Mustard and Johnson Talk NFL Free Agency and the Needs of the Patriots

Mustard and Johnson our number two or -- hero 1 o'clock and it's the shepherd dime is it'll take you through the afternoon. And saucepan. The trilogy will be completed. The staff of four clocks or check out John's sauce CA. And do little soft man style of war -- shepherd -- 1 o'clock your telephone calls and so that's 617. 77979. -- 37. And as we've been talking about for the first hour or so all the free agent. Period began last night at twelve midnight. And players can. Negotiate with her own teams. And resent their own teams and the the real free agency party begins on Tuesday. When they cannot start taking offers from teams around the league and my money is still a fight if I were asked to put money down. On the future of Wes Welker would be into -- I still believe the boot boot the boot that shorten up the sure -- but the the good that would be on Welker remaining with the patriots. Probably for somewhere in that range of eight to nine million. Out with a decent guarantee and Tom Brady and Wes Welker. Perhaps might finish their careers together in May -- For the first time actually was Super Bowl together it's hard to believe this is the but the people forget about it it seems as if Wes Welker has won a Super Bowl championship because he's been in the game twice. And he's been such a dominant wide receiver. We remember he has not won and so part of it you know he wants the big payday. When he's got he's got to a a couple of things he probably hasn't mine on the horizon well that's trying to -- Super Bowl championship that's where -- -- place. -- Ferraro to him a while ago in terms of you know you want to ring do you want the -- you want the money. And -- he said go for the money the lord of Fatima -- ten mil for three years in the twenty million dollar. Guarantee. The other question trial obviously is with this 'cause this is going to be a wild time. What other priorities. For the patriots out there -- do you feel the priorities are obviously. I thought Brandon Lloyd was was OK. Didn't -- -- that didn't stretch the field like I wanted but I thought he was OK and then you find out after the season that he's got a kind of personality problems so. Certainly you must not have been that much of a problem that nobody mentioned -- during the during the season. So. But are you looking for another wide aren't you looking for Mike Wallace. Type. There was but the Steelers. Working the -- he's certainly a burner and you certainly can stretch the field for you. And that's a great point and as I said. As great as Welker has been. Am a first team not just a pro ball player but a first team all pro player a legitimate. Top player at his position. Redefine the position maybe. You if you think about it and I I think before Wes Welker. Maybe to a lesser extent Troy -- he really didn't think about slot receiver -- wide receiver. He certainly put a lot of attention on what that position does a lot of curl routes a lot of intermediate routes a lot of crossing routes. And we know what he does. Com but maybe that isn't the the formula that's going to make the patriots Super Bowl champion. Is Mike Wallace we got it stretches the defense plays the vertical game I'll while Randy Moss but obviously much younger would he be better. -- for the -- well let's evaluated this query why did they lose. The ravens last year in the playoffs. What if you were gonna I think turnovers obviously be a fumble in the interception -- helmet I mean those things are obvious by. -- other areas that you could look at in terms of saying we've got to fix this area better. Well did they pose any threat and I think their. There have been more than a few people -- -- -- justification. Have pointed to the offensive woes. In. The playoffs for the reason the patriots have not won a Super Bowl since 2004. You think about it the two giant games the offense. That nothing to get excited about there last last. Last month or two months ago against the ravens in the AFC championship game which you say that the offense was clicking and -- now. -- -- they had two instances. The fumble. That was a tough hit currently accurately hit and then another instance where ball ricocheted off from my helmet right it was intercepted but. If that's part of the iPad may execute and I think absolutely the fact remains the ball was in the opposite opinions. And they didn't get the job in west while we know I had another Irabu passes I wanted that game -- -- I just below right so you could look at the offense. As the number one reason why the patriots didn't beat the giants. Last year so brilliantly Baltimore -- turbulent their free agency right now and you write in your play in the game right. Aside from for if they try to -- while we don't know about but we did it anyway now open office to different. I I saw defensive team. That played very good football and got better and better and better. As the season wore on yet on the other hand. As much as we want to point the fingers at the offense with a Baltimore if that's what we're doing what we're looking at the Baltimore game. Wants to -- goes down and Jim Caldwell figures it out that we maybe that -- -- -- -- -- forward Anthony yeah. -- should exploit this little situation we got going forests defense played pretty well. I don't know is to leave the magic bullet that keeps that defense playing well throughout the next a couple of seasons if they resigning mama always. But it