Sounds like the Pats are going to allow Browner to test the market and not pick up his option. It appears like they're trying to get a restructure going on with him rather than pick up his team option for next year due to the cap hit ramifications.
Given the open market contracts being thrown to CB's, its an awfully tricky situation to be in.
Wow, is the entire Pats secondary in free agency? Good grief. I hope they can keep all of them.
Browner had a team option. But since he ($5.5 mil) and Solder ($7.4 mil) are the only two guys that could be released without taking a cap hit, letting him go at this point is a no-brainer. With that move, the team has about ~$15 million, and Revis is reportedly looking for $48 over 3 years with $40 million guaranteed. I absolutely find this palatable -- and if he'd give up $3-odd millions from this, I don't see why a deal shouldn't be done before tomorrow.
I'm guessing the team will try to restructure Solder so that they can bring back Browner, Connolly, or perhaps Vereen. But I wouldn't be surprised if neither of those guys is back. Their shoes are much easier to fill than Revis'.
Browner is a logical cut. He makes pretty good money, and the pats save a bit by cutting him. Denard is pretty good on the outside; I think the reason Denard didn't play much this year was injury then because he was behind Revis and Browner for the outside and Denard is bad in the slot. But Denard across from Revis as the #2 would work, especially rotating with Butler (if he's for real) with Arrington and Ryan filling in. Browner is OK, and he's tough, but he has some drawbacks. He's actually a year older than Revis. Gets a LOT of penalties. I remember from a Barnwell/Simmons Podcast, Barnwell said: (8/6/14)
"That's the one I'm kind of questionable about, and here's why. Pete Carrol is the greatest defensive backs coach in the NFL. And he's brought in Brandon Browner who was a CFL player and turned him into a pro bowl caliber player. Richard Sherman was a 5th round pick, he became a superstar. Uh when they lost Brandon Browner they didn't skip a beat. Walter Thurman was very good, he went to the Giants and didn't get a lot of money, and Byron Maxwell, really their third string cornerback was phenomenal when he came in and played across from Sherman so to me I wonder how successful those guys are going to be outside of the Seattle scheme and without Pete Carrol around to coach them up."
It's a fair point. Browner was solid, but he did go from playing with Sherman, Thomas, and Chancellor to Revis, McCourty, and a rejuvinated Chung. Considering that there is a salary cap and hard choices must be made, it makes sense to try to save money on your 2nd corner (3rd-4th best defensive back), especially since he's always had success in pretty cushy situations and will be 31 before the season starts.
Topic: Patriots & NFL Free Agency Updates 2015 (Read 65638 times)