Saved From the Cutting Room Floor: Finding Free Agent Gems

by Richard Hill on Aug 30, 2011 12:01 PM EDT in Opinion/Analysis

Today is the day that every team must reduce their roster to 80 players and we all know that Bill Belichick loves to take advantage of the quality players other teams release. While the Patriots have to squeeze down their roster as well, here are some players that might be worth a look:

Baltimore Ravens:

Jonathan Stupar (TE) – Signed by the Patriots as an UDFA in 2008, Stupar couldn't make the roster and spent the last few seasons with the Bills and joined the Ravens this off-season. At 6-4, 254 lbs, Stupar makes great sense as a 3rd tight end and would compete with Will Yeatman and Lee Smith. He's a solid run blocker and can catch if necessary. This signing might be unnecessary if Yeatman and Smith have the coaches' thumbs-up, but Stupar would be another quality player who fits the team.

Dallas Cowboys:

Andre Gurode (C) – He seems like an unlikely pick-up due to his big name, but Gurode was one of the best centers in the league last season and is exceptional at all facets of the game (unlike Koppen who really struggles in the pass blocking). That said, I don't believe the Patriots would go about replacing Koppen with an old player in Gurode. However, that doesn't mean that they can't find a spot for Gurode. He is a former All-American right guard who could definitely step up and help the weak right guard position for the next couple of seasons. The injury to Dan Connolly has set the squad back a couple weeks and even when he's healthy he doesn't inspire much confidence. Gurode could be a great improvement, as long as the price is right.

Denver Broncos:

Deron Mayo (LB) – This one's all about the family. Much like how Belichick picked up Ray Ventrone and Ross Ventrone, Belichick could bring in Mayo and groom him to be a special teams player and stash him on the practice squad. This is less of a gem and more of a "player of note."

Seattle Seahawks:

Zach Hurd (T) – Hurd was one of my favorite prospects for the draft. He has all the athleticism in the world in order to be a great offensive lineman. His biggest setback is that he struggles with the technique- and to me, that sounds like an ideal Scarneccia project. Hurd was first team Big East for two seasons at both left and right guard. He was a team captain, a three year starter, and he blocked for a 1k yard rusher each season. He seems like an ideal practice squad player and could add depth at guard and possibly tackle.

Keep your eyes out through the day for more released players!

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I'd love for us to test Gurode out

Yeah, he’s a bit expensive, but he has good size at 6’4" 320 (basically identical to Connolly) and has completed in one of the better divisions for a decade. He’d be expensive for a right guard, but provides insurance for Koppen and Connolly and makes our depth much stronger than Dan + Rich. Athleticism isn’t really an issue at RG since they don’t pull so basically he’d be a quality lineman that helps us out until (and if) Marcus Cannon can come in. If Cannon comes back healthy, we have a beastly line.

the artist formerly known as amadeus

'I don't make my living by making my living. My time is so important that I can't compromise my taste- or my idea of what's right- simply to match someone else's view of what's a good, calculated move"- Robert Plant

contributing writer at www.HeadkickLegend.com and www.PatsPulpit.com

by Austin Martin on Aug 30, 2011 12:40 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Also, it’s doubtful that Andre would be able to assume a starting center position at this point and have to learn all the protections and line calls for a new team. Maybe because of that he’d be open to a starting RG role on a one year, 4 or 5 million dollar contract. I’d rather us pay 5 mill to keep players like Suh off of Brady than 2.8 mill for a veteran like Sanders just to be a depth player. Now is the time to go all in.

the artist formerly known as amadeus

contributing writer at www.HeadkickLegend.com and www.PatsPulpit.com

by Austin Martin on Aug 30, 2011 12:48 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Pretty much concur with both your posts here.

Expensive, yes. But they have the money available and on a one year commitment it makes sense to overpay to protect Brady and we can look for a ‘long term’ solution in the off season.

