-
Senior Member
Patriots won't miss Meriweather
"I suppose Brandon Meriweather's abrupt dismissal could come as a surprise from the standpoint that you'd think Bill Belichick and Nick Caserio would find a way to get something for a former first-round pick who made the past two Pro Bowls. Even if he was the 73d alternate last year, chosen, I believe, only after Donnie Shell and Kenny Easley bowed out at the last minute.
What should not be a surprise whatsoever is the decision itself to part ways with the habitually reckless Meriweather, a player who should be called a safety only in an attempt at irony. There were attributes to like about him -- he was big and fast and fearless -- and from time to time he would remind you why the Patriots drafted him in the first round in 2007, why the esteemed Rodney Harrison spoke highly of his promise, why the hope that someday he'd have a Pro Bowl berth that was actually legitimate lasted right up until the moment he turned in his playbook.
The past couple of seasons, as it became clear that he didn't have much interest in curbing his freelancing ways or correcting his flaws, I thought you could gauge a Patriots fan's level of knowledge and insight by how they felt about Meriweather. If you mentioned his name and the response was an eye roll or a (possibly vulgar) expression of exasperation, you knew you were talking to a diehard. But if someone's assessment of Meriweather included the Pro Bowl berths somewhere in the first few words, chances are you had encountered a Patriots fan who spent far too many Sunday afternoons pushing a cart at the Pottery Barn.
Who Meriweather was and who he was supposed to be rarely intersected during his four seasons in New England, though he should be noted that he broke Tebucky Jones's unofficial franchise record of intersecting with his own teammates during his often faulty routes to the ball carrier. If he's not the only player in NFL history to be benched twice in a Pro Bowl season, he's on a short list. He was the ultimate, "Yeah, he's has all the tools, but" player, the Laurence Maroney of the defense, a talented space-shot who rarely failed to exasperate. I'll always wonder why the Patriots, who prioritize players who love football, first saw in the likes of Maroney, Meriweather, and Chad Jackson beyond the obvious raw ability. Did they think pure talent, aided by their coaching, would overcome immaturity and other faults? Jackson is the particular mystery given that he never even showed the flashes that Maroney and Meriweather did.
No, Meriweather was not a play maker, as so many of the stories about his departure suggested; he had 12 interceptions in four seasons, forced five fumbles, and never had more than 83 tackles in a season. He could deliver a big hit -- the head-shot on the Ravens' Todd Heap last year is the one that will be remembered long after he's an ex-Bear, ex-Raider, ex-Blue Bomber, or wherever else his journey takes him -- but his often ill-advised attempts at the big play often came at the expense of what he was supposed to be doing.
Comcast SportsNet New England's "Sports Tonight" program mongers panic in certain situations and with certain truck-driving hosts, but the loop of Meriweather's blunders that ran over the chatter Monday night essentially rested the case that he was a significantly flawed and often detrimental player. My colleague Greg Bedard noted that Meriweather made a crucial but often overlooked mistake during the Giants' final drive in Super Bowl XLII, botching the coverage on 3d and 11 that led to a 12-yard gain for Steve Smith. Yeah, that was four years ago. Do you doubt he'd make the exact same mistake in the same circumstances now?
The comparison is obvious, but cutting Meriweather really parallels the decision to cut Lawyer Milloy before the 2003 season only in that they played the same position. The accomplished and beloved Milloy was let go because his production no longer justified his salary. Meriweather was let go because his detrimental lack of discipline was finally determined to be incurable.
The comparison fits better when considering the aftermath of the transaction. In 2003, the Patriots had Rodney Harrison -- a similar and superior player to Milloy -- at one safety. They might have been redundant had they played together, but Milloy's departure nonetheless left an initial void. Antwan Harris Aric Morris started the 31-0 loss to the Bills in the opener and got toasted. The next week, rookie cornerback Eugene Wilson took over the spot and soon took to it like he'd been playing it his whole life.
You have to trust that this is where history may repeat itself, whether it's rookie Ras-I Dowling reprising the Wilson '03 role, or huge Josh Barrett showing us why the Broncos were so ticked when the Patriots claimed him last year, or a major leap of progress from Sergio Brown, or savvy Darren Sharper arriving in Week 2.
You simply have to presume the coaching staff has recognized something in at least one of these guys that we are yet to notice. Not everything is as obvious to both the trained and untrained eye as Brandon Meriweather's flaws."
http://www.boston.com/sports/touchin...riweather.html
-
High Fives / Like - 1 BEAR DOWN!, 0 Dislikes
-
-
-
High Fives / Like - 6 BEAR DOWN!, 0 Dislikes
-
Gotta say that this story lays out the rap on him pretty well. When we picked him up I went to a NE fan site to see what they had to say as well and the comments ran along the same lines as this story. What seems like a good find may be just the opposite.
