Contract status breakdown

get what you can for maroney,he doesn't want to get roughed up,new england is not for lawrence.we all thought we had the makings of a superb runner and blocker. guess we were wrong.BUD THIS IS ME TALKING! YOUR OLD NEMESIS.
IN THE PACKAGING BUSINESS! PUT SOME OF THE PLAYERS IN THE FOLD
LIKE STEVE THE KICKER,VINCE ON THE LINE AND A FEW OTHERS.TIME FOR TEDDY TO RETIRE. GO TO THE YOUTH,WITH A FEW EXCEPTIONS.GLAD WE TAGGED CASSELLS,(IF THAT'S TRUE).TOUGH BREAK NOT MAKING THE PLAYOFFS,BUT GOOD COACHING,AND I'LL SETTLE FOR THIS YEAR ONLY.

Wooow.. 2009, is big year, whole offinsive line and defensive line contract expires... I hope they sign atlest half this year..

Cuts:
LB Eric Alexander
OLB Rosevelt Colvin
CB Deltha O'Neal
S/CB Lewis Sanders
LB Junior Seau

I thought Lonie Paxton extended his contract last offseason?

my hunch is about 40% of those 2008 expiring contract players are back.

Hi Josh. Paxton's extension was just for one year.
--Mike

For 2008, I'd like to see the Patriots give contracts to:
QB Matt Cassel (franchise, then trade)
RB Heath Evans
P Chris Hanson (at least have him in camp with some competition)
S Rodney Harrison
OL Russ Hochstein
LB Larry Izzo
RB LaMont Jordan (if they can get him for veteran minimum)
LS Lonie Paxton
S James Sanders
S/CB Lewis Sanders
LB Junior Seau (if Bruschi retires)
WR/S Ray Ventrone (at least bring hime to camp)
LB/S Tank Williams
OLB Pierre Woods
DL Mike Wright

Thanks for the info Mike. The biggest losses this year (pre-FA) are at safety. I would not be surpirsed if we draft our 2nd first round safety in 3 years.

If you include next year, there is a huge need at OL and OLB so those are also options.

As for the 2009 list, these guys I'd like to see get extensions:
RB Kevin Faulk
K Stephen Gostkowski
DL Jarvis Green
LB Gary Guyton
OL Nick Kaczur
OL Logan Mankins
OL Stephen Neal
OL Ryan O'Callaghan
DL Richard Seymour
DL Le Kevin Smith
OLB Mike Vrabel
DL Vince Wilfork

Mike, The kicking game can be hard for us average fans to gauge a person's impact aside from the returners and who makes the tackle or downs a punt. With this in mind how do you think Larry Izzo has performed over the last couple years? It seems to me that he name is not mentioned in connection with any good or bad plays. At this point would it be more beneficial to give his roster spot to younger LB like Redd or Crable with the oppurtunity for them to grow into more than just a special teamer. I know Izzo has been a captain for a few years but I think Pierre Woods would be a great choice as his successor as Special Teams Captain.

Any word on Harrison's plans?

I may be in a minority here but I think Jabar Gaffney should be back, one he seems like a guy that would play for a reasonable price (last year he mentioned how he would like to end his career at New England because he really liked the team. Also, I'm operating under the assumption that Tom Brady will be back next year so I feel he will be more productive, hard to see games here in Missouri (stupid NFL regional distribution where I have to watch Chiefs games no matter how big a blowout) but maybe him and Cassel didnt connect, I mean it even took Randy Moss Half a season to be able to get on a similiar page to Cassel. What's your take Mike? Does Jabar Gaffney come back next season?

Keeping Gaffney is fine with me. Not too expensive, does his job as a 3rd WR.

