ILBs on the market

Why was Foote not included on this list?

Hi Mike. Foote signed with Detroit.
--Mike

This is great stuff! Thanks.

I am sorry for McKenzie and hope he makes a full recovery. I would love to see Seau come back for one more year. He has unfinished business.

Looking at this list, I think Belichick would sooner move Adalius Thomas back inside and put unproven guys like Woods and Crable outside than sign any of these guys. I'm not saying he'll do that, but Mayo, Bruschi, and Guyton should be enough to start the year. Bruschi's probably not a three-down 'backer anymore, but Guyton has plenty of speed to play nickel linebacker and Mayo can play all the time. I'm also hopeful Tank Williams can come back this year. The McKenzie injury was a tough loss. Season-ending injuries as rookies can set players back more than just a year (Mike Richardson, anyone?) and lots of Pats fans were rooting for McKenzie to make it.

Here are 2 names, 1 has been said, Napoleon Harris. He has the size that BB loves, but never played in 3-4, so he is most likely out. The other is Bo Ruud. He spent a year learning this scheme while injured. I don't know if he is still injured, but if he isn't, don't be surprised if comes back here.

I believe Bo Ruud was claimed off waivers by the Cleveland Browns.

Bring Jr. back!

The Patriots announced the release of linebacker Bo Ruud today.

From the team's press release:

Ruud, 24, was selected by the Patriots in the sixth round (197th overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft. The 6-foot-3-inch, 235-pound linebacker was placed on the reserve/injured list with an ankle injury on Aug. 30, 2008, and missed the entire 2008 regular season. Prior to joining the Patriots, Ruud was a three-year starter at the University of Nebraska. He started 33 of 46 games and finished his career with 216 total tackles, including 4.5 sacks.

Press the speed dial button for Junior. -Worst case scenario he is a seasoned & savvy veteran for the young guys in camp to emulate.

I also think you might want to consider Tank Williams as an ILB. Obviously he's not a pure LB but I thought last year in camp they were using him as an inside cover guy more then a safety close to the line. We're also somewhat stacked at safety right now so I could easliy see BB trying to convert him.

I don't think it's realistic to expect Mayo to play as much as he did last year. I'd love to see him out there for, what was it? 90% of the snaps? but I just think they might want to protect him a little bit, give him a little breather every now and then. If they were able to switch to a 4-3 for 10 or so plays a game (maybe on 3rd-longs or any other obvious passing situations) and put Guyton or Tank Williams in the middle for coverage, with Thomas and Banta-Cain, Crable, Jason Taylor or whoever emerges as the best pass rusher outside opposite Thomas and just have at it. The line would then be Green, Brace/Seymour, Wilfork and Seymour/Warren (whoever is the better rusher...I'd say it might be Seymour). Of course, there's probably a reason I don't run an NFL team.

Bring back Jr. We still owe him a ring.

I think Rob is right, asking Jerod "Ironman" Mayo to go 100% of the potential snaps is asking too much. Tank Williams will likely see extended duty at ILB on select downs, plus I'm sure BB will pickup and groom some undrafted free agent for that role, if he hasn't already begun that process. In the meantime, Jr. Seau has probably already received a phone call to measure his interest level. We all know that the Patriots are Junior's team of choice and given the Patriots' strengths relative to the competition, Jr. may well decide that a return is worth it given the potential for a Superbowl payoff!

This injury hurts, but that's what happens when you wait for the 3rd round to address one of the bigger voids on your team. Does anyone remember when we played the good teams last year like the Steelers, Chargers or Phins? All those teams ran straight up the middle through Wilfork and Bruschi more than a few times for big gains. Mayo is going to be a great player, but he cant cover the whole field Bill! Look for teams to exploit the middle again + the edge on Vrabel's side. We need another MLB & OLB for this defense to be special again.

Mike, thank you. The list is not so impressive, other than Seau.

I think everyone saw last year, that mayo is the real deal as a full-time inside guy & should be even more productive this year. With bruschi/guyton sharing the other spot...Jr. could certainly fill-in as a rest-stop for any of the 3 (and as insurance in case of injury) & I'd like to see him give it another shot for the ring he deserves.
Mike any word on Seau - his plans, his conditioning & whether Pats are interested in adding him - or would that be a wait & see thing toward play-off run time and/or injury caused need?

Also, a few reports are saying Jason Taylor coming this way is beginning to look like a reality...any word yet from NE about what's really going on there?

Whats the situation on the jason taylor thing going to the patriots

We've watched this movie before. No pass rush threat, injuries at LB. Its great we have addressed the secondary, but the unresolved pass rush and ILB questions have me feeling like "Oh no, not this again." Im sure BB isn't done yet- right? right?!!

Even if Junior came back and Tank Williams work out as an LB, the depth is still in question. You have to think about injuries. They could still use a couple of vets, maybe through free agency or when teams start cutting thier rosters as training camp and the preseason gets under way.

First off, JT would be a welcomed addition to NE. imagine him with Jr. on the field for a down or two? then add Mayo,WilFork Seymour and Green and Ban-Ta Cain for kickers (in any Combo.) then put Meriwether's, Saunders, Harrison, Brusski,and company I think on paper more then one team would quake if the Pats are in town.
2nd) Coach Bill and Staff will have this team primed and energized for the Bowl run, Ma honey and Taylor running the rock,Morrison and Faulk filling in on 3rd,and zone plays. coupled with Moss, Welker and the new comers I think we will be better then OK.

Any chance the Pat's are interested in Pisa Tinoisamoa? Recently released by the Rams. not sure on the Rams scheme, but he seems to have been a pretty productive player and has some good speed/decent size for an ILB.

Look, I really felt like not saying something, but I feel the need to. George Bouchard, your comment is perhaps the funniest thing I have ever seen. It isn't funny because of content, but because, aside from Emmitt Smith, you might have the worst grasp on the English language I have EVER SEEN.

Appelby is an undrafted free agent from Virginia. He played ILB in a 3-4 at VU. He verry well could be our 4th guy on the inside.

There is only one name on the list for me -
Junior.

Given that Guyton has shown he can play, don't we need an OLB more than an ILB???

Inside linebacker is not one of our biggest needs. Mayo has the strong side inside locked up and Guyton was good last year as an undrafted free-agent and now going into his second season with his athleticism and Bruschi will play limited. OLB is our biggest need which soon should be addressed with Jason Taylor. Now if Taylor does not sign with us then we will have a need. Crable was a beast in college. Redd is big and can fast maybe he switches inside with woods and crable already outside.Also, July 1st alot of veterans are cut, so we could go shopping

of that list, napoleon harris is the only proven guy (other than junior) big enough to h'old up in the 3-4. he'd probably cost a bit more than the others too. pisa is an execellent 4-3 linebacker, but he'd getting eaten alive taking on guards in the 3-4.