The Official CE&HST Super Bowl Thread

[Dakine10 5,452]

I am going to be very surprised if this loss upsets the Seattle apple cart. Tom Brady will tell you winning a Super Bowl or three isn't that easy. This was one that was a great play away from another loss for him.

Last year the two best teams met in the NFC Championship. This year they met in the Super Bowl.

I am confident that we'll do just fine next year too. Seattle isn't going to fall apart. (Unfortunately neither will New England.)

I didn't say they'll fall apart but it's obviously easier to build a team when you're paying your QB half a million than when your paying him 25 million. Lynch wants a raise too. They cant make mistakes like Harvin going forward. It can go downhill fast too.

Belichik is a different animal. He'll do something out of left field. Watch him cut Vince Wilfork or someone like that. The Patriots stay competitive by not making those big contract mistakes.

[ready4ONE 5,400]

I didn't say they'll fall apart but it's obviously easier to build a team when you're paying your QB half a million than when your paying him 25 million. Lynch wants a raise too. They cant make mistakes like Harvin going forward. It can go downhill fast too.

Belichik is a different animal. He'll do something out of left field. Watch him cut Vince Wilfork or someone like that. The Patriots stay competitive by not making those big contract mistakes.

That is all true. I'm hoping that the Seahawks keep both and can keep managing to pull out great draft picks other teams keep overlooking. That has been the key to the team we have seen the last few years.

Harvin was an expensive mistake. Understandable like the final play call. But Harvin was fun to watch and I will always be comfortable with Wilson passing the ball.

[Pooky 3,784]

I didn't say they'll fall apart but it's obviously easier to build a team when you're paying your QB half a million than when your paying him 25 million. Lynch wants a raise too. They cant make mistakes like Harvin going forward. It can go downhill fast too.

Belichik is a different animal. He'll do something out of left field. Watch him cut Vince Wilfork or someone like that. The Patriots stay competitive by not making those big contract mistakes.

The Patriots are also beneficiaries of a quarterback who negotiates his salary (and is in a position to do so) with a view to leaving space under the salary cap. Tom Brady has consistently taken less than his market value, in order to help build a team that can win.

Russell Wilson is a great quarterback, and, if he is smart, he might do the same, to keep the likes of Marshawn Lynch around, because, regardless of the star quality of the QB, they need a team good enough to win.

[Dakine10 5,452]

The Patriots are also beneficiaries of a quarterback who negotiates his salary (and is in a position to do so) with a view to leaving space under the salary cap. Tom Brady has consistently taken less than his market value, in order to help build a team that can win.

Russell Wilson is a great quarterback, and, if he is smart, he might do the same, to keep the likes of Marshawn Lynch around, because, regardless of the star quality of the QB, they need a team good enough to win.

The last time he restructured it freed up cash, not cap space. The only way it will free up cash space is if he's cut in 2015 or 2016, which at this moment doesn't seem too likely.

I'm not sure if he restructured prior to that. I was only a Patriots fan for a few weeks.

[Pooky 3,784]

The last time he restructured it freed up cash, not cap space. The only way it will free up cash space is if he's cut in 2015 or 2016, which at this moment doesn't seem too likely.

I'm not sure if he restructured prior to that. I was only a Patriots fan for a few weeks.

I thought one factored into the other?

If you don't pay him as much, don't you have more space under the salary cap to pay others? Or does the NFL use accountants to figure out the fuzzy math?

[Dakine10 5,452]

I thought one factored into the other?

If you don't pay him as much, don't you have more space under the salary cap to pay others? Or does the NFL use accountants to figure out the fuzzy math?

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000451534/article/tom-brady-restructures-deal-earns-1m-annual-raise

He restructured in 2014 to free up cash but prior to that he restructured in 2012 to free up cap space. The rules are complex, In 2012 he converted regular salary to a roster bonus to which freed up cap space. This time he gave up guaranteed salary but got paid more each year, which freed up cash to use for signing FA's but not cap space. It also lowered his cap hit if he's cut.

Do you think Brady might be the surprise cut? Bill did kind of set him up there during deflategate. Maybe Brady's the fall guy!

[Pooky 3,784]

Do you think Brady might be the surprise cut? Bill did kind of set him up there during deflategate. Maybe Brady's the fall guy!