This is the third former 1st round pick we've signed who has this rap of not being able to succeed or be coached to success with his former team. Frankly this guy worries me because we do depend on a lot of disciplined play in this defense. Good gap control by the lineman and linebackers and defensive backs who know how to play the position in a way that keeps the ball in front of them as much as possible. Does Meriweather have the discipline to play in this defense?
It's hard for me to see Belichick giving up on this guy unless he proved completely uncoachable so why does Lovie think he can do any better? What we absolutely do not need is a big risk taker in this secondary and that sounds to me like exactly what we got. Ask yourself a question. Would the Bears have ever drafted this guy, traded for him or pursued him in FA had he not been cut?
I'm getting to that age where a lifetime warranty just doesn't mean as much to me anymore as an afternoon nap. 
Honey Badger Don't Care. Honey Badger Don't Give a Shit.
-
High Fives / Like - 1 BEAR DOWN!, 0 Dislikes
-
Originally Posted by
soulman 
Gotta say that this story lays out the rap on him pretty well. When we picked him up I went to a NE fan site to see what they had to say as well and the comments ran along the same lines as this story. What seems like a good find may be just the opposite.
This is the third former 1st round pick we've signed who has this rap of not being able to succeed or be coached to success with his former team. Frankly this guy worries me because we do depend on a lot of disciplined play in this defense. Good gap control by the lineman and linebackers and defensive backs who know how to play the position in a way that keeps the ball in front of them as much as possible. Does Meriweather have the discipline to play in this defense?
It's hard for me to see Belichick giving up on this guy unless he proved completely uncoachable so why does Lovie think he can do any better? What we absolutely do not need is a big risk taker in this secondary and that sounds to me like exactly what we got. Ask yourself a question. Would the Bears have ever drafted this guy, traded for him or pursued him in FA had he not been cut?
Valid concerns. But what if the lightbulb goes on ? Steal ? Only time will tell but I doubt the Bears are going to have alot of patience. And being cut had to be a real eye opener for him. If it wasn't, then he's dumber than a box of rocks.
What should you call any : Fumble , Hold , Interception , Three and out , or Sack ?
A " F.H.I.T.S " ? or a J'Marcus ?
-
Seems like they are banking on a change of scenery being a key element to turning him around. It's a dice roll that didn't cost us picks so what the hey, I'm just hoping that he becomes a good rotational player.
Arguing on the internet is like winning the special olympics, even if you win your still messed up.
Restore the roar!
-
Meriweather's pay indicates he'll play
New Bears safety gets substantial raise after Patriots cut him
New Bears safety Brandon Meriweather. (Kim Klement/US Presswire photo)
By Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune reporter 9:48 p.m. CDT, September 8, 2011
Getting cut could be the best thing that ever happened to Brandon Meriweather.
The safety went from expecting to make $1.65 million with the Patriots to banking a cool $3.25 million from the Bears for this season, the only indicator you need to know he will be in the starting lineup sooner rather than later.
Meriweather received a $1 million signing bonus and has a base salary of $2.25 million. It's a little surprising with that kind of pay the team didn't sign him to a two-year contract, which it it did with backup center Chris Spencer, who is making similar money this season. Meriweather is now the highest-paid safety on the team. Chris Harris has a base salary of $1.095 million and received a $500,000 roster bonus.
"It's not just the money, it's the fact Coach Lovie (Smith) called me," Meriweather said about his decision to pick the Bears from what he said was a handful of offers. "When he called me, that let me know he wanted me to be here."
Meriweather met Smith at the NFL combine before the Patriots drafted him 24th overall in 2007. He always remembered their conversation and consistently got positive reports from friends around the league about Smith.
Two things in the NFL form expectations — draft status and contract size, so it's clear the Bears see Meriweather as a potential long-term solution. This isn't viewed as a one-year rental for a player near the end of his career as the Bears did with left tackle Orlando Pace in 2009. Does Meriweather consider it a "prove-it" deal in which he sets himself up for a big contract?
"I don't look at it as I am proving anything," he said. "I just love to play. That's what I am here to do."
Two practices in, he's still just scratching the surface on the terminology and playbook.
"It's going to be a long year," he said. "A lot of people have been in this system a lot longer than me, so they know the calls a lot better. I am just working to catch up."
He's listed as the backup to Major Wright, but for how long?
Copyright © 2011, Chicago Tribune
ct-spt-0908-bears-meriweather-chicago--20110908 
I'm getting to that age where a lifetime warranty just doesn't mean as much to me anymore as an afternoon nap. Honey Badger Don't Care. Honey Badger Don't Give a Shit.
