Not the Same Old Patriots, But the Team to Beat
Team-By-Team Offseason Roundup
New England Patriots
Players Released:
Corey Dillon, RB
Don Davis, S (retired)
Free Agents Lost:
Tully Banta-Cain, LB
Daniel Graham, TE
Traded For:
Wes Welker, WR
Randy Moss, WR
Free Agents Re-Signed:
Heath Evans, FB
Larry Izzo, LB
Junior Seau, LB
Free Agents Added:
Adalius Thomas, LB
Kyle Brady, TE
Sammy Morris, RB
Donte Stallworth, WR
Kelley Washington, WR
Eddie Jackson, CB
Tory James, CB
Draft:
Rd. 1 (No. 24 overall) Brandon Meriweather, S, Miami
4 (127) Kareem Brown, DT, Miami
5 (171) Clint Oldenburg, T, Colorado State
6 (180) Justin Rogers, LB, SMU
6 (202) Mike Richardson, CB, Notre Dame
6 (208) Justise Hairston, RB, Central Connecticut
6 (209) Corey Hilliard, T, Oklahoma State
7 (211) Oscar Lua, LB, USC
7 (247) Mike Elgin, G, Iowa
Analysis:
The New England Patriots won three Super Bowls with Coach Bill Belichick and front office chief Scott Pioli by drafting wisely and searching for free agent bargains.
So much for that approach.
Belichick and Pioli left the club hopelessly shorthanded at wide receiver last season when they traded holdout Deion Branch to the Seattle Seahawks in September, but the Patriots still reached the AFC title game before falling in a near-miss defeat at Indianapolis. It was a testament to the greatness of Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady, particularly in the postseason.
This offseason, Belichick and Pioli, with a boost from owner Robert Kraft's checkbook, have ensured that the Patriots won't be shorthanded again.
They have been the league's most aggressive team in free agency and on the trade front. They spent big money for free agent linebacker Adalius Thomas. They also brought in cornerback Tory James, tight end Kyle Brady and wide receivers Donte Stallworth and Kelley Washington in free agency, and traded for Miami Dolphins wideout and kick returner Wes Welker.
Most significantly, the Patriots shipped a fourth-round pick to the Oakland Raiders on the second day of the draft for wide receiver Randy Moss.
Moss agreed to a sizable pay cut to have a chance to win a Super Bowl with Brady, and the Patriots will be an overwhelming championship favorite next season if Moss regains anything close to his once-dominant form. Even if he doesn't, the additions of Stallworth, Washington, Welker and Brady give Brady far more help on offense than he had last season. The club lost tight end Daniel Graham in free agency and released tailback Corey Dillon, who could be headed into retirement. But they've made a net gain on offense, and Thomas and James will be major additions to the defense.
Belichick and Brady have won Super Bowls with rosters far less talented than this one. Anything less than a title would be a letdown for the Patriots after the offseason that they've had.
By Mark Maske |
May 23, 2007; 4:10 PM ET
| Category:
Patriots
Previous: K. Johnson Retiring, Heading to ESPN |
Next: C. Henry Didn't Fail Drug Test
Posted by: pack4life | May 23, 2007 5:37 PM
Actually, this is nothing new for the Pats, they have almsot always gone out and signed free agents when they felt they were worth the money.
They have signed a lot of free agents for good money, such as Brian Cox, Roman Phifer, Rodney Harrison, traded for the famed malcontent Corey Dillion, Duane Starks, Chad Brown, Monty Beisel, and signed over 20 free agents in 2000 alone.
Last year they held a lot of money open to try to get Derrick Mason and Ty Law, but failed, and rather then blow the money on scrubs, they resigned a lot of the current roster to long term deals.
Last year was the abberation, not this year. Fans know this, sportswriters tend not too.
Posted by: CGM | May 24, 2007 2:15 PM
The comments to this entry are closed.
here's a story.
of a man named brady,
and a front office w/ sudden money to burn,
they stole all of the unsigned,
wide receivers,
from the whole damn league
the brady bunch
the brady bunch
thats the waaay randy ruined the brady bunch
da ta da daaa!