NBA Officiating - Corrupt? Incompetent? Which is worse? Does it matter? It sucks.

by mmmmm on Sep 1, 2011 1:31 AM EDT up reply actions

Gurode is very strong. He is one of the few players who can single block Albert. So I’d be all for him. And truthfully the center and right guard positions need someone who can hold up. I’m disappointed that Dan Connelly didn’t make himself nastier and stronger during the off season.

by Patriots12 on Aug 30, 2011 12:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Depends what kind of money he wants.

He might take a bit less to go somewhere to play C, but that’s not really likely at this stage of the season for any but the most desperate of teams (ie Chicago).
I hope they kick the tyres, see how he’d fit at RG.

"Perhaps it was the Noid who should have avoided me." Mayor Adam West

by ISN on Aug 30, 2011 1:22 PM EDT up reply actions

Gurode and Haynesworth in the same locker room?

There are few players in the NFL who can break those two apart if they decide to go at it. Logan Mankins is going to need some help.

Cyril P
cyrilp715@yahoo.com

by Cyrilp on Aug 30, 2011 5:15 PM EDT reply actions

Big Vince is there

to do the dirty work like always

Trevor Bauer: 14-3, 1.46 ERA, 160 1/3 IP, 243 K in UCLA, Visalia (Hi-A), and Mobile (AA)

by freeland1787 on Aug 31, 2011 9:14 PM EDT up reply actions

Hmm... those 4 bodies all in the same locker? That could create gravitational problems ...

NBA Officiating - Corrupt? Incompetent? Which is worse? Does it matter? It sucks.

by mmmmm on Sep 1, 2011 1:32 AM EDT up reply actions

Alex Brown cut by the Saints

http://www.nfl.com/player/alexbrown/2505098/profile

Rotational DE for us?

I’ll take 11 players with heart on the field over 11 guys with just talent. Talent is fleeting, it goes away over time. Heart is what drives you to be better. To push yourself beyond what you think your capabilities are. To show us that when you strive, all things are possible.- SMP

by Jack'sAxe on Aug 30, 2011 6:37 PM EDT reply actions

no- we have andre carter

Trevor Bauer: 14-3, 1.46 ERA, 160 1/3 IP, 243 K in UCLA, Visalia (Hi-A), and Mobile (AA)

by freeland1787 on Aug 30, 2011 9:24 PM EDT up reply actions

We don;t know who'll get cut, and who'll get signed. ;)

And im saying as a rotaional End.

by Jack'sAxe on Aug 30, 2011 9:37 PM EDT up reply actions

Little tired od looking for diamonds in the rough!

We have mis spent a lot of draft picks. Now it looks like Quinn, who knew is looking very, very good. Sheard is also producing quickly. Dowling has proved his record thus far, injured. Meanwhile Mark Anderson will not make the club, and we have gone through 21 D linemen. Sometime you have to pay good players. Love the team, but question the picks. Better hope Albert produces, and BB is right about Cunningham.

by U. S. Grant on Aug 30, 2011 8:00 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Ready to determine all the rookies now? Even Dowling?

by Jack'sAxe on Aug 30, 2011 8:12 PM EDT up reply actions

Based on his predecessors it might not be that hard.

by U. S. Grant on Aug 30, 2011 8:16 PM EDT up reply actions

To judge Dowling based on who came before him

Would be the same as saying McCourty was a terrible pick because before him, Bill’s picks in the secondary didn’t pan out like they were supposed to.

by indy pats fan on Aug 30, 2011 8:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Little sarcasm,

of course you predict the guys career, and I hope he has a great one, but the knock on Dowling was he couldn’t stay on the field. I’m not predicting the rookies. I’m looking at the rookies from the past few years, especially in the secondary, that are no longer here, and others that are on the bubble.

by U. S. Grant on Aug 30, 2011 8:38 PM EDT up reply actions

Such as Pat Chung and Devin McCourty?

You must be referring to Darius Butler? I’d say out of the past couple years, they’ve don very well with drafting the secondary.

