Patriots Have Had Discussions with Green-Ellis

by Greg Knopping on Feb 14, 2012 10:12 PM EST in New England Patriots Rumors

This isn't exactly a surprise, but Patriots free-agent-to-be running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis has reportedly been in "on and off" contract negotiations with the Patriots. This news comes via his agent Joel Segal, who made an appearance on "PFT Live" earlier today:

His agent Joel Segal joined PFT Live Tuesday and said that there have been "on and off" contract talks with the Patriots. New England traditionally doesn't like to break the bank at running back (Corey Dillon an exception) and they drafted two running backs last year: Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen.

Green-Ellis is a rock solid player, but not a special talent that will attract huge dollars. We'd guess that the Patriots would welcome keeping "The Law Firm" at their price, but it wouldn't be surprising if Green-Ellis can find a higher price elsewhere.

Green-Ellis isn't exactly a game breaker, but I think the Patriots highly value his style of play - he simply avoids the big mistakes. He's a solid starter in this league, and he's still relatively young (will turn 27 in July, has just 510 career carries). If the Patriots can get him to sign for about $3 million a year - I think it's a win-win for both sides.

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Never fumbled...

rarely loses yardage. He is the perfect RB for the Patriot’s system. I hope we can keep him.

"If you know how to cheat, start now." - Earl Weaver

by rebop on Feb 15, 2012 8:38 AM EST reply actions

The anti-LoMo.

Maybe that’s why this undrafted guy is still in the NFL and LoMo is no mo.

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.

by SlotMachinePlayer on Feb 15, 2012 10:14 AM EST up reply actions

One other team that's interested is the Chiefs

No surprise there, and I bet if McDaniels were head-coaching another team he’d want him too.

Solid and dependable, but not flashy. Does his job, protects the football, almost always gets the TD from the goal line. He’s a perfect Patriot and the Pats should do what it takes to keep him (unless the demands are outrageous, which I can’t imagine they’d be.)

Keep the faith!

by Marima on Feb 15, 2012 8:45 AM EST reply actions

I like him but ...

I think he is a solid player as the other comments above suggest. I dont agree with your point about almost always scores a touchdown from the goal line. See the baltimore raven game and countless others where the pats best option seems to be Tommy b trying to sneak it in. To me one of the Pats biggest needs along with wide reciever is a big bruising running back like we used to have with Corey Dillon. If we had Corey for the baltimore game alot of those field goals would have been converted to tds. Let the law firm go and either develop Ridley or trade for a big RB or FB who can score consistently from the goal line.

by dwbrady on Feb 15, 2012 11:37 AM EST reply actions

RBs like Corey Dillon don't come along very often

and relying on a single back can prove disastrous if he gets injured, and they usually do get injured.

Keep the faith!

by Marima on Feb 15, 2012 12:26 PM EST up reply actions

At some point

We need to come to grips with the fact the Patriots dropped a 2nd- and a 3rd-rounder on running backs in the 2011 draft. I find it hard to believe they’d fill that position that high just to keep the bench warm and lock up Green-Ellis for the long term.

I like Green-Ellis a lot. He keeps his mouth shut, works hard and plays the game the right way. That being said, he’s not a running back any defense needs to particularly gameplan against, and in looking at film, a good bit of his success comes as a result of the defense having to commit against the always explosive pass.

I’d like to see them take the reins off of Vereen and Ridley now that they’ve both had a full NFL season to learn and develop.

Can I Scream?

by Adam Fox on Feb 15, 2012 11:50 AM EST reply actions

BB almost always has 4 RBs on the roster and sometimes as many as 6.

Just because they resign BJGE doesn’t mean they aren’t dedicating their future to the young guys. I think it is pretty important to have a veteran on the roster that the other guys can look up to and learn from. I don’t suspect Faulk will be there next year so its gotta be Lawfirm.

by Oughat on Feb 15, 2012 12:42 PM EST up reply actions

Of course

And that absolutely makes sense.

I guess my worry is that with this round of contract negotiations, Green-Ellis may be able to command somewhat substantial coin—at least quite a bit more than he’s currently making—which would kind of force the front office to keep him sitting on the starting role. It’s not like the Patriots will be able to bring him back on a veteran’s minimum to be a solid backup or a locker room “glue” guy.

Then again, I have no idea. For all we know, Green-Ellis loves it here and is willing to play cheaply to stay entrenched in the Patriots system.

Can I Scream?

by Adam Fox on Feb 15, 2012 1:11 PM EST up reply actions

Well

when you have a committee of backs you have to have two guys that can pound the ball. Last year when we had a bunch of RBs go down at one point we only had Woody as the only viable back for a game or two. That can’t happen. No matter what we sign him for I’m sure both he and Ridley will get a similar number of carries. Unless of course Ridley doesn’t solve his fumbling problems.

by Oughat on Feb 15, 2012 2:43 PM EST up reply actions

i'm torn

i have a soft spot for BJGE because he’s such a hard worker and great presence in the locker room. he does everything you could want in a RB, never complains, never fumbles, works hard, falls forward, and gets the tough yards. in fact, he’s gotten better each year.

but he truly lacks any explosive capability. i think this makes it incredibly easy to game plan against. when he’s in the game, i guarantee you defensive coordinators simply ignore him, willing to sacrifice the 1-5 yards he would get on any given rush.

if he wants to come back, absolutely. he can be a goal line back, or a solid role player. but those high draft picks on vereen and ridley need to come to fruition. i think we need to play them both heavily next year, both have potential to be explosive, which could create a whole new dimension of offense for this team that we have not had since 2006.

by jamiesinnott on Feb 15, 2012 3:23 PM EST reply actions

I agree

I feel like the a lot of the point of having two awesome TEs is that we can run with extra blockers or pass with a full complement of pass-catchers depending on what the defense is giving us. But without a truly dangerous RB, the other team can just focus on the pass anyway.

My dream for the draft is that Richardson somehow makes it to pick 15 and we trade 31 & 48 to the Eagles so we can pick him. Then with 27 take Peter Konz. Richardson is good at pass catching and blocking in addition to being an awesome runner, so I think he’d be a great fit and a huge upgrade. A starting lineup of Brady, Richardson, Welker, Gronk, Hernandez, Brandon Lloyd (or Wayne), Light, Mankins, Konz, Waters, Vollmer could be terrifying both running and passing. If we make that happen releasing BJGE is probably the right move. And the extra cash can be spent to help pick up free agents for the defense.

by llamarble on Feb 16, 2012 3:56 AM EST up reply actions