does right duke did the defense -- batter with him out there. They certainly -- if you're looking at the -- you got to give them that Harrison not just a Baltimore game right. When they've tried the amend any played memory had that interception against mark intricate to the house. Did the defense look better did my -- see you a player who's got to make other players look better. Did -- he looked better. When they signed to lead and they can move according back over the safety right the answer is yeah -- so you're probing into positions. By signing one guy right. But if you look at that again were pointing out one game a patriot loss in the AFC championship to a lesser extent were pointing out the giants game that this second giants' Super Bowl last year. And what happened is in both those games particularly in the second half. The offense stalled for whatever reason. One of the things you can point -- wise. Certainly -- rock was injured at. The wrong time in the Super Bowl last year he was obviously. Not able to make a contribution in the AFC championship this year so that was a factor. But it would be. Just as accurate to say. That because he does not -- as that one for awhile Brady does not have someone he can pass the ball. On down the field so. Is Mike Wallace someone who could solve that problem for the patriots certainly does have the murder ability. But his his production is going down last. Mean when you look at the offensive. Snaps in that game Brady had fifty for a -- 29 completions for 320 odd. And one touchdown to interceptions. No sacks. Him. So when you when you analyze those stats that one that jumps out at you in the and it's the very stat. This day led the league and giveaways takeaways they lived illegally all year and you get into the playoffs and then his dot com from the Bala right. And one of the reasons why. And we know that they play. Some pretty ferocious defense and up the same team as they were several years ago that the ravens. Were able to. Cause turnovers one of the reasons they can play with a reckless abandon particularly in the in in the defensive back field. Where they know there's no one who's gonna give them any real problem is Brandon Lloyd and it going to be your solutions certainly wasn't the first year. And he's all all but gone as far as our liberties concerns and Flacco headed out of you don't like this that it's still there -- eighty quarterback rating at Brady had a 45. That game yeah. One of the things that Flacco and you parlay that into that the best quarterback contract in the best contract period in the history of the National Football League. When you think Flacco what can he do that Brady can't do you know I think thought is what's that what can he do the Brady can't. Well it throws the deep and throw the deep ball he throws the deep right on the network just a little bit for the ravens this absolutely. Astra Peyton Manning right are around and -- developers some ice. Think the yes but I think of the -- -- for priority. I think that. I think they need to see -- when you get cork and healthy Hernandez back that that takes care of that pot. I think -- need an impact player an impact player makes plays. When you're when you need them. Not just going along when somebody makes that sack somebody makes that interception. Somebody makes that turn over. What they have on defense who can do that right now. Probably nobody like I've got a good defense -- not commit to leave as a cover court and I think Chandler Jones he says he needs a weight program. Upper body strength because I sergeant getting million handle it the rookie got me and handled in I think I think he's got the speed in the an instinct. So he's got to be better. I would much I tell you if they can get a guy like Kroger Kroger plate and that's another thing you got to look at. When the lights are shining brightness went -- when you guys are on the field and you need to have. A guy who can step up and really make plays for you. Who do you have who can really do that in I think -- Again he had he had four tackles in the game but. -- didn't have any sacks but he had a lot of pressure and if you watched him in and in the Denver game. He was forced to be reckoned -- He had a big game against amber I thought the entire ravens' defense. Obviously you -- the patriots to know what it's the second half your plate pretty good defense. It seemed like that was a team that was just. Line they were just everywhere it no matter who once you know it's interesting though when you when you go -- it's been a pilot when you look at the stats in his game. Yemeni -- the ravens and zero though right. So -- yet I I noticed pressure and I asked him I. It deathly and an unwritten stat -- to at least if you pressure quite -- that's still important. Ocean acts but the but Brady was under pressure. Of fine people open down the field and he would do with the entire second half of that ball game. And when he did have an opportunity. The throw the ball downfield get a key first down in the third quarter what happened. Wes Welker dropped the ball -- and hang him. One drop these -- a couple of key ones in key gains and obviously games it turned in the patriot losses at the wrong time but. That's a word disgusting Tuesday the -- free agency -- you like coterie don't you go after somewhere that hindsight you're coming right out as saying at a at a time. Ago lot of guys that is three agency listed some of them are very very interesting. Would you like.