P-Rez25

Speaking on a conference call with the media just two days after the most disappointing loss of his storied career, coach Bill Belichick was already working getting back to the Super Bowl. The first step of the offseason process involves evaluating the roster, and with turnover being a major part of the current NFL landscape, it's only natural to wonder which players will remain Patriots in 2008.



"We're starting all over into the 2008 season," Belichick said. "It's already time to move on. We're into the offseason and that's just the way it is, so we'll start moving ahead toward next year."


The Patriots have several key players who may not be a part of that process moving forward. The individuals involved could be split into two groups - potential retirees and free agent. The former includes the likes of Junior Seau, Tedy Bruschi, Rodney Harrison and Troy Brown while the latter is headed by Asante Samuel and Randy Moss.


Following the stunning Super Bowl loss to the Giants, many of the above players spoke about their futures but understandably weren't ready to make any definitive statements. Neither Seau nor Bruschi would discuss potential retirement.


"I haven't thought about the future," Seau said. "I am having way too much fun."


Brown, who didn't play much of a role with the team in 2007, would seem the best candidate to call it a career, but he didn't sound that way following the game.


"A lot of what is going to happen is going to be my decision and some other people's decisions," he said. "We'll take some time to recover from this one, this wasn't a great end to the season, and we'll see what happens."


Obviously, less than hour following a devastating defeat is not the best time to discuss a player's intentions, a point Belichick illustrated during his conference call.


"I don't think the day after the season is a great time to make decisions about anything," Belichick said. "I think we all need to give the end of the season a little bit of time. Whatever decisions need to be made, sometimes they're timely decisions and you can't wait forever on them, but I don't think the day after the season is a great time to be making important decisions on anything.


"How those players feel a week from now, or two weeks from now could be entirely different. Immediately after a particular game a lot of times those are emotional decisions and not really good fundamental ones."


While the decisions on retirement, for the most part, are personal and not financially motivated, the free agents are a different story. Moss and Samuel both spoke after the game and expressed their desire to remain in New England.


"I would love to be in a Patriots uniform, but if I'm not the show must go on," Moss said before discussing the team's desire to return to the Super Bowl.


"The only thing we can do is bounce back," he added. "This does hurt. The good thing is we can come back and try to bounce back from this next year. We got a long wait until next year, so that's the bad thing about it."


Those certainly don't sound like the words of a man intending on signing elsewhere next season. But ultimately it could come down to money, and if Moss hits the open market he's sure to get some lucrative offers.


As for Samuel, he, too, was saying the right things.


"I've said from the start that if it's up to me I'll be back," Samuel said when asked if he'd just played his last game as a Patriot. "But it has to be the right situation for everyone. I love my teammates and I love everything about the time I've spent here. This is the team that drafted me and it's the only home I've ever known. Hopefully things will work out and I'll be a Patriot for the rest of my career."


Samuel figures to be the tougher call considering his age. He'll be in line not only for big bucks but also a long-term deal, something the Patriots may not be eager to get involved with.


The potential for turnover is not limited to free agents and possible retirements. Contract restructurings and bonuses could also factor into the mix. Rosevelt Colvin is slated to take up $7.6 million in cap space in 2008. That's the second highest total on the team (behind Tom Brady) and probably too much for the Patriots. He'll be a candidate for restructuring at the least, or he could even be released depending on his health.


Receivers Donte' Stallworth and Kelley Washington were solid contributors in 2007 but both are due sizable roster bonuses next month. Neither will get them and both will thus become free agents.


Stallworth will likely hit the market and get a substantial offer considering he shook off the injury bug and played in every game, and even though his production (46 catches, 697 yards, three touchdowns) was average, he was the third option in an explosive offense and teams could view him as a No. 1 receiver. The Patriots would likely want him back at their price, but that might not be possible if he hits the market.


Washington was outstanding on special teams but coverage players don't warrant $4 million roster bonuses. If he's willing to return at a more reasonable rate, he could vie for a receiver position, especially if some combination of Moss, Stallworth and pending free agent Jabar Gaffney don't return.


