bideau
03-19-2003, 06:19 AM
Don Banks of CNNSI lists the top 13 moves during this year's free agency period.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/inside_game/don_banks/news/2003/03/18/top_moves/
The Pats have two of them:
Rosevelt Colvin
Forget deal of the offseason, the Patriots' stealthy pursuit of Colvin was one of the most successful manuevers in recent free-agent history. I would have loved to been able to tap into the phone line when Colvin's agent called the Cardinals to tell them that his client was going to accept a Patriots signing bonus that was half the size of the $12 million beauty they were offering. Colvin injects some much needed youth and speed into New England's defense and it should be fun to see how head coach Bill Belichick uses Colvin's ability to shift between outside linebacker and third-down pass-rushing defensive end.
Rodney Harrison
Besides landing a still productive veteran and quality team leader when they swooped in and picked Harrison off the market last week, the Patriots gave themselves options on the Tebucky Jones front. New England put the franchise tag on Jones, but are shopping him in exchange for a second-round pick. If they get their price, they'll have two No. 1's and two No. 2's and could be one of the draft's real movers and shakers. At worse, they'll sit back and stock up. That's still the best way to make a dramatic jump in the standings from one year to the next. The best part? At $14.4 million over six years, including $2.5 million to sign, Harrison came relatively cheaply.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/inside_game/don_banks/news/2003/03/18/top_moves/
The Pats have two of them:
Rosevelt Colvin
Forget deal of the offseason, the Patriots' stealthy pursuit of Colvin was one of the most successful manuevers in recent free-agent history. I would have loved to been able to tap into the phone line when Colvin's agent called the Cardinals to tell them that his client was going to accept a Patriots signing bonus that was half the size of the $12 million beauty they were offering. Colvin injects some much needed youth and speed into New England's defense and it should be fun to see how head coach Bill Belichick uses Colvin's ability to shift between outside linebacker and third-down pass-rushing defensive end.
Rodney Harrison
Besides landing a still productive veteran and quality team leader when they swooped in and picked Harrison off the market last week, the Patriots gave themselves options on the Tebucky Jones front. New England put the franchise tag on Jones, but are shopping him in exchange for a second-round pick. If they get their price, they'll have two No. 1's and two No. 2's and could be one of the draft's real movers and shakers. At worse, they'll sit back and stock up. That's still the best way to make a dramatic jump in the standings from one year to the next. The best part? At $14.4 million over six years, including $2.5 million to sign, Harrison came relatively cheaply.