• Wilfork’s Record Contract – While I am happy that they signed him, I am surprised at the timing.  There was no business reason to sign Big Vince to anything but the franchise tag with the uncertainty of the NFL in 2011.  They could have easily kept Vince for 2010 under the franchise tag and then renegotiated his deal once a new labor deal was reached.  Obviously this could have made Vince angry and made him more likely to leave but it still made the most sense from a cost standpoint.  I think they valued Wilfork as a player and a leader in the locker room.  He handled last season professionally by not holding out and rarely complaining about the deal he signed.  Locking him up to a long-term deal sends a message to other players that the Patriots are willing to pay top dollar for good players that also conduct themselves the right way.  Congrats to Vince and the Patriots – I’m glad he’ll be clogging the middle of the D-Line for a long time.

• Tully Banta-Cain Sticks Around – I’m glad they agreed to terms with Banta-Cain.  I think this sack numbers from last year were a bit inflated but he is a quality player and their best pass-rusher on the roster.  He fits well in this system.  Glad TBC is back.

• Pats Pass on Big Time Free Agents – This was no surprise.  Julius Peppers was the player that would have made the biggest impact for the Pats but they passed on him because of contract demands.  The Eagles and Patriots both had offers on the table but nowhere near the level that Chicago ended up paying.  Good teams in the NFL learned a long time ago that you can’t build a winning franchise through free agency.  Free agents are needed to build depth, and from time-to-time players impact players can be had (Reggie White and Drew Brees).  However, winning teams build through the draft.  I expect the Pats to be active in the secondary free agent market and signing depth-players who will play certain roles next fall.

• The Resigning of Stephen Neal – A good deal for both sides.  Neal is a quality guard and does a good job in New England’s system.  I still think that Nick Kaczur will end up moving to guard at times next season to make way for Vollmer but having a guy like Neal on the line is always a good thing.

• Leigh Bodden is Resigning with New England…or is he? – Late last night, Adam Schefter reported that the Pats and Bodden has agreed to a new deal in principal.  Others then picked it up and confirmed him reports.  However, his agent, Alvin Keels, said that no decision had been made and nothing would be announcing until at least today.  My take is the Pats and Bodden are close and he will end up resigning, they are just working out contract language.  Keeping Bodden is great for the Pats.  Although I don’t think he is a true #1 corner, he is solid and will help will Darius Butler continues to develop.

• The Swing and Miss for Anquan Boldin – The Pats were in the running but did not want to give the 30 year old Boldin a contract extension.  They wanted to bring him in on a 1-year deal like they did Randy Moss in 2007.  I can understand that however I think they missed a chance here.  Boldin is a tough player who has no problem going over the middle.  He is not a speedster but he would be the perfect complement to Randy Moss.  Actually, the thought of him and Moss on the outside and a healthy-Welker in the slot is downright scary.  If he could have been had for their lowest 2^nd round pick and a 3 year extension, I would have done it.  One of the years was an uncapped year and Randy Moss is not signed past this season.  To me, it’s a no-brainer but I’ll trust Belichick to know a lot more about what Boldin would be in this offense than me.

• Pats Host Crumpler, Reed, and Daniel Fells – With Welker out for at least most of 2010 and the fact that the top two tight ends will play elsewhere, the Pats are in desperate need of help at two positions.  Josh Reed is a quality receiver who has the potential to help out a team.  He is never going to be a #1 but he could help in the slot or opposite Randy Moss next year.  Crumpler and Fells are more blocking tight ends.  Since the Pats use their tight ends to block primarily, I think they will look at these types of players to replace Watson and Baker.

• Why is Adalius Thomas Still on the Roster? – Good question.  Maybe the rift between Thomas and Belichick is exaggerated.  My guess is they have no reason to cut him now since this is an uncapped year.  The Pats can take the bonus hits and just cut him prior to the start of the 2010 season.  This limits the options for Thomas and allows the Pats to find a suitable replacement.  I still don’t think he will be a member of the Patriots in 2010.

