Report: Springs expected to sign with Patriots

I like this guy.

This is from Wikipedia:

"Springs ended the season the 2007 with 62 tackles and 4 interceptions, all in the last 4 regular season games, as he helped the Redskins make the playoffs."

It sounds like when he's healthy, he's a force, lets just hope injuries don't plague him here in New England and this turns into a huge signing.

He'll be a good pickup. If he doesn't work out at corner, like Sanders last year, he'll add good depth at safety.

He may not be a big name but he can bring some depth to the CB position. Great News. Congrats to Shawn for the signing.

signing of a mediocre starting corner, is better than not signing a new cb at all!

Alrit gigdi

Another older guy who is injury prone,

like someone said above when hes healthy, hes a force and that is a big when.

He could be a decent pickup if he can stays healthy. He would also have to convert to safety at this point in his career, but at least he is a proven talent, unlike a lot of the other guys that have been paraded in here this off season!

All we need is Otis Smith to complete the AARP secondary!

Good, now cut Hobbs...

This is a guy who may be over the hill....probably not someone you would put on an island against a legitimate #1 NFL receiver....but a guy who is still probably an upgrade over what Ty Law would have brought last year. Good signing, but definately a stopgap kind of guy. If he is here to see if the young guys can compete, and to provide insurance incase they don't make the strides we're all hoping they make, then it's great. If he was brought in to be THE guy, that means that there is little to no faith in the younger guys...which would be worrying. I'm guessing it's the first.

Bodden would've been better. I'll be surprised if he can stay healthy the whole year.

He is better than Deltha O'Neal though!

Hopefully he won't get lost. We need physical and smart. Time will tell.

Sounds like the second coming of DUANE STARKS!

The guy is a legitimate corner.... He's not that old... how old was Harrison when the Pats picked him up? ?? Everyone was calling him over the hill too. I think this is a great signing and only adds depth and intelligence to an already young backfield.

I'm sure all those commenting know more about CB's than Belichick. It's heartwarming to know we have so many experts in the area. If the Kraft's were smart (and obviously they aren't) then they'd make all their decisions based on what the fans think.

Springs is signed!

Problem already, if he can stay healthy.....if Tank Williams could stay healthy, if Lewis Sanders could stay on the field, if Deltha O'Neal could play--when is this team going to stop the band-aid approach to CB and sign or draft a legit #1 corner?

I hope (like Rob said) that he is more of an insurance policy and a way to add depth/experience...

Mike

Roy Williams anyone?

do we lack the money to get someone decent or just hoping the offense will win games for us? Seems we are feeding off the scraps from teams that no one wants...

Ugh.....another brokendown old cornerback. Just what we need more dead money when he gets hurt in week 1.

The more bodies the better....good move...now sign Roy Williams...

With so many first day picks, makes sense to me for the Pats to get some veterans in here. Hopefully they did not pay too much for him, as I seem him as a solution to the depth problem, not necessarily a starting caliber corner

This can't hurt. Their CB's sucks, so it hassss to be an upgrade.

all you nitwit naysayers need to understand that this is a veteran presence that adds legitimate depth to the position. the pats have up and coming young cbs in wilhite and wheatley and will probably take a cb in the draft. chill

Spring has finally come!

will free up a second round pick to trade for 2010 pick.

Yeah you're right CJ. The people who buy the tickets have absolutely NO RIGHT to criticize personnel moves.

The Pats have a recent track record of bad moves made at the corner spot.

this guy will def help atleast with mentoring our young CBs. plus he's over 5 11. win win in my opinion

He is better then anyone they had on the field last year. The Pats don't play man to man they play cover two and he is perfect for that at this stage of his career. If we don't get rid of Cassell's contract we don't get the best cornerback out there right now. Can show Wheatley and Wilhite how to play the game. Now add Jason Taylor for the pass rush and get younger in the draft.

