Well let's look at the template. New England constantly fills holes with 2-3 year deals for players and it seems to work out. While they draft a lot of young players for the future. I guess the difference is New England is always competing for the title and we're trying to build a foundation.

The issue I have is if we are always trying to build a core foundation we will be screwed as some of those players are going to be leaving due to contracts. Your window is now 3-4 years tops.

 

I like the way that we're doing it. Expensive veterans on one year deals is just a bad move most of the time. Unless you're an excellent team with one bad spot that you need to fix and haven't been able to, I'm generally against it. I would much rather attempt to build continuity with players over a number of years rather than jump from one band aid to another.

Then, you have the obvious negative that an older player is going to be both more expensive and injury prone than a younger one will be. And also likely less likely to take to a young, new head coach like Gase, who may want to do things in a vastly different way than what they are used to. And are the veteran players going to be good sports if they end up on the bench? Think about what happened with Mario Williams last season.

Then, there are the financial aspects. Remember, any cap space not used this season can be rolled into next year. Its not like it disapears and goes away. If we're 15-20m under now, that means that we have that much more next Spring to retain our own guys and improve the team with other long term options.

 

I don't see that as a reasonable assumption. Revis was never going to be cheap. Reports are you'd have to start the convo above $8 mill and that wouldn't get it done. Mangold has been approached by several teams including Miami. Harris was cheap something like $5 mill over two years but he's a two down LB at this stage (not something we want) and being the SB champs and favorites to return next year lets you sign players for cheaper than other teams can.

 

Well, its a two year deal (not one), worth 5m guaranteed and up to 6.5m total. Its also with New England though, and you can't really compare what they do with the rest of the league, as vets will sign with them for the ride to the Super Bowl.

 

Thanks, Raf. We answered at the same time, but you did it better, lol.

 

We have lots of one year deals bud. Michael Thomas as an example. I don't think Revis is going to come in here for a one year deal and he doesn't strike me as the most harmonious guy in the locker room either. I do agree on bringing in Mangold though.

 

From what I've seen with my own eyes and heard through friends of executives on the team, Gase is pushing to get young and deep at every position since that's how you build a dynasty. And when you're doing that, I don't think you can focus on short-term vets because it keeps your younger guys off the field and perfecting their craft as they go.

You can do that in NE because you already have a core of 35-40 solid players and you just need to fill temporary holes. Ten years ago though, they were doing the exact same thing we are now- focusing on long term and willing to pay the price as younger guys make mistakes. That's the only way (in my opinion) to build a dominant roster from the top down and not end up in salary cap hell.

 

I don't either, especially since Pouncey thought his career was over late last season. From what I hear, he was really down and dark about making a return; it was the coaches telling him that he'd get past it and be okay. So it all depends on what he's done in the offseason and how bad he wants it. They're expecting that he's good to go by preseason but who knows?

 

Both Rambo and Bulter were signed after the season started, due to injuries.

 

Also, I think we're fairly set at OL...we have 4 legit starters now and 4-5 veterans that will rotate out at right guard until one sticks. I think our draft pick Aista (I'm sure I spelled that wrong) will end up starting earlier in the schedule, not necessarily from day one, because he's the perfect size/build and an excellent run blocker. He was also the strongest guy in the entire 2017 draft so the upside is huge- he was a steal in the later rounds.

 

Yeah, I heard the same thing...he was really taking the injury hard and didn't see the point of so much rehab. That was secondhand from almost 8 months ago though so it's likely out of context- he could have just been having a really bad week.

 

Not going to comment on that since I'd really like the drama to end. Everyone has bad weeks though.