Great job on FA day three! Pleased with the front office?

[TheRainMaker]

I'm here for the comments.

I do agree with you though. My observation of the board lately does seem like trolling by some posters that hated Bill whatever he did (or didn't do), but now have been the biggest Pats fans since Mayo was hired and every move he's made. In fact, the temperature regarding Mayo during the season was pretty cold, then flipped a 180 after he was hired out of nowhere.

The team is still baseline right now - just like 2023 offseason where they didn't do jack ****. It's Deja Vu with posters saying they've "improved" again when they haven't. As much as I'd like for them to "burn some cash", nobody really moves the needle for me right now. And the signings that weren't they own players, I don't like. I'd rather build through the draft and then back the brink truck up for a guy that can put you over the top.

 

[Joey007]

Free agency works best for good teams filling specific needs ... maintaining success is through the draft we all know this.
Average teams and lower ... overpaying to win a few more games ... historically does not work.
So which rebuilding teams have skyrocketed ... like ever by winning free agency?
Sucks to rebuild ... free agency is but one part of that process ... do we really need to gnash our teeth like zombies?

It was what we did in 2021, honestly.

The moves bought us a 10 win season. And that was it. It left us pretty cap strapped over the next two seasons. Have to supplement it with good drafts, no matter what.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

I am seeing more than a few sites grading us as a 'B' for this free agency period.
Not saying we should be excited about it ... but we have not sucked so far either.

As I think I've noted before, I think part of the reason Belichick got fired was because somehow the Patriots offense stunk up the joint and yet somehow they also had two of the top three talents at OT and the top TE in FA.

 

[TommyD4207]

Free agency works best for good teams filling specific needs ... maintaining success is through the draft we all know this.
Average teams and lower ... overpaying to win a few more games ... historically does not work.
So which rebuilding teams have skyrocketed ... like ever by winning free agency?
Sucks to rebuild ... free agency is but one part of that process ... do we really need to gnash our teeth like zombies?

No, but the flip side of that isn't to do *nothing*.

There were players available at need positions that the Patriots could have spent money and signed. They didn't. It's that simple. I suppose it's still possible they do, but so far, it's been the usual late-night dumpster diving at Wal-Mart. That's ok if you have a tight cap number. It's not when you have tons of money and many, many needs to fill.

You need depth. Yes. But you also need *talent*. This team was 4-13 last year. Why? They're bereft of talent on the offensive side of the ball. Bringing in Antonio Gibson to fill a 3rd down back need on a short-money contract is not even in the neighborhood of enough.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

It’ll all j

It was what we did in 2021, honestly.

The moves bought us a 10 win season. And that was it. It left us pretty cap strapped over the next two seasons. Have to supplement it with good drafts, no matter what.

They weren't that cash strapped going into 2022. They certainly had enough room to bring in an OT and/or WR. The problem IMO was McDaniels' departure.

 

[Ian]

Free agency works best for good teams filling specific needs ... maintaining success is through the draft we all know this.
Average teams and lower ... overpaying to win a few more games ... historically does not work.
So which rebuilding teams have skyrocketed ... like ever by winning free agency?
Sucks to rebuild ... free agency is but one part of that process ... do we really need to gnash our teeth like zombies?

Again ... it's not a zero-sum game ... we are but 1 of 32 ... I am in the have some patience group.

They were fortunate in 2021 coming off 2020 because it was cheap to re-sign Newton and it was a name that free agents recognized given his career and his personality. That absolutely helped, as did a season where they went 7-9 despite how bad things really were. Plus they had Bill. Way easier for guys to believe they could win here.

Now Bill is gone and they have a coach with no history and a QB who isn’t exactly at Newton’s level reputation/resume wise with a team that’s coming off a 4-13 season. It’s going to be tough attracting anyone until things improve and today is just the first day of what will be a frustrating reminder of that until it changes.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Yeah, that's not the case at all. And I'd respond to the rest but I'm realizing that's not what we're doing right now.

Obviously, I see what this is all about. Dingleberry got upset and started posting politics all over the main forum, and I asked him repeatedly via PM to stop. He didn't, and that's why he's not here. I didn't get bored one night and decide to pick a fight, nor did I ever want to remove him -or anybody - for that matter. However, I'm absolutely not going to apologize for something that isn't my fault - nor will I ever. Especially, given the lengths I go through with everybody on here to avoid that situation.

He knew what he was doing, and it's frustrating it went the way it did. But you can't repeatedly say F-you to me by saying you're going to knock it off while coming up with new creative ways to do exactly what I'm asking you not to. And that's what he did (the Patriots "abortion" thread as one of several examples), so it's why he's not here anymore.

