2021 Patriots and Free Agency

[NWPATSFAN]

Jesus.... you all make it like Big Ben is Tony Eason. The guy threw for almost 4,000 yards had 33 TDs and only 10 INTs. That's not too shabby. I would take him.

Eason never had the supporting cast Ben had last year. Three receivers with over 800 yards, Connor in the backfield and a very serviceable TE in Ebron.

 

[cheerupcharlie]

Eason never had the supporting cast Ben had last year. Three receivers with over 800 yards, Connor in the backfield and a very serviceable TE in Ebron.

Eason did have WRs Stanley Morgan, Irving Fryar, Stephen Starring, RBs Craig James, Tony Collins, Mosi Tatupu and all world John Hannah protecting him. And a serviceable TEs in Dawson and Ramsey whom combined for over 100 catches 1200 yards and 11 TDs. So...... i would argue Easons weapons were on par.

 

[nefansince75]

Jesus.... you all make it like Big Ben is Tony Eason. The guy threw for almost 4,000 yards had 33 TDs and only 10 INTs. That's not too shabby. I would take him.

It's more of a question of what's left in the tank. The guy doesn't exactly seem the avocado ice cream type.

 

[YankeeRebel]

I doubt Ben is going anywhere.

 

[NWPATSFAN]

Eason did have WRs Stanley Morgan, Irving Fryar, Stephen Starring, RBs Craig James, Tony Collins, Mosi Tatupu and all world John Hannah protecting him. And a serviceable TEs in Dawson and Ramsey whom combined for over 100 catches 1200 yards and 11 TDs. So...... i would argue Easons weapons were on par.

You can argue but you would be wrong. You're arguing over his career while I am using one season. If you want to discuss their careers it's even a further gap. Please stop. Take the homer glasses off. I loved all those Pats as well. Stanley Morgan and John Hanna are the only two standouts. Starring really?
Dawson and Ramsey? Come on man. One season vs. a career. Not even close. Connor better than all three of those NE RBs.

 

[NWPATSFAN]

I doubt Ben is going anywhere.

Possible retirement. I can't see Pitt holding onto him at his current ability and that HUGE price tag.

 

[BigKen]

Cam spent 45 minutes on a podcast yesterday with Brandon Marshall and a couple of other former players.

He made the argument that he'd loive to come back to NE. "Dough Boy (N'Keal Harry) knows me, Jack (Jacoby Meyers) knows me and Flyer (Byrd) knows me as well as the tight ends. They know what I'm about." He said he'd come back on another one year deal. I had a hard time telling whether he was stating facts or begging.

David Andrews says that he wants to come back but that he's open to offers from elsewhere. If that doesn't tell you that his agent is talking to other teams, you're refusing to believe that tampering ever happens. That's the first time he's ever mentioned going elsewhere. I think he just sent BB a warning.

Yesterday marked the three week date before the "Legal Tampering Period" in the NFL. You know, three days before free agency opens. Well, players are already starting the sales pitches. While they can't mention a team by name, they can hint. "I've never had real baked beans." "I'd like to get me some of that fresh lobster." Looks like agents have told guys where there might be a better than average payday this year.

 

[nefansince75]

You can argue but you would be wrong. You're arguing over his career while I am using one season. If you want to discuss their careers it's even a further gap. Please stop. Take the homer glasses off. I loved all those Pats as well. Stanley Morgan and John Hanna are the only two standouts. Starring really?
Dawson and Ramsey? Come on man. One season vs. a career. Not even close. Connor better than all three of those NE RBs.

Sorry NW, Eason was a dud... All promise no delivery. He had some moments, but they were only moments. Every time he started to look good he'd fail and a broken down Grogan would save the team. In 85 he had what seemed like a good year until he go hurt, then Grogan came in and did better. We're talking the Grogan who needed a fused vertebrae to get back onto the field.

 

[nefansince75]

Yesterday marked the three week date before the "Legal Tampering Period" in the NFL.

I know it's called that, but if it's legal then it's not tampering.

 

[Yankee Traveler]

If by throw you mean beyond the line of scrimmage, then sure. If you mean "well enough for a decent passing game" then I'm not so sure.

He's no Drew Bledsoe at this point but he's far better than Cam.

 

[Southieinnc]

It looks like the Steelers are going to be forced to cut Ben Roethslesberger and his $41.3M cap hit. Think BB might be interested in offering Big Ben a contract?? Think Big Ben would come to NE?? Think it would be worth say $20M?? Just askin'.......

NO!

 

[Southieinnc]

Jesus.... you all make it like Big Ben is Tony Eason. The guy threw for almost 4,000 yards had 33 TDs and only 10 INTs. That's not too shabby. I would take him.

I just don't like buying all the old guys. Time to look ahead!

 

[Southieinnc]

You can argue but you would be wrong. You're arguing over his career while I am using one season. If you want to discuss their careers it's even a further gap. Please stop. Take the homer glasses off. I loved all those Pats as well. Stanley Morgan and John Hanna are the only two standouts. Starring really?
Dawson and Ramsey? Come on man. One season vs. a career. Not even close. Connor better than all three of those NE RBs.

