More photos » Charles Krupa - AP

Lose the pom pom, coach.

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As much as I'd like to drink the coolaid on a consistent basis, as much as I'd like to follow in lock step with Hoodie and the Front Office,  I can't right now.  Yes, I know we still have the draft and there's plenty of time for trades and movement and heaven knows what else.  But that's not making me feel warm and fuzzy right now.  Right now, I'm concerned.

This year, a number of teams turned their free agents into exclusive rights free agents by slapping tenders on them.  A tender is essentially an offer of contract, but ERFAs are, in essence, loaded with poison pills.  A tender is not as severe as franchising a player, but it can be close.  There are different levels of tender for RFAs, the ones at the top being expensive for an interested team.  Take, for example, G Logan Mankins' tender:

The Patriots [team stats] made it a near certainty their most pivotal restricted free agent will stay in their uniform, but they left the door open with two others.

Guard Logan Mankins [stats] was extended the highest RFA tender, ensuring any team wanting to pry the two-time Pro Bowler from the Patriots would have to give up first- and third-round draft picks.

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More photos » Charles Krupa - AP

Although tackle Matt Light (72) is in the background of this photo, our pressing need at Tackle will be in the foreground during this off-season. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa. Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Sept. 27, 2009.)

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It doesn't look too bad.

Our offensive line yielded the second lowest sack rate in the league (18 sacks for a 3.6% sack rate).

We picked up Sebastian Vollmer, which was a step in the correct direction.

We were 2^nd best in the league, according to Football Outsiders, on not getting stuffed on the line- which means that they usually would get the short yardage (why didn’t we run on 3^rd and 2?).

However, our open field rank is 26^th in the league. That means they’re not very good at getting big plays with our running backs.

There is still plenty of work needed.

So how do our Offensive Tackles look?

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Ben Watson shows off his athleticism in one of his finest TD catches as a Patriot.

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Mike Reiss reports Benjamin Watson has joined the Cleveland Browns.

Tight end Benjamin Watson, who played for the Patriots the last six seasons, has signed a three-year, $12 million contract with the Cleveland Browns, ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter reports. The deal includes $6.35 million in guarantees.

The Patriots never seemed overly aggressive when it came to bringing Watson back in the fold despite their large void at tight end. They have Robbie Agnone and Rob Myers at the position, and neither has played in a regular-season game.

Watson visited with the Seahawks on Monday and was in Cleveland on Thursday. The Browns didn't let him get away, as Watson signed the contract before boarding his return flight Friday morning.

Stephen Neal talked to the media about his decision to come back and play for the Patriots.

Q: Was there anything serious with any other teams there? Did you ever entertain the thought of leaving?
SN: To be honest, I really didn’t want to leave, but I didn’t know if the Patriots really wanted me back. One of the factors was I wanted to make sure I was wanted or needed somewhere. If something would have came up maybe I would have looked into it. In today’s game, it’s hard for people to sign with one team and be with them their entire career, and I think that’s something special and I’d like to do that.

Kevin Faulk discussed the influences on his career, leadership and wanting to retire as a Patriot.

Q: You talked about being compared to Troy Brown in an interview yesterday and how he started and ended his career in New England. Can you expand on the influence he may have had on your career?
KF: Major. Major impact. Probably over 50 percent. Like you said, just to watch him. I learned everything that he did during the time he was there with me. I’ve [watched] him be a professional in every aspect of his game, not just football.

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The Kevin Faulk era continues for one more season.

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Ian Rapoport spoke with Kevin Faulk, who sounded relieved that the contract business was over and he could get on with the off-season.

"I had faith that in the end, it would work out," said Faulk, who agreed to a one-year deal that could earn him as much as $3 million.  "Like I said after the season, I was 85 percent sure I was going to be here.  There was just that 15 percent doubt.  If it came into play, it would have to be a strong 15 percent."

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that Faulk heard from new Kansas City offensive coordinator Charlie Weis, as well as Denver coach Josh McDaniels during the free agent process.

"They all made phone calls," Faulk said of Weis and McDaniels, "but at the same time, they all knew where my heart was.  And all of those guys said, if it doesn't work out there, you have a place to come."

Only, it never came to that. When asked if he was trying to follow in Troy Brown’s footsteps and be a Patriot for life, Faulk responded: "I don’t think that’s a bad idea. What do you think?"

Tim Graham (ESPN) Adalius Thomas was the league's worst tackler in 2009.  Maybe that stat will finally get through to AD why Belichick benched him.

Adalius Thomas missed more than the start of a meeting last year. The New England Patriots outside linebacker was the NFL's worst tackler, according to ProFootballFocus.com research.

This week, I've been sharing tackle data compiled by ProFootballFocus.com analyst Sam Monson. He constructed a stat called "tackle inefficiency rating," which takes a player's number of missed tackles and solo tackles to come up with an evaluation.

We've already taken a look at how the cornerbacks and safeties fared. Now we'll wrap up the series by breaking down linebacker and defensive lineman grades.

Thomas failed miserably. Of the 436 defenders on the list, he finished dead last. ProFootballFocus.com tallied 18 solo tackles and eight misses for Thomas, giving him a 30.77 TIR.

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More photos » Steven Senne - AP

My man, Kevin Faulk

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There aren't too many guys Hoodie gets nostalgic about.  In fact, there's very few: Tom Brady, Tedy Bruschi, Rodney Harrison, Troy Brown and we could probably add Kevin Faulk to that list after today.  Ian Rapoport reports the numbers:

It’s a one-year deal, which we knew, with the potential to earn $3 million. Faulk gets a signing bonus of $1 million, a salary of $1 million, and the chance to earn $1 million in incentives.

