Patriots release Ty Law
 

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=1999808

The New England Patriots released cornerback Ty Law, the team announced Friday.


Law

Law missed the second half of the season with a broken foot.

The move ends a tumultuous relationship for the Super Bowl champions and Law, who quarreled with the team over his contract in training camp.

Law, who turned 31 earlier this month, has played 10 seasons in the NFL, all with the Patriots.

He played in seven games this season, recording one interception.

Too bad. I was hoping the Pats would bring him back. They will need him or some other help in the secondary.

They will definitely wish they had him when they go to Oakland in the Divisional playoffs.

Since when did they start playing divisional round games in neutral stadiums? ;)

I'm pretty sure that San Diego can get a direct flight to Boston. I don't see why they'd need to be met by the Patriots at the airport anyway.

On the main topic, disapointing, but not really suprising. Considering his cap number and the fact that they won the Super Bowl without him, he was gone.

I'm more concerned about the probable loss of Bruschi.

Gay will not be good enough over 16 games.

The Browns saw it this way as well.

Tell that to Jeff Garcia.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

He was pretty good already for 12 games actually.

But I do think the Pats will add at least 2 guys in the secondary, possibly 3. They could use a corner and really need another backup safety.

Steelers released Chad Scott. Maybe they saw this? Just a guess on my part. I thought Scott wasn't BAD, and have no idea what Law wants or if he's healthy enough to play... just speculation on my part.

Scott had horrible contract, not a suprise here. Law would be awful expensive to bring in i would think.

i hope the raiders pick up Ty Law.

Fuck signing Ty Law, i want the cop that chased his ass down.

Giants need him.

it's doubtful Ty Law will still be playing in ten years

They still have Poole don't they? And how would Gay not be good enough over 16 games when he was just fine throughout the playoffs?

I'm betting he'll go to the Eagles.

Panthers released Muhsin?? Is this a contract thing? Because he was very good last season I thought...

Unable to reconcile paying a $10 million roster bonus due next week
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=1999831

I'm not sure about what he's worth personally, but I expect Law will be a pretty hot commodity.

Gay will have a breakout year next year. Just because he's a no name doesnt mean he doesn't have skills.

I'll echo that losing Bruschi would be a disaster.

I seriously doubt this unless he is willing to come in below market value like Trotter did. The Eagles are fairly happy with their trio of young corners.

He did. His two seasons before that were a tad mediocre, however, and he's getting older, so they aren't sure how many more seasons he's got left. I think they want to bring him back, just not at the salary they'd have had to pay him (notably the $10million roster bonus coming up). Negotiations weren't going fast enough.

My thoughts, exactly. My mind was already made up that Law was gone. Bruchi, we never saw coming, and never played extended time without...

FM

As expected (although I thought they might hang onto him a little longer to maybe get a 2nd or 3rd rounder in a trade - I guess they didn't have time with March 2 coming up and probably needing to get below the cap). His cap number was huge and they won the SB without him. Like it was said above, they still have Poole (along with Samuel), who I imagine will start over Gay. But I think Gay is coming along nicely for the future perhaps. Plus, they also have Wilson to possibly move to corner, especially if Gus Scott (drafted last year) is as good as they think he may after going on IR last year. But the key here, is that without him, it frees up a lot of money to spend on others. They still have to sign Seymour, Brady, and Dillon to extensions, and will need some of that money. The rest will go to a couple of solid free agents (probably one a CB). All in all, a good deal for both the Pats and Law -- Law will get his big payday from somebody, and the Pats can restructure and restock without having his big contract.

Still a little sad to see him go. He's one of the dwindling long-timers on the team.

I also pray for Bruschi's health and his return to the team. Losing him will hurt, but the Pats have managed before with big injuries.

I'd love to see Bruschi back, but luckily it looked like Roosevelt Colvin was really coming on during the playoffs. Hopefully that would soften the blow. Outside of that, they definitely need to get younger in the linebacking corps.

Yeah, I am excited about Colving coming on at the end of the season. He could put it together next season. However, Colvin plays on the outside, so not a real replacement for Bruschi. This leaves us only with Ted Johnson in the middle, if Bruschi can't play. Phifer is likely gone, and I think Banta-Cain is an outside LB as well.

Maybe Sam Cowart, who is likely to be released (or was he already) by the Jets?

Law is and has always been a me-first type guy, even though he was one of my favorite Patriots. I don't think they will miss him at all...

Isn't Poole a UFA this season?

Nah, I think Poole is signed for 2 more years. For a little over 3 mill cap number, I think (which may be a little high for him).

Got this off the web regarding their needs:

"1. Cornerback. Law may or may not return. Tyrone Poole has two years left on his deal, but reportedly almost walked away and retired before playing a down in New England. So his future might be in question after he missed most of 2004 with a knee injury. The Patriots need a young shutdown-caliber corner to replace Law and provide depth at a position that depended on an undrafted rookie and a 12th-year wide receiver to stay afloat this season. Amazingly, the Patriots still won the Super Bowl, but Bill Belichick is smart enough to know he can't go back to that well in 2005 and expect similar success. With Law entering the final year of his contract, now is the time to bring in a young, top-level corner.

2. Inside linebacker. Thirty-six-year-old Roman Phifer may retire or be let go. Ted Johnson, 32, and Tedy Bruschi, 31, aren't getting younger. The Patriots need to groom or find a younger replacement to anchor the 3-4 defense and remain strong up the middle. If Bruschi's health status surrounding his recent hospitalization for a mild stroke affects his playing status, this becomes priority No. 1."

The timing of Law's release is curious, though. Unlike what I thought, they didn't need to cut him now to meet the March 2 cap deadline. So, it is a little puzzling.

"The Patriots do not need to create salary cap room to reach cap compliance by March 2 so any decision involving Law and his close to $10 million in new money for 2005 can wait. Law does not have any roster bonuses due until training camp when he is to be paid a $1 million reporting bonus. And if Law is not in the team's plan for 2005, the club will almost certainly play coy about his status while trying to deal him for a draft pick rather than lose him without compensation."

They did it because he played for them for a long time, in respect of his contribution to the team - as opposed to a June release with no FA market.

Why not trade him for a 3rd round pick though? I'm sure someone would at least give a 3rd rounder for him.

I think it comes back to the respect thing again. They wanted to give him the opportunity to be a free agent, rather than getting stuck in some place he doesn't want to be for a season.

No problem. Top flight shut down corners are usually still around at the end of the first round aren't they?

Who are the top 5 CB's for this draft?

I don't know how accurate this list is, but:

1. Antrel Rolle, Miami (Fla)
2. Adam Jones*, West Virginia
3. Carlos Rogers, Auburn
4. Brandon Browner* Oregon State
5. Bryant McFadden, Florida State
6. Justin Miller*, Clemson
7. Marlin Jackson, Michigan
8. Corey Webster, LSU
9. Eric Green, Virginia Tech
10. Fabian Washington*, Nebraska

http://football.about.com/cs/positio...raftcbrank.htm

Anyone here have any thoughts on who is the better CB? Rolle or Jones? I've seen Jones listed No. 1 by a few sources.

right now, at this moment, no I'm not so sure many people would give anything for him, probably not a 3rd round pick...

From this article: Chiefs may have to wait until Law gets on his feet


I was even surprised the Pats were allowed to release him. I thought they had to come to some sort of an injury settlement when a player was injured...

FM

Ty Law requested the release, which may have changed the legality of it.