-
Originally Posted by
Blue Horse-shoe Valid concerns. But what if the lightbulb goes on ? Steal ? Only time will tell but I doubt the Bears are going to have alot of patience. And being cut had to be a real eye opener for him. If it wasn't, then he's dumber than a box of rocks.
Read the above and see if you think he was a steal at $3.25 mil for one year!!!! For that kind of $$$ his light bulb better go on and he needs to be a whole lot more coachable than he's been up to this point. This looks an awful lot to me like last years signing of Taylor where we're paying the backup twice what we're paying a 2nd team All-Pro starter.
You know this is not gonna set well with Harris since he's looking for an extension and in my mind certainly deserves one. So what happens to him now that we've drafted two Safeties in the last two drafts and signed a young vet like Meriweather? Do we see another of our leaders sent packing over a contract dispute like we did with Olin?
They're playing hardball with Forte but we can spend over $3 mil on a guy who the Pats gave up on? How often do the Pats ever cut useful players? Meriweather may or may not turn out to be a find but with that price tag he's sure no steal.
I'm getting to that age where a lifetime warranty just doesn't mean as much to me anymore as an afternoon nap. Honey Badger Don't Care. Honey Badger Don't Give a Shit.
-
So He Can Hit But Can He Cover?........
Urlacher on Meriweather: 'He can bring it'
Brian Urlacher looks forward to having Brandon Meriweather on the field. (Getty Photo)
By Vaughn McClure Tribune reporter 10:54 a.m. CDT, September 8, 2011
Last October, Brian Urlacher mentioned Brandon Meriweather’s hit on Todd Heap as the only vicious blow on a weekend full of violent collisions. Now, Urlacher can’t wait for Meriweather to go out and stick someone.
"He’s a good football player,’’ Urlacher said of his new Bears teammate. "Gosh, he’s been to the Pro Bowl the last two seasons. I think he’s going to help us.
"I’m not sure yet about him learning the defense and if it’s going to be a quick process for him or not. But once he gets it down, he’s going to help.’’
Urlacher, however, wasn’t so quick to push Major Wright out the starting lineup. Wright had a few hiccups in exhibition play, including a whiff of a tackle on Brandon Jacobs’ 18-yard touchdown run against the Giants.
Urlacher doesn’t hold that against Wright. And the coaches believe Wright showed flashes of greatness in exhibition play.
"Major played his ass off in the preseason,’’ Urlacher said. "You never know what you have until you get the guy out there, and Major didn’t have a chance to (start) last year. We didn’t really know what we had in Major. But he gained my confidence in the preseason.’’
Urlacher doesn’t know much about Meriweather’s style of play except for his reputation as a big hitter. Meriweather was fined $50,000 for the hit on Baltimore’s Heap.
"I saw that big fine he got last year,’’ Urlacher said, "so I know he can bring it.''
vxmcclure@tribune.com
Twitter@vxmcclure23
Copyright © 2011, Chicago Tribune
chi-urlacher-on-meriweather-i-know-he-can-bring-it-20110908 
I'm getting to that age where a lifetime warranty just doesn't mean as much to me anymore as an afternoon nap. Honey Badger Don't Care. Honey Badger Don't Give a Shit.
-
Senior Member
Not sure where I read that Meriweather's skills are more suited to our style of play vs. what the Patriots run, but this is what I'm counting on!
-
Originally Posted by
soulman Read the above and see if you think he was a steal at $3.25 mil for one year!!!! For that kind of $$$ his light bulb better go on and he needs to be a whole lot more coachable than he's been up to this point. This looks an awful lot to me like last years signing of Taylor where we're paying the backup twice what we're paying a 2nd team All-Pro starter.
You know this is not gonna set well with Harris since he's looking for an extension and in my mind certainly deserves one. So what happens to him now that we've drafted two Safeties in the last two drafts and signed a young vet like Meriweather? Do we see another of our leaders sent packing over a contract dispute like we did with Olin?
They're playing hardball with Forte but we can spend over $3 mil on a guy who the Pats gave up on? How often do the Pats ever cut useful players? Meriweather may or may not turn out to be a find but with that price tag he's sure no steal.
Belicheat has a penchant for making dramatic trades/ cuts ( Seymour, Milloy etc ..) due to the psychological effect it has on his team. Gotta keep that Fear Factor in full swing. And I posted not knowing anything about the contract numbers so ......
Do agree it's gonna upset Harris and maybe a few others, but hungry football players are better football players so if they wanna get paid .....
What should you call any : Fumble , Hold , Interception , Three and out , or Sack ?
A " F.H.I.T.S " ? or a J'Marcus ?
LinkBack URL
About LinkBacks
Reply With Quote
