I’d offer him 5/$35M, and I’d be willing to negotiate up to $40M.

Bodden is next — someone will offer him $6M/year, but I’d bet he’d stay here if the Pats give him a competitive offer.

Then Green and Faulk. Green is pretty highly paid for a guy who really ought to be a backup, and Faulk needs to take a pay cut, but I’d love to have them both back.

Mankins will be back — he’s restricted — but I hope the Pats don’t wait for someone else to make him an offer first.

Guyton and Gostkowski are both due for decent raises but should be back.

I wouldn’t mind having Woods back, but he’d better not want a raise. And Watson can come back as long as he doesn’t expect to get paid like a top TE — he’s decent enough, but far from elite.

The rest of them can go.

Wilfork is a must. AND someone he can train up (is that Myron?).
Bodden- solid CB, I like him. He works hard, has earned a spot and a decent contract.
Faulk- We need his heart & dependability. That guy will lay it all out. The example the youngins’ need.
Gostowski- heck of a kicker but not top money. Want him back.
Watson- KEEPER

i don’t really follow the draft all that much but I keep seeing this kids name as someone who would be a good fit with the Pats.

Jerry Hughes, OLB, Texas Christian, 6-2, 248: He led the nation last year with 15 sacks, while placing in the top 10 with 19½ tackles for loss and six forced fumbles.

Wilfork being top priority – injuries to Jenkins and the San Diego NT showed how hard it is to replace a guy like that, and by keeping Wilfork on the roster, they’re probably saving money and roster spots – otherwise you’d basically need two or three guys to rotate in and get anywhere near the same kind of effectiveness Wilfork has.

Bodden second – I like having at least one big-bodied CB who can play the run and pass effectively. He doesn’t get manhandled like Wheatley and Wilhite, he’s more effective and faster than Springs, and he doesn’t jump routes like you-know-who and give up big plays. He’s not flashy enough to get elite tier CB money, although he’ll want to be comfortable. Finally, he seems to be a Pats-type player – quiet, does his work to a high level, doesn’t have brain explosions, is dependable, and makes plays when they matter – setting up that Tully Banta-Cain interception was truly great work.

Watson third – he’s a cheap-but-effective player. He never leaves the field when healthy, he’s great at blocking and a fair pass-catcher in a position that the Pats don’t pass to very often. He saves a roster spot by being both blocker and receiver. He has also shown an ability to make big plays when utterly necessary, which is a thing special players have (think Troy Brown) – that tackle of Champ Bailey, half a dozen big blocks on key rushing plays over the last few years, pulling out big performances like the Bills game, being the best blocker on the line in the loss to the Ravens.

Faulk fourth – heart of the offence, proven winner, has all the intangibles necessary – experience, leadership, game-winning gritty desire. The only reason he is slightly lower than he might deserve is that there are young guys like Edelman and Welker who show some of those same characteristics, and Faulk’s going to be just that little bit older, slower, more fragile, etc.

Gostkowski fifth – kickers are almost invisible until one blows up in your face (yes, you, Vanderjagt, with your idiot grin and money-fingers and abilty to give games to the Pats). Gostkowski has a lot of leg, good accuracy, and isn’t asking for Vinatieri numbers.

Guyton sixth – good performer, solid worker, does everything he needs to do and occasionally excells, all at good price. Lower priority, but probably one of the most likely to sign, because he seems to genuinely like being a Pat, has a friendship and partnership with Mayo, and has the right kind of attitude to succeed in the situation he’s in.

I’m so-so on Mankins. It really depends on what he wants to come back for; if he would soak up Vince’s money, out the door. If he asks for too much and they show him the exit, I wouldn’t shed any tears.

Why is everyone keeping the dirty laundry in the closet? It stinks to high heaven, and needs to be washed on steam setting, high heat, then air dried.

1) Pile of dirty, stinking underwear: It is time for Kraft to show BB the door. He has hidden behind Brady’s throwing arm, and despite that, he and his coaches managed to engineer the most humiliating defeat in sports history, from which NE may never recover – the loss to the 4th rate Giants.