Notes, Quotes
• SS Rodney Harrison, coming off his 14th NFL season, said last week that he's preparing to return to New England for another year.


"Right now, at this point, I feel like I'm going to honor the last year of my contract," Harrison told the Boston Herald. "Everyone's asking me about retirement. I don't know what to say about it. I haven't said anything publicly about wanting to retire or anything like that. I've very hungry to get back to working out and be a part of this team, and try to win another championship.


After missing the first four games of 2007 to a league suspension for admitting to using HGH, Harrison recorded 67 tackles, two sacks and an interception over the final 12 games. After injury plagued 2005 and 2006 campaigns, Harrison remained healthy last fall at the ripe age of 35.


• CB Asante Samuel has more than left the door open for a return to New England, but the free-agent-to-be admits it's going to take a big payday to stay with the team that drafted him in the fourth round of the 2003 draft.


"The fans love me and I love them back," Samuel told reporters at the Pro Bowl. "The organization loves me and, hopefully, we can work it out."


By work it out, Samuel clearly is referencing a new contract that would likely eclipse the huge eight-year, $80 million deal cornerback Nate Clements got in San Francisco.


"It's gonna take a lot to make me happy and my family happy," Samuel said at his first Pro Bowl."


• Guard Dan Connolly, wide receiver C.J. Jones, offensive lineman Jimmy Martin and cornerback Tim Mixon were all signed by New England Feb. 5. Connolly, Jones and Mixon all ended 2007 on the team's practice squad, while Martin was out of football last fall.


• LB T.J. Slaughter signed with the Patriots Feb. 12. The 6-0, 233-pounder was out of football last season but had worked out for New England in early December. The 30 year old has played for five different NFL teams since entering the league in 2000 and has some experience in a 3-4 system. Depending on how the Patriots' depth chart at inside linebacker plays out moving forward he could compete for backup role this summer.


Quote To Note: "It's no secret I'm looking for a big, huge, blockbuster deal." - Asante Samuel talking to reporters at the Pro Bowl


Strategy And Personnel
TEAM NEEDS/OFFSEASON STRATEGY


Despite an undefeated regular season and continuity on the coaching staff, the 2008 Patriots could look very different. New England enters the offseason with the potential for huge roster turnover at key spots on both sides of the ball. Defensively both linebacker and the defensive backfield could be greatly affected. Aging veterans Tedy Bruschi (34) and Junior Seau (38) are both free agents and could retire, while outside linebacker Rosevelt Colvin could be asked to restructure his contract that carries a $7.6 million cap hit for the coming season. In the secondary, Asante Samuel, guaranteed to hit free agency in March thanks to the deal he reached with the team last August to play under the franchise tender, will be one of the hot players on the open market. If bidders price the Patriots out of contention for Samuel, which is a very real possibility, the team will lose its only young proven playmaker and best overall player in the back end of the defense. That would necessitate the team to pursue at least one corner in either free agency or the draft to help out what is already a weak group.


Offensively, the priority, for the second year in a row, is at wide receiver. Randy Moss is a free agent. While the team could and likely will use its franchise tag on Moss, the veteran will clearly be looking for a longer term pact. Donte' Stallworth and Kelley Washington are due large bonuses this spring that could land both on the free-agent market, although the team could look to bring both back at lesser price tags. Troy Brown and Jabar Gaffney are also free agents while injury prone former second-round pick Chad Jackson has yet to prove himself, meaning Wes Welker is the only receiver in the top six spots of the this year's receiver depth chart assured to be back with Tom Brady in 2008.


All NFL rosters are fluid at this point, but the record-breaking Patriots will once again have lot of work to do before the team is ready to compete next fall.



1.Linebacker: Tedy Bruschi and Junior Seau are free agents and could retire. Rosevelt Colvin is coming off a season-ending foot injury and due a $7.6 million cap number in 2008. None of the team's younger linebackers are in line to earn significant roles moving forward. Youth and athleticism is clearly needed at a spot that does still include All-Pro Mike Vrabel and '07 free-agent prize Adalius Thomas.