That was a really good team. And Eason really was that bad.

 

[NWPATSFAN]

Sorry NW, Eason was a dud... All promise no delivery. He had some moments, but they were only moments. Every time he started to look good he'd fail and a broken down Grogan would save the team. In 85 he had what seemed like a good year until he go hurt, then Grogan came in and did better. We're talking the Grogan who needed a fused vertebrae to get back onto the field.

I think you misunderstood my post. I was the one saying Eason wasn't much even with the talent he had for his entire NE career.

 

[BigKen]

The more I think about it, the more I begin to think that $66M isn't a lot when trying to sign as many needs as the Patriots have. If your talking paying 2019 salaries, then you might be able to sign 4 guys at $15M per and have some left over. At those salaries, there isn't a QB. So we're talking about roughly a 10% (Actually, 9.8%)cut in the cap in 2021 from 2020. Can we expect players to understand how different 2021 will be because there wasn't a 8% increase in the cap, but a 10% cut, which is really an 18% reduction. I think there are going to be quite a few shocked guys who will be expecting near $20M a year and will laugh when someone offers them $12M. When the second team offers $12.5M or even $11M Then the anger is going to set in and some of these guys will say that they aren't playing for that kind of money. Makes me wonder if a few might sit out 2021 and hope for big bucks in 2022. Then again, taking a year off could really pot a wrinkle in their expectations.

 

[molsaniceman]

good news

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports S Patrick Chung, LB Dont'a Hightower, and OT Marcus Cannon plan to return to the Patriots in 2021.​

Rapoport's report is further confirmation that the Pats will get their key players back next season after they opted out of the 2020 season due to COVID-19. "Physically, all are in a good place," Rapoport said. Without Hightower and Chung last year, New England allowed the 15th most yards per game and the seventh fewest points per game. Cannon will be $9.62 million against the cap in 2021, Chung will cost $5.13 million against the cap, and Hightower will cost $11.32 million against the cap. With upgrades at quarterback, tight end, wide receiver, and running back, the Patriots could easily be playoff contenders in 2021.

 

[Southieinnc]

good news

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports S Patrick Chung, LB Dont'a Hightower, and OT Marcus Cannon plan to return to the Patriots in 2021.​

Rapoport's report is further confirmation that the Pats will get their key players back next season after they opted out of the 2020 season due to COVID-19. "Physically, all are in a good place," Rapoport said. Without Hightower and Chung last year, New England allowed the 15th most yards per game and the seventh fewest points per game. Cannon will be $9.62 million against the cap in 2021, Chung will cost $5.13 million against the cap, and Hightower will cost $11.32 million against the cap. With upgrades at quarterback, tight end, wide receiver, and running back, the Patriots could easily be playoff contenders in 2021.

LOL!
So the good news is that if the team gets better players, they'll be better?

 

[Southieinnc]

good news

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports S Patrick Chung, LB Dont'a Hightower, and OT Marcus Cannon plan to return to the Patriots in 2021.​

Rapoport's report is further confirmation that the Pats will get their key players back next season after they opted out of the 2020 season due to COVID-19. "Physically, all are in a good place," Rapoport said. Without Hightower and Chung last year, New England allowed the 15th most yards per game and the seventh fewest points per game. Cannon will be $9.62 million against the cap in 2021, Chung will cost $5.13 million against the cap, and Hightower will cost $11.32 million against the cap. With upgrades at quarterback, tight end, wide receiver, and running back, the Patriots could easily be playoff contenders in 2021.

I don't see Cannon improving the offense. Now if Thuney goes, Mlifonwu would have to move to guard, necessitating someone at RT.....

 

[BigKen]

I don't see Cannon improving the offense. Now if Thuney goes, Mlifonwu would have to move to guard, necessitating someone at RT.....

Nope...............................

If Thuney leaves Wynn will move inside to LG. Herron will move to LT because he covered every game that Wynn was hurt or missed or Owenue could move to LT and Herron would move to RT.

Patriots also have Corey Cunningham OT, Jermaine Elumonur OT, Ross Reynolds OG, Yodny Cajuste OL, and rookie Jordan Steckler OL on the practice squad. The Patriots don't need Cannon or his $9M cap hit. He'll take a pay cut or be cut.

As good as Chung may have been, Duggar was better than expected and by late in the season was playing as well as Chung in 2019.. He owns Chung's spot now.

Hightower's $11.5M cap hit might have to be renegotiated down a bit. By late in the season, Bentley, Uche, Jennings, Terez Hall and Shilique Calhoun were doing as well as could be expected for a group of first and second year guys and they got the experience playing every game that they wouldn't have gotten otherwise.

There are free agents that are going to want to play and will player cheap because there isn't a lot of free money.

 

[cheerupcharlie]

None of the 3 coming back will make a difference. Hightowers leadership is it.