Last year they drafted six starters (McCourty, Gronkowski, Cunningham, Spikes, Hernandez, Mesko) and one future starter (Price). The prior year, they drafted two current starters (Chung, Vollmer) and three players who have started at some point during their tenure (Brace, Butler, Tate). Now are they all stars? As of now, “just” McCourty, Gronk, Spikes, Hernandez, Chung, and Vollmer are studs. Getting 6 “studs” in two drafts is pretty good.

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by Richard Hill on Aug 30, 2011 8:53 PM EDT up reply actions

No doubt

but Willhite, Wheatly, and yes Butler struggles. Chung shows promise, and certainly McCourty. My initial point was really about the need for a pass rusher, and the personal in the draft. Dowling just got picked in that spot. BTW I love Cunningham for the sole reason that the coach saw something in him, but you have to admit it’s been frustrating.

by U. S. Grant on Aug 30, 2011 9:34 PM EDT up reply actions

You complain about a pass rusher

yet this defense helped the team get to 14 wins last year. big part in that? Maybe not, but hey, they got to 14 wins. And we seem to have gotten better on defense.

by Jack'sAxe on Aug 30, 2011 9:50 PM EDT up reply actions

Your right

I do think and have thought they miss a feared pass rusher. You know Suggs, Woodley, Orakpo, Mathews, Ware. Someone you have to game plan around. I don’t see them treating it as a premium position, and it seems many teams do. Of course this dovetails their 3rd down record.

by U. S. Grant on Aug 30, 2011 9:57 PM EDT up reply actions

Look at draft position

when each of those guys were taken.

Woodley – 46th pick, NE took Meriweather at 24, traded the 28th pick and the 60th pick.
Orakpo – 13th pick, NE had the 23rd which was traded to the Ravens, then the 26th pick, see below
Mathews – 26th pick, Pat Chung was selected with NE first pick in that draft.
Ware – 11th pick, DE Conversion. NE had pick 32 which was Mankins
Suggs – 10th pick, DE conversion. NE had pick 13 which they grabbed Ty Warren.

So out of all of those people you just named Belichick had a chance on Woodley and Mathews, but he must have seen things that made him not spend the high round picks on them. Also don’t forget that from what you hear from former players (Willie McGinest and Teddy Bruschi) Belichick’s defense is not the easiest to pick up and understand. Also when all of these drafts happened, he was running a 2-gap 3-4. Only after this draft has Belichick decided to move away from basing his personnel around a 2-gap 3-4 defense.

by cmdpsu15 on Aug 30, 2011 10:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Respectfully

it doesn’t change the fact that we need a guy like that. The success of those players only prove the point. To that we had a real chance to get one this year. There could be 3 or 4 guys in the last draft who will make an impact pressuring the QB. I thought that was the need them, and I haven’t seen it change thus far.

by U. S. Grant on Aug 31, 2011 8:29 AM EDT up reply actions

I understand the want for a pass rusher

Again, until the lockout was lifted Belichick was operating under a normal 2-gap 3-4 alignment. When he made the play for Haynesworth and cut Warren did the philosophy shift to more of an attacking 3-4/4-3 hybrid. Belichick also doesn’t just waist his time with LB’s that can only rush. He needs guys that can cover as well.

The players you are suggesting outside of Mathews would then have to ‘convert’ back to a more traditional DE role. Do some of these guys do this already, yes, however they are not always aligned where a ‘typical’ 4-3 DE would be.

Also, look at players track records of coming in from other 3-4 systems (see Thomas, Adalius). Belichick likes to build his defense through the draft and not make huge splashes on the FA market. The last time that happened, it back fired.

The Steelers were not going to let Woodley walk, and I highly doubt Belichick will consider a player from Baltimore again. DeMarcus Ware would cost a fortune just for someone that is only a pass rusher. Why do you think TBC or Burgess were brought in/back. They were inexpensive situational rushers, that’s all.

I understand your frustrations, but you have to look at the bigger picture and not just throw names out there. Success on one team, does not always translate to success on another.

by cmdpsu15 on Aug 31, 2011 9:53 AM EDT up reply actions

I'd trade 2 1s for Demarcus Ware right now.