It was a fun weekend overall.  I did not expect the Pats to do anything big.  The signings of Wilfork, Neal, Banta-Cain, and Bodden (maybe) mean the Pats will bring their core free agents and will look to build depth in the secondary free agent market.  This strategy worked well for them in the past and I don’t see any reason they will change it now.

I will have a full analysis of this, the first weekend of free agency, and the final position breakdown this weekend.  Stay tuned!

FANBALL SPORTS NETWORK
2010 NFL MOCK DRAFT

THE BIG BOARD

1) St. Louis Rams – Will Horton (RamsHerd.com) – Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska

2) Detroit Lions – Josh Pung (RoarOfTheLions.com) – Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma

3) Tampa Bay Bucs – Eric Schmidt (WhatTheBucs.com) – Eric Berry, S, Tennessee

4) Washington Redskins – Ryan Estroninos (PaintItRedskins.com) – Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State

5) Kansas City Chiefs – (ChiefsChatter.com) – Joe Haden, CB, Florida

6) Seattle Seahawks – Jay Flannelly (FlockOfSeahawks.com) – Brandon Graham, LB, Michigan

7) Cleveland Browns – Ward Peterson (GridironBrownies.com) – Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame

Oakland Raiders – Stu Rosenberg (RaidersRadar.com) – Rolando McClain, LB, Alabama

9) Buffalo Bills – Jon Munoz (BillsHerd.com) – Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland

10a) Chicago Bears (Chicago’s pick goes to Denver) – Ismael Seguban (BearsHibernation.com, WHAT CHICAGO WOULD HAVE DONE) – Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State

10b) Denver Broncos – Bryan Douglass (BroncosStable.com, DENVER’S PICK) – Mike Iupati, OG, Idaho

11) Jacksonville Jaguars – Nate Bruce (TealPower.com) – Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Florida

12) Miami Dolphins – Josh Baumgard (BlogWithAPorpoise.com) – Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State

13) San Francisco 49ers – Josh Russell (NinersNuggets.com) – CJ Spiller, RB, Clemson

14) Denver Broncos – TO SEATTLE – Jay Flannelly (FlockOfSeahawks.com) – Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers

15) New York Giants – Mike Farley (GmenDen.com) – Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech

16a) Carolina Panthers (Carolina’s pick goes to San Francisco) – James Dator (RealBitsOfPanthers.com, WHAT THE PANTHERS WOULD HAVE DONE) – Arrelious Benn, WR/TE, Illinois

16b) San Francisco 49ers- Dana Whipple (NinersNuggets.com) – Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma

17) Tennessee Titans – Brian Munson (HonkyTonkTitans.com) – Carlos Dunlap, DE, Florida

18) Pittsburgh Steelers – Dan Stack (SteelersMill.com) – Bryan Bulaga, OT, Iowa

19) Atlanta Falcons – Mike Luchessi (DirtyBirdBlog.com) – Taylor Mays, S, USC

20) Houston Texans – Mike Kerns (DontMessWithTexans.com) – Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee

21) Cincinnati Bengals – Mike Norrod (BengalsJaw.com) – Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma

22) New England Patriots – Tim Magoon (PatsChowder.com)

23) Green Bay Packers – Adam Burnett (PackingCheese.com)

24) Philadelphia Eagles – Joe Burt (EaglesHaveLanded.com)

25) Baltimore Ravens – Kevin Hanson (FootBaltimore.com)

26) Arizona Cardinals – Hunter Ansley (DesertFlock.com)

27) Dallas Cowboys – Don Potts (RespectTheStar.com)

28) San Diego Chargers – Anthony Blake (ChargingBolts.com)

29) New York Jets – Joe Caporoso (TurnOnTheJets.com)

30) Minnesota Vikings – Eric Thompson – (VikingsThrone.com)

31) Indianapolis Colts – Brooks Busch (ColtsChatter.com)

32) New Orleans Saints – Mark Hooper (WhoDatBlog.com)

With the 22nd pick in this mock draft, I selected Sergio Kindle, OLB from Texas for the Patriots.  At this point in the draft, I think Kindle is a steal and can help solve the Patriots biggest problem: pass rush.

