By Blake Monachino Edited by Mike Fallas
Patriots Plans for the Offseason
After a stellar Patriots Season, the super bowl champs will now have to endure a tough offseason, in an attempt to retain their super bowl winning form. The Patriots have a very limited amount of cap space. However, they will have to push through that to re-sign multiple, key pieces back onto the team.
The first step is to renegotiate Danny Amendola's contract. In 2015 his cap hit for the Patriots was $5,700,000, in 2016, his cap hit will be $6,700,000, and in 2017 his cap hit will be a hefty $7,700,000. These number are too high for a player that barely contributed in the Patriots regular season. However, a the bright side is, Amendola has proven to be extremely clutch during the playoffs. Amendola was a major factor in the Patriots victory over the Ravens, in the divisional round of the playoffs. Competing against the Ravens, he managed to haul in 5 passes, on 6 targets, for 81 yards, and 2 touchdowns. One spectacular touchdown was an amazing 51 yard touchdown catch from Julian Edelman, on a trick play. He also contributed in the super bowl, by grasping a touchdown to aid the Patriots victory over the Seahawks.
Moreover, the next step for the Patriots should be to renegotiate Vince Wilfork's contract. His situation is a bit different to Amendola's situation. Wilfork is a great player and shows a lot of heart on the field. However, he has a huge contract to his name. In 2015 his cap hit was a hefty, $8,933,333, and 2016 it will be $6,433,334. His contract is too much, for a player one year removed from an Achilles tear. Also, his age is starting to catch up with him as his body is depreciating every year. If they give an effort to free up cap space from Wilfork and Amendolas contract, the Patriots should make an effort to re-sign Darrelle Revis. Even though the Patriots have an option on Revis, they will likely avoid using it because of its $25 million cap hit. Revis is considered either the best, or second best at his position based on who you ask.That being said losing him would be a gigantic loss for the team. Keeping Revis is a must, if the Patriots want to retain their title as superbowl champions.
Continuing with the secondary, the Patriots must retain safety Devin McCourty. McCourty is one of the most underrated safeties in the league and hardly gets enough credit for his incredible talent. He is an extremely reliable player and a key part of the Patriots defense. Devin hasn't specifically expressed that he wants to stay with New England. However, his brother Jason, explained, that he believes McCourty will and wants to stay in grey and blue. The Patriots plans on keeping McCourty depends on how they they will retain Revis. However, in the scenario, Revis decides on leaving New England, they should give McCourty a multi year deal to solidify there the safety position.
The remainder of the players with expiring contracts, are not nearly as big as McCourty and Revis were in the championship season. Stevan Ridley is a player that the Patriots don't necessarily need. He has been plagued with fumbling problems his entire career and probably will want more money then the pats will be willing to offer him. With that being said, if Ridley doesn't get signed by another team in free agency, the Patriots should attempt to resign Ridley back, but for a less amount of money. Sticking with the running backs, Shane Vereen was an extremely important piece of the New England Patriots offense. He can create difficult miss-matches against linebackers in coverage, and sometimes, may even take away a safety or cornerback from a defense. The Patriots should really make an effort to retain him on the team for the next season in order to keep a good pass catching weapon for Tom Brady.
Before the trade deadline ended, the Patriots made two trades for linebackers. New England acquired Jonathan Casillas, and a 2015 sixth round pick, for only a 2015, fifth round pick. Castillas did not play a huge role on the Patriots. So it very unlikely New England will be making much of an effort to sign him back. Akeem Ayers was traded by the Titans, to the Patriots for a unimportant sixth round pick. Akeem Ayers ended up becoming a much better fit in New England then Casillas became. He didn't get the playing time that was expected, yet he still created some big plays, during some big moments, to aid the Patriots in a super bowl victory. The possibility, the Patriots decide to sign, offensive lineman, Dan Connolly, depends on weather the Broncos resign Orlando Franklin back to the Broncos. If the Broncos do not resign Franklin, the Patriots should let Connolly discover free agency, and then sign Franklin. If the Broncos retain Franklin, then the Patriots should re-sign Connolly.
With kicker Stephen Gostkowski’s situation, there should be no doubt that the Pats should keep him. He is one of the best kickers in the game and has proven himself to be extremely clutch with his time with the Patriots. Gostkowski is one of the most irreplaceable kickers in the league. Although he may want a good amount of money, the Patriots should retain him on the roster.
If the New England Patriots follow these steps in the offseason, there should be no doubt they won't become super champions again.
