That's the one true piece of advice that anyone who wishes to remain with or come to play for the New England Patriots: Don't over-value yourself. Welker, though a fine talent individually, is mostly a product of the Patriots' system that values smaller, shifty slot receivers more than most teams.
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| Chances are Patriots move on if Edelman rejects current deal |
Last year during legal tampering, the Patriots offered the then 31-year-old Welker a two year deal worth $12 million, a deal that the outspoken Welker called "insulting", thinking that his market would bring him riches far beyond what the thrifty Patriots were offering - but by the time Legal Tampering had expired and free agency began, he discovered that he and his agent had severely over-estimated his market - but it was too late. The Patriots had moved on.
Keeping that in mind, the Patriots leading receiver from last season, tough as nails former college quarterback Julian Edelman, has been tendered an offer by the team, rumored to be a three year deal that would conceivably carry Edelman into his 30's with the team that took a gamble that with his athleticism he could convert from a college signal caller to another position in the pros.
The 7th round selection in the 2009 draft found very little interest on the open market last offseason - primarily because of his injury history - and finally accepted New England's one year "prove it" deal that paid him just shy of a million bones, and he responded with a Welker-esque season, eclipsing 100 receptions and 1000 receiving yards, plus continued his saga as one of the best punt returners in the game.
So now the Patriots have offered Edelman three years at an undisclosed amount of money, and have given him a deadline of 4:00pm Eastern on Tuesday to accept their offer - and if history tells us anything about the way that the Patriots operate, they are prepared to move forward without batting an eye if Edelman hems and haws.
Remember Wes Welker?
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Perhaps the Patriots were waiting for the Detroit Lions to set the market for running backs as they attempted to strike a deal with their restricted free agent Joique Bell before approaching their own unrestricted free agent LeGarrette Blount with an offer.
The unrestricted free agent market is completely flat thus far, with no real-time monetary value forthcoming for any runners on the open market, and Detroit had said that they would retain Bell regardless of being able to reach a long-term deal with him - and did end up tendering him with a second round grade worth just over $2 million per year...
...but then worked out a three year offer for just over $9 million, and that's exactly what Blount should be looking at as an offer from New England - both are 27 and both are integral parts of their teams' offensive schemes going forward.
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As we thought, the report of a supposed offer on the table from the Patriots for cornerback Aqib Talib from a beat writer for the Washington Redskins was bogus, as Talib's people have told several reporters that they have received no offers from anywhere.
Those close to Aqib Talib are surprised. Why? He has no standing offers just yet. http://t.co/TFiioHYyYw #PatriotsTalk @MikeGiardi
— CSNNE.com (@CSNNE) March 11, 2014
Of course, it could be that Talib's representation is being misleading, but it just goes to show you the power that those in the media have over the emotions of the fans...
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The Patriots are set to host former Bronco's middle linebacker Wesley Woodyard, perhaps as early as Tuesday evening - which lends some credence to out thought that New England is looking at upgrading their underneath coverages and putting a premium on big hitters on the second level.
Along those lines, Woodyard had been used out of position with the Broncos as his natural position is weakside linebacker. In our mock draft, we have selected Ohio State's Ryan Shazier as the Patriots' first round pick as a weakside linebacker to provide depth for Jerod mayo as well as nickle work as a strong safety.
If the Patriots do sign Woodyard, we might have to change our pick, but at least we had the thinking right!
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