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Thanks, here’s that piece (Why The Patriots Should Let Wes Welker Walk).

It’s not really a surprise that Welker’s slowing down and I think given the number of concussions he’s had, it would be smart for him to retire. The Patriots did what they always do – let a player go a year too early rather than a year too late. 

Could Welker have helped them in 2013? Probably. Would anyone want him over Edelman in 2014? Nope.

The only unfortunate part for the Patriots was that they paid Amendola what they probably should’ve given to Edelman. Now they’ve got some decisions to make on Amendola’s hefty salary. 

We can’t forget how good Welker was for the Pats for so long. He redefined the slot receiver role to the point where everyone was looking for his clone and still are. But we also have to remember that Welker’s production was a huge function of the Patriots’ system that relies on the kind of routes he runs best. 

There’s no surprise that Edelman has essentially slipped into that role and is putting up the same numbers. 

I think they’ll add some low-end guys, they always do, but at the top of the depth chart I think they’re pretty well set. LaFell/Amendola/Edelman is a solid trio at the top. Just a tough trio that can make all the tough catches and make plays not only with the ball in their hand, but blocking and playing an all-around game. Then you’ve got Dobson and Boyce coming in with something to prove and who knows what Tyms can do with a full year in the system. 

You can win a Super Bowl with that group. Obvs.

I think there’s a spot for him but certainly at a manageable number. After playing a starting role for five games, he played just 24 total snaps in the three playoff games. 

I also think his role is minimized with Easley back in the mix as more of the designated pass rusher. He has some versatility and provides good depth on the edge, so I’d like to have him back, but I don’t think he’s a must-sign.

Put it this way – he’s a more proven player than Buchanan or Moore and they have no edge depth beyond them after Chandler/Ninkovich.

His cap hit is $5.7 million and if they cut him it’s still a $3.6 million cap hit. Including Revis, he’s the 8th highest paid player on the team for this coming season, so yeah, something has to be done. It’s a good bet he’s one of the first re-structures. 

I do think he has real value for the team and yes, he came up with some big plays in the playoffs and that does count for something. Hopefully they can reduce his hit a bit to line up more like the third WR/return specialist that he is.

Well, things could be a little more balanced and Hightower could play some more at the end of the line, where he can get after the quarterback a bit more. Put it this way – they’re not going to be WORSE with Mayo in the mix and the wear and tear can be mitigated a bit more. Also worth mentioning that the Pats still struggled in coverage against tight ends this year and Mayo can do that. 

So it opens some doors for a 3-3-5 nickel, gives them a more talented regular defense and puts another very good leader on the field. Figuring out how they manage the 4-2-5 nickel isn’t a huge problem and can be tweaked from week to week anyway.

Well yeah, it’s football, rarely is anything solely one person’s fault. Brady gets a big chunk of the blame because given the situation, with just over a minute left before the half, the absolute last thing you can afford to do there is turn the ball over. And it wasn’t even just a physical mistake (underthrown ball) it was a mental one (Gronk triple covered). 

Do you wish the defense had stepped up and stopped the Ravens? Of course, and yes, they got 20 yards on a somewhat ticky tacky pass interference call on Revis, who was in good position and looking back for the ball.

Still, the defense should never have been in that position to begin with so Brady has to shoulder a big chunk of the blame for that turn in the game.

I think in this defense you need as many different kinds of tools for the toolbox as you can get. But having a space eater inside like Wilfork is essential because the base defense is essentially a 2-4 nickel now.

So you have to be able to stop the run with only six in the box, even if it comes at the expense of some pass rush up the gut. That means at least one two-gapper who can hold his ground and eat up multiple blockers to allow the linebackers to make plays.

You already have some more traditional defensive tackles in Chris Jones and Dominique Easley, and you have a possible Wilfork-type guy in Siliga. 

But if Wilfork gets cut and doesn’t return (a real possibility) I think they’ll need to find another two-gapper to back up/push/replace Siliga. You can use someone like Alan Branch/Gerard Warren, but those guys are a little taller and can struggle when guards get under them.

So keep an eye on traditional nose tackle types – 6’2"-ish, 325-ish.