Finally...a CB over 5'10' and 180 lbs.--thanks BB. I'm really surprised by all the negative posts. What's wrong with 4 interceptions? He couldn't be worse than Deltha. Let's not buy into Big Money for Big Name Players--the Pats have shown they don't need to do that.
Now--let's talk about Vince's contract.

Same thing we did last year. But someone like CJ, who has a short memory, seems to think it is okay we continue to follow the same template for success we had last year. How did Deltha, Webster, Bryant, work out for us????????

To CJ in post 16 - it is possible that we do know more about CBs than Belichick after last year's debacle! But in all seriousness, I remember when Springs was seen as a premiere CB in the league. He was a high draft pick once upon a time. Compared to the guys from last year, he is a step up. Another useful and cost-effective (hopefully) move while the Pats work to draft and develop DBs. Now just obtain Peppers and the Pats will look like geniuses.

Not a bad signing I guess but aren't we supposed to be $16 million under the cap? We are settling for bargain-basement guys as if we stlll have Cassel's ball and chain salary holding us down. What are we going to do with all that money? Re-sign Wilfork? Peppers maybe? Trade into the top ten and spend it on a rookie?

JEEZZ . you would think that this team has not had a wining season in 20 years the way all you NE fans are complaining about this pickup! The national view is that the NE football fan knows as much about the football as an Atlanta thrasher fan knows about hockey and i think they are right!! Springs is on a completely different level of talent then DUANE STARKS, SANDERS. GO BACKTO CHEERING FOR THE RED SOX YOU FOOLS!!! YOU DONT DESERVE THIS TEAM AT ALL!

Springs Forward, Fall Down

That's good news, they got another guy that could fill in for a game or two if someone got hurt. The problem with this backfield is that they don't have a legit CB that can get hurt!!!!

Whitey,

Shawn Springs is a hell of lot better then Webster or Bryant. You know so little about football it's funny. Call Bill and tell him what you think.

sign cato june!!!

Springs is here to play safety, not cornerback. He is the replacement for Rodney Harrison, not Deltha O'Neal.

Ryan,

I bet you were one of the fools who was jumping around when we picked up Bryant last year and said he could easily replace Samuel.

Springs...I did not know you had a crystal ball. You KNOW he is going to be better. How many tackles & int. is he going to have this year oh great one.

Anyone thinking Roy Williams is the saving grace doesn't pay any attention to football. Our linebacks already know how to stop the run, we don't need a safety who is a constant threat to giving up the deep ball because he is so intent on getting the big hit. Springs is a good pickup who can still ball and will help the younger cb's mature. Gotta love Bill.

"The national view is that the NE football fan knows as much about the football as an Atlanta thrasher fan knows about hockey" .....What?

"and i think they are right!! " ....Thank you? I have no idea what that is supposed to mean. I'm assuming that Atlanta thrasher fans (are the thrashers a hockey team or is that a specific type of fan? I'm sorry, I don't follow hockey. I have a wife and she doesn't have a beard) are quite knowledgeable about hockey.

I like it. Let's add Taylor, resign Wilfork and Mankins and get ready for the draft. (that is unless we can grab Roy Williams).

I'm a Pats fan who now lives in the Dallas area and has watched Roy Williams play safety the last few yrs. This guy could be converted to linebacker and play beside Mayo. In Bill we Trust! Shawn Springs is just the type of player that will fit right in with the Pats. Fred Taylor great sign! Looking forward to next season and a road trip to Houston!

Decent signing, a little worried about his health but he's better than Hobbs and Co. Wish the Pats would have paid Samuel the money still :(

BB can collect more bargain CB & WR players as he like to & still released some of them before the regular season opens for opening 53 man spots. That's his decision for not to overpay recent departed ex-Pats players (Samuel, Gaffney, Paxton, Givens, Branch, etc)

From Seatle, We woukld like to have shawn back

I'm sure all those commenting know more about CB's than Belichick. It's heartwarming to know we have so many experts in the area. If the Kraft's were smart (and obviously they aren't) then they'd make all their decisions based on what the fans think. Posted by CJ March 5, 09 03:11 PM

Time to come up with a new act. You're a broken record. No one here is claiming they know anywhere near as much as Belichick. The purpose of this comments section is to allow people to express their opinions, whatever they may be. Get it?