Here is my analysis of Kindle and why I believe he would be a great fit for the Pats:

Kindle comes from the football factory of Texas where he was known for his incredibly quick first step and his ability to rush the passer.  Kindle registered 16 sacks in the last two seasons and impressed in the BCS Championship Game against Alabama with 8 tackles and 2 sacks.  Scouts say that Kindle demonstrates a great first step, always plays hard, and has the ability to develop into a dangerous outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme.  He is seen as a very dangerous threat in passing situations because of his ability to get into the backfield.  Kindle’s skill set is exactly what the Patriots are lacking at this point in time.  They need a player who can come in and rush the quarterback off of the edge.

While Kindle has tremendous upside, he still comes with some risk.  He had a couple issues at Texas involving car accidents, one of them being a DWI which led to a 3 game suspension in 2007.  Most reports say that he has matured since then and any character issues would certainly be ironed out during interviews leading up to the draft.  His main issue on the field is his size.  He is the perfect height for a Patriots outside linebacker at 6′4″ but is reportedly only around 235 lbs.  He would need to add considerable bulk in order to effectively  be a 3 down player in the NFL.  I do not see this as much of a concern because he has the frame to bulk up considerably as he continues to mature.  Because he is said to have great work ethic, I do not see this as being an issue.  To put his size in perspective, Mike Vrabel is listed as 6′4″ and 260.

The selection of Kindle was not an easy one.  I had two other players I was really considering before making the selection.  Earl Thomas (S, Texas) and Kyle Wilson (CB, Boise St.) were players that I seriously considered selecting for the Patriots.  The reason I did not choose either other these players has to do with the current roster and the depth in this draft.  Thomas has the ability to be an impact safety in the NFL.  He is considered a ball-hawk who is great in pass defense.  However, he is not as great in run support.  His game sounded very similar to Brandon Meriweather and in addition to that, the Patriots selected Patrick Chung in the 2nd round of last year’s draft.  Wilson is a very exciting player who could have an immediate impact at corner and in the kick return game.  He is very fast and has great ball skills.  However, this is a deep draft for cornerbacks and it would not be surprising if a player with a similar skill set was available for the Pats when the come up in the 2nd round.

Overall, if the Patriots selected Sergio Kindle in the real NFL Draft in April fans should be very excited.  He is a real value at this point in the draft and has the talent to be able to come in and make an immediate impact in 2010.

Roster and Contracts:

Jerod Mayo (Thru 2012)

Gary Guyton (Thru 2010)

Adalius Thomas (Thru 2011)

Tully Banta-Cain (Free Agent)

Junior Seau (Free Agent – Retired)

Pierre Woods (Free Agent)

Shawn Crable (Thru 2011)

Eric Alexander (Thru 2010)

Tyrone McKenzie (Thru 2012)

Rob Ninkovich (Thru 2011)

Thomas Williams (Thru 2010)

Bruce Davis (Thru 2010)

Outlook:

One thing is for certain when it comes to the Patriots linebacker group in 2010: Adalius Thomas will not be a part of it.  Thomas has been a epic bust since he signed with the Patriots in 2007.  During his 3 seasons in New England he totaled 146 tackles and 14.5 sacks.  These are not the type of numbers that were expected from a guy who was supposed to an elite pass-rusher who could also play well against the run.  Due to the upcoming uncapped season, cutting Thomas this year will allow for the Patriots to avoid any type of salary cap penalty.  In addition, Tully Banta-Cain is a free agent.  So the Patriots could conceivably go into 2010 with 2 new outside linebackers.  Banta-Cain wants to stay in New England and be paid as a starter.  Looking at how his career went when he left New England for San Francisco  previously, I think he is more of a product of the system and I highly doubt the Patriots will offer him a big contract.

In terms of those currently on the roster, the middle linebackers look set with Guyton and Mayo keeping their positions.  Mayo regressed a bit last season after his spectacular campaign but you have to wonder if some of that was attributed to the knee injury that forced him out at the beginning of the season.  I fully expect him to rebound in 2010.  Gary Guyton is incredibly fast for a linebacker but does not seem like the prototypical run-stuffer at middle linebacker.  I wonder what he would be like as an outside linebacker.  He clearly has the speed to get into the backfield and has the right frame.  It could be an option to explore if the Patriots do not like what they see in the draft and free agency.  Shawn Crable has teased Patriots fans since he was drafted in 2008.  He is the perfect size for an outside linebacker in Belichick’s 3-4 and was very productive during his college years at Michigan.  However, the past two years he has ended up on injured reserve and has yet to see the field.  I still think he has great potential so hopefully he can get healthy in 2010.

