive line who could project to be starters in 2-3 years. My question is this: Do draft picks have to clear waivers before being placed on the practice squad? If they do, will the Pats place them on the 53-man roster to make sure they keep them. Do you think they will be capable backups?
Mike, Canandaigua, N.Y.

A: Mike, a player has to clear waivers before being placed on the practice squad, and I don’t think there is any way that Sebastian Vollmer (2nd round) and Rich Ohrnberger (4th round) would clear them, so I would write their names down in pen on that 53-man roster prediction. George Bussey (5th round) I’d put closer to the roster bubble. It’s too difficult for me to say these players will be capable backups without seeing more of them, but I would say this: If they can’t make it here, under the tutelage of Dante Scarnecchia, it probably won’t happen anywhere.

Mike. Why did the Patriots draft Patrick Chung? Does that mean they don't have a lot of faith in Brandon Meriweather or James Sanders?
Jordan C., Needham

A: Jordan, I can understand why someone would look at the selection of Chung and interpret it as a lack of faith in the returning starters, Brandon Meriweather and James Sanders. But I’m not part of that group, especially when considering the Patriots are paying Sanders an average of $3 million per year and Meriweather seemed to come on late last season. I think I’d sum up my thoughts this way: The way the Patriots scheme, Chung’s versatility and smarts should be an asset, and I also think Chung projects to add some Rodney Harrison-like toughness to the position. Harrison’s sturdiness often helped against opposing tight ends, and I’ll always remember that Colts game when Harrison moved down to a linebacker spot when the Patriots went with nickel personnel in a 4-3 alignment. I could see Chung evolving into that type of difference-maker.

Hi Mike, I know it’s a long shot, but with the NFL salary cap increased by $12 million this year and the fact that Drew Rosenhaus has said that if Anquan Boldin is not traded or re-signed before the start of Cardinals training camp, there could be a holdout, would the Pats be willing to trade one of their three 2010 second-round picks and an additional late-round pick for Boldin? Maybe they could convince Rosenhaus that playing for a Pats team with a Tom Brady and every year contending for the Super Bowl to accept less money in a contract.
Jim K., Surprise, Ariz.

A: Jim, I concur that this is a long shot and just don’t see it as feasible on a couple of different levels. I’d start with the fact that Boldin just played in a Super Bowl as part of an explosive offense, so I don’t see the play-with-Brady angle getting too far. Also, it helps to understand where Rosenhaus is coming from. He’s creating a lot of chatter in hopes of getting Boldin out of Arizona, similar to what he did with Chad Johnson last year in Cincinnati. I think Arizona general manager Rod Graves realizes this and plans to holds the line while he deals with a long line of other players whose contracts are a big issue. Finally, any trade for Boldin would likely have to be accompanied with a big contract and I think the Patriots have to take care of their own players first (e.g. Tom Brady, Vince Wilfork, Logan Mankins, Richard Seymour).

Mike, with the depth of the linebacking corps very uncertain right now, if you had to look into your crystal ball to September do you see either/or Eric Alexander or Tully Banta-Cain on the roster come the end of camp?
Drew, Warwick, R.I.

A: Drew, much can change between now and September and I think it’s important to respect the competition that will unfold in training camp, but I’d put both on the 53-man roster right now. If Banta-Cain returns to 2006 form, I think he can help in a pass-rushing type role and occasional fill-in on early downs. Alexander would be more of a depth player with an emphasis on special teams. With Tyrone McKenzie injuring his ACL, it opens the door for Alexander.

Mike, I have to ask, even though I still believe it’s not probability, but does the whole Taylor signing with Miami change the situation regarding Julius Peppers?
MannyNH

A: Manny, I don’t think it changes a thing. The Peppers story seemed to be more about the media creating something that wasn’t there than a reality. I think we can bury this now.

Mike, I have two questions regarding the Pats defense: 1) With the trade of Ellis Hobbs it leaves the Pats very thin at having players at the CB position with experience in their defensive system. Should we expect a few bumps in the road in September or do you feel this group is talented and smart enough to grasp the system and be comfortable with it by the time the season starts?; 2) I may be in the minority here but count me as someone who is very optimistic about the outside linebacker position this season. How much of an effect do you think Vrabel’s absence will have on the defense and the locker room? And is there anyone you see who may be ready to step up into the leadership role that Vrabel left behind?
Steve, Norton

A: Steve, while I think it would be preferred to have more players at cornerback who have experience in the team’s system, I think the talent trumps that, and I see the 2009 cornerback crop as more talented than the 2008 group. There might be a few growing pains, but I don’t see it as a major issue. As for the outside linebacker spot, I think Vrabel will be missed most in two areas: 1) His ability to play tough and contain running plays to his side of the field; 2) His knack for joking with Bill Belichick and keeping things light at practice and meetings, which was easy for any observer to see up until the latter stages of last season. I do think Vrabel was a good leader to a certain group of players, but I don’t see that as a major issue. The way the NFL works, it’s time for the next generation to step in and fill that gap (e.g. Ty Warren, Jerod Mayo, etc.).

