PHOTO: New England Patriots wide receiver Troy Brown, stretches at practice in Jacksonville, Florida Feb. 4, 2005 (AP Photo/Stephan
Savoia)
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL REPORT
FRANCHISE PLAYER
-- PK Adam Vinatieri (signed tender of $2.51M).
TRANSITION PLAYER:
None.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS
-- RB Rabih Abdullah is a special
teamer and reserve running back with the size and physical stature the Patriots
like. He could get a training camp invite because New England doesn't have much
depth at the position. Cedric Cobbs' potential and Kory Chapman's play in Europe
could impact Abdullah's status especially with young players like safety Guss Scott and Benjamin Watson returning from injury and expected to play on special
teams. Signing him is not an immediate priority.
-- WR Troy Brown carried
a cap number of $5.7 million into 2005 with $5 million in new money so after trying
to negotiate those numbers down, the Patriots declined to pick up a team option
that would have required a $2.5 million March 2 bonus payment. Brown was looking
for No. 2 receiver money for three years and the Pats were apparently offering
No. 3 receiver type dollars. The two sides are likely to continue negotiations,
and Brown could be back in the mix.
-- S Je'Rod Cherry is a special teamer
who won't likely be re-signed. With Scott returning from a knee injury, Cherry,
who once again performed well in the kicking game, is expendable and is the type
of player New England would look to sign during the season as an injury replacement
if he were available.
-- WR Kevin Kasper won't likely be re-signed unless
the Patriots become thin at wide receiver over the next two months. Then, if Kasper
is still available, he could be signed in May or June to compete for a job in
camp.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.
EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE
AGENTS
-- OL Gene Mruczkowski (tendered at $305,000) has been with
the team in some capacity - either the practice squad or the active roster --
for a couple of seasons and seems to be progressing. He will be tendered and brought
to camp to battle for a job. His ability to play guard and center helps his chances
since the Patriots have no true backup center on the roster.
PLAYERS
RE-SIGNED
--OT Tom Ashworth: RFA; $1.43M/1 yr.
--LB Don Davis: UFA;
terms unknown.
--WR David Givens: RFA; $1.43M/1 yr.
--OT Brandon Gorin:
Potential RFA; $2.3M/3 yrs, $400,000 SB.
--DL Jarvis Green: RFA; $1.43M/1
yr.
--DT Ethan Kelley: ERFA; $305,000/1 yr.
--OG Stephen Neal: RFA; $1.43M/1
yr.
--FB Patrick Pass: UFA; $1.36M/2 yrs, $150,000 SB; 2005 cap: $615,000.
--CB Hank Poteat: FA, had been released by Patriots; terms unknown.
--S Guss
Scott: ERFA; $305,000/1 yr.
--PK Adam Vinatieri: Franchise FA: $2.51M/1 yr.
--TE Jed Weaver: FA, had been released by Patriots; terms unknown.
PLAYERS
ACQUIRED
--LB Monty Beisel: UFA Chiefs; $1.65M/2 yrs, $400,000 SB; 2005
cap: $750,000.
--WR/KR Tim Dwight: FA Chargers; 1 yr, terms unknown.
--WLB/SS
Wes Mallard: Not tendered as RFA by Giants; terms unknown.
--CB Duane Starks
(trade Cardinals).
--WR David Terrell: FA Bears; $900,000/1 yr, $200,000 SB.
PLAYERS
LOST
--OG Joe Andruzzi: UFA Browns; $9M/4 yrs, SB unknown.
--TE
Zeron Flemister (released).
--OT Adrian Klemm: UFA Packers; $2.6M/2 yrs, $800,000
SB/$200,000 RB '06.
--CB Ty Law (released).
--QB Jim Miller: UFA Giants;
$790,000/1 yr, $25,000 SB.
--CB Earthwind Moreland (released).
--WR David Patten: UFA Redskins; $13M/5 yrs, $3.5M SB.
--LB Roman Phifer (released/failed
physical).
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