Patriots Plans for the Offseason
After a stellar Patriots Season, the super bowl champs will now have to endure a tough offseason, in an attempt to retain their super bowl winning form. The Patriots have a very limited amount of cap space. However, they will have to push through that to re-sign multiple, key pieces back onto the team.
The first step is to renegotiate Danny Amendola's contract. In 2015 his cap hit for the Patriots was $5,700,000, in 2016, his cap hit will be $6,700,000, and in 2017 his cap hit will be a hefty $7,700,000. These number are too high for a player that barely contributed in the Patriots regular season. However, a the bright side is, Amendola has proven to be extremely clutch during the playoffs. Amendola was a major factor in the Patriots victory over the Ravens, in the divisional round of the playoffs. Competing against the Ravens, he managed to haul in 5 passes, on 6 targets, for 81 yards, and 2 touchdowns. One spectacular touchdown was an amazing 51 yard touchdown catch from Julian Edelman, on a trick play. He also contributed in the super bowl, by grasping a touchdown to aid the Patriots victory over the Seahawks.
Moreover, the next step for the Patriots should be to renegotiate Vince Wilfork's contract. His situation is a bit different to Amendola's situation. Wilfork is a great player and shows a lot of heart on the field. However, he has a huge contract to his name. In 2015 his cap hit was a hefty, $8,933,333, and 2016 it will be $6,433,334. His contract is too much, for a player one year removed from an Achilles tear. Also, his age is starting to catch up with him as his body is depreciating every year. If they give an effort to free up cap space from Wilfork and Amendolas contract, the Patriots should make an effort to re-sign Darrelle Revis. Even though the Patriots have an option on Revis, they will likely avoid using it because of its $25 million cap hit. Revis is considered either the best, or second best at his position based on who you ask.That being said losing him would be a gigantic loss for the team. Keeping Revis is a must, if the Patriots want to retain their title as superbowl champions.
Continuing with the secondary, the Patriots must retain safety Devin McCourty. McCourty is one of the most underrated safeties in the league and hardly gets enough credit for his incredible talent. He is an extremely reliable player and a key part of the Patriots defense. Devin hasn't specifically expressed that he wants to stay with New England. However, his brother Jason, explained, that he believes McCourty will and wants to stay in grey and blue. The Patriots plans on keeping McCourty depends on how they they will retain Revis. However, in the scenario, Revis decides on leaving New England, they should give McCourty a multi year deal to solidify there the safety position.
The remainder of the players with expiring contracts, are not nearly as big as McCourty and Revis were in the championship season. Stevan Ridley is a player that the Patriots don't necessarily need. He has been plagued with fumbling problems his entire career and probably will want more money then the pats will be willing to offer him. With that being said, if Ridley doesn't get signed by another team in free agency, the Patriots should attempt to resign Ridley back, but for a less amount of money. Sticking with the running backs, Shane Vereen was an extremely important piece of the New England Patriots offense. He can create difficult miss-matches against linebackers in coverage, and sometimes, may even take away a safety or cornerback from a defense. The Patriots should really make an effort to retain him on the team for the next season in order to keep a good pass catching weapon for Tom Brady.
Before the trade deadline ended, the Patriots made two trades for linebackers. New England acquired Jonathan Casillas, and a 2015 sixth round pick, for only a 2015, fifth round pick. Castillas did not play a huge role on the Patriots. So it very unlikely New England will be making much of an effort to sign him back. Akeem Ayers was traded by the Titans, to the Patriots for a unimportant sixth round pick. Akeem Ayers ended up becoming a much better fit in New England then Casillas became. He didn't get the playing time that was expected, yet he still created some big plays, during some big moments, to aid the Patriots in a super bowl victory. The possibility, the Patriots decide to sign, offensive lineman, Dan Connolly, depends on weather the Broncos resign Orlando Franklin back to the Broncos. If the Broncos do not resign Franklin, the Patriots should let Connolly discover free agency, and then sign Franklin. If the Broncos retain Franklin, then the Patriots should re-sign Connolly.
With kicker Stephen Gostkowski’s situation, there should be no doubt that the Pats should keep him. He is one of the best kickers in the game and has proven himself to be extremely clutch with his time with the Patriots. Gostkowski is one of the most irreplaceable kickers in the league. Although he may want a good amount of money, the Patriots should retain him on the roster.
If the New England Patriots follow these steps in the offseason, there should be no doubt they won't become super champions again.