There is a lot of talk about the Patriots being a player for Julius Peppers.  Belichick is interested in him and he would be the perfect answer to the teams pass-rushing woes.  However, like most things, it will come down to cost.  If the Patriots can convince Peppers to come to New England without needing to guarantee him $20 millon-plus, then it might happen.  If Peppers wants to hold out for every last nickel, he will be playing somewhere besides Foxboro.  Another name to remember is Chris Gocong.  He is a restricted free agent, outside linebacker/defensive end currently with the Eagle.  Tom Curran mentioned him as a possible target for the Patriots while on WEEI last week.  He certainly would come at a much lower cost than Peppers and could probably be had for a late round draft pick.  Keith Bullock could also be a player the Patriots take a look at.  He is coming off of a major knee injury so they would have to determine if he can still play but he would be a good veteran leader in the locker room.

The Patriots will surely build some depth in the linebacker group through the draft.  Many analysts have the Patriots taking a linebacker with their 1st round pick.  Brandon Graham and Ricky Sapp have been the names that come up most often.  Sapp seems to fit the profile more than Graham as Graham is actually a little small when compared to current linebackers on the Pats roster.  However, he was very productive at Michigan and player great in the Senior Bowl.

Expect the Patriots linebacker corps to get one of the biggest makeovers of any position group going into next season.  I think Peppers is a reach unless he is willing to come in at less money.  Look for the Pats to add a linebacker through free agency, resign Banta-Cain, and build through the draft.  I believe improve the pass-rush from the linebackers is the biggest priority for the Pats this offseason.

**UPDATE** This is not a surprise at all.  The Patriots have applied the non-exclusive franchise tag to Vince Wilfork today.  He will get paid around $7 million for the upcoming season but can still negotiate with the Pats for a long-term extension.  In addition because it is non-exclusive, Wilfork can negotiate a contract with the teams.  However, any team would have to give up two 1st round picks to acquire Big Vince.  I imagine they will continue to negotiate a long-term deal but if Vince wants to be paid Haynesworth money, he will probably be playing elsewhere in 2011.

Roster and Contracts:

Ty Warren – End (Thru 2013)

Derrick Burgess – End (Free Agent)

Jarvis Green – End (Free Agent)

Mike Wright – End (Thru 2012)

Vince Wilfork – Tackle (Free Agent)

Myron Pryor – Tackle (Thru 2012)

Ron Brace – Tackle (Thru 2012)

Outlook:

What will the Patriots do with Vince Wilfork?  It is the biggest question of the offseason.  Unfortunately for Vince, it makes way too much sense for the Pats to franchise him this offseason.  With his franchise tag only  around $7.5 million and the uncertainty of football in 2011, it would be much smarter to franchise Wilfork and then work out a long-term deal with him once the labor picture is clearer.  In addition, the Patriots have all the leverage in this situation.  Wilfork cannot risk sitting out next season with a potential lockout looming the following year.  Two years out of football for a man his size would not be a wise career move.  The Pats may be willing to work out a long term deal with Wilfork if he is willing to take a more team-friendly deal.  More than likely, however, Wilfork will be franchised prior to the deadline on February 25th.

New England has two potential replacements for Wilfork already on the roster.  Myron Pryor played well at times last season while subbing for Wilfork and should progress further next season.  Ron Brace is a more curious case, he was drafted 40th overall in the 2009 draft but was only active in 9 of the 16 regular season games and was also inactive against Baltimore in the playoffs.  It is not known whether there was an issue with his skills or picking up the Patriots schemes.

