The Patriots Have Made the Biggest Splash in Unrestricted Free Agency

by Richard Hill on Mar 21, 2010 5:58 PM EDT in New England Patriots News

ESPNBoston's Mike Reiss reports that the New England Patriots have made the most movement on unrestricted free agents. The Patriots have signed 5 to contracts (Vince Wilfork, Tully Banta-Cain, Leigh Bodden, Stephen Neal and Kevin Faulk), placing them at first in the league. The next highest quantity is 3 UFAs signed, which is held by three teams.

According to Reiss, this reflects two points:

1. The team had more key players with contracts expiring than most clubs.

2. The team's strategy of taking care of its own because the overall free-agent market was considered weak.

I have to fully agree. The Patriots needed to take care of their own players to instill a good feeling in the locker room that hasn't existed for a while. Our locker room needs to be more of a family, which is exactly where I believe it is going. Also, the highest quality players on the market were Patriots players; I'm glad we picked them up.

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We picked up that best free agents on the market

The fact that they were on the team last year is irrelevant.

I’d hate to see Wilfork in Miami twice a year. Huge pick up.

My life has been a trivial pursuit. Trivia: where three roads meet.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.

by SlotMachinePlayer on Mar 21, 2010 7:33 PM EDT reply actions

I'd hate to see him in Buffalo twice a year...

Or Indianapolis ~~once~~ twice a year…

by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Mar 21, 2010 8:07 PM EDT up reply actions

The only elte FA you guys retained was Wilfork

Benta-Cain, Bodden and Neal arent exactly elite players

2009 NY Phin PhansFantasy League Champion
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by Patssuck456 on Mar 21, 2010 8:20 PM EDT up reply actions

I'd argue that Bodden is elite enough...

…I think all 4 were the best FA in their respective position.

by Richard Hill on Mar 21, 2010 10:05 PM EDT up reply actions

If Bodden, Banta-Cain and Neal went to free agency, they'd have been in the top-two of their respective positions

Neal would likely have been the top-ranked Guard in free agency; Bodden would’ve duked it out with Dunta Robinson for the #1 CB, and Banta-Cain might’ve been the second or third OLB, depending on whether you classed Peppers as one, what position you consider Dansby, and how good you think Joey Porter is now.

Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.

by Comedic.Sans on Mar 21, 2010 10:24 PM EDT up reply actions

I have to agree

Leigh Bodden is a player we did not want to see you retain.

2009 Unofficial "The Phinsider" (Phinaddict's League) Fantasy Baseball League Champion

1a. Eric Berry, S, Tennessee/1b. Earl Thomas, S, Texas
1c. C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson/1d. Dan Williams, NT, Tennessee
1e. Sergio Kindle, OLB, Texas/1f. Brandon Graham, OLB, Michigan

by Dave.Phuller on Mar 21, 2010 10:33 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm particularly glad the picked Bodden back up

Even if he’s not a bona fide all-singing, all-dancing shutdown corner of the Revis or Asomugha-reputation, he’s a solid corner who doesn’t jump routes and is a very solid, even occasionally punishing, tackler. He fits the Pats system particularly well because the way the Pats D works, they quite often have a weak edge, especially on the backside. If you’ve got a CB sitting back there who can hit, and hit hard, it means that flipping it out to a RB on a swing-pass or a toss isn’t an easy option – Bodden will make his presence felt.

For all I admire Revis’s covering ability, he doesn’t really frighten anybody with his tackling ability.

Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.

by Comedic.Sans on Mar 21, 2010 10:39 PM EDT up reply actions

That's because he doesn't have to tackle anybody

by the time he drapes your windows.

2009 Unofficial "The Phinsider" (Phinaddict's League) Fantasy Baseball League Champion

1a. Eric Berry, S, Tennessee/1b. Earl Thomas, S, Texas
1c. C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson/1d. Dan Williams, NT, Tennessee
1e. Sergio Kindle, OLB, Texas/1f. Brandon Graham, OLB, Michigan

by Dave.Phuller on Mar 21, 2010 11:44 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm surprised more teams don't run TEs right at him to smack him around a little

one of a million variations of those good told TE-screens-out, Flanker-swings-in routes. Revis is oh-so-worried about covering his precious WR that he doesn’t see a 250lb TE barrelling down on him. It’d be beautiful.

Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.

by Comedic.Sans on Mar 21, 2010 11:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Ah, so it would

Surprised we haven’t had Heynos do it yet. He’s a big dude for a TE, 6’7" or 6’8".

I’m sure you’d turn the other cheek..

2009 Unofficial "The Phinsider" (Phinaddict's League) Fantasy Baseball League Champion

1a. Eric Berry, S, Tennessee/1b. Earl Thomas, S, Texas
1c. C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson/1d. Dan Williams, NT, Tennessee
1e. Sergio Kindle, OLB, Texas/1f. Brandon Graham, OLB, Michigan

by Dave.Phuller on Mar 22, 2010 10:20 AM EDT up reply actions

There weren't many "elite" free agents out there.

I’d argue against Peppers, when he shows up he can be great. Then there are many games he is a complete non-factor. I’m have with the guys we got, and I can’t think of anyone I would rather have picked up.

My life has been a trivial pursuit. Trivia: where three roads meet.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.

by SlotMachinePlayer on Mar 21, 2010 10:36 PM EDT up reply actions

If wishes were fishes, I'd have liked Karlos Dansby

He’s as versatile as Adalius Thomas used to be, he has the size and speed to like up anywhere in the Pats 3-4 linebacker scheme (most guys don’t), and he’s good in both pass-rushing and coverage. But! I wouldn’t have wanted him at his going rate. He’s the only free agent signing I particularly lamented, but as soon as I saw the figure, it earned the mental shrug.

Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.

by Comedic.Sans on Mar 21, 2010 10:43 PM EDT up reply actions