Hey Mike, I'm sure you're being swamped with concerns about the linebacker situation. What's the possibility of Junior Seau coming back? I think he would be a good backup for Mayo and Bruschi. The outside linebackers situation is weak. Adalius Thomas has been a disappointment and between Woods, Crable, and Banta-Cain, there is little confidence here in this group. In every area, Bill Belichick has stocked the team except for linebacker. I am extremely perplexed in why this great coach has over looked this area. Can you enlighten me?
Alan M.

A: Alan, I think this is the story of the offseason as far as fans are concerned. I’ve received more linebacker-related questions than any other topic. Seau is always a possibility, but I think it’s one that you revisit near the end of training camp if you’re going in that direction, because you want to give repetitions to younger players like Gary Guyton and Antonio Appleby. As for Bill Belichick’s approach, his feeling is that there haven’t been players who fit the team’s system/prototype that represented value in the draft or free agency, and if you take a player like that, you’re just back to the same situation the next year in free agency and the draft. I respect that, and at the same time, I think it’s fair to ask questions like these: Would a player like UConn outside linebacker Cody Brown been a better second-round pick than Sebastian Vollmer (58th overall)? Should the team have hung on to Mike Vrabel? Would a first-round trade up the board for a player like Tennessee outside linebacker Robert Ayers been worth exploring? These are areas we can better answer in the months/years to come when we see how the situation unfolds. It’s also possible that the answer to the team’s problems is already on the roster, and fans and media types are overlooking it because the players aren’t yet proven commodities (e.g. like how Asante Samuel emerged from unproven fourth-round pick in 2003 to shutdown corner in 2005/2006/2007 following Ty Law’s departure).

I know we are supposed to keep drinking the Kool-Aid and keep quiet, but this Vrabel trade I feel is going to come back to haunt us. Don't you have just a tiny bit of doubt here on this, Mike? I mean, it was a solid part of our defense just tossed out the window for no real reason.
Poncho

A: Poncho, you don’t always have to drink the Kool-Aid. I think Bill Belichick is the first to admit that no one is perfect and he’s made mistakes in the past, so I think it’s fair to question the deal with Vrabel. I stand by what I originally wrote: I can’t do the revisionist history thing and say that I thought Vrabel was done. I think he’s still a tough player on early downs – good luck running to his side – who had slowed on third down. Yes, he’s declining, but I still think he has something to offer. The question is probably if it was worth having a $4.3 million charge on the cap. I would have kept him. At the same time, I understand that this could be a situation where younger players like Pierre Woods, Shawn Crable or Vince Redd – all unproven in a full-time role at this point – solidify the position more than anticipated. So let’s see how it plays out. It’s May, and no team has all its questions answered at this point.

Mike, like everyone else, I am concerned about the LB position. What do you know about Antonio Appleby, the rookie free agent out of Virginia? Did he participate in the mini-camp and, if so, did anything stand out about him? Could he be the next Mike Wright or Gary Guyton?
Gregg, Scottsdale, Ariz.

A: Gregg, based on the depth chart, Appleby seems to be a chic pick to be the next rookie free agent to emerge. He did participate in rookie minicamp and I can’t say I saw anything that stood out. In one-on-one passing drills against running backs, he looked like you’d expect most rookie linebackers in that drill – a step behind. But I wouldn’t read too much into that. The true test for a player like that is when the pads come on in training camp. Appleby has a bit of a head start on his fellow rookies from having played in a 3-4 defense under Al Groh at Virginia, but I’m not jumping on his bandwagon yet. I did that with Freddie Roach in 2006 and it didn’t get me too far. I think the best approach on this one is to let the process play out.

Hey Mike, I was wondering about the possibility of the Patriots bringing Willie McGinest back for another stint with the hometown team. Your thoughts?
Curtis

A: Curtis, I think it’s worth exploring but I’d put him in the same category as Seau. To me, that’s the type of move you make toward the end of training camp if you’re headed in that direction because you want to give more repetitions to younger players like Pierre Woods, Shawn Crable and Vince Redd. At this point of his career, McGinest is probably a 15-20 snap player, so he’d be a complementary piece, not a cure-all.

Hi Mike, why no mention of a Derrick Brooks to the Patriots as a free-agent signing. Is he too tied to the Tampa 2 defense? Is it his age? With his toughness, experience, and ability to read defenses I bet you could stick him anywhere. Or is he afraid of the cold like Jason Taylor?
F.X.

