Milloy may be the one to go!!??

[bideau]

Cafardo is reporting this morning that the Pats have had trade discussions involving Lawyer Milloy. Please God, don't let this happen. Milloy is the heart and soul of this defense. He's the player that gives them an attitude. Besides, this would be the second time I get an expensive game day jersey only to see the player leave (the first was Curtis Martin).

http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/073/sports/Patriots_Safety_concerns+.shtml

It seems that one of the safeties will be leaving. The Saints are very interested in Tebucky and something may happen today. The Pats have to remove the franchise tag by 4PM today if they want to have it available for next year.

Stay tuned.

[bideau]

A followup to my previous post.

Don Banks from SI is reporting that the Pats have asked the Saints for a 2nd round pick for Jones. The Saints are only offering a 3rd rounder. The Saints GM believes the Pats are not truly shopping Milloy but just playing a manuevering game by implying that they don't really need to trade Jones. If the Pats did trade Milloy, it would cause a $5.4 million acceleration on the cap, a hit the Pats can't afford to take.

Originally posted by bideau
Cafardo is reporting this morning that the Pats have had trade discussions involving Lawyer Milloy. Please God, don't let this happen. Milloy is the heart and soul of this defense. He's the player that gives them an attitude.

This all comes back to Harrison being a questionable choice in my opinion in the first place. It is only logical to assume that by bringing in a strong safety the other strong safety is the one who becomes expendable.

There are two sides to every issue:

Side 1. Milloy has the higher salary by a factor of two ($6M to $3M for the franchise tag), is older, has less range against the pass with Harrison, and could be considered in the waning years of his career. Tebucky is not the leader that Milloy is...although Harrison is described as the "Heart and Soul" of the Chargers defense by the Charger fans.

Side 2: Milloy is the experienced veteran who knows how to play the position. He doesn't make the mistakes that Tebucky does and he plays the system better. He is more mature than Tebucky when it comes to dealing with the team. He is a Belichick and Kraft favorite and a leader.

It is no secret that I like Milloy better than Tebucky. I take Side 2. If they had signed a guy with greater range, Tebucky becomes redundant. With Harrison Milloy becomes the expendable one. The Pats may never have intended to trade Milloy but now that the opportunity is there other teams will try to work a trade for him.

I think Harrison was a mistake. A great player and a leader -- just not the right player. They have already addressed the run defense with Colvin and will continue to address it with the defensive line. There is no need to over-solve the problem by making every acquisition this year about stopping the run. Teams are still going to pass the ball.

The issue was freeing cap room in the secondary to bring in other players at LB and the D-line to shore up the defense. The problem itself was never the safety position. Now it seems like it is a case of the tight end mania from last year. Go out and make a good signing in Fauria. Then continue to beat it to death relentlessly with a sledgehammer.

[pookie]

Originally posted by NoRespect
This all comes back to Harrison being a questionable choice in my opinion in the first place. It is only logical to assume that by bringing in a strong safety the other strong safety is the one who becomes expendable.

There are two sides to every issue:

Side 1. Milloy has the higher salary by a factor of two ($6M to $3M for the franchise tag), is older, has less range against the pass with Harrison, and could be considered in the waning years of his career. Tebucky is not the leader that Milloy is...although Harrison is described as the "Heart and Soul" of the Chargers defense by the Charger fans.

Side 2: Milloy is the experienced veteran who knows how to play the position. He doesn't make the mistakes that Tebucky does and he plays the system better. He is more mature than Tebucky when it comes to dealing with the team. He is a Belichick and Kraft favorite and a leader.

It is no secret that I like Milloy better than Tebucky. I take Side 2. If they had signed a guy with greater range, Tebucky becomes redundant. With Harrison Milloy becomes the expendable one. The Pats may never have intended to trade Milloy but now that the opportunity is there other teams will try to work a trade for him.

I think Harrison was a mistake. A great player and a leader -- just not the right player. They have already addressed the run defense with Colvin and will continue to address it with the defensive line. There is no need to over-solve the problem by making every acquisition this year about stopping the run. Teams are still going to pass the ball.

