Report: Patriots close to acquiring Peppers

[HAPPYJAQ]

Chris Mortensen is reporting on ESPN News that the Patriots are "close" to acquiring DE Julius Peppers for the #34 pick overall, which is the pick acquired from Kansas City in the Matt Cassell trade. The roster moves that Belicheck has been able to pull off over the last few years are nothing short of incredible.

There is no way in hell the Bengals can get a 1st for Chad, if the going rate for one of the 2 or 3 best DE's in the game is only a 2nd rounder.

[Whur CHad At?]

I'll take a second for chad

And we did get a first last year but Papa Bear(TJ's fav) turned it downnnnnnnnn

[HAPPYJAQ]

I'll take a second for chad

And we did get a first last year but Papa Bear(TJ's fav) turned it downnnnnnnnn

Wasn't it one guaranteed 1st round pick and one conditional 2nd that could turn into a 1st, if Chad reached certain performance goals?

I guess hindsight is 20/20, but Helen Keller would've pulled the trigger.

[TecmoFever]

I've been saying this for a while now, but I'll be VERY surprised if the Bengals could get even a 2nd rounder for Chad, especially considering that Holt and Harrison (and possibly Boldin via trade) are available.

When I hear fans on this forum talk about trading Chad and throw it out there as though mid-to-late 1st round compensation is a foregone conclusion, I just have to laugh.

[TJJackson]

Who the heck is Papa Bear?

I know we're not talking about the history of the Chicago organization here.....

[Thurmanation]

Chris Mortensen is reporting on ESPN News that the Patriots are "close" to acquiring DE Julius Peppers for the #34 pick overall, which is the pick acquired from Kansas City in the Matt Cassell trade. The roster moves that Belicheck has been able to pull off over the last few years are nothing short of incredible.

There is no way in hell the Bengals can get a 1st for Chad, if the going rate for one of the 2 or 3 best DE's in the game is only a 2nd rounder.

Not bad in retrospect, id take Peppers for Vrabel and Cassel.

[HairOnFire]

When I hear fans on this forum talk about trading Chad and throw it out there as though mid-to-late 1st round compensation is a foregone conclusion, I just have to laugh.

Right back at ya'.

Because when I hear fans talk about how little Chad could bring in trade return the first question I ask myself is why would any team trade a player under those circumstances. And if you conclude they wouldn't....(wait for it)....immediately ask yourself what changes need to be made before a trade would actually be considered?

First thought? Better trade compensation, right?

As for me, the thing that makes me laugh most often is when fans attempt to hold up other trades as hard proof of what the Bengals will have to settle for. In fact, I still laugh whenever I think of Hoosier's Stripehype rant about how badly the Patriots got raped in the Matt Cassel trade, yet in the very next sentence Hoosier claims that unholy rape dictates Chad's trade value.

Bulls**t.

[Spor_tees]

The one thing I can't understand is how the Patriots can repeatedly sign or trade for some of the highest players in the NFL and yet stay under the cap. They have Brady which is one of the highest paid QB's in the league...Randy Moss, Adelius Thomas, Richard Seymor, Vince Wolfork, Shawn Springs, and all of the O-lineman are getting above average pay. On top of all that, they are going to be able to bring Julius Peppers in with only giving up a draft pick? I just don't get it, especially when you match up the Bengal's roster to theirs and see the desperity at each position...yet the Bengals only have 3 million left under the cap? Something just isn't right.

[HairOnFire]

The one thing I can't understand is how the Patriots can repeatedly sign or trade for some of the highest players in the NFL and yet stay under the cap.

Well for one thing the Cassel/Vrable trade, by some accounts, reduced their cap hit by slightly more than 18 million dollars.

So, does that sound like a rape to anyone?

[Spor_tees]

The one thing I can't understand is how the Patriots can repeatedly sign or trade for some of the highest players in the NFL and yet stay under the cap.

Well for one thing the Cassell/Vrable trade, by some accounts, reduced their cap hit by slightly more than 18 million dollars.

So, does that sound like a rape to anyone?

I think after they put the franchise tag on Cassell they were actually over the cap...thus the reasoning on why so many talking heads believed they were going to trade Cassell eventually. Even without Cassell and Vrabel can anyone come up with a reason why the Pat's can have so many high priced players but still be under the cap?

[Whur CHad At?]

Their players aren't really high priced. Tom Brady is underpaid. Seymore is underpaid. Adalius THomas is the only really high priced FA they signed

[HairOnFire]

I think after they put the franchise tag on Cassell they were actually over the cap...thus the reasoning on why so many talking heads believed they were going to trade Cassell eventually.

Exactly. And as a result one of New Englands greatest incentives for making a trade had absolutely nothing to do with the trade compensation they gained in return. Rather, their primary motivation was getting something/anything in return for Cassel, and they had to do it quickly.

Far from being raped I'd say they made out very well, and anyone who suggests differently is horribly misquided. Furthermore, it's ridiculous to suggest a trade made under those types of circumstances can be used as a measuring stick for Chad's value.