All I want to do is log on here when I get home from work and talk football - not chase people around or deal with nonsense. All I ever ask of people on here is to not be a jerk and if I ask you to help me out, help me out. The rules on here are pretty simple and I'll bend over backwards for everybody on here. But if you start intentionally trying to make my life difficult, that's where I draw the line. I'm almost 50 now, you can only kick me in the head so many times - even I have a limit.

Sorry, you do not see what this is all about. You are blind to anything you do not accept. Completely blind. Whatever. @thecore762 posted a thread after the 1st day of FA, and I expected some disagreement, but there was no disagreement. Why? Because you have banned anyone that would disagree. It is OK to admit the truth and not say, "I see what this is all about" - implying that I am secretly sneaking up and hiding my agenda. You have created an Orchids of Asia support message board for RK - I was very clear in my post - I did not hide anything - your implication otherwise is dishonest. You own PatsFans. It is OK to do what you want with what you own. Admit it and move on. Please to not pretend to have discovered, "what this is all about".

There are lots of people that are jerks, but you never ban them. I can go on and on about various posters that "know what they are doing" and you do not ban them. You always tell us how you bend over backwards. If Dingleberry said, "F-you"? I apologize for him, but really, who cares? Boo Hoo. Grow up and get over it. I can not count the number of guys that said, "F-you" to me. Is that because I am an a-hole? Maybe. That would be a solid proposition.

Do you want me to hold your hand and stroke you? You must be a bore at a bar over a few beers. All you want to do is get home and log on and be part of the Orchids of Asia's message board. Do I feel sorry for you? Please, your constant "Woe is me" act is tiring. So be happy. You do not have to deal with nonsense. No-one is mad at you. Day 1 of FA was a huge success just like @thecore762 said, so was Day 2 and Day 3 are a huge success too. I am sure the Pats will win the Super Bowl with Nick Leverett and Armon Watts.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

And you're a good guy, so I have no idea where this is coming from. But when it comes to that (and the other situation) - that's over and done with. I give people plenty of chances and once it's over with, it's done. So that's where I'm at, and I've already moved on.

There is always room to reflect and reconsider. To state otherwise is dishonest. We all limp.

 

[archstanton543]

I think if Belichick was the coach next year this would have been a perfectly fine offseason; the subtraction of Mac Jones alone would likely have been us a playoff contender. Given that it’s not BB coaching but rather a clown car, I think we stay a 2-4 win team next year.

The Pats aren't one player away. Not with Mayo (not yet at least) and not with BB.

 

[TheRainMaker]

It was what we did in 2021, honestly.

The moves bought us a 10 win season. And that was it. It left us pretty cap strapped over the next two seasons. Have to supplement it with good drafts, no matter what.

Somewhat agree. Judon was theft and Bourne was a great deal. Both were major contributors. Henry and Smith were overpays, but Henry was also a major contributor. Agholor was the other overpay (also met with resistance) and he was outplayed badly by the cheaper Bourne. Mills was an unnecessary signing that was met with resistance by many (including myself).

The last statement you made was they were cap strapped for the next two seasons. That's not bad at all. Most of those players were on short term deals.

 

[UGAPatsfan]

Well this thread got weird. I detest politics on a sports forum, so I actually appreciate @Ian holding the line with people unable to control basic impulses who keep doing it.

Now…RE free agency:

Here are facts as I see them:

1. Bill horrifically botched the development of a 1st rd QB.

2. Bill left the cupboard absolutely bare outside of Onwenu/Henry.

3. This team STUNK last year and had gotten worse for three years.

4. Cap was flush this year but unfortunately didn’t line up with a great FA class.

5. Premium offensive players DO NOT want to play here, and likely aren’t choosing Mass to live/patly taxes in if offers are even close.

6. Ridley literally QUIT for an entire season because: “mental health”, and we are mad they didn’t beat $50M guaranteed money to an already questionably motivated guy?

7. Jonah Williams sucks.

8. This is a 2-3 year rebuild which will require replacing a bunch of F players with C players just to get to baseline competency.

9. FA isn’t over.

10. This Draft is and has always been a CRUCIAL one in the history of the team.

Finally…

We won’t know **** for a couple years…Mayo could suck and be gone, or be terrific so relax and let it unfold.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

I'm here for the comments.

I do agree with you though. My observation of the board lately does seem like trolling by some posters that hated Bill whatever he did (or didn't do), but now have been the biggest Pats fans since Mayo was hired and every move he's made. In fact, the temperature regarding Mayo during the season was pretty cold, then flipped a 180 after he was hired out of nowhere.

