The New England Patriots have some major decisions to make, as Darrelle Revis is on the market and wants to return as a free agent, but with Brandon Browner unwilling to take a pay cut, he could be released to get Revis in and this comes as the NY jets and Oakland Raiders are looking at Revis as a target in free agency.
According to Pro Football Talk, Browner will not take a pay cut this offseason and this comes as he is set to have a cap number of $4.8 million. Browner was allowed to gauge interest from other teams and now NFL Media is reporting that he will not take a pay cut and that could mean he could be released. Browner had a bonus coming and that will be the deadline for the team. The Patriots want to keep Revis and they may have to do it at the expense of Browner.
Pro Football Talk writes that the team will have a hard time keeping Revis, Browner and McCourty without spending a high amount of money and that could sacrifice depth in other areas. Revis had $12 million due to him on March 9 and the team will tried to work out a new deal with him but it did not work out and that is why his option was declined. Browner is on a $5.5 million salary for next year and $2 million of that will be guaranteed in a roster bonus. McCourty was set to be a free agent and he signed back with the team.
The Patriots have both Shane Vereen and Stevan Ridley hitting the free agent market and there is a chance that they could end up elsewhere in 2015. The team has LeGarrette Blount after picking him up and that could lead the team to give James White more of a role along with Jonas Gray over signing the free agents. Shane Vereen is now signing with the Giants and he is a big loss.
Vereen was looked at as the more likely of the players to return because of how great he fits in with what the Patriots do, but there a chance that he could price out of New England. According to NFL.com, Vereen is looking to get around $5 million per season and that could be too much for the Patriots on their cap. Vereen is coming off of a strong season with 52 catches for 447 yards and he also rushed for a career best 391 yards. Reports have Vereen signing with the Giants.
Ridley is likely to go after falling out of favor with Bill Belichick last season and also dealing with an injury, as he is coming off of ACL surgery. Ridley rushed for a career best 1263 yards in 2012, but he had a down season in 2013 and played in just six games last year before getting injured. Vereen could be a potential target for the Giants, while Ridley likely will end up with a one year deal somewhere after his surgery.
The Patriots won the AFC East with a 12-4 record last season and they ranked ninth in the league in passing yards per game. The team was 18th in rushing yards per game and if they let Ridley and Vereen go, it means that Blount and Jonas Gray will get more action next year. The team also could look at the draft for a running back, as the position has depth with names like Melvin Gordon, Todd Gurley, TJ Yeldon and Ameer Abdullah coming out.