Springs is a typicall signing that provides depth and expirence . Not that we care about his past, but this guy was a great cb in his prime. Very similiar to ty law. Problem was he played in Seattle. People would be going nuts had they re-signed Ty Law. They will still draft a cb with a pick on the first day of the draft. Probably with one of their 2nd's. This guy is alot smarter than O'neal.

Same guy that shut TO down last season? Good pickup if it is.

I don't know where some of you are coming from. Cut Hobbs??? Really??? How old was Harrison when the Pats signed him? Roy Williams?

The Patriots needed a younger vet opposite of Hobbs. Did not get it. They'll draft a young LB who'll be forced to drop back in coverage to support a weak secondary like Vrabel did. The front 7 will NOT beable to do their job. Greere was available. Passed. Bodden. No contract. Concede Lito to the Jets? Did they look at Buchanon? No, they got Springs. He'll help, but the Pats passed up a more perm answer.

This was a good signing not a great signing but a good one. Why are we so down on this signing he better than what we have. Health is an issue with all players not just the ones with a past. Teddy B. had a heart attack he's back playing and nobody said anything about him returning. Rodney H has been hurt the last three seasons but everyone wants him back. You don't know football like the the guys who do it for a living. If BB didn't think he was worth it he wouldn't do it. As for Deltha he some good seasons with other teams just so happens he didn't here. Let's give springs a shot he was a really good cb back a few years ago he'll be good here too.

My boy is die-hard Skins fan and says when Springs is healthy he is a very effective defender. He was actually sad to see him released.

I liked this guy 5 years ago. I hope Belichick pulled out a stopwatch for geriatric Shawn Springs. If he can still move, then great. But if he can't hang with the skilled receivers in the AFC East, I hope we signed him for short money.

Springs is an excellent player... To echo most other peoples sentiments here, it's simply a matter if he can get on the field. It is a shame he is very brittle, or can not play with some discomfort, or both? Not sure...

For those who love to rip Hobbs I would suggest a few things like remember he wasn't a first round pick and also first have a look at his stats compared to Asante Samuel over the first three years of their careers. Hobbs numbers are better as far as tackles, and equal in interceptions. Asante was credited with a few more passes defended over his first three seasons. Asante had a huge 4th year (2006), but his production has been down each of the next two years (2007, 2008)... progressively worse.

No I am not suggesting Hobbs is as good or better than Asante. I was/am a Asante fan, just not sure the perception exactly matches the reality. ...and its not like Asante put the eagles over the top.

And for those who are still upset that the Pats did not sign him, no one ever says who gets cut? Who's money would he have taken? Would Ty Warren not have gotten extended? I have no idea but there is always two sides to the equation.

MAV...if you know anything about football than u should know that you dont compare corners with stats. let me make it simple for you....a great corner i.e asante samuel will not have the ball thrown to his side because he will pik it off, break up the pass, or make a play on the ball, so of course his stats will look coparable to hobbs stats.....hobbs stats are a product of playing soft defense, being short, and playing too far off the reciever. he is not a great or good corner, so the coaching staff "picks on him" as they do with all the weaker corners on the team.allowing his stats to "look" good. asante samuel hasnt got "progressivly worse" he has got better, thats why his staqts dont look as good. because they dont throw to his side.

I want to see Roy Williams and Julius Peppers on our team and then I feel like we will go undefeated!

ya im a skins fann and he was goo with us.. except the past years hes been hit with some injury.. but great when hes healthyy!!

Mike if all of what you say is true then Asante's stats should have gotten worse his fourth year playing opposite Hobbs. To use your logic they would have attacked Hobbs and ignored Asante but the opposite happened , it was Asante's best season so far?

I am not doubting you but the stats disprove your theory and you can't have it both ways.

