Stay tuned. We'll know in another hour or so.

Interesting.

The Patriots have cut 4 players this week to clear just enough cap space to cover Merriman's cap charge.

Coincidence?

Patriots' moves spark speculation
Posted by Mike Florio on October 20, 2009 11:58 AM ET
So the New England Patriots have cut four players in less than 24 hours.

The moves have sparked all sorts of speculation.

The release of Tully Banta-Cain, Joey Galloway, Eric Alexander, and Michael Matthews opens up $2.87 million in nonprorated 2009 salary cap space, which in theory allows the Patriots to absorb a player with a full-season base salary of $2.85 million. (Because all players were signed through 2009 only, there's no cap acceleration arising from cutting them.)

Some are speculating that the Patriots are making a play for Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman.

Coincidentally, his full-season base salary for 2009 is $2.972 million.

Another possibility could be Rams running back Steven Jackson (WEEI radio apparently is throwing that one around), but Jackson's full-season base salary if $5.5 million. Also, the Rams reportedly aren't inclined to move him.

Many also are speculating that linebacker Adalius Thomas would be included in any trade, given his surprise scratch on Sunday. His $1.9 million full-season base salary would be offset by bonus acceleration from 2010 and 2011, the final two years of his contract.

Either way, stay tuned.

I was gonna bring up the Thomas thing. First DNP/coaches decision since he was a rookie.

PFT is reporting the Patriots have resigned Banta-Cain.


The roster only was without pass rusher extraordinaire Tully Banta-Cain for 20 hours. Less than a day after releasing the sometime starter in a surprise move, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports than Banta-Cain is back in the fold.

Contract terms are not yet available, and it's still unclear why the Patriots had to release Banta-Cain in the first place.

One irresponsibly speculative theory on my part is that they wanted to sign him to an extension, and couldn't re-work his previous deal because it was signed in February and one year must pass before adjusting a signed contract. (Someone will let me know if this theory is wrong, I'm sure.)

Banta-Cain's contract terms will eventually tell the story, but that's all inside football.

The bigger takeaway is that Banta-Cain will be headed to London this week with the rest of the Patriots. We'll have to wait until the trading deadline to see if he has any surprising new teammates coming with him.

6500.

Fairweather Nervous Nellie breaks insider news.


:rolleyes:

At least he'll have a shot at a ring.

You're a douchebag. How is it insider news if it was on a football news site (PFW)?

It was speculation that was being talked about before the now passed trading deadline.

Long Live Norv Turner!

You still like the guy and blame injuries..... Stick to JV Baseball. ;)

Not this year. He's still on the Chargers.

Make more shit up. Watching you go apeshit on the Chargers board after every loss shows you for the clown you are. Nowhere to be found when they win, wiping your ass with season tickets when they lose.

Try lithium.

Wrong again turd.

Norv Turner sucks. Period. The downfall of the Chargers is easy to stomach because I saw it coming the minuet that fuktard was hired.