2.Cornerback: Asante Samuel could get offers approaching $100 million on the open market, numbers that are likely way too rich for New England's blood. Nickel man Randall Gay is a free agent as well. Ellis Hobbs had a terrible third season and got toasted in the Super Bowl. If the Patriots somehow re-sign Samuel, depth is needed. If not, there will be a huge hole to fill in the secondary.


3.Safety: Rodney Harrison says he's coming back, but he's 35. Eugene Wilson is a free agent and as good as gone. First-round pick Brandon Meriweather played more late in the year, but is still very much unproven. Harrison stayed healthy last fall for the first time in three years, and it's hard to count on the same happening moving forward so depth surrounding budding starter James Sanders could be an issue.


Medical Watch: CB Ellis Hobbs said after the Super Bowl that he would be having surgery soon after the unexpected loss, reportedly to deal with a groin injury he played with late in the year.


FRANCHISE PLAYER: None.

TRANSITION PLAYER: None.

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS


• WR Troy Brown played just one game in his 15th season after starting the year on PUP. He'll likely retire and certainly wouldn't be a candidate to play anywhere but New England if he surprising returns for a 16th year.


• LB Tedy Bruschi says he considers his future every offseason at this point in his 12-year career. He led the team in tackles, but clearly isn't the athlete or playmaker he once was. Had the Patriots won the Super Bowl he'd likely have retired, but there's a good chance he'll return to New England for one more run


• WR Jabar Gaffney developed a nice rapport with Tom Brady since joining the team midway through 2006. He caught a couple key touchdowns in the regular season. His value is probably greater in New England than elsewhere considering he was on the street less than two years ago.


• CB Randall Gay was healthy for the first time in three years, but didn't have a great fourth season. Drew interest from the Jets as a restricted free agent last spring. Unlikely to ever be more than a nickel guy/backup.


• LB Larry Izzo remains a productive special teamer and leader. The 12-year veteran is likely to return.


• S Mel Mitchell played in 10 games and is a core special teams-type guy. He might choose to go elsewhere as New England only has room for so many one-dimensional special teamers.


• DL Rashad Moore spent camp with New England and returned as a backup after injuries hit late in the year. Could be back to compete for a backup role.


• WR Randy Moss is the key to New England's offseason on offense. The resurgent veteran is likely to get the team's franchise tag as by CBA rules he reportedly can't sign an extension with the team before free agency begins. He wants to come back. The Patriots want him back. Something that doesn't break the bank should get done.


• LS Lonie Paxton is one of the more solid deep snappers in the game. He's an eight-year Patriot and fits in well in the locker room. He should be back.


• CB Asante Samuel will be one of the biggest fish in the free-agent waters. He's coming off his first Pro Bowl and All-Pro season, has 16 picks over the last two years and has only missed five games in five seasons. His payday will be, as he says "huge," and that could mean it won't come in New England.


• CB Chad Scott didn't make it through training camp and has been hurt often. He's a solid veteran backup and could be back with the team in the market for corner depth.


• LB Junior Seau was expected to get his first Super Bowl ring and retire. The Giants messed that little story up. He was healthy all year and made plays. If he doesn't retire after his 18th season, the only place he'll be playing is in New England.


• DB Eugene Wilson spent time as a healthy scratch during portions of 2007, a fall from his first couple season in New England when he was an up-and-coming playmaker. He's been hurt too often and hasn't made plays much over the last couple years. He's due a change of scenery and will likely welcome it.

RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS


• DL Mike Wright is a former undrafted free agent who's developed into a nice backup/special teamer in New England. Look for him to earn either a first- or second-round tender from the team, probably enough to keep him with the Patriots as a versatile backup to the team's big-name defensive line.

EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS


• LB Eric Alexander is a decent though injury prone special teamer although he's yet to show anything on defense, other than of course his still inexplicable start in the 2006 AFC title loss in Indianapolis.


• T Wesley Britt is a serviceable backup swing tackle.


• LB Pierre Woods is another solid special teamer who's yet to do much on defense, although he did see some rare playing time New England's Super Bowl XLII loss to New York.

PLAYERS ACQUIRED


• LB T.J. Slaughter: FA; $730,000/1 yr.




http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_yl...pe=team_report

__________________