Hi Larry. Izzo led the team with 14 special teams tackles (according to coaches' tabulations), but I didn't notice him as much in the kicking game. I thought he slipped a bit. Tom, in terms of Harrison, he's training and rehabbing to give himself a chance to play. My feeling is that he'd be in the category of an in-season pickup, not necessarily a guy to be there at the start of training camp.
--Mike

A lot of average talent on this team. If they do trade Cassel (which is doubtful given Brady's condition) then they would have at least 2 extra picks for next draft. Otherwise those extra picks come in the 2010 draft. Simply put, they need to do a better job with their high picks. as there have been too many failures the past few years that have left holes on the roster. Jackson and Johnson are gone, Maroney and Watson have not produced like #1 picks and that video taping pooch screw cost them a chance to draft another good player. The Samuel penny pinching will go down as one of the front office's biggest mistakes as well.

After a few years those lost and wasted picks show up when your previous great players decline and the more marginal players don't pick up the slack. This appears to be what is happening now. And, let's also not forget that the player development program has not produced a good LB or DB in several years.

Time to shake things up.

There are 3 restricted free agents.

Eric Alexander (Undrafted)
Wesley Britt (5th Round)
Pierre Woods (Undrafted)

They can tender these guys and receive compensation if another teams signs them. The compensation is where they were drafted (if undrafted, nothing), 2nd Rd pick, 1st Rd pick or 1st and 3rd Rd pick. The 1-year salaries go up as the potential compensation gos up. My guess is Pierre Woods gets tagged with the #2, Alexander nothing and Britt the lowest.

Mike,

Do you have a sense if other teams have such a majority of their players tied up for a small period of time? From what I see, the Patriots prefer to keep things to a shorter term to minimize dead money. I think much like their consistency on field, they have the same consistency with the salary cap. They are generally close to it heading into free agency, but avoid situations where they have a ton of cap room (Green Bay this past season) or in a cap crunch and have to redo contracts and cut players to get under.

The Patriots seem to be wary of longer term contracts, compared to a team like the Eagles that extend guys earlier instead of later. I can see it from both perspectives. If you can lock up a player earlier, then you will get them for less. On the other hand, they could get injured or their deal will soon be well below market value and the player wants more money.

There are a lot of free agents this year and even more coming next year without a whole lot of money. It will be interesting to see how the Patriots manage it. I think they are going to have to draft some solid pieces (CB at the top of the list) to put good, but not great, free agents around. I don't see how they can afford to keep everyone.

According to Miguel at patscap.com, Ventrone is an ERFA. Can you confirm this?

Ritchie......dead on!

I hope Gaffney is gone. I look forward to seeing what Tank Williams can do.

Hi MarkZ. That is correct.
--Mike

Mike,
How much of this list has to do with the uncapped year? How does it work for or against the team or a player.
Thanks

Mike,
What would be the impact to the salary cap if we cut Maroney & Watson this year...Two former 1st round picks who don't deserve 1st round money & can be replaced cheaper.

2008 Keepers imho;
LB Eric Alexander
OL Wesley Britt
QB Matt Cassel
OL Russ Hochstein
LB Larry Izzo
RB LaMont Jordan
LS Lonie Paxton
S James Sanders
WR/S Ray Ventrone
LB/S Tank Williams
OLB Pierre Woods
DL Mike Wright

any chance Urban Meyer is coming to the Pats as reported by Pat Baker of WEIM?

when is Urban Meyer coing to New england??/

Gaffney is a good third receiver. He had a couple of hiccups this year (the drop in the Colts game was obviously the worst) but he has come up with some amazing TD catches in the last couple of years (Ravens last year; Colts the year before after Caldwell's drop). He had a couple nice games there at the end. He's a hard working kid and he's loyal. I'd keep him.

So long Deltha. Don't bother to leave a forwarding address.

The Pats need to quickly trade Cassel and then turn their attention to re-signing Seymour, Wilfork, and Mankins, and then to drafting some DBs who can play. Assuming they take care of the big pieces, talented veteran free agents will continue to take pay cuts to play here and we'll continue to have a significant advantage on the field.

I guess no matter how you look at it, that's a lot of free agents over the next two seasons. I have no doubts Bill & Company will work it out one way or another.

If 2009 becomes the last year of the Salary CAP, and hopefully it doesn't, it could drastically alter the Patriots approach to resigning and extending players, as well as how they approach FA's.

