The Patriots are bargain hunting while the rest of the NFL is spending.
In a tweet this week, NFL Media’s Mike Giardi relayed comments from an unnamed agent about the Patriots’ approach during free agency. Much like years past, they’re apparently inquiring about players, but are open about their unwillingness to pay at the top of the market.
“They told us to come back to them if what we wanted wasn't out there,” the agent said.
The Patriots’ inaction matches those words. They’ve only signed nine players through the first four days of free agency, six of whom played for them last year (Devin McCourty, Matthew Slater, James White, Nick Folk, Brian Hoyer and James Ferentz).
After spending a record-setting $175 million in guarantees on free agents last year, few expected the Patriots to be big players again this year. But they have the flexibility to do more. The Patriots are boasting $11.1 million in cap space, and as we’ve seen across the league, could create more by restructuring veterans’ deals.
Instead, the Patriots are standing pat, despite going 2-5 down the stretch and losing to the Bills by more than 30 points in the playoffs.
It seems as if Bill Belichick is operating like Tom Brady is still on his roster. Austerity worked when the greatest of all-time was under center to cover up holes. The quarterback has changed, and so does the philosophy.
