BY ALASTAIR INGRAM
So Pats fans, Jason Taylor apparently isn't walking through that door. But I can guarantee that, as upset as you may currently feel, it's nothing compared to the disappointment of Bill Belichick. He's been drooling over Taylor's pass rushing ability for his entire tenure here in New England, and why not? I can't think of another player who has either sacked or hit Tom Brady more since 2001. But the light-stepping 34 year old took the hometown discount (1 year, $1.5 million!) to return to Miami, a family and overall lifestyle decision that makes you wonder whether the Pats ever had a chance. So with Taylor dancing his way back to the Sunshine State, what can the Patriots do now to improve a pass rush that avoided opposing quarterbacks like the plague last season? Here's a look at the team's options, but don't get your hopes up...
PATRIOTS LINEBACKING OPTIONS:
1. Julius Peppers
Analysis: Wouldn't count on it. Peppers wants to get paid, plain and simple. The problem is that he also wants to play outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme, which is in direct opposition to his financial aspirations. Peppers has yet to sign the franchise tender in Carolina, which would pay him in the neighborhood of $16 million for one season (not too shabby if you ask me). The one glimmer of hope is that the Patriots are one of four teams to which Peppers would accept a trade, and they are apparently the only AFC squad on that list. However, most teams (including the Pats) have already made the majority of their offseason moves, and as a result have exhausted the majority of their free agent budget. Factor in the draft picks Bill Belichick still has to lock up, and it wouldn't appear that New England has the financial flexibility to give Peppers his big pay day. You'd also have to send draft picks or other compensation to Carolina in exchange for the pass rushing freak, so long story short, it's just not in the cards.
2. Free Agency
Analysis: It didn't start as a very long list at the linebacker position, and needless to say it's gotten shorter as free agency has progressed. Here's a look at some remaining FA options, in descending order of overall appeal (relatively speaking)...
Pisa Tinoisamoa (say that 5 times fast)
- Led the Rams with 135 tackles last year
- Released by St. Louis and new head coach Steve Spagnuolo last week in a bit of a surprise move
- Rams drafted James Laurinitis out of Ohio State, presumably to start day 1
- 6 year veteran, will be 28 by time season starts
- Fantastic name, watch out Gil Santos
Derrick Brooks
- Recorded just 73 tackles last year with the Buccaneers, the only time he's had less than 100 tackles since his rookie year in 1995
- Has definitely lost a step but still provides leadership, and can likely teach young LB's a thing or two
- Might contribute as an extra body to provide depth, and can mentor guys like Woods, Crable, Mayo, Guyton, Redd etc.
- Will be 36 years old when season starts (that's old)
Napoleon Harris
- 32 tackles playing in just 10 gms last year with Vikings
- Former 1st round pick in 2002 out of Northwestern
- Visited with Steelers last week, who are looking to fill the void left by Larry Foote (recently signed with Detroit)
- 7 year veteran, 30 years old
3. Waiver Wire
Analysis: The poster child for this method of acquisition was Ted Washington in 2003, but it's not often you can add that type of impact player through waivers. You never know though, someone could become availible, and the Patriots are still one of the most attractive options for a player who isn't expecting to get paid. That player would have a great chance to win a title, and presumably could compete for immediate playing time on the defensive side.
As Austin Powers once said, "Whoop Di Do, what does it all mean Basil?" Well, what it means is that there likely will not be an impact signing or trade at the linebacker position. In my mind, that creates the possibility that linebacker could be the equivalent of the cornerback position last year. Not that you need a refresher on that one, but the Pats didn't do enough to address the void left by Asante Samuel, and the patchwork job was largely ineffective (re: Deltha O'Neal).
The Pats currently have very little depth inside, with Jerod Mayo and Tedy Bruschi (who reminded us last year that he was drafted in 1996) starting and Gary Guyton as the main back up. 3rd round pick Tyrone McKenzie is out for the year with a torn ACL, and the South Florida product would have been the 4th option at the very least. Outside, Adalius Thomas and Tully Banta-Cain are the only players with any kind of extended NFL experience. The rest of the depth chart includes youth and inexperience in the form of Pierre Woods, Shawn Crable, and Vince Redd. Don't get me wrong, Woods showed promise last year when thrust into a starting role, and Crable could be a nice, athletic option down the road. You just wonder how either will perform if asked to play consistent snaps in high leverage situations. Maybe the Pats will have a disaster in the middle of their defense, maybe they'll be fine. "In Bill We Trust" right? We'll wait and see...
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