Big Mac wants Patriots comeback

I love Willie, he's a great team player 7 has given us patriot fans a lot of great memories.....that being said, I don't see a need for him on an already overstocked talented roster that's got some tough decisions to make as it is.....I'd tell him to stay in game shape & work out & be ready for a call if we have one of our existing guys go down durring the season, that is if he doesn't catch on with another team......he's 37, no offense to Willie, we need speed & youth & development of those younger guys....

Mid season injury replacement I could see. But at best, I think he would backup the new guys - Woods, Crable, etc. The young OLBs need room to prove themselves. I love Willie (who could forget the goal line stop in Indy?) - but at most - he only has a year or two left and he's not the player he once was. I would let the young guys prove themselves - as they give you a lot more upside.

if he took a sweat-heart hometown deal, I could see him being a great fit for a limited # of snaps, when the experience was needed on the field...otherwise, he'd be great back-up insurance and a heck of a mentor to the youngsters on the roster.
He doesn't want to go out the way he is (4-12 with 1 sack) and wants a chance to redeem himself...I say Patriots should give it to him - plus he looks good in a Patriot uniform - LOL

ooops - that's sweet-heart

He'll be good for locker room inspiration and mentorship for the young linebackers, but I wouldn't count on a lot of production on the field. Having said that, it would be wondeful for Willie to finish his career back where he started and had his best years. Plus, if the Pats win the SB, which is a real possibility if TB stays healthy, it would be quite a capstone!

If the team is going to bring back oldies but goodies would the team choose McGinest over Seau?

"Why wouldn't you want to go to a really good team, which is always close to the Super Bowl, which was in one a couple years ago, was a game away from another one, which has great coaching and is a great organization with a well put-together roster? Why wouldn't you want to be a part of that?"

Willie, did you not ask yourself this before leaving to go to the Browns? Really?

One of my all time favorite Patriots. I'm very bias but I say he deserves a shot. Even at his age, he couldn't be any worse than what we have at that spot currently. A savvy vet could help too with the development of young guns like Mayo.

Too old and too slow

HE IS A GREAT PLAYER ,, HE WAS A GREAT PLAYER , BUT HE'S OLD NOW !!!!!!

if they don't spend a lot of money for him, why not let him come back for a season?

Bring Back Willie. As long as the price is reasonable he would be a good backup to our new untried starters at OLB.

I think this will work out to be Big Mac has a hidden roster spot. He will continue to work out. He will continue to train, but like the vets called upon mid-season last year, he will only be on the team because of injuries. I suspect Big Mac's short list is very short: 1. Like Junior Seau, one more shot at glory at a team he likes.

I like it if he is used situationally and the cap hit is low.

Why the hell not? He would a least be a mentor for some of the younger guys and who knows, he could add a few sacks along the way.

55 is certainly worth the cap and roster space. Pats' defense hasn't been the same since he left and I suspect neither has the lockerroom. There may be a hundred reasons for that but 55's absence has certainly been one of the big ones...

He has two productive years left as a sub, easy.

On balance, Willie deserves a chance to prove he can compete, and given that chance in camp I'm betting he will! It would be sweet for a comeback and even sweeter if he's able to show one more time why he was one of and still is one of the best. Frankly, Willie's the type of player who if he proves not to have any more in the tank he'll retire gracefully.

There might be a spot for him on the Patriots as a situational pass rusher, but that's about all. He's not an every down player anymore, and I'm not sure spending a roster spot that could go to a younger player is the best idea at this point.

I think this would be a good fit. He would be a good mentor for the younger guys,
and even if he played 1 or 2 downs at a time, his presence would be HUGH!

As much as I loved to watch Willie play in a Pats jersey it's probably time for him to enjoy retirement. But who knows, other players have exploded on the Patriots after having "nothing left in the tank." ; )

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They play different positions CN. Outside (Willie Mac) vs. inside (Jr.).

If you count on the Pats needing 4 OLBs on the final roster, you've got AD, Woods, Crable, and ...? Redd and Banta-Cain are JAGs. Just because they're young doesn't mean they're good. Let's not forget that 31 other teams passed on Redd when he was cut last season. I say bring in any and all competition for that fourth spot.

That said, I think I'd probably prefer Colvin over McGinest at this point. Colvin actually had a very strong game in week 17.

I think Seau has more to offer at this point but they play different positions.

Bring him back - we haven't won since he left...he still can bring it...he and Thomas pressing the QB -----Sweet

As long as Willie can still contribute, HELL YEAH bring him back! There are no clear answers at linebacker right now, and a veteran presence next year could help the younger guys learn a lot.

Sure for 500K

lets not forget what BB does with older players he makes them work. willie is an alltime patriot great and it would be nice to see him back with the pats

NUMBER 55!!!

Love Wilie.

Maybe Bruce Armstrong would like to come back as well? Garin Varis?

I love Willie the playmaker of bygone years, but bringing him back for any reason except mid-season emergency seems contrary to the Pats determination to get younger and faster at LB.

I think there's a tendency to overate any mentoring/inspiration component, especially on a Pats team built on such a solid foundation, including proven coaching. Plus, AD said its his time to assume more of an OLB leadership role (and you know who was behind that statement).