For a guy who will hit 34 in training camp, that's not a bad deal.  There were offers from the Redskins and Eagles, but did anyone really think "Mr. Third Down" would leave us for another team?  One of the most beloved Patriots, even by rivals, could never walk away from this team.  Never.  After 11 seasons, Faulk even pre-dates Belichick.  No, there's no way he was going to another team.

This was a nod of respect to one of the most respected players on the team.  A one year deal like this is usually reserved for a player who's going to retire after that year.  I think this is what will happen with Kevin.  Finish his 12th season in the NFL, and as a Patriot, while he's still on top.  This is a good deal for Kevin, the team, and us fans.  We get to watch Mr. Third Down for one more season.

Every time he runs or grabs an option, I'll pay that much more attention.  It could be the last time I see him do that.

Newest Patriot LB Marques Murrell (no. 94) gets to shed his gang green skin in New England this year.

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Mike Reiss recaps Robert Kraft's interview with sports radio WEEI on Tuesday and this comment stood out:

"It's the chemistry in the locker room. You guys know how many games are lost in the locker room, if you have a few bad apples who lead people along the wrong way. So we have to put all that together, and we've been able to sign a number of our guys this year that we felt were No. 1 or 2 in the marketplace. If we had to go out and sign someone else, and bring someone else in here, we wouldn't have the same knowledge of that individual."

Leigh Bodden straight from his twittering fingers:

I Love U NE!

Vince Wilfork gets his star turn in Reebok's new Zigtech commercial.  Now get outta here!

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More photos » Steven Senne - AP

And then there were two: Jarvis Green hangs up his Pats helmet for the last time.

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Jarvis Green, one of the three remaining Superbowl-winning Patriots defensive linesman, has followed the money to the sum of $20m for a 4 year deal and heads to Denver to work alongside ex-Pats Jabar Gaffney, Daniel Graham, Russ Hochstein and Lonie Paxton, and coaches Josh McDaniels and Roman Phifer.

Green, a 2002 fourth-round pick (126th overall), was a vital and dynamic piece of the 2003 and 2004 Superbowl winning teams, and a generally very useful part of the Patriots franchise in the Noughties decade. In '03 he started roughly half the season, and picked up 6 tackles and 2.5 sacks in the AFCCC game against the Colts - always highly appreciated, right?

In 2004, he started every game for the whole season, including Super Bowl XXXIX, and picked up 4 sacks to go with his hard-earned Superbowl ring. He re-signed with the Pats in August 2005 (for his final contract, as it turned out) and again filled in for the occasionally injured Richard Seymour in 2005 and 2006. The latter was a breakout year by comparison with his previous performances, netting Green a career-high 7.5 sacks and two passes defensed. He continued this great run of form in 2007, starting six games and racking up 6.5 sacks and a career-high 39 tackles.

However, 2008 wasn't his best season, being slowed down by ankle injuries. He still played in 14 games and netted 2 sacks, but it was obvious he was playing hurt. Similiar, in 2009 Green faced knee injuries, and again struggled to find his top form. He played in 13 games with 12 starts, and finished the season with 36 tackles and one sack, despite missing three games in November due to knee surgery.

 Thanks for the memories, Jarvis, and enjoy your new home.

More photos » Stephan Savoia - AP

Sadly, this may be the last of Watson in a Pat Patriot or Flying Elvis.

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I love this picture, I really do.  Taken after one of Benjamin Watson's touchdowns in the 2009 MNF season opener against the Buffalo Bills, the photographer captured the pure joy of a man who was "that close" to being cut from the team.  404 yards, 29 receptions, 13.9 YPC and 5 TDs on a team that doesn't really utilize tight ends for their reception abilities.  Not too shabby.  Benjamin, if 2009 was your last season as a Patriot, thanks for all the great memories.  You've been good to us.

If Watson does end up heading for the door, what happens now?  Chris Baker was cut, leaving Robbie Agnone and Rob Myers to fill the void (yeah, I had to look it up too, both FA-09 acquisitions from other teams who had cut them - not promising).  Sure, this team doesn't necessarily value big men with big hands, but this has got me a little nervous.  Have they got there eyes on some FA's?  Maybe they saw someone at the combine that could be a good draft candidate.  Who knows.

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Elise Amendola - AP

New England Patriots cornerback Leigh Bodden (23) is back for a few more seasons. Who else could be a Patriot by the end of this off-season? (AP Photo/Elise Amendola. Foxborough, Mass., Sunday Nov. 22, 2009.)

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We got Leigh Bodden. We got Vince Wilfork. We got Tully Banta-Cain. We got Stephen Neal. We're on our way to getting Logan Mankins and Stephen Gostkowski. All things concerned, we just had an excellent off-season. We've retained veterans, who are entering their primes, in crucial positions. Most importantly, we've signed players that we know can flourish in this system. However, now is no time to rest! There is still much of an off-season to be had- players to wish for and deals to be made.

We lost Chris Baker. Ben Watson is probably looking at the door. We said good-bye to Jarvis Green. How can we fix this team? Well, close your eyes, take a deep breath and wish upon a star- I'm going to go out on a limb (even though I think it's a sturdy one!) and throw out some names of players that I think would greatly benefit our team. I hope they're reasonable enough!

Feel free to join the fun!

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