Locked On Patriots - Daily Podcast On The New England Patriots - Brady Bids Farewell; Pats Cap Breaks Down Why It Was Not About The Money - 3/17/2020

Episode Date: March 17, 2020

Patriots Nation does not want it to be true. However, it is. Tom Brady will wear a new uniform for the first time in his pro career when the 2020 NFL Season begins. While we await Tom’s next move, host Mike D’Abate welcomes Miguel Benzan (aka PatsCap) to provide details on a deal that should have been able to bring Brady back to New England. The duo also offer their thoughts on the Thuney tag and salary moves that are still to be made. Mike also offers his initial thoughts on Tom’s departure. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Patriots fans, you are now locked in to the Locked On Patriots Podcast. I'm going to show you how to make a beautiful and beautiful flower. I'm going to use a small flower pot. I'm going to use a small pot Hello to all of you Foxