Linebacker breakdown

replacement" is the answer JESUS?!!!!

Eric Alexander ...

Who the hell is Angelo Craig?!!!!

Anyone heard of this guy?!!!! and no, you cannot check out nfl.com to get an answer.

rookie OLB, Mr. Senator.

Cassel to Tampa Bay for a 2009 first rounder and conditional 2010 second rounder

TBC is garbage!!!!

Yeah I like Alexander too but a rookie would be nice. We have 2 good second round picks in addition to whatever we get from the Cheifs, a trade up perhaps?

the question is, who are they lining up to sign. is it Lewis, Vilma, or Peppers. tis is the reason fror the trade. and the trade isn't done yet. cassel could be involved. we'll see.

The Jr. Senator from Minnesota: Mike Reiss hadn't even heard of Angelo Craig until a poster reminded him last week.

I hope Eric Alexander is no longer in the mix. Can't pin the 2006 AFC champ loss on him alone, but I can still picture him repeatedly trailing Dallas Clark in coverage on Colts winning scoring drive.

Vrabel produced as much as could be ask in his long Pats tenure. Good luck and hope to see him as a Pats coach down the road.

this could also very well mean that the Pats will use pick #23 to pick an OLB. i think there are a lot of players they like who might be available at that spot, cushing, matthews, etc.

I've got news for you. Bruschi won't be starting at ILB this fall. There's a lot of reasons why they were among the worst in the league in defense. Team speed is #1 issue at LB as well as Cover2 corners.

Time to find some big hitters who can run and gun.

Maybe this actually lends credence to the rumor of J Peppers coming here from Carolina in exchange for M Cassel...They're both franchised, the $ is similar and we're now certainly in need of a major presence at OLB.

IN BILL I TRUST ! People are screaming just like always when a name player has laft ie : Vinatari , malloy, bledsoe ect... lest us little people not forget the results.

I wouldn't be surprised if the skins released Jason Taylor sometime soon to clear some cap room due to their recent moves of Haynesworth/Hall and the fact he was injured last year. Bill loves veterans and by all accounts JT and Brady have developed a good relationship over the years. If not released, maybe we trade for him outright. Either way, if it happens it would be a perfect fit.

Cassel is going to KC and the Pats are getting Pick #3 in the draft.

Angelo Craig like Mike Wright and possibly Connor Barwin is another Cincinnati Bearcat on the NE squad. I thought he was worth grabbing in last year's draft with possibly their last pick, but NE found a way to get him anyway. Undersized (weight wise) coming out of college where he played on the d-line, I think he has a lot of upside....obviously BB sees something there.....

gaffney's gone and i'm glad. I never forgave him for that awful dropped potential touchdown pass perfectly thrown from Cassel. That cost us a playoff spot. What a choke and there wasn't even a defender near him.

Mayo demonstrated the need for quicker backers that can cover backs,slot recievers and tight ends. Vrable was to slow and was knocked around like a pinball last season. If BB got more than a 5th for him he robbed Scott Also on the Tyree play where he blitzed Chris Snee pancaked him.

how can any true pats fan rip vrabel

bill w you couldnt even spell his name right, look through the past few seasons and find a more productive, consistent linebacker

your truly an idiot who most likely never even played a down in highschool

If they get Ray Lewis or Julius Peppers, this makes sense. If they get neither and we have two QB's making over $14 mil per year a pop....we riot.

It's still unclear what the Patriots are getting for vrabel. I hope it's either part of a Cassel deal or that the Patriots get a 2nd or 3rd round pick for Vrabel in a straight deal. Vrabel has been great, but his cap hit was too high, so even a 3rd rounder is a good trade for both sides, as KC can afford a cap it.

has anyone mentioned that the PATS could draft a excellent WR or TE. There is Peddigrew from Okla St and the big guy with great hands from N.Carolina. Pats need wide receivers and a good tight end. Brady likes to throw...what do you think?

Type your comment here...pats will be looking for a wide receiver(Hicks)from N.Carolina and Tight End(Peddigrew)from Okla.ST. These guys are top notch. what do you think?

I think Mike got the starters wrong. Based on what I saw this year, it would more likely look like this:

Starters:

OLB Adalius Thomas
ILB Jerod Mayo
ILB Gary Guyton
OLB Tully Banta-Cain

In the rotation:

ILB Tedy Bruschi
OLB Pierre Woods
OLB Shawn Crable

Reserves:

OLB Vince Redd
OLB Darrell Robertson
OLB Angelo Craig
ILB Bo Ruud
ILB Eric Alexander

Hey Jon I am not ripping him I am only saying his skills are declining. In another post I praised him for his vast contributions during the Superbowl run. It is time to move on. Maybe he can play at a higher level in KC . I doubt it. He is a gleaming example of how Bill put players in position to excel. Last year he really did not get the job done and Bill dumped his mouth and cap#I. There is more to this story than you know

Draft a WR or TE? Are you crazy? Brady won 3 Superbowls with a group of receivers that could barely be solid #3 receivers on a lot of the teams in the league. He almost got us to the Superbowl with the almighty Reche Caldwell as the #1 guy, so we're just fine with Moss and Welker and whoever else they add.

We're in desperate need of LB and secondary help. I loved Vrabel over the years, but he really showed his age last season, so I'm ok with him being gone, as long as there's something in the works. I doubt that when it's all said and done, that Bruschi and Harrison will be in the lineup next year either. We need a stud LB and a couple big corners who can cover... That's the biggest reason we had no pass rush last season. Seriously, would you want to bring extra pressure, knowing that Ellis "can't cover a bed with 3 sheets" Hobbs and even worse yet, Deltha O'Neil are the guys backing up your pressure in coverage... Everytime I see the QB look to his left, I get that empty feeling in the pit of my stomach that Hobbs is 10 yards off his man, and worse yet, when the pass is completed, somehow the guys STILL gets behind him. Just don't understand how a guy that looks so fast on kick returns, can look like a tortoise in coverage. On the upside, Wheatley actually showed some nice signs until getting hurt in the Colts game.

Shawn Springs at corner and my favorite "Ray Ray" in the middle. From last to first in defense. Pay Ray the money, he would be worth every penny!

Kansas City won't give up the #3 pick in the draft and, more importantly, the Patriots wouldn't want it. It's too high a pick and they don't want to pay out that kind of money. There's been a lot of talk about the Pats' interest in Julius Peppers. I think it would be a great move, especially if you can then sign him to a long term deal. He's only 29, he wants to play in a 3-4 defense, and he's an absolute beast! And after last year's playoff performance, Carolina is definitely in need of a good, young QB. Getting a player of Pepper's caliber for Cassel would be a gift.

can any one tell me whats going to happen with Julius pepper..
i mean can we try to bring this guy to our crew and help a little more
Wilford and Seymour...instead of getting Taylor...even do is too late now to go back on Taylor....but was it necessary to bring taylor?

Ray Lewis is an interesting theory. I know he wouldn't be a direct replacement of Vrabel since he's an ILB but an ILB combo of Ray-Ray and Mayo prowling behind Wilfork certainly would be an upgrade of the overall LB unit.

The problem is, Lewis doesn't make the LB corps younger and I don't see him leaving Baltimore to accept a reduced salary. If he's leaving Baltimore my gut says he's trying to get the biggest contract possible which of course rules the Patriots out...

The Patriot's next year have a list of players that they need to sign. I have included a list of the players who will be free-agents next year and my belief is that the Patriots traded Vrabel to free up cap space to sign players like Wilfork. I do not believe that the organization intends on signing defensive specialists like Peppers.

Pos Player Name FA Status Previous Team Current Team
RB Kevin Faulk UFA New England Patriots Free Agent
WR Sam Aiken UFA New England Patriots Free Agent
TE Brad Listorti UFA New England Patriots Free Agent
TE David Thomas UFA New England Patriots Free Agent
TE Benjamin Watson UFA New England Patriots Free Agent
PK Stephen Gostkowski UFA New England Patriots Free Agent
OG Logan Mankins UFA New England Patriots Free Agent
OG Stephen Neal UFA New England Patriots Free Agent
OT Nick Kaczur UFA New England Patriots Free Agent
OT Ryan O'Callaghan UFA New England Patriots Free Agent
DL Jarvis Green UFA New England Patriots Free Agent
DL Richard Seymour UFA New England Patriots Free Agent
DL Le Kevin Smith UFA New England Patriots Free Agent
DL Vince Wilfork UFA New England Patriots Free Agent
LB Tully Banta-Cain UFA New England Patriots Free Agent
CB Ellis Hobbs UFA New England Patriots Free Agent

cassel to carolina for Jon Beeson and get willie mcginist back for the outside.

No need to worry as we have 1 of the MAJOR SLEEPERS @ OLB in the league-Darrell Robertson from GA.Tech.Mel Kiper had him rated as 1 of his top 25 senior players during the fall of 07.On 11/3/07 Kiper says of Robertson-"Impressive quickness off the snap,has the potential to be an outstanding pass rusher in the NFL".Kiper had this player on his best available draft list all of Day 2 last yr. yet somehow he went undrafted(injury?) and we signed him after the draft as a free agent.Played DE @ Tech and BB probably needs time to make him a 3-4 OLB.Still trying to find out why he went undrafted and hopefully Mr. Mike Reiss can find out for us.

I think there setting up for a huge splash with Lewis or Peppers. If they a guy like Peppers they would have to change there defense to t he 4-3 which I think would benefit there strength the D-Line. You could sign a guy like Shawn Springs in the secondary and Dawan Landry. I think we could drastically improve over this weekend.

I agree - In Bill we trust. I loved Vrabel. Do you guys remember what the team was like prior to Bill? He's got a plan. Trust in Bill. He loves defense and linebackers in particular. What's interesting is Bill is the brand now and not the Patriots. It's Bill's team that I cheer. It will be difficult for the Krafts to gain support and allegiance after Bill.

I am looking for a three team deal that sends Casell away and brings J. Peppers to Bean Town

Derrick Brooks still makes quality plays,alot of talent left.There is no better team player I have ever seen.Strong work ethic and makes the players around him better.Always seems to make the key play even after all these years .I relocated near Tampa from New Hampshire in 2003 and this guy is one of the greats there ever has been.They were shocked when he was released this week and he has stated he still wants to play and he still can.He would be a great replacement for Vrabel.

JUST REMEMBER S.CRABLE HAD GREAT PRESEASON STATS LAST SEASON RIGHT BEHIND MAYO JUST NEVER GOT ON THE FIELD LAST YEAR?

Wow-this has to be the worst possible linebacker core in the league aside from Jarod Mayo. I mean it was respectable with Vrabel but now it is pathetic. Pierre Woods? If i'm not mistaken he's a free agent. Teddy Bruschi-i love the guy but he's 80 yrs old in Pro yerrs.