And CN, we're talking two different positions here. Vrabel was one of the very few (only?) BB era Pats with the smarts and skill set to play both the 3-4 OLB and an effective, but ful-in ILB.

too old and too slow

willie-its time to shut it down dude. you and romeo should get together and maybe the 2 of u could combine & become a coach.the cowpokes need a linebackers coach, call jerry.

with a roster full of unproven players redd,crable that could be busts,or just average, or average players like woods,and alexander,and banta cain.the likes of McGinest is huge to have for insurance.

YEEESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I like the thinking of CN. If you bring back a good reliable backup, wouldn't you rather get Seau back? If you want to bring back Willie for sentimental value, I would put him on the roster, tell him he'll only have playing time in garbage situations, and have him mentor / coach the younger LBs. I don't think you could expect anything more from a 37 year old linebacker.

Love everything you did for us Willie, especially the goal line stand in Indy. If we don't bring him back, we should honor him at a home game this season if he calls it quits.

Usually I would prefer to see the younger guys develop - I prefer the non-sentimental, love-the-team-more-than-the-players type outlook. But not in this case. I'd take Willie McGinest if he was 75 years old and in a wheelchair, he'll always be the best.

Give it a go, if the money is right...Junior was a wonderful, motivated blessing for us, so can Willie. He is driven...and...btw...has incredible talent! PLUS, he wants to add to (not diminish) his Patriots legacy...it ain't all about the money sometimes.

Bringing back Wiilie McGinest is a great idea if it works from an economic point of view and if he looks good to play. I think Willie could be a great asset to a team getting back to where it belongs. ON TOP !

Something tells me if McGinest had stayed around the Pats would have two more Super Bowls! Depending on his costs he would be nice insurance policy and could help develop Crable. We have missed his size and big play-making ability.

If McGinest can still bring it on, hell yes!

Bring Willie back!! Let him retire with another Patriots ring this year. He was a phenomenal player for us, sure he's 37, but still one of my favorite players. Definitely would be excited if he returns!! If he can't bring it then BB will cut him after a few games.. but it's worth a shot. The "younger" players might be faster but you can't underestimate experience.

The Pats need the type of players that make game changing plays in critical situations-he's not as good as he once was but he's as good once as he ever was!! With the game on the line who would you trust? I say bring back McGinest and use him when it counts. Ty Law is out there to be had as well-maybe now he would move to safety and help now that Rodney retired.

Too old and too slow. He should take a hike and take Teddi with him.

Why don't we bring back Steve Grogan and Steve Nelson too?! Just because someone was a good player in the past doesn't mean they will be in the future. Give Crable as many snaps as possible and let him learn.

Nick (#7)....I was thinking the exact same thing. I LOVE Willie & would be thrilled to have him back. But what the heck?? Why did you leave in the first place then??? Bigger bucks doesn't always bring you what you want.

I understand they play different positions. The question is if (and I stress only if) the Patriots were deciding on bringing in a veteran would the Patriots be stronger on Defense with Seau or McGinest? I think it is a toss-up in saying which position grouping ILB or OLB is the stronger of the 2.

The only contact he'll make with opposing players is when he extends a hand to them to help them off the ground. Let's bring back Chris Slade too. He's only 38.

Will could be a piece to the puzzle that finally develops outside linebackers/pass rushers in this organization. A piece that has been basically missing for 5 years.

I would LOVE To see Willie McGinest Back in a Patriots uniform Where he belongs He played many season w/ Pats and he should come back to retire there
He is still a Great Player

my old man uded to call Willy 495...cause he always took the long way to the QB!!!

Ah! Sweet, sweet music to my ears, by Mark ~ #17:

"That said, I think I'd probably prefer Colvin over McGinest at this point. Colvin actually had a very strong game in week 17."

You know, Colvin is flying so far under the radar that he must have rug burn on his @#$%^&*, but here's a guy who's now had a full 18 months to recover from the injury that ended his 2007 season, and as many know and most forget: That second year is when you really get your Game back.

Colvin always had Speed and Power, and I have a funny feeling that, as part of a rotation, he just might, in the late stages of his career, find the sustained health that years of incessant battering had compromised.

And he's only 32 on Opening Day. McGinest himself played some of his best ball in 2003 and 2004, at the age of 32 and 33.

Of course, we'd have to persuade him to let someone else mind his UPS stores. :P

Let's see we got a old and slow ILB and now we need a OLB that is old and slow too.
Time to take Teddi and Willie to the old folks home - yeah give them a wide screen TV and a cold beer each but get faster....

I wouldn't be surprised if he came back. No Junior Seau or Rodney and the experience will be needed on Defense. BRING BACK WILLIE

If he has anything left in the tank, Hell YES !!! There is one thing about Willie, he is a winner.

Willie McGinest????

You jest?

Willie McGinest was and is a phenomenal player!!!! People say he has slowed down but back in '02 a female sports writer was saying that Mac was retiring. Go figure. In '03 when Rosey went down, against the Eagles, Willie stepped up. He had an outstanding year!!!!!! Lots of sacks that year, baby!!!! I still think that Willie has alot to leave on the field. He doesn't have to play every down. He has smarts especially against the Dolts. I see him as a mentor to the younger players and as a strong situational player. Free Willie, bring back the real #55!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sorry, Junior, but I LOVE Willie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YES! Bring back Willie!

Patriots would be crazy not to bring him Back willie is still a power hitter and Patriots need that