A: F.X., I’ll have to look into the possibility of Brooks, and see where he might fit in the team’s defense. I wouldn’t rule anything out. With a guy like that – unlike Seau and McGinest – it would be preferable to get him into the fold immediately with the idea of getting him up to speed on the defense.

Hi Mike, after reading your “Breaking Down the 92” segment on the Patriots blog on Boston.com, it reminded me that cornerback Mike Richardson is still out there. I know there were some folks who were relatively high on his potential. What's his role this year, given the revamped secondary?
Matt

A: Matt, I see Richardson as a roster bubble guy at this point. He’s not a quick, change-of-direction type like Darius Butler and Terrence Wheatley, but more of a sturdy zone corner who is a pretty solid tackler. I think he’s the type of player that could wind up on the roster at some point over the course of the season if injuries hit, but I don’t see it as a given that he makes the club coming out of training camp.

Mike, I was wondering with the offensive coordinator spot not really established yet, do you think there would be a possibility of Charlie Weis returning if things don’t work out for him this season in Notre Dame? Even Romeo Crennel possibly coming back if Weis decides to?
Matthew S., Honolulu

A: I think it’s always possible, Matthew, although I’d call it unlikely. I think Weis would probably look toward another head coaching job, and would probably get one, likely in college. I spoke with Crennel within the last month and he is planning on returning in 2010. He’s a quality coach and he should have options. I think Belichick would welcome him back if that was something Crennel was interested in exploring.

Mike, I just read that in order to evaluate how the Patriots defended Leon Washington last season you went back and watched the tape of that game. The standard telecast generally shows the line of scrimmage and the offensive backfield, but not the defensive backfield. Do you have a good source for some other footage that does a better job of showing the back end of the play? More generally, do you know of any resources for obtaining any of the dozens of different camera angles that are shot but not included in the telecast?
Robert B., East Haven, Conn.

A: Robert, I was just watching the TV copy of the game. It is obviously more challenging to see things from those angles, but in that particular study of looking at how the Patriots defended Leon Washington, I was able to see what I needed. Individual teams and NFL Films have the film with all the other angles, but that is not accessible to most people.

Hi Mike, Is there a significant difference in movement/technique/leverage between a 3-4 ROLB and a 3-4 LOLB?
Al

A: Al, I once asked Mike Vrabel about this and he explained to me that it’s just like looking in a mirror – it’s the same thing, just on the different side. The main differences are technique related – you might be shedding with your left hand instead of the right etc.

Hey Mike, although I've been a Cowboy fan for years, I've come to admire the Patriots. What's interesting when comparing the two organizations is their ownerships’ approach in management of the team. It appears that both teams have owners who are strongly involved in their teams’ success, yet the Patriots owner, Kraft, seems to rely more on his head coach to make football personnel decisions while the Cowboy owner, Jones, seems to micromanage his subordinates including his head coach. Other teams with strong ownership styles, like the Raiders and Redskins, do not seem too successful. What would you say is the relationship between Kraft and his head coach and Kraft's management that accounts for the great success the Patriots have enjoyed for the last several years?
Clay F., Whitesboro

A: Interesting point here, Clay, and one with merit in my view. I would just caution anyone from thinking that Robert Kraft is detached from the football decisions. He is not evaluating players’ change of direction and 40 times, but I think he’s in on every decision. Yet I think you’ve hit on something that is spot-on – Kraft/Belichick is a good partnership in which the sides have grown some trust in each other. I think the Spygate experience probably drew them even closer, and I believe Belichick knows that Kraft is one of the best owners to work for.

How is Kevin O'Connell progressing as a No. 2 guy? Is he the real deal, or is he going to take some time to pan out like Matt Cassel?
Tim

A: Tim, backup quarterbacks are tough because, like Cassel, you never truly know until the games. But overall, I think O’Connell is progressing nicely from what I’ve heard.

Hey Mike, what is your feeling regarding the possibility of Richard Seymour being cut? I know he is a big financial hit on the cap and while no one is discussing it, could that be one of the reasons for the hold up with Wilfork and the drafting of Brace. Knowing BB's emphasis on value is his value still worth his cost?
Chris, Nashville

A: Chris, I don’t see Seymour getting cut. I think he’s still a solid player and worth the salary and cap charge. I could envision him becoming a free agent after the season and him winding up elsewhere, but I think for 2009, the Patriots will deem him valuable to keep.

Mike, how would compare Wilfork's skill set to that of Ted Washington? Maybe it's just the age of our linebackers, but I don't think Wilfork holds up at the line of attack nearly as well as Washington did.
Veeve, Shrewsbury

A: Veeve, I think Wilfork is a bit more well-rounded than Washington. Wilfork can give you some push in the form of a pass rush, in addition to anchoring down against the run. Washington, to me, was a big man to move who played a bit more stationary.