The team is still baseline right now - just like 2023 offseason where they didn't do jack ****. It's Deja Vu with posters saying they've "improved" again when they haven't. As much as I'd like for them to "burn some cash", nobody really moves the needle for me right now. And the signings that weren't they own players, I don't like. I'd rather build through the draft and then back the brink truck up for a guy that can put you over the top.

Great great post. Thanks for being honest. I am here for comments too.

The idea that we will "build through the draft" and then back up the brinks truick is unrealistic. Statistics show that the draft is fraught with misses, and the new Pats management will miss too. There will never be a perfect time to "back up the Brinks truck" that is better than now.

The Pats have a super cheap owner. RK is super cheap. Lots of people blamed BB but it was RK. Admit it and it will be easier to follow the team.

Was TB the most important force in our 6 SBs? Absolutely. Did BB assist? Yes, but only in a small way that he prodded RK to do the right things.

 

[Ian]

Sorry, you do not see what this is all about. You are blind to anything you do not accept. Completely blind. Whatever. @thecore762 posted a thread after the 1st day of FA, and I expected some disagreement, but there was no disagreement. Why? Because you have banned anyone that would disagree. It is OK to admit the truth and not say, "I see what this is all about" - implying that I am secretly sneaking up and hiding my agenda. You have created an Orchids of Asia support message board for RK - I was very clear in my post - I did not hide anything - your implication otherwise is dishonest. You own PatsFans. It is OK to do what you want with what you own. Admit it and move on. Please to not pretend to have discovered, "what this is all about".

When it came to your responses to me, it was clear that there was an axe to grind. And it's cool.

There are lots of people that are jerks, but you never ban them. I can go on and on about various posters that "know what they are doing" and you do not ban them.

You're right - because I let things go and I'm pretty lenient with people on here because I get that everybody's different, and people have different personalities. I get people who get annoyed with me for that, but I can't ban someone for being annoying/irritating or for having a difference of opinion. With the exception of a couple of extreme situations, and those occurred after a lot of conversations privately to avoid that.

You always tell us how you bend over backwards. If Dingleberry said, "F-you"? I apologize for him, but really, who cares? Boo Hoo. Grow up and get over it. I can not count the number of guys that said, "F-you" to me. Is that because I am an a-hole? Maybe. That would be a solid proposition.

Yeah, when I referred to the "F-you" that was metaphorically speaking. If I ask someone to stop doing something and they opt to purposely ignore it and keep doing it - ie: starting political threads in the main forum over and over just to mess with me, that's essentially what they're doing and it's an issue.

You must be a bore at a bar over a few beers.

I'll give you that one - because it's relatively accurate. Although I would probably be less of a bore but more annoying after several beers.

All you want to do is get home and log on and be part of the Orchids of Asia's message board.

Yeah, that was essentially for the people out there who think I have nothing better to do than hop on here looking to start fights and impose any so-called "agenda."

Do I feel sorry for you? Please, your constant "Woe is me" act is tiring.

This is such an out of left field conversation, that I don't even know how to respond to this.

But in the case of that situation, no, I didn't start it. No, I'm not apologizing, and no, I'm not reinstating him. And in terms of "reflecting" - if a person goes out of their way to make my life difficult and then gets upset when they're ultimately removed, it's too late.

So it's over and done with. Wish it never came to that, but it's on him. And I'm not going to apologize for something I didn't initiate.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Great great post. Thanks for being honest. I am here for comments too.

The idea that we will "build through the draft" and then back up the brinks truick is unrealistic. Statistics show that the draft is fraught with misses, and the new Pats management will miss too. There will never be a perfect time to "back up the Brinks truck" that is better than now.

The Pats have a super cheap owner. RK is super cheap. Lots of people blamed BB but it was RK. Admit it and it will be easier to follow the team.

Was TB the most important force in our 6 SBs? Absolutely. Did BB assist? Yes, but only in a small way that he prodded RK to do the right things.

I do agree with your overall premise. Building through the draft is easier said than done and lots of teams that play the "long game" have been doing so for 30+ years. And Robert is showing a bad trend of being cheap and it started with him lowballing one of the best RB's in the league in 1997 with Curtis Martin. RB's like that in that era don't leave teams that early. His departure absolutely wrecked those late 90's teams.

So with that said, who would you have liked for the Pats to sign and were you okay with the contracts that have received?

 

[Sam Bam Cunningham]

Well this thread got weird. I detest politics on a sports forum, so I actually appreciate @Ian holding the line with people unable to control basic impulses who keep doing it.

