Window Shopping posted by Randolph Charlotin
Free agency starts in about three weeks, but teams have been waiting more than a month for the shopping season to commence. I don’t know the complete list of free agents available, though already there are a few high profile names out there. But which of these players fit New England?
Despite the dire need for an OLB that can get to the passer, I’m not interested in Julius Peppers. I’m relatively sure he can make the transition from DE to OLB in a 3-4, but the price will be exorbitant. Nor do I have any interest in soon to be released Joey Porter. He’s too much of a personality to fit into the Patriots Way and is very likely to clash with the no-nonsense Bill Belichick. Belichick still has his head-butting with Adalius Thomas fresh in his mind and Bill wouldn’t want to put himself through that again.
There are two names that caught my eye and they could work very well if they accept the roles assigned to them:
WR Torry Holt – After just one year with Jacksonville, the Jaguars released the eleven-year veteran despite finishing second on the team in receiving yards. Holt isn’t the explosive weapon he used to be, but he can be the third receiver the Pats sorely missed last year.
If the Patriots have trepidation over signing a veteran receiver after last year’s Joey Galloway failure, they should feel a lot better about Holt.
Two things about Holt that makes me feel like he would easily adjust to the Patriots offense. For one, he was a seven-time Pro Bowler as a part of the Greatest Show on Turf offense in St. Louis. That high-flying wide open offense ran by the Rams was complicated. But even as a rookie, Holt played in every game as the Rams won Super Bowl XXXIV. After learning the offense, he exploded for 1,635 yards and six touchdowns. For the next five years, Holt finished with at least 1,300 yards and had three double-digit touchdown seasons. If Torry can excel in that offense, I have no doubt he will pick up New England’s system.
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