Are the Patriots Cheap With Cornerbacks?

Is it just me or is the Aqib Talib situation being handled eerily similar to when Asante Samuel was let go. The Patriots seem to find something wrong with every player not named Tom Brady that wants to be paid what they’re worth. When it comes to players like Talib and Samuel and even Ty Law way back when they just simply didn’t want to pay those players even though they were and are known commodities. If they feel they can get close to equal production out of a less experienced player they tend to go that route; which may be showing they don’t value the corner position. Now with the draft coming up in April Patriots fans want draft picks spent on the defensive secondary and, for god sakes, I don’t blame them.

The big question is do you trust the Patriots coaching staff to evaluate talent at that position at this point. Since the departure of Asante Samuel you have seen draft picks for defensive backs go to players like Terrence Wheatley, Jonathan Wilhite, Darius Butler, Ras-I Dowling, Malcolm Williams and Patrick Chung. Since the departure of Asante Samuel you have also seen veteran players like Delta O’Neal and Shawn Springs signed to try to solidify the secondary. All those players were brought in to, in essence, pick up the slack that was created when Samuel was let go. Instead of just paying Samuel the Patriots wasted draft pick after draft pick and signed veteran after veteran wasting more money than Samuel wanted in the first place. The aforementioned list is full of a bunch of jokes.

The good news is the Patriots last two draft picks at that position have been Devin McCourty and Alfonzo Dennard. You can scrutinize them by saying McCourty wasn’t a great corner, but he is a good safety and so I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt. Alfonzo Dennard is a player I really liked this year and I believe that even if it doesn’t work out between the Patriots and Talib, we still have one side of the field that will be covered well.

Talib is a known commodity and they should give it a good effort to keep him and I believe they will. If his work ethic really does lack like some reports have been saying, then I have no problem letting him go as long as they put his money to get a more-than-serviceable corner.

Josh Brown
@TitleTownTalkSB