Free Agency not urgent for Patriots

With free agency seemingly dead in the water, there are still a few NFL teams looking to fill needs, but will they wait for the draft or take a veteran they know will add value?

It is interesting to see how 2008 has been similar for the Patriots to free agency periods before 2007. There was too much hype on the Patriots in 2007 and now media pundits feel the Patriots have had a terrible offseason due to losing Asante Samuel, Randall Gay and Eugene Wilson from their secondary and cutting Rosevelt Colvin.

Jamie recently gave a review on the Patriots free agency moves and outlines his thoughts and grades. Although the Patriots have found a few additions in the secondary with CB Fernando Bryant (lions), S Tank Williams (Vikings), CB Lewis Sanders (Falcons), CB Jason Webster (Bills), these players seem to be often injured and decent replacements for the likes of Gay and Wilson or at the very least special teamers.

Dom Capers knows a few of these players and they all seem to be tough physical kind of guys he likes to have to play up in the box. I am hoping that Capers is able to improve the secondary and I agree with Jamie, 'if Bryant is the starter alongside Ellis Hobbs to start the season, I don't like the Patriots' chances to make it back to the Super Bowl'.

Ty Law is still available (as well as Hank Poteat), but even then I do not like to depend on him to start the whole season. The draft is deep with cornerbacks more so then safeties, so I see Meriweather playing safety in 2008 rather then filling in at corner as he did in early 2007. If Law does join he along with Capers should be able to bring along the young talent into the Belchick mindset relatively quickly. Worse case scenario Troy Brown returns as a nickle back and the Pats at least said no to 'Pac Man' Jones.

Overall, I disagree that cornerback is the top need for the Patriots this offseason as the Patriots have often filled the voids in the secondary with players off the street and have used quantity over quality.

If we look at the Patriots roster, the greater need is still youth at linebacker with only Pierre Woods and Eric Alexander are the only 'veterans' (sorry Izzo is special teams and comes in on goal line defenses) behind Tedy Bruschi, AD Thomas and Mike Vrabel. They have never played well enough to even come in during the early blowouts in 2007…

TJ Slaughter was recently signed and Panthers Adam Seward (RFA) was brought in for a check up with no contract given. These are back-ups not starters even if they figure out the Patriots system.

Junior Seau is still surfing and has not made up his mind to return and the Pats may be interested in Takeo Spikes, but age is still a concern.

So sure the Patriots did re-sign a few key players like Randy Moss and Lonie Paxton. And Tedy Bruschi is old and slow, but still a team leader and play maker having the most tackles on the team in 2007 - not bad!

I think keeping Gaffney is great as he adds value with Stallworth gone, the others that were re-signed are all fillers and not game changers and talent to get to the Super Bowl.

I would grade the free agency as a D, based on the Patriots not doing enough to fill the gaps and not much opportunity to draft starters in the draft.

Having said that …

IN BILL WE TRUST!