The issue was freeing cap room in the secondary to bring in other players at LB and the D-line to shore up the defense. The problem itself was never the safety position. Now it seems like it is a case of the tight end mania from last year. Go out and make a good signing in Fauria. Then continue to beat it to death relentlessly with a sledgehammer.

NR, I will also select Side 2. I hate when you make sense like this. Trading Lawyer Milloy would be a grave mistake on the Pats part. He wasn't part of the root problem in stopping the run last year, so why fix the parts that aint broke. Granted, he is the more expensive SS, but they know exactly what to expect from Milloy.

I can't see the Pats doing this. Not after what appeared to be a brilliant grab in Colvin.

Please say it aint so.......

[bideau]

For another version of this story, go to this link on Sportsline:

http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/6249347

The writer, Pete Prisco, says the Pats have asked for a #1 for Jones with the Saints willing to give a #2 if they can work out an acceptable contract with Jones.

I think the potential cap hit will keep Milloy here. But we may see the franchise tag lifted and see Jones walk away for nothing. The Saints will play hard ball because the Pats have no leverage in the matter. Keep the tag on and lose it for the duration of Jones contract (if they finally sign an extended deal), let him go to unrestricted FA or trade for a 2 or 3.

As far as coverage issues, Prisco says this:

"If New England does move Jones, they will be left with two strong safeties, although in their style of defense they use more left and right to distinguish between the two safeties -- as opposed to free and strong. Still, there could be coverage problems in a pairing of Milloy and Harrison."

[BuckWild]

I also read in one of the articles that Harrison could actually be offered as part of a trade. This is rather curious but right now I wouldn't be entirely suprised to see something like Jones and Harrison for NO's first round pick, or for Kyle Turley.

Just a thought

BuckWild!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[pookie]

Originally posted by BuckWild
I also read in one of the articles that Harrison could actually be offered as part of a trade. This is rather curious but right now I wouldn't be entirely suprised to see something like Jones and Harrison for NO's first round pick, or for Kyle Turley.

Just a thought

BuckWild!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Offering up Harrison packaged with Tebucky almost makes sense right about now. I hadn't thought about it this way, but it could work. It could put quite a burden on Victor Green at FS, but it could work. Thanks for the thought Buck.

[bideau]

Originally posted by BuckWild
I also read in one of the articles that Harrison could actually be offered as part of a trade. This is rather curious but right now I wouldn't be entirely suprised to see something like Jones and Harrison for NO's first round pick, or for Kyle Turley.

Just a thought

BuckWild!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


I don't see this happening. First of all, I think Belichick would not have made promises to Harrison that he knew he wouldn't keep. It's not his style. Second, you go from having 3 starting safeties down to 1. Victor Green is not the answer. Any others on the roster would be a significant downgrade. Finally, NO would have to fit 2 high priced safeties under their salary cap. An interesting idea, but I still think Tebucky will be gone soon.

[pookie]

Originally posted by bideau
I don't see this happening. First of all, I think Belichick would not have made promises to Harrison that he knew he wouldn't keep. It's not his style. Second, you go from having 3 starting safeties down to 1. Victor Green is not the answer. Any others on the roster would be a significant downgrade. Finally, NO would have to fit 2 high priced safeties under their salary cap. An interesting idea, but I still think Tebucky will be gone soon.

Like within the next hour and 45 mins?

[BuckWild]

Originally posted by bideau
I don't see this happening. First of all, I think Belichick would not have made promises to Harrison that he knew he wouldn't keep. It's not his style. Second, you go from having 3 starting safeties down to 1. Victor Green is not the answer. Any others on the roster would be a significant downgrade. Finally, NO would have to fit 2 high priced safeties under their salary cap. An interesting idea, but I still think Tebucky will be gone soon.

You are correct that this would leave some huge ?'s. I am just hoping that we aren't left with a choice between 1)paying T Jones and being hogtied in the cap and 2) just letting Jones go with no compensation.

BuckWild!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!