Patriots to Let Hightower Test FA

[CreepCreep2014]

But they don't have to do that just yet.

They are going to have to tender him, and they will prob put a 1st rd tender on him. I have seen reports that he is not happy with the money he is getting. I have also seen reports that the Dolphins want a CB and want Butler bad and will out pay NE, and give up the 1st rd pick. Maybe Mia feels Butler is a better player than the one they would get at their spot. I have a gut feeling we will not see 21 in NE next yr. I hope I am wrong, but I think BB would take the pick over paying Butler what other teams are willing.

 

[Jimmy_the_Tongue]

Steelers should try and sign him. ..they wanted to draft him but the Pats traded up and grabbed him instead. ...if I remember right. ..

 

[soxfan1468927]

They are going to have to tender him, and they will prob put a 1st rd tender on him. I have seen reports that he is not happy with the money he is getting. I have also seen reports that the Dolphins want a CB and want Butler bad and will out pay NE, and give up the 1st rd pick. Maybe Mia feels Butler is a better player than the one they would get at their spot. I have a gut feeling we will not see 21 in NE next yr. I hope I am wrong, but I think BB would take the pick over paying Butler what other teams are willing.

It's pretty amazing, with Blount, Bennett, Sheard, Long, Branch, Hightower, Butler, and Ryan all being free agents. I wouldn't be surprised if the Pats kept none of the above. The offense I'm not worried about because the offensive line is set and I think Blount and Bennett are replaceable. Valentine will likely take over Branch's spot. He saw an increase in snap count over the last 6 games (about 44%) and the Pats will go with the guy 10 years younger. I think it just leaves so many holes at DL, LB, and CB. Do they really want to build that through the draft/free agency? I can see building depth through that, but you're right, the unit won't look the same.

 

[NorEEzta]

They did. I don't see this time it working out the way the Patriots want though. Hightower is good and gone

Great News!! I found your avi.

 

[jarntt]

It's becoming abundantly clear that all that matters is Belichick and Brady. Good player, but it seems if he leaves it won't even slow things down...

 

[soxfan1468927]

It's becoming abundantly clear that all that matters is Belichick and Brady. Good player, but it seems if he leaves it won't even slow things down...

They're not without criticism though. Let's not forget that they went 9-8 in the playoffs from 2005-2013, and in their 8 playoff losses the defense allowed over 27 points per game. Now Brady wasn't great in those losses (10 INTs in 8 games), but the defense wasn't doing them any favors either.

 

[redseat]

Great News!! I found your avi.

View attachment 155600

Lol... You want me to put it back?

 

[NorEEzta]

Lol... You want me to put it back?

I have to admit, I have difficulties spotting you without it.

 

[redseat]

They are redoing what they did with McCourty

Yeah I know.. Just wondering

 

[redseat]

I have to admit, I have difficulties spotting you without it.

back

 

[NorEEzta]

back

Haha too funny.

 

[CreepCreep2014]

It's pretty amazing, with Blount, Bennett, Sheard, Long, Branch, Hightower, Butler, and Ryan all being free agents. I wouldn't be surprised if the Pats kept none of the above. The offense I'm not worried about because the offensive line is set and I think Blount and Bennett are replaceable. Valentine will likely take over Branch's spot. He saw an increase in snap count over the last 6 games (about 44%) and the Pats will go with the guy 10 years younger. I think it just leaves so many holes at DL, LB, and CB. Do they really want to build that through the draft/free agency? I can see building depth through that, but you're right, the unit won't look the same.

Ya know, as a fan I don't get angry or upset with the moves BB makes because we won 5 SB. However, as a fan I DO get frustrated when they let core guys walk away. Now that may not happen this time around, but here me out. We didn't sign Revis because we needed that money to sign core guys (Chandler Jones, Collins, HT), that was fine. I would not have paid that. We then trade Jones so we can sign core guys (Collins, HT, Butler) I was fine with that. We trade Collins so we can sign core guys (HT, Butler) and he was not fitting in....OK......Now here we are entering FA and we have core, important players all going to FA. It kind of pisses me off a little, but in the end I will leave it up to BB.

Butler is not happy with his pay, and he should be. I honestly don't see him back. Someone is going to pay him and BB will let him walk for that 1st rd pick. Logan Ryan is going to get paid a ton, and I am cool with that. IMO, HT should have been done last off season and so should have Butler. Marty would be nice if he stayed, but I am cool with him leaving. I hope that Harmon and Branch stay, and I think they will. Sign Odrick to replace Long and we are not that far off. I see this team loading up in the draft for Def guys and signing some vets to get through the year.

 

[NWPATSFAN]

Ya know, as a fan I don't get angry or upset with the moves BB makes because we won 5 SB. However, as a fan I DO get frustrated when they let core guys walk away. Now that may not happen this time around, but here me out. We didn't sign Revis because we needed that money to sign core guys (Chandler Jones, Collins, HT), that was fine. I would not have paid that. We then trade Jones so we can sign core guys (Collins, HT, Butler) I was fine with that. We trade Collins so we can sign core guys (HT, Butler) and he was not fitting in....OK......Now here we are entering FA and we have core, important players all going to FA. It kind of pisses me off a little, but in the end I will leave it up to BB.

