Extreme Ends of the Spectrum

Just a couple days after announcing the franchise tag to Big Vince Wilfork, the Patriots have announced via twitter that they have resigned veteran wide receiver David Patten. Patten is a receiver who has always played larger than he is, 5-10 190 lbs, with incredible abilities in the air.

Without David Patten in 2001, the Patriots may have never beat the Steelers in the AFC Championship game, moved on to beat the Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI, and started the dynasty that the Patriots are today. So why not resign one of the big reasons the dynasty started as a kickstart?

One problem, that was 2001, this is 2010. Patten is now 36 and has dwindled from the spotlight since those couple years with the Patriots. But the move is definitely a smart one, a risk worth taking. Wide receiver is a spot the New England organization knew that had to be concerned with, as Sam Aiken is not your ideal number 2 (or 3 in my judgmental opinion). The last two spots on the depth chart will be up for grabs until Welker returns from his knee injury and will seem to be a receiver by committee.

One thing is for sure, we hope this signing doesn’t turn out to be anything like the last veteran wide receiver acquisition. I can’t seem to get pictures of Joey Galloway out of my sight, please make them going away David, we could use it.

Ed Mahan

First Move of the Offseason is a Large One

Nothing about the franchise tagging of Vince Wilfork can be considered small. The 6-2, 325 lb, nose tackle, is seemingly going to be back with the Patriots for at least one more season.

Big Vince has been clogging the hole up the middle for opposing runners for six years now and finally thought he was getting a chance to test the free agent market when the Patriots gave him the commonly dreaded franchise tag. For the nose tackle position, this implies that Vince will make 7.003 million dollars in the 2010-11 season.

There are multiple situations that can come from this decision by the New England Staff. Below I’ve outlined four situations that we should all keep in mind.

1. Vince settles back into New England for one more year. This seems to be the best situation, but this to me would be the worst. The way the history of the franchise tag runs, players who live by the one year contract get upset with the franchise and test free agency immediately, almost forgetting about their old franchise. (This is the path that was taken by Adam Vinatieri in 2005)

2. Vince and the Patriots extend their talks and agree to a long term deal. The franchise tag in this scenario would be looked at as a privacy curtain for the talks between New England and Wilfork. While Wilfork is under the franchise tag, other teams can talk to him, but they have to be conscious of the fact that the patriots can match their offers. Vince signing a long term deal with New England is definitely a good possibility, as it has been enforced by multiple members of the organization just how important the big man in the middle is to the organization’s success.

3. A team offers a contract to Vince that the Patriots are not willing to match. In this scenario, if a team outbids the Patriots for Big Vince, that team would have to give up two first round picks to the Patriots. This is why throwing the franchise tag on Vince is such a security blanket. If someone really wants him, they’ll have to give up some great things into the pockets of the Patriots organization. As much as it would be tough to see Vince go, it sure would be nice to have some more first round picks.

4. Vince is involved in some blockbuster trade. This is very unlikely but it is also something that is a possibility and certainly would have to be an absolute blockbuster. This is what was the outcome of the last franchise-tagged Patriot (Matt Cassel) but that was certainly a different situation and expectation.

When it comes to what is most likely going to happen, I have it ordered 1-4 as I see it. This is absolutely not the order of how fortunate the scenarios would be for the franchise however. The second scenario on my board is definitely the ideal situation for Patriots fans, and Patriots players. The closer the NFL moves to a non-capped 2011, the closer that scenario is to being a possibility. Here’s to Roger Goodell making that decision!

Ed Mahan