Archives for March 22, 2012

Now, with the addition of Lloyd, perhaps the 32-year-old Branch could settle in to the type of role that the Patriots probably envisioned when Ochocinco came aboard – as a 2b/3a type of receiver option. Given his rapport with Tom Brady, and his knowledge of the offense, Branch still has value to the Patriots. Meanwhile, part of the reason the Patriots were in the market for Lloyd was to have an outside presence who could pick up chunk yardage. That’s not necessarily Branch’s game. So if everyone is healthy, and Wes Welker is under contract, Branch looks like he could become more of a complementary weapon than the front-liner he was in 2011.

https://www.patspropaganda.com/now-with-the-addition-of-lloyd-perhaps-the/

By creating more space this year, the Patriots open up an option where they can potentially address contracts of players who will be a priority in the near future, and do so by offering a larger base salary in 2012 instead of an up-front signing bonus. That could help from a cash-flow perspective. So, as an example, let’s say the Patriots were thinking of pursuing contract extensions with tight ends Rob Gronkowski (expires at end of 2013) and Aaron Hernandez (expires at end of 2013). This move with Brady creates a possibility where the team could sweeten their base salaries as part of an extension, taking advantage of the excess cap space they’ve created this year.

https://www.patspropaganda.com/by-creating-more-space-this-year-the-patriots/

If the Patriots signed Anderson to that contract, it would have been their only pact longer than three years this offseason while also making him the third-highest paid player on defense behind Vince Wilfork and Jerod Mayo. It would be hard to justify that much for a player who didn’t project to play every down in their scheme.

https://www.patspropaganda.com/if-the-patriots-signed-anderson-to-that-contract/