New England Patriots

BOSTON (WBZ) ― "Time"

That's pretty much how you have to look at the Patriots moves of this past weekend. Only time will tell how they did.

On paper, it was a head-scratcher. How could they receive only a second round pick in exchange for an NFL starting quarterback AND a rock-solid clubhouse leading veteran linebacker?

Just like that Matt Cassel and Mike Vrabel gone.

Let's examine this further and try to find the logic behind the Patriots move.

THE MARKET CHANGED

First, it's obvious the market changed in some ways. Just seven weeks ago ESPN's Tim Graham got this response about what Cassel could bring to the Pats in a trade:

"It would have to be multiple choices and very high choices to get Cassel. Two first-rounders, or a one and a two and a three ... It'll be something very, very expensive."

Who said that? How about then-ESPN analyst and now Patriots Senior Advisor Floyd Reese!!

THE FACTORS

There had to be several factors that led to the declining market.
 
One, the price to sign Cassel, which after being franchised was (to the best of my knowledge in trying to wade through salary cap issues) $14 million for this season. They could also rip that deal up and sign him to a long-term deal. That's a big price tag for a guy who has had one good NFL season.

Meanwhile, Minnesota went out and traded for Sage Rosenfels so they were off the list.

Detroit? Tampa Bay?

Possibly, and there are stories out there that had Denver getting involved by shipping out Jay Cutler.

However, would you want to see a Josh McDaniels/Matt Cassel duo come back and haunt the Pats in a game in Denver next season? I don't think Bill Belichick would either. 

WHY MIKE VRABEL? 

Truly, he will have his place in the Patriots Hall of Fame one day, but it looks like Belichick needed to clear some salary cap space quickly to get his free agency ducks in a row. Will they miss him? Absolutely. How could you not.
 
But, you also have to wonder how much longer Vrabel could contribute to the Pats on a high level and he was going to be a free agent in 2010.
 
WHAT TO EXPECT

So where does this lead to as far as the 2009 Patriots are concerned?

The first thing I think is that the Pats desperately needed to clear salary cap space in order to conduct their team business. It also looks like they didn't have much time to get the space cleared.

So, Belichick took the best offer he could and went with it. Yes, Denver may have gotten involved, but when? And to what degree? Were they serious? Would they have been able to work out something with another team in order to pull off a deal? Would they have taken Mike Vrabel's salary and if not, would the Pats have had to embarrassingly cut Vrabel?

And once the Pats had the salary cap space (some $20 million), they immediately re-signed safety James Sanders to a new deal.

And now they can perhaps sign a big name free agent or several free agents before these players sign elsewhere. Or perhaps they will make a trade for a big-name player out there that would not have been able to make.

Long term, they can try to work out deals for potential 2010 free agents such as Vince Wilfork, Richard Seymour, Logan Mankins, Ellis Hobbs, or Stephen Gostkowski.

STOCKING DRAFT PICKS

The Pats, after getting the second round pick from Kansas City (34th overall), now have 4 picks in the first two rounds. They can either trade up or down on draft day as we've seen Bill do time-and-time again. Or they could take four new players and get younger on defense or on the offensive line.

At least the Patriots are now able to do their business.
 
TOM BRADY

Another story here?

How about the "vote of confidence" that Tom Brady is healthy and should be good to go from here on out? That is huge as we all know.

I look at the 2009 New England Patriots and there are two things that immediately come to mind.

First, the offense with Brady back (and hopefully close to the Brady we know) should be as explosive as ever. Brady, Moss, Welker, Fred Taylor, Faulk, etc....get in line for your Fantasy Football drafts.

THE DEFENSE

Second, I there's no question that the defense has to get better than it was in 2009. The one trademark of all Belichick defenses that we've seen here over three Super Bowl titles is a "bend-but-don't-break" ability.

We didn't see that last year.

I thought the defense was getting better as the season wore on until Adalius Thomas went down for the year. How does the unit get better? In today's NFL?  By getting younger and faster. New England can address that through the draft and free agency and I think they will.

Bottom line? We have seen Bill Belichick say good-bye to Lawyer Milloy, Ty Law, Ted Johnson, Ted Washington, Deion Branch, Drew Bledsoe, Asante Samuel, etc.... Most of the time these things have worked out (Samuel aside). And Bill seemingly knows when to let go.

TIME WILL TELL

So is this a good move? Who knows right now? As with most of these things you just have to breathe and simply give it some time.

Check back in a few days, weeks, or perhaps even opening weekend. And for now, just keep your faith in BB.

What do you think?

Post your comments and read other opinions here.

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