Better Deal For Him

It was no surprise to see Shane Vereen sign with another team. The Pats were not about to pay big money for a running back. They should be able to find one in the draft or among undrafted college players.

The New York Giants overpaid him at 3 years/$12.35 million. They expect him to be a big part of their offense. With the Pats, he averaged five carries per game. Over the last two seasons, he caught 99 balls for 874 yards.

His sidekick Steven Ridley is a man without a team after having season ending knee surgery. It came at the worst possible time and cost him millions in the end.

Revis Can Buy An Island

I never expected the Pats to offer Darrelle Revis a contract that he would agree to. The New York Jets wanted him so badly that they overpaid him with 5 years/$70 million. He will never see all of this money because he will be 35 by the time the contract ends.

There is no doubt that Revis had a big impact on the 2014 season. However, undrafted CB Malcolm Butler was the one who made the biggest play of the season in the Super Bowl win over Seattle.

A player like Revis is a game changer, but not with the Pats at the price he wanted. He will be replaced.

The Most Cash

This is the last moment that the 2014 Pats team will be together, except for a future reunion. It appears that Vince Wilfork, Shane Vereen and Brandon Browner will have new teams this year.

I don't expect the Pats to sign Darrelle Revis. He had a great one year run with them, but the money from other teams is too much to turn down. He has a Super Bowl ring. It's all about accumulating money while he is at his highest value. I don't blame him.

The End For CJ2K

NFL teams will be signing free agents after 4pm today. It's the financial opportunity of a lifetime for many. Former Jets RB Chris Johnson is probably watching his career evaporate before his eyes.

He was released by the Jets after becoming a salary cap casualty. He whined about not being involved enough in the offense.

It looked like he might get an opportunity with another team, but his involvement in a drive-by shooting over the weekend in his hometown of Orlando, FL might put the end to that. He was shot in the shoulder along with another passenger and the driver who was killed.

All of this could make a team reluctant to spend money on a player who might get suspended. The former first round pick in 2008 seems a lifetime away from his brilliant season on 2009 when he rushed for 2,006 yards.

His final line will probably read; 8,628 rushing yards with 51 TD's. He also had 296 receptions for 2,154 yards and nine TD's.

Money King

Peyton Manning holds many NFL passing records. He also has been the highest compensated player in league history. He has always made top dollar.

As he enters his 18th season, he took a $4 million pay cut from the Denver Broncos. He has incentives in his contract to help him recoup the money.

It's easy to see why he wants to keep playing.

Revis Time

I like the way the Pats are pursuing Darrelle Revis. It's very possible he could walk away for a king's ransom from another delusional team that is willing to guarantee too much money to a player.

The Pats are willing to see what Revis can get on the open market . They will either match it or move on. They have a bottom line on his cost.

The Future of Troy

It's looking bad for Troy Polamalu and his future with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He has age, injuries and the salary cap working against him. He has been one of their stalwarts on defense since the team selected him as the 16th overall pick in the 2003 draft.

Polamalu has had an extraordinary tenure with the Steelers, winning two Super Bowls, five All-Pro selections and eight Pro Bowls.

Injuries have cost him 13 games over the last two seasons. His cap number is too high for them, as well as his age. Fans and team officials hope that he opts for retirement rather than releasing him.

He has indicated that he is unsure about his future. Will he join former defensive coordinator Dick Lebeau in Tennessee?

His future remains uncertain.

The End For Vince

It was not a shock to see the Pats release Vince Wilfork after declining to pick up his contract options for 2015 and 2016. His salary cap hit was $8.6 million. It was just too much for the team to swallow for the 11 year veteran.

Vince posted an emotional farewell on his Twitter account. He claims he will play in 2015. Will he come back for less money? He will have the opportunity to test the market to see if he can grab one more big contract.

I expect him to end up on another team, assuming he gets his asking price. He was a great player and leader.

Ray Is Back

It was nice to see Ray Ventrone back with the New England Patriots as an assistant coach. He went undrafted in 2005, but carved out a 9 year career in the NFL as a player on special teams. Always a favorite of Bill Belichick who cut his coaching teeth on special teams.

Ray has great potential as a coach after closing out his playing career with the San Francisco 49er's. I'm sure BB put a lot of thought into this move.

Setting Value

It looks like the Pats will let Devon McCourty and Darrelle Revis test the market in free agency. That has been the team's strategy in the past. They let the player see what his worth is and then decide whether to match or exceed the offer.

If the Pats lose McCourty and Revis, there will be a big pushback from the fans, but the team needs to set a value on each player. They could potentially tie up too much money on just two players.

The Pats won't pay more than what they think a player is worth to them even if it's Revis and McCourty.

His Money Woes

WR Dez Bryant is probably grumbling about having the franchise tag placed on him by the Dallas Cowboys. After negotiating for the last year, Bryant and the team were unable to agree on a long term contract.

Dez will make almost $13 million in guaranteed salary for 2015. He left money on the table by not reaching a deal. I'm sure his contract demands were very high.

I think the Cowboys were reluctant to commit money to a player that has a spotty record off the field. They want to see him free of controversy.

The Big Decision

NFL teams need to use the franchise tag on their respective player by 4pm tomorrow. The Pats, like most teams, are holding their cards close to the vest. Will it be Stephen Gotskowski or Devon McCourty? It makes the most sense for either of them.

Meanwhile, stories are surfacing about players who will be released. Every year there are big names mentioned. Some careers will end. Other players will hit a financial jackpot in free agency.

Plenty of surprises are ahead for players and fans.