As for the rest of the defensive line, there will be some changes next season.  Derrick Burgess was not the pass rusher that fans expected last season.  However, Bill Belichick spoke highly of his play a number of times during the season.  Once again, if he is willing to accept a team friendly deal this offseason then expect him back.  Jarvis Green spoke about wanting to return to play for his hometown team, the Saints, this season.  If the Saints are interested, I would not be surprised if he left as well.  More than likely, the Pats will be willing to let both walk if they cannot have them at the right price and Mike Wright will take over opposite Ty Warren in 2010.

Expect Wilfork back in 2010, most likely under the franchise tag.  Jarvis Green and Derrick Burgess could both be elsewhere next season with Mike Wright taking over the starting role.  In addition to that, expect some new DE talent brought in via the draft and free agency to add depth.

Unlike Bill Polian’s Colts, you won’t see anyone in Foxboro celebrating this achievement.  Super Bowls are the only thing they care about inside of Gillette Stadium.  I wonder when the “Most Wins in the Decade” banner is going to be raised in Indianapolis?

The Patriots are blessed to have one of the best offensive line coaches in football. Dante Scarnecchia is one of the most underrated assistant coaches in football. He has a knack for developing under the radar players and consistently designing schemes to get the most out of his unit. Scarnecchia has been with the Patriots for 26 years and continues to put quality lines on the field on Sunday’s.

Roster and Contracts:
Dan Koppen – Center (Thru 2011)
Jake Ingram – Center (Thru 2012)
Ryan Wendell – Center (Thru 2010)

Logan Mankins – Guard (Restricted Free Agent)
Stephen Neal – Guard (Free Agent)
Dan Connolly – Guard (Thru 2011)
Rich Ohrnberger – Guard (Thru 2012)

Matt Light – Tackle (Thru 2010)
Sebastian Vollmer – Tackle (Thru 2012)
Nick Kaczur – Tackle (Thru 2012)
Mark LeVoir – Tackle (Thru 2011)
George Bussey – Tackle (Thru 2012)

Outlook:

At first glance it seems that the Patriots line is in pretty good shape going into 2010. Logan Mankins is a restricted free agent and I cannot see a scenario in which the Pats would let him go. I’m sure New England will give Mankins the top offer sheet available so if any team wants to sign him, they will have to give up a 1st round pick.  Not many teams will be willing to give up that high of a draft pick for an interior lineman.  The other free agent on the line, Stephen Neal, is considering retirement so guard will probably be a position where there are some changes in 2010.

At the tackle position, the emergence of Sebastian Vollmer gives the Pats the luxury of 3 above-average players to fill 2 positions.  Vollmer showed the potential to be a franchise left tackle in 2009 when replacing the injured Matt Light.  Still, Light is a quality veteran who has been a cornerstone of the line at left tackle.  I think it is likely that Vollmer will start the year at right tackle, with Light still protecting the blind side, and Nick Kaczur sliding inside to replace Neal at guard.  Light is eligible for free agency after the 2010 season so if Vollmer continues to develop he will probably take over at left tackle in 2011.

There are no immediate needs on the offensive line for the Patriots in 2010.  Still expect them to bring in some new faces via free agency and the draft.  This draft is considered very weak for interior lineman but the Pats have always done a great job at identifying valuable players in later rounds so expect some versatile, under-the-radar lineman to be a part of this year’s draft class.

Roster and Contracts:
Ben Watson (Free Agent)
Chris Baker (Thru 2013)

Outlook:
I think we can assume that the Ben Watson era has come to an end in New England unless he is willing to come back at a very reasonable salary. The tight end is not a focal point of the Patriots offense but having a reliable option in the passing game when it is needed would be nice. The Patriots will likely look for an H-Back/Tight End (ala David Thomas…why can’t we get players like that?) who can also serve as a fullback when needed. Jermain Gresham, Anthony McCoy, and Aaron Hernandez have been mentioned as players that the Pats might take a look at with their 1st round pick but I do not see it. New England has spend two 1st round picks on tight ends in past years (Daniel Graham and Ben Watson) and neither ended up being major contributors in the passing game. I could see the Patriots looking at one of these players if they slipped into the 2nd round but they have much more pressing needs that they would use their 1st round pick on.  Look for the Pats to add a low-level free agent and possibly pick up a tight end after the 1st round.