vheddyrmv8
03-19-2006, 09:41 PM
One week into free agency 2006 and the Patriots remain one of just six NFL teams yet to sign an unrestricted free agent. Maybe even more frustrating to Patriots fans, basically the only things the team has done to date this spring is purge the roster of past mistakes (Duane Starks, Chad Brown and Tyrone Poole) and re-sign lower roster depth players (Bam Childress, Artrell Hawkins, Hank Poteat, Don Davis and Ross Tucker).
Poole finally fell into the former category on Thursday after two literally forgetful seasons in which the 33-year-old played in just six total games. The 11th year veteran joined the Patriots as an unrestricted free agent in 2003 and after pondering retirement in training camp had a strong first season. He started all 16 games, recorded nine interceptions and even earned an All-Pro vote in helping New England to its second Super Bowl title in three years.
But Poole’s dream-like career turnaround of ’03 soon turned to injury-riddled nightmare a year later. The former first-round pick played in just five games in 2004, spending the bulk of the season as a game day inactive with a knee injury before going on injured reserve in December. The following season was even worse, as Poole sprained his ankle in the 2005 season opener against the Raiders, remained inactive through mid-October and was placed on injured reserve on Oct. 27.
Throughout the two injury-shortened seasons there were reported rumblings that the team was unhappy with Poole’s attempts to return to the lineup, although neither the team nor the player really openly addressed any displeasures.
Poole had been scheduled to earn a $500,000 roster bonus this week. The release saves the team about $2 million against the 2006 salary cap.
www.patriots.com
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Well it's untrue they haven't signed an unrestricted free agent, they signed WR Reche Caldwell on friday. But the lack of signing a good free agent after all of the injuries, loosing defensive staple, Mcginest, loosing Givens to the Titans, and appearing as if they're about to loose Adam Vinateri to the Packers, I can't help but wonder what they are thinking? They have a lot of cap room I hear, and with the division attempting to get better, (Miami trading for Culpepper) it's hard to see the Patriots being great contenders again. I suppose it's really early to assume this, but it seems as if the Pats aren't headed in the right direction. Thoughts?
Poole finally fell into the former category on Thursday after two literally forgetful seasons in which the 33-year-old played in just six total games. The 11th year veteran joined the Patriots as an unrestricted free agent in 2003 and after pondering retirement in training camp had a strong first season. He started all 16 games, recorded nine interceptions and even earned an All-Pro vote in helping New England to its second Super Bowl title in three years.
But Poole’s dream-like career turnaround of ’03 soon turned to injury-riddled nightmare a year later. The former first-round pick played in just five games in 2004, spending the bulk of the season as a game day inactive with a knee injury before going on injured reserve in December. The following season was even worse, as Poole sprained his ankle in the 2005 season opener against the Raiders, remained inactive through mid-October and was placed on injured reserve on Oct. 27.
Throughout the two injury-shortened seasons there were reported rumblings that the team was unhappy with Poole’s attempts to return to the lineup, although neither the team nor the player really openly addressed any displeasures.
Poole had been scheduled to earn a $500,000 roster bonus this week. The release saves the team about $2 million against the 2006 salary cap.
www.patriots.com
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Well it's untrue they haven't signed an unrestricted free agent, they signed WR Reche Caldwell on friday. But the lack of signing a good free agent after all of the injuries, loosing defensive staple, Mcginest, loosing Givens to the Titans, and appearing as if they're about to loose Adam Vinateri to the Packers, I can't help but wonder what they are thinking? They have a lot of cap room I hear, and with the division attempting to get better, (Miami trading for Culpepper) it's hard to see the Patriots being great contenders again. I suppose it's really early to assume this, but it seems as if the Pats aren't headed in the right direction. Thoughts?