| Randolph Charlotin. 14th May, 2009 - 12:56 pm
 Any ideas left?
Entering the offseason, New England had a need at outside linebacker after finishing the season with just 31 sacks. The need looked dire after they traded Mike Vrabel to Kansas City as part of the QB Matt Cassel trade.
One of the best options was signing Jason Taylor after the Washington Redskins released the six-time Pro Bowl defensive end and 2007 Defensive Player of the Year.
Well, the Patriots must wipe that idea off the whiteboard. On Wednesday, Taylor signed a one year deal with the Miami Dolphins. If New England has a plan to fill the void, people on the outside don’t know how.
New England signed free agent Tully Banta-Cain from San Francisco. The former 2003 seventh round draft pick returns to the team that drafted him after two seasons and four sacks with the 49ers.
No one was convinced that he was the answer for the Pats. In time a rumor sprung that the Pats would trade for Carolina DE Julius Peppers. Peppers, an unsigned franchised player, was already on the record saying he wants to play for a 3-4 team. The rumor had legs until it got shot down when New England head coach Bill Belichick explained that an unsigned franchised player can’t be traded.
Maybe New England would use the NFL Draft to select Vrabel’s replacement. There were a handful of potential players that could fit in the Patriots’ 3-4 defense. Many mock drafts pegged USC’s Clay Matthews as a Patriots-type player.
When New England’s chance to address the problem area came up, they traded down three spots. When the Pats’ turn came again, they traded down again, this time out of the first round. The second trade partner, Green Bay, made Matthews a Packer.
Those two moves were a synopsis of the Patriots weekend. For two days, New England repeatedly traded down and ignored the hole at OLB.
So the discussion returned to Taylor, who was released back in March. What was keeping the deal from happening? Belichick highly respects Taylor. Even as an opponent that wrecked New England’s offensive game plans bi-annually as a Miami Dolphin, Belichick had nothing but compliments for Taylor. So why wasn’t the contract done?
One thing we know is if Taylor was to sign with the Patriots, it would be on New England’s terms. N.E. would try to get the accomplished 12-year veteran at a discount because he came off of a down year in Washington.
But the leverage the Patriots had quickly dissolved after Taylor admitted he would be willing to return to Miami. If the money was close, the Dolphins had the advantage. Taylor walked away from $8.5 million in Washington because he wanted to spend time with his family instead of participating in75 percent of the Redskins offseason workouts.
So it’s no surprise that Taylor decided to work close to home to be with wifey and kids. And Taylor only cost the ‘Fins $1.5 million. Belichick can once again admire Taylor’s work, but from the wrong side of the line of scrimmage.
Taylor’s return to Miami puts the Patriots back at square one. Who will start opposite Adalius Thomas? Free agency yielded Banta-Cain, but he doesn’t sound like a legitimate option following a half-sack season with the Niners. The draft came and went without a prospect. Is the answer currently on the roster? Between Pierre Woods (one sack), Vince Redd, Shawn Crable, and Angelo Craig (zero sacks combined), none is proven capable.
If the Patriots are to live up to Super Bowl expectations, they have to improve the defense. Particularly a pass rush that ranked 14th in the NFL needs a boost. But with the draft over and free agency winding down, there are few quality options now.
Maybe there’s trade New England can pull off. I heard Peppers wants to play in a 3-4.
Oh yeah. He can’t be traded right now. Suggestions?
For more by Randolph Charlotin, visit his New England Patriots blog at He can be reached at lordrc@verizon.net.
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