Now…RE free agency:

Here are facts as I see them:

1. Bill horrifically botched the development of a 1st rd QB.

2. Bill left the cupboard absolutely bare outside of Onwenu/Henry.

3. This team STUNK last year and had gotten worse for three years.

4. Cap was flush this year but unfortunately didn’t line up with a great FA class.

5. Premium offensive players DO NOT want to play here, and likely aren’t choosing Mass to live/patly taxes in if offers are even close.

6. Ridley literally QUIT for an entire season because: “mental health”, and we are mad they didn’t beat $50M guaranteed money to an already questionably motivated guy?

7. Jonah Williams sucks.

8. This is a 2-3 year rebuild which will require replacing a bunch of F players with C players just to get to baseline competency.

9. FA isn’t over.

10. This Draft is and has always been a CRUCIAL one in the history of the team.

Finally…

We won’t know **** for a couple years…Mayo could suck and be gone, or be terrific so relax and let it unfold.

Great post. 100% agree

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Well this thread got weird. I detest politics on a sports forum, so I actually appreciate @Ian holding the line with people unable to control basic impulses who keep doing it.

Now…RE free agency:

Here are facts as I see them:

1. Bill horrifically botched the development of a 1st rd QB.

So ridiculous. BB made Mac cry wildly when he had a high ankle sprain? Mankins played without an ACL and no-one knew. BB made the NFL fine Mac for cheap shoting opposing players?

2. Bill left the cupboard absolutely bare outside of Onwenu/Henry.

Then why did we keep Dugger, Jennings, and Uche?

3. This team STUNK last year and had gotten worse for three years.

Yup, and why do you think it will be any better in 2024? We brought the same guys back and did not sign anyone significant in FA.

4. Cap was flush this year but unfortunately didn’t line up with a great FA class.

"Did not line up with FA class" but lots of other teams are spending like crazy. OMG. What a joke.

5. Premium offensive players DO NOT want to play here, and likely aren’t choosing Mass to live/patly taxes in if offers are even close.

Yup, excuse after excuse.

6. Ridley literally QUIT for an entire season because: “mental health”, and we are mad they didn’t beat $50M guaranteed money to an already questionably motivated guy?

Now we are criticizing guys from their mental health situations after they do not sign with the Pats? You are disgusting.

7. Jonah Williams sucks.

Agreed.

8. This is a 2-3 year rebuild which will require replacing a bunch of F players with C players just to get to baseline competency.

If we keep spending like we have so far, this is a never ending rebuild.

9. FA isn’t over.

And the Pats failed.

10. This Draft is and has always been a CRUCIAL one in the history of the team.

Every year we hear that this year's draft is crucial for the team. Which is true when the team has a super cheap owner.

Finally…

We won’t know **** for a couple years…Mayo could suck and be gone, or be terrific so relax and let it unfold.

 

[Ian]

Why? Because you have banned anyone that would disagree.

Sorry, missed this note. No, no one has been banned in the last 12 months aside from the two that you mentioned, and two others who previously spammed the board over and over with the same opinion. So the above is 100% inaccurate.

 

[Ian]

Why? Because you have banned anyone that would disagree.

And before the response I'm expecting comes, I am the only person here who can impose a ban from the board. Mods can't do that, and that's so if there's an issue, I'm the one accountable for that.

 

[Boomer B]

I sort of saw this coming. I knew they were bad, but I wasn't sure what the perception was outside of this market.

We're obviously finding out- it's not good.

I’m reading between the lines here. Using that gif means you’re letting Kontra back in?

 

[UGAPatsfan]

So ridiculous. BB made Mac cry wildly when he had a high ankle sprain? Mankins played without an ACL and no-one knew. BB made the NFL fine Mac for cheap shoting opposing players?

Then why did we keep Dugger, Jennings, and Uche? (I was talking about offense)

Yup, and why do you think it will be any better in 2024? We brought the same guys back and did not sign anyone significant in FA. (I had no expectation the team would be much better in 2024…offense fell way too far)

"Did not line up with FA class" but lots of other teams are spending like crazy. OMG. What a joke.

Yup, excuse after excuse. (Because teams like Tennessee are stupid…repeatedly)

Now we are criticizing guys from their mental health situations after they do not sign with the Pats? You are disgusting. (I aired concerns about Ridley long before he chose TN…it’s fair to question his motivation.)

Agreed.

If we keep spending like we have so far, this is a never ending rebuild.

And the Pats failed.

Every year we hear that this year's draft is crucial for the team. Which is true when the team has a super cheap owner.

(Tell u what, you clearly are just full of hatred for the team, coaches, owner, and fellow fans. Seems like a great time to find another one to follow. It’s year one of a rebuild…it might get worse before better. Not sure you have the constitution to handle that based on your unhinged ranting.)