I wouldn’t for anyone else.

"Perhaps it was the Noid who should have avoided me." Mayor Adam West

by ISN on Aug 31, 2011 10:16 AM EDT up reply actions

heck no.

not worth THAT much of an investment. imho

by Jack'sAxe on Aug 31, 2011 1:44 PM EDT up reply actions

This team needs more role players

than superstars- thats how they roll. Role players win championships, not superstars since this is a team sport. The best teams have the greatest role players such as the Patriots who have enjoyed success with Kevin Faulk and Troy Brown. The Patriots need another Troy Brown-type player and I think that guy is either Edelman or Farnham

Trevor Bauer: 14-3, 1.46 ERA, 160 1/3 IP, 243 K in UCLA, Visalia (Hi-A), and Mobile (AA)

by freeland1787 on Aug 31, 2011 9:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Well85 wont be Farnham, he's PS material at best.

"Perhaps it was the Noid who should have avoided me." Mayor Adam West

by ISN on Sep 1, 2011 1:40 AM EDT up reply actions

he has shown flashes of being good at WR

but with the guys we have now, I don’t think he’ll make it.

by Jack'sAxe on Sep 1, 2011 3:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Is this your opinion after 2 preseason games

or 3? Because after 2 games nobody was complaining about the Pats pass rush except the opposing teams.

by iLikeStuff on Aug 31, 2011 3:21 PM EDT up reply actions

leading up to the draft

I had made the point in numerous places that, with the amount of picks they had, and a need for a rush, and the personnel in the draft. it was a no brainer. Two running backs, and a another corner later we are in the same boat. Unless you are putting your stock in Albert, and the other 20,30 something year old linemen they brought in. Other wise BB has to like Cunningham a lot more than most people here. I like him, but he needs to stay on the field. This has been a problem for 2-3 years, not preseason games. Just because you go on a bad date (AD), that doesn’t mean all dates are bad.

by U. S. Grant on Aug 31, 2011 5:31 PM EDT up reply actions

So

You’re complaining that BB didn’t do enough to solve the issue of our pass rush, despite the fact that the Patriots now have a solid base 4-3 front (which is naturally considered better when it comes to rushing the passer), added a former All-Pro with everything to prove that could be a solid contributor for years, a d-lineman who was pretty much the main cause for the Patriots playoff loss last year by him single handedly dominating the Pats line, AND a couple other proven veteran situational pass rushers?

What, do you want half of the roster to be pass rushing specialists?

by indy pats fan on Aug 31, 2011 8:48 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

No- he wants to hit the rewind button

While everyone else here wants the fast forward button to January

Trevor Bauer: 14-3, 1.46 ERA, 160 1/3 IP, 243 K in UCLA, Visalia (Hi-A), and Mobile (AA)

by freeland1787 on Aug 31, 2011 9:19 PM EDT up reply actions

I was in the same boat

about needing a pass rusher and was fuming after the draft. But I feel BB brought in plenty of guys to fill that role. Even if he drafted a rookie rusher, rookies need time to develop. Plus BB expects guys to be good at more than one thing.

It’s possible Cunningham is a guy that BB felt could do so, but they didn’t have an attacking team last year. This year it seems they do. Plus, when Fletcher was given the opportunity last year I thought he showed quickness and ability. We have seen nice things from him in preseason.

I don’t think the Pats have to hinge anything on Albert. It would be amazing if he pans out. But if not, they have some guys with promise – I like Brace and Deadrick.

by iLikeStuff on Sep 1, 2011 11:36 AM EDT up reply actions

After the switch to a more predominant 4-3, I do question why they didn't spend a pick on one of the many DEs in the draft...

…that said, who is going to make the team over Anderson?

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by Richard Hill on Aug 30, 2011 8:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Makes you wonder

Whether BB is really that good at planning that he can predict what he’ll be able to pick up off of other teams, or if he’s just the king at winging it.

by indy pats fan on Aug 30, 2011 8:20 PM EDT up reply actions

I'd like to think he's got it under control...

