Article: Pats' image takes a hit

[WoodysGirl]

By Kevin Mannix/ NFL Notes
Sunday, March 6, 2005



Not everybody is glossing over the recent exodus of veteran Patriot players. Fans and media alike have definitely shrugged off the departures of key veterans like Ty Law [news], Roman Phifer, Troy Brown [news], David Patten [news] and Joe Andruzzi. Bill Belichick [news] and Scott Pioli made the decisions and they've brainstormed this team to three Super Bowl titles in four years. So people on the outside have taken the Alfred E. Neumann approach - ``What? Me worry.''


Apparently there is one segment of Patriots [stats, news] Nation that's not so understanding: the players. They seem to be turning a deaf ear to the sales pitch management is giving: Playing for the Patriots is an honor and a reward in itself. Look at those three Lombardi Trophies. Look at the comparisons being made between this team and the great dynasties in NFL history. Look at the way the players get along, how everybody serves a purpose and nobody - well, almost nobody - gets treated like a deity.


That's been successful in the past. It's why Brown signed lower-than-market contracts for all those years.


For years, the Patriots would enter negotiations with other players with the ``Troy Brown ceiling rule'' as a primary tactic. They'd detail what Brown was making and point out that, given his contributions to the team, it wasn't right to give other players better contracts.


It's also why Tedy Bruschi [news] and Matt Light [news] took less money to stay here than they could have extracted from other teams in free agency. And coming here was enough of a lure that Rosevelt Colvin signed with the Patriots for less than he was offered by other teams.


But times seem to be changing. Troy Brown did not fall in line and take the offer the Patriots made him at the end of the season. He might still come back to New England, but right now he's out in the market looking for better money.


Andruzzi and Patten, two of the tough, dependable Patriots of this decade, took the money from the Browns and Commanders, respectively, rather than take less money to stay here and go for a third straight Super Bowl title, their fourth in five years.


And free agent wide receiver Derrick Mason, the former Titan who was released because of salary cap problems in Tennessee, actually rejected the Pats' offer and signed with Baltimore. He turned down the chance to play catch with Tom Brady [news] to join the Ravens, where Kyle Boller is the quarterback. Supposedly the decision was made by Mason's wife, who preferred to live in the Baltimore area rather than New England.


Even if that were the reason for rejecting the Pats' offer, it doesn't change the bottom line. Everybody expected the Patriots to use their success on the field to retain or attract quality players.


That doesn't seem to be happening any more.

http://patriots.bostonherald.com/patriots/view.bg?articleid=71831

 

[k19]

Great Read Michelle. Suprised nors hasnt found it yet

 

[WoodysGirl]

Prolly did, didn't want to tarnish the pat shine...

 

[trickblue]

Prolly did, didn't want to tarnish the pat shine...

It is funny beacause I made a post just the other night concerning this after they cut Troy Brown... a guy that gave up incentives in his contract to help the team...

The Patriots showed that they are a business first and a family second... we used to do that... and we won Superbowls...

 

[Nors]

Prolly did, didn't want to tarnish the pat shine...

The Pats players are not back because?
Bellicheck and Pioli thought they were not worth the money they were slotted for.

Ty Law was a $12M Cap hit, off injury Was that a bad move? No
Brown - was not going to hit incentives, he's 33/34 and made MAJOR salary in 2004. His Cap # in 2005 was outrageous.

Andruzzi was offered a mega deal by Browns. He's a beat up 30+ average Guard, they have Young depth on the roster and draft to fill in.

Phifer - 37 and cut, has shoulder issues.

Patton - Commanders totally overpaid. Bad Danny!


Pioli/BB are making all the right moves. These players were not asked back, by design.

 

[Nors]

Speedy WR Tim Dwight receives interest
By Michael Felger/ Patriots Notebook
Wednesday, March 9, 2005

If an NFL team is looking to get faster and deeper at wide receiver, Tim Dwight seems a good place to start.

The Patriots [stats, news] apparently agree because they had the free agent receiver/returner in for a visit and physical at Gillette Stadium yesterday.

Dwight, a seven-year veteran who was dealt from Atlanta to San Diego in 2001 as part of the Michael Vick trade, saw his offensive production drop sharply the last two years as a collapsed lung slowed him in 2003 (14 catches in nine games) and a toe injury hobbled him in 2004 (two catches in 12 games).



Dwight's healthiest and most productive season came in 2002, when he caught 50 passes while providing a threat as a punt and kickoff returner. Dwight also handled both return duties for the Falcons from 1998-2000.

Dwight may be a contingency plan for Troy Brown [news], whose free agent status remains unresolved. While Dwight is known for his lightning speed, his slight build (5-foot-8, 180 pounds) would make him the smallest receiver on what is already an undersized Pats receiving corps.

Neal signs

The Pats got Stephen Neal off the restricted free agent market, as a team spokesman said the guard signed his one-year, $1.43 million tender offer. Neal clearly wasn't eager to push the market, as the restricted signing period runs until April 15.

The 6-foot-4, 305-pound Neal started the final 14 games of the regular season and all three playoff games.

Like Neal, another player who didn't seem too interested in testing the market was fullback Patrick Pass. The team announced Pass' deal on Monday, but the particulars of his contract (two years at minimum salary with a $150,000 signing bonus), were on the NFLPA's internal Web site on March 3, the second day of the signing period.

Guarded optimism

While Tedy Bruschi [news] has been leaving his teammates with the distinct impression that he will be returning to football, many Patriots realize it's better to be cautiously optimistic regarding that aspect of his recovery.

``Would you expect anything different from Tedy? He's the ultimate high-spirits guy,'' said Matt Chatham. ``But talking about playing football in (March) is a lot different than actually going out and doing it. . . . I don't know if we're really even thinking about football. (But) as an average citizen getting around and being himself, he's doing great.''

Pats owner Robert Kraft has spoken to Bruschi a couple of times since his Feb. 16 stroke.

``He sounded great. He's feeling well. We hope his recovery continues along as it has,'' Kraft said. ``His first responsibility is to his family. That's what we're all looking for. Anything that happens after that is a bonus.''

It's official

Safety Rodney Harrison [news] is taking the first step to fulfilling his post-playing career ambition to become an NFL official by participating in an NFL Europe minicamp in Tampa this week. Harrison, along with former Patriots Fred McCrary [news] and Grey Ruegamer, is spending 4-5 hours in the classroom and then heading out to the field to officiate scrimmages.

``You get graded,'' he said. ``If you're not making the calls your grade just gets worse and worse and you get kicked out. First and foremost, I'm going to be a professional.''

Harrison said he threw two pass interference flags yesterday, which drew a natural reaction from some of the NFL players on the field.

``They said, `Hey, Rodney, that's how you play!' '' Harrison said. . . .

Kraft acknowledged that a long-rumored contract extension for Tom Brady [news] is in the works.

``I know that's something we've been working on,'' he said. ``Hopefully it's going to be done in the not-too-distant future.'' . . .

Harrison said the releases of ``hard-working company men'' like Brown and Joe Andruzzi shouldn't lead to disenchantment.

``As nasty as the business is, you understand that players get (released). I'm not worried about our locker room,'' Harrison said. ``We have enough veterans who understand this is a business.''