For instance, it's my understanding that if players are extended/resigned during the last Capped year, their contracts can only carry a 20% increase for each additional year. On the up side, it would mean that guys like Wilfork and Mankins could potentially be extended for less money. On the down side, the restructering of existing contracts becomes more difficult, and in many cases, impossible. Any signing bonuses that are due would have to be count against the 2009 CAP, and could not be pushed back, or pro-rated over future years.

Of course, Mike Reiss would be able to confirm and clarify this. However, it's also my understanding that the Patriots are in a better situation than many NFL teams (example- Colts or Jets) regardless of whether or not 2009 is the last Capped year, because of the way the Patriots have structured their contracts. Which was probably a case of the Patriots being proactive as usual, and hedging for the future no matter the situation.

the ex

Mike--

One thing you might want to do is note which players would be affected by an uncapped year (i.e., those who would be RFAs instead of UFAs).

BackFromIraq--The salary increase limit is actually 30% of the 2009 amount, not 20%. Also, signing bonuses can be prorated--since it's possible the cap will get renewed--but they're limited to five years instead of six. OTOH, players who are cut/traded have their entire cap hits shifted into 2009.

deal Maroney away, so we can somehow keep Jordan

STI

Thanks for clarifying the 30% increase for each additional year after 2009, if unCapped. However, doesn't change the spirit of my post, which was that it would still be less costly to extend players. Given that most players extending their rookie contracts receive a far bigger salary bump than 30%.

Regarding signing bonuses. I was referring to restructuring existing contracts with the goal of reducing the 2009 Cap hit. I believe you're referring to new contracts. With regards to restructuring existing contracts, such as Indy faces with Dallas Clark and the roughly 6 million he's owed as a signing bonus in 2009, Indy would not be able to spread that out evenly over the next 3 years if 2009 is the last Capped year. They will have to absorb all 6 million in 2009. You brought up another good example using players who are released or traded. These type of situations would hinder Cap strapped teams in 2009, if the Salary Cap isn't extended..

It's quite possible 2010 will be an Uncapped year, because there's no player rep in place right now. Given the passing of Gene Upshaw. However, most believe something will get done for 2011. Myself, I like the Salary Cap because it contributes to the parity that exists in the NFL, unlike other major sports. In either case, the Patriots have plenty of Cap room (or available cash if Uncapped) in 2010, and should have no problem resigning, extending, or acquiring FA's. Partly because of the way they do business, and partly because Robert Kraft is always developing new revenue streams. (Patriot Place)

Hi Mike,
Is Lonie Paxton going to be a priority?

Long Snapper is a far more important position than anyone ever mentions and Paxton has been superlative in each of his 9 seaons and maintained good health missing only 3 games from a single leg injury in 03.

He snapped for every kick in our 3 championship seasons and Gostkowski's All Pro honor this year is yet another nod to Paxton's consistency.

What the word on him resigning?
Thanks!

Lonie is one of the best in the business. I hope he comes back.

Thinking about this more, I can't help but come to the conclusion that the OL and DL have to be priorities in the draft, especially the OL. If Gaffney doesn't return, WR will also be a high priority. Depending who returns at Safety (Harrison, Williams and the two Sanders), that's another position the Patriots may want to look at early. ILB is another place the Patriots could draft high. We all know they could upgrade at TE and there's the possibiliy of a first day pick at corner.
Now if the Patriots franchise Cassel and trade him to, say, the Lions for a first and third round pick (which could happen), and if the Patriots are awarded a 3rd round compensation pick fo losing Samual (also possible), they could have 7 draft picks on day one of the draft! So it's possible (but probably not likely) that they could draft a DL, OL, WR, S, ILB, TE and CB all on day one of the draft.
It will be interesting to see what unfolds.

The Pats would be in the playoffs today if they had not been so tight and signed Asante Samuel. His loss weakened the defensive backfield which made the difference in some games. Penny wise and pound foolish I say. The team lost millions more in playoff revenue than it would have cost to keep such a great player. Good for Asante though-- he's probably going to the Super Bowl.
Good job Matt Cassel!