…but I would have to laugh really hard if his whole plan was, “[look around the draft room, throw a dart at the wall and shrug] We’ll take this guy!”

Pats Pulpit | @Follow Me On Twitter

by Richard Hill on Aug 30, 2011 8:55 PM EDT up reply actions

It is a mixture of both

thats what makes him a genius

Trevor Bauer: 14-3, 1.46 ERA, 160 1/3 IP, 243 K in UCLA, Visalia (Hi-A), and Mobile (AA)

by freeland1787 on Aug 31, 2011 9:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Well they are short in a couple other areas..

doesn’t there seem to be a real concern with the WR’s? The O line could use an extra guy, and safety seems a real concern from what I read. He could make the initial 53, but with the PUP considered I’d be surprised to see him more than 6 games. I like Moore a lot more than Anderson.

by U. S. Grant on Aug 30, 2011 8:21 PM EDT up reply actions

WR? no. Brady passed efficiently with those WRs last year, and average WRs in his superbowl years.

The OL could use an extra guy, sure, and yeah, safety would be nice.

I like Anderson as a situational pass rusher. Right now, my DL projection is: Carter, Haynes, Wilfork, Ellis

Maybe.

by Jack'sAxe on Aug 30, 2011 9:17 PM EDT up reply actions

You don't feel as though the league has changed since our SB winning years?

They were if we’re being honest, a long time ago. I hate the whole 14-2 speech. We didn’t come close to winning what really matters. WR probably ain’t the biggest need, but we certainly have lots of questions in that area.

Lewis Hamilton~ 2011 F1 Champion!!!
Life is about who makes it, not who makes it the fastest! Drive slow homie.

by PatNation85 on Aug 30, 2011 10:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Its not the biggest need, because there is no prblem with it. We are stil a top 3 passing team.

by Jack'sAxe on Aug 30, 2011 11:09 PM EDT up reply actions

ok

if a TE cannot make it with the Bills, then don’t expect anything. Especially with our deep TE corp

by bloppy_ploppy on Aug 30, 2011 8:21 PM EDT reply actions

#1 need right now is a RG for Connolly

Ohrnberger isnt cutting it

Trevor Bauer: 14-3, 1.46 ERA, 160 1/3 IP, 243 K in UCLA, Visalia (Hi-A), and Mobile (AA)

by freeland1787 on Aug 30, 2011 9:27 PM EDT reply actions

Our biggest need right now is QB.

TB is a slouch…we should see if Favre will come back.

by Oughat on Aug 30, 2011 10:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Oh, he'll come back....

The problem is getting rid of him for next year. That guy is a training camp junkie. OTAs and the works. It’s so hard to keep him away.

The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
Some people can learn from the mistakes of others, while some people need to pee on the electric fence themselves.
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by SlotMachinePlayer on Aug 30, 2011 11:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Its sort of annoying how he always wants to win, and get perfection out of himself....

by Jack'sAxe on Aug 31, 2011 12:36 AM EDT up reply actions

...or throw interceptions trying...

by SlotMachinePlayer on Aug 31, 2011 9:32 AM EDT up reply actions

Wait, are we still talking about the same guy?

I know there’s a bit of sarcasm in there but I still got confused. Brady or Favre?

Cyril P
liryc715@yahoo.com

by Cyrilp on Aug 31, 2011 5:38 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm talking about Lord Favrequat the brilliantly overrated.

Prince of all Packerdom, Special Envoy to New Jersey, and Captain of the Vikings flagship, Gjallarhorn, which makes a lot of noise, but has no means of propulsion to actually get anywhere.

He has a heart made of gold foil over a rich milk chocolate and he is loved by all in the NFL community, but none more so than John Madden (who is secretly looking to unwrap him some gold foil).

So please don’t even speak Brady’s name when we are talking about the Brett of Favre, they operate at two different levels.

by SlotMachinePlayer on Aug 31, 2011 6:14 PM EDT up reply actions