Butler is not happy with his pay, and he should be. I honestly don't see him back. Someone is going to pay him and BB will let him walk for that 1st rd pick. Logan Ryan is going to get paid a ton, and I am cool with that. IMO, HT should have been done last off season and so should have Butler. Marty would be nice if he stayed, but I am cool with him leaving. I hope that Harmon and Branch stay, and I think they will. Sign Odrick to replace Long and we are not that far off. I see this team loading up in the draft for Def guys and signing some vets to get through the year.

I think a lot of us including the media speculated that those moves were being made to sign core players. I think for the most part they were asking for too much money, bringing discussions into the locker room, not doing their job. I can't recall BB ever saying he was letting players go to pay someone else.
We can't argue success. Even when he trades out of picks, "reaches" for certain players or makes what most of us feel was a dumb 4th and 2 call... most times he proves us wrong.

 

[CreepCreep2014]

I think a lot of us including the media speculated that those moves were being made to sign core players. I think for the most part they were asking for too much money, bringing discussions into the locker room, not doing their job. I can't recall BB ever saying he was letting players go to pay someone else.
We can't argue success. Even when he trades out of picks, "reaches" for certain players or makes what most of us feel was a dumb 4th and 2 call... most times he proves us wrong.

I agree. I have no right to get mad, just frustrated...

 

[soxfan1468927]

I think a lot of us including the media speculated that those moves were being made to sign core players. I think for the most part they were asking for too much money, bringing discussions into the locker room, not doing their job. I can't recall BB ever saying he was letting players go to pay someone else.
We can't argue success. Even when he trades out of picks, "reaches" for certain players or makes what most of us feel was a dumb 4th and 2 call... most times he proves us wrong.

It definitely wasn't just the media though. BB never said anything that I can remember, but Kraft certainly did. When they didn't resign Revis, he mentioned "next year we have three very good young defensive players coming up and we have to factor that."

 

[Hank Kingsley]

Ya know, as a fan I don't get angry or upset with the moves BB makes because we won 5 SB. However, as a fan I DO get frustrated when they let core guys walk away. Now that may not happen this time around, but here me out. We didn't sign Revis because we needed that money to sign core guys (Chandler Jones, Collins, HT), that was fine. I would not have paid that. We then trade Jones so we can sign core guys (Collins, HT, Butler) I was fine with that. We trade Collins so we can sign core guys (HT, Butler) and he was not fitting in....OK......Now here we are entering FA and we have core, important players all going to FA. It kind of pisses me off a little, but in the end I will leave it up to BB.

Butler is not happy with his pay, and he should be. I honestly don't see him back. Someone is going to pay him and BB will let him walk for that 1st rd pick. Logan Ryan is going to get paid a ton, and I am cool with that. IMO, HT should have been done last off season and so should have Butler. Marty would be nice if he stayed, but I am cool with him leaving. I hope that Harmon and Branch stay, and I think they will. Sign Odrick to replace Long and we are not that far off. I see this team loading up in the draft for Def guys and signing some vets to get through the year.

On that list you quoted, Hightower and Butler are the critical ones. I'd rank Amendola as almost more important than the rest.

And I simply do not see Bill B letting Butler go. Has to keep him.

 

[NWPATSFAN]

It definitely wasn't just the media though. BB never said anything that I can remember, but Kraft certainly did. When they didn't resign Revis, he mentioned "next year we have three very good young defensive players coming up and we have to factor that."

Revis was asking for way too much $. NE backloaded his deal so they wouldn't have to pay him. He was a rental. Again BB made the correct choice. Kraft no way says Revis was just a rental, so how else would he explain it? I also think maybe that was Krafts and BBs thoughts looking forward. But then came the off-field issues, locker room distractions...
Again I hope NE keeps HT. But if he tries to hold the team hostage I say let him go. He's replacable.
Back to Revis, he never was a real Patriot. He always wanted to be in NY.

 

[soxfan1468927]

Revis was asking for way too much $. NE backloaded his deal so they wouldn't have to pay him. He was a rental. Again BB made the correct choice. Kraft no way says Revis was just a rental, so how else would he explain it? I also think maybe that was Krafts and BBs thoughts looking forward. But then came the off-field issues, locker room distractions...
Again I hope NE keeps HT. But if he tries to hold the team hostage I say let him go. He's replacable.
Back to Revis, he never was a real Patriot. He always wanted to be in NY.

The reports from the time seem to indicate that the Pats weren't too far off from what Revis wanted after the 2014 season. And I'm not saying it was the wrong move not to resign Revis, I think it was clearly the right move. But I'm responding to the notion that this idea of "we're not going to sign Revis because we have young defenders that we have to pay" is just a media-driven one. The idea came from what Kraft said 2 years ago, it wasn't just made up by the media.

 

[NWPATSFAN]

The reports from the time seem to indicate that the Pats weren't too far off from what Revis wanted after the 2014 season. And I'm not saying it was the wrong move not to resign Revis, I think it was clearly the right move. But I'm responding to the notion that this idea of "we're not going to sign Revis because we have young defenders that we have to pay" is just a media-driven one. The idea came from what Kraft said 2 years ago, it wasn't just made up by the media.

We can agree to disagree on how we come to the same conclusion.

 

[Hank Kingsley]

Will the Pats take a shot at Brandon Marshall?