I think the outcome of Deflate-Gate will leave a lot of folks, commentators especially, feeling more than a touch embarrassed.

Out of the 12 Patriots balls, 11 were barely under the limit, and certainly within the realms of possibility for atmospheric conditions to do the job. The one exception was the ball the Colts handed to the referees. So, what are the odds that the Colts tampered with that ball, to make a stink?

[Dakine10 5,452]

I think the outcome of Deflate-Gate will leave a lot of folks, commentators especially, feeling more than a touch embarrassed.

Out of the 12 Patriots balls, 11 were barely under the limit, and certainly within the realms of possibility for atmospheric conditions to do the job. The one exception was the ball the Colts handed to the referees. So, what are the odds that the Colts tampered with that ball, to make a stink?

Embarrassed? No. I think they'll just move on to manufacture the next non story du jour.

[Rob L 3,811]

I didn't say they'll fall apart but it's obviously easier to build a team when you're paying your QB half a million than when your paying him 25 million. Lynch wants a raise too. They cant make mistakes like Harvin going forward. It can go downhill fast too.

Seattle is ranked 23rd in payroll for 2015, there is room

[Dakine10 5,452]

Seattle is ranked 23rd in payroll for 2015, there is room

Yeah there's room right now. Twenty three million it looks like. That just about enough to pay for Wilson's raise.

Eventually they will be up against the cap. Probably not this year but likely next. They'll do what everyone else does. Let under performing players and high priced veterans leave and draft and sign new talent. They turned things around by doing what every team tries to do - hit on lower round draft picks and got the most bang for the buck out of free agents. Next step is to do it all over again. Few teams have done that as well as the Patriots.

[Rob L 3,811]

Yeah there's room right now. Twenty three million it looks like. That just about enough to pay for Wilson's raise.

Eventually they will be up against the cap. Probably not this year but likely next. They'll do what everyone else does. Let under performing players and high priced veterans leave and draft and sign new talent. They turned things around by doing what every team tries to do - hit on lower round draft picks and got the most bang for the buck out of free agents. Next step is to do it all over again. Few teams have done that as well as the Patriots.

That Pats will struggle as well, one solution might be to change Gronkowski's compensation package to include literary royalties

[spookyturtle 9,465]

That Pats will struggle as well, one solution might be to change Gronkowski's compensation package to include literary royalties

The Pats have done quite well in the salary cap era and there is no reason to think they won't continue to do so. They have gotten rid of veterans over the years and yet younger players walk. Ask Logan Mankins, Wes Welker, Asante Samuel, Richard Seymour, Ty Law, Lawyer Milloy, etc. They only spend the money where they feel they get value. Some players take the hometown discount to stay on a championship caliber team, others take the money elsewhere and play anywhere. The Patriots like the winner mind set.

[luckytxn 2,264]

Brady is at the very end of his career. What are the Pats gonna do when he retires? He has 4 rings and likely his last and he can call it quits now while on top. Brady knew how lucky he was at the end when that interception came.

The Pats have done quite well in the salary cap era and there is no reason to think they won't continue to do so. They have gotten rid of veterans over the years and yet younger players walk. Ask Logan Mankins, Wes Welker, Asante Samuel, Richard Seymour, Ty Law, Lawyer Milloy, etc. They only spend the money where they feel they get value. Some players take the hometown discount to stay on a championship caliber team, others take the money elsewhere and play anywhere. The Patriots like the winner mind set.

[Teddy B 17,252]

Brady is at the very end of his career. What are the Pats gonna do when he retires? He has 4 rings and likely his last and he can call it quits now while on top. Brady knew how lucky he was at the end when that interception came.

Brady has two more years left on this current contract and he says he wants to play at least 5 more. Whether that's realistic or not, time will tell. I say he gets one more ring before he's done. There's no reason other than injury that they won't be back in the Superbowl again next year.

[spookyturtle 9,465]

Brady is at the very end of his career. What are the Pats gonna do when he retires? He has 4 rings and likely his last and he can call it quits now while on top. Brady knew how lucky he was at the end when that interception came.

How about how lucky Seattle was with Kearse's catch? NE outplayed and out coached Seattle in that game. He is near the end of his career and time will tell if he can still perform at a high level. Brady retiring might not be NE's biggest problem, Belichick will probably leave at the same time.