NE needs and deserves a coach with honesty, good nature, foresight, and integrity.

2) Pile of dirty, stinking, sweatshirts: Brady has lost his nerve. Will he be able to play again? Will he EVER have the strength, courage, and wisdom of Warner and Favre? Is this just a down year? Kraft needs to look into the cryst al ball this off-season and shop him now if the answer is “NO!”

3) Pile of dirty, stinking jockstraps: Hate me now, do you? The proof of the proverbial pie is in the coaching…. look at boy McDaniels and Eric the “Mangenius.” Where do they come off as being coaches? BB has seeded the NFL with his bad coaching decisions. Maybe that was his plan afterall? Hmmmm…..

The Patriots were fun to watch last year. We all knew they weren’t going anywhere, but under Cassel they played with HEART – something missing this year.

Fans, get out the laundry soap and start washing away, or the stink will continue for years to come.

Absolutely – Wilfork, Bodden, Watson, Gostkowski and Faulk

Possibly – Pierre Woods, Gary Guyton

No way on the rest with the exception of Junior Seau- I think he can still contribute.

I’d like to see them pick up a couple studs on the defensive line after ridding themselves of Mankins, Green, Burgess and Neal – but what do I know? I would also get rid of Elmo and Taylor to keep Green-Ellis, Morris and Faulk. As far as Hanson goes, you could pick up a punter for peanuts or two tees, a pack of gum and a football!!

    Someone said, i think Boomer Esiason that edelman was the only one who showed up on sunday. Well, he did show up, but it was Wilfork who really let loose, and that is no surprise. The man comes to play every game. He is the most irreplaceable. Then Faulk – pay him even though he is long in the tooth. We don’t win any Superbowls without Kevin. You could put up a highlight reel of the biggest third down conversions in the history of the Pats and he would lead by a mile. Welker has taken over that mantle, but we don’t know when he will be back, we can hope he plays and early next year, but it could be longer. Faulk still has great value, and he also showed up. one of the bigger plays offensively was his third down conversion on one of our best drives, but that was negated by the Moss offensive pass interference( a non call in my book). I like Bodden, hope he’s back, but he may be elsewhere. Like to see Mankins back. Not sure why the negativity around him from some people. I know probowl is often reputation based, but it still means you are playing at a high level. I think he’s got the mean streak a line needs. As far as Watson, he is ok, but to compare him to Dallas Clark, I mean come on, did you see how he reverted to stone hands again on sunday? He’s got good speed but his hands have never been good and I don’t think they ever will, but he’s a solid number two, his blocking has improved. Like to see Gostkowski back , too, although he also choked on Sunday. What is it with kickers in the playoffs so far. Bengals guy missed two huge ones, Gostkowski, I think the Zona kicker missed one, philly guy missed on, and these were all within 45, i believe. I’d bet Woods and Guyton will be back, and if Jr wants too, hell, let him play again, just for blowing up that screen pass on Sunday.
    By the way, if any of you are still reading, it is so obvious to me now(great hindsight i’ve got) that it was decided or acknowledged that this was our rebuilding year before the season started, and that blows me away. Most teams go 4-12, then 7-9,8-8, etc, while we go 10-6 win the division and make the playoffs, and get spanked by a buzzsaw that is going to give indy everything it can handle(hopefully flacco isn’t flaccid on saturday).
   I have good feelings for the development of Butler, Brace, Pryor, Chung, Edelman, Slater(great special teamer), and I really was impressed with brandon Tate althought the sample size was small, but if he’s back healthy and Mckenzie, i really like the youth movement – we need a better pass rush – and to round it all in, Wilfork is a big part of that, he clogs the middle, we need edge rushers. We get them, we are solid.

…. but unfortunately I don’t think BB or Kraft or anyone in the Pats organization will read it. The only thing Kraft will read is the balance sheet from his accountant. The Pats has been nickeling and diming players for years. It backfired and blew up in their faces this season, but I don’t think they are going to change.