In any case the real point I was trying to make is that the Patriots coaching staff is not clueless and Hobbs has been a three season starting CB from his rookie season. There have been drafts and free agency and trades available to them for the ability to swap him out.

Yet he continues to start. Will he this year? Who knows.

If Lito Sheppard is so good then why did philly go out and pay samuel a load of dough? In addition, what move have the jets made in recent history that was a lock? vernon gohlston? d'brickshaw ferguson? matthew hatchette? rich kotite?? LOL I think I almost passed out from laughing so hard.

For all of the aspiring GM's out there.....you can't have $33 million guys at every position. The defense needs a little work but were gonna be in good shape with all that cash and picks. The 7,000,000,000,000 point offense will be back as well

Guaranteed he won't make it out of Training Camp. As a Pats fan, I'm praying that their front 7 applies more pressure than last year, becuase the secondary is in shambles.
Why is Belichick becoming a more Offensive minded coach? His great defenses won championships, he needs to return to what got him 5 rings.

Mediocre player + mediocre defense = MEDIOCRE

I love this signing. What do you think it says about the prospect of signing Bodden. Also, what are your thoughts on T.O.

As a DC area resident, I can attest that Springs is a very good football play, as tough as they come. Only problem is that he is always injured. He'll be on IR by week 4.

Low risk, possible high reward. Bodden wants to much $$. I say they give a guy like Chris McCallister a shot if he can pass a physical.

Shawn played really well for the Skins when he was healthy (which was not often enough) but he is like Nancy Drew in that unless he is 100%, he is out of the lineup.
One other thing to notice is that he likes to train on his own away from other guys doing offseason conditioning at home. How will Coach Hoody handle this?

I think this is a very good signing. I liked Shawn Springs since he was a corner in Seattle. He is much older now, but I think BB can still get solid production out of him. He is a smart corner that has pretty good speed. I think they will also draft a CB in the 2nd round and I think Wheatley and Wilhite will grow, but I think they need some time. Roy Williams is not a coverage SS and that's what we need in that position. I'm also hoping Laurenitis drops to the 34th pick. He looks like a BB type of player.

I'm a pats fan in DC and Shawn Springs is a smart, respected veteran, big for a cornerback but maybe lost a step, could move to safety? Maybe 33 years old and wants to win a championship. The Patriots are fortunate to get him. Hope he can stay healthy

Since when has signing a free agent defensive back been a bad thing? Worst case scenario, he is no different than Deltha. That's worst case, and it puts the Pats in the exact same spot they are currently in. It's not like this will use all of the remaining cap room.
Another thought: How many Pro Bowl corners played in this Super Bowl? How many titles has Champ Bailey won? Nnamdi Asomugha? Maybe spending a top pick or all of your cap room on a corner isn't the best strategy. That's not to say that having a good corner can't help, but the Pats' approach of de-prioritizing the position seems to have worked pretty well.

Pleeeeeease stop ripping on Hobbs for goodness sake. How can you expect any DB to succeed with that horriffic pass rush. You could put Jesus Christ back their and he would look aweful. Don't forget Parcells first press conference when he took over the Pats....the most important position is football are the ones closest to the ball before its snapped. That means CB's are not a huge priority. They become more important when you can't rush the passer. The root of the problem is - no pass rush.

Any news on Bodden? I'm glad they signed Springs, who'll be a good #2 or #3 corner. And to those who say he won't make it out of TC, his contract begs to differ. He got $12.8 million over 3 years, per NFL.com.

And with this Hobbs bashing, its not his fault. I'd like to see some of you try and play better than him. He's a warrior. He plays through injuries and gives 110% on every play. He's a key player on the team and one of my favorite players.

Another old defensive player. Reggie Wayne just pitched a tent in his tights.

To whomever said Bodden was too much money: young, quality players are not going to be cheap. I'd rather the Pats commit money to a guy who will be with them for more than 1 year then waste a roster spot with a guy who may be cut before training camp is over.