Negotiation Rant, Waters, Hernandez, Thoughts on Cuts/Chris Cooley

-I tweeted about this earlier, but I am so fed up with all these insufferable Boston sports writers being like "oh look how the Pats have changed", "the Pats have officially changed their model", "the Pats finally get it." SHUT THE FUCK UP. You literally lose all credibility when you try to bash them and say that they now have a new model. The Herndandez and Gronk extensions were INCREDIBLY different than the Wilfork, Mankins, and Branch situations. For Wilfork and Mankins, they were on their 1st rounder rookie contracts, and already had decent contracts and big singing bonuses. With Branch, he was never a #1 WR but wanted to be paid like one. The Pats put a value on players and will not go above that, and that will not change. Ask Ben Jarvus Green Ellis. Hernandez and Gronk extensions were both WELL below market value for the two most explosive players on their team, and easily top 10 skill position (WR/TE anyway) players in the league. Would you trade Gronk and Hernandez for Larry Fitz, contracts aside? I wouldn't, and they combined are getting paid less than he is. I think that sheds some light on why they did this so early. Additionally, these guys were on 2nd and 4th round rookie contracts, WHICH PAY SHIT. These guys were willing to sacrifice potential earnings on the open market to take a hometown discount, which Wilfork and Mankins DID NOT WANT TO DO. Ugh, I hate stupidity. /Rant over.

-On Brian Waters, he was signed September 4th last year, and made the Pro Bowl. He is DEFINITELY still a candidate to come back at some point late this week, early next week. Dan Koppen has his fingers crossed that he doesn't, because his status seems directly tied to Waters. I would love to see him back, as it slides Connolley inside to Center, and removes any potential weak point on the line (Koppen is done IMO).

-Hernandez sounds like a great dude. Not going to lie, he is my favorite player on the Patriots (I have his rookie year #85 jersey, and he was my boo in the 2010 draft) and this week has only further cemented that. Read this and this and try not to appreciate his maturity and humility. He has come a long way since draft day (when he slid down from a 1st/2nd round round talent to the 4th round for admitting his love of the ganja) and he seems like he gets it. Hes a local guy (from CT) and I couldn't be happier we have him and Gronk locked up for the next 6 years.

-Some thoughts on the cuts: I honestly was not too surprised on any of them. Gaffney was the only one I had on my most recent roster projection, and I was teetering with him being on or off. I think it looks like they are only going with 5WRs this year. Because of this, I can see them keeping 4 TEs on the roster. They want someone to back up Gronk (Fells) and Hernandez. The Hernandez h-back type backup was supposed to be Shiancoe, but his injury status has made him certainly uncertain (see what I did there?) to make this final roster. With the Cooley cut today, I could see the Pats snatching him up and slicing Shiancoe to make room. I really think based on the cuts at WR that they want to fill this spot. They saw what happened in the Super Bowl last year when a key role in your offense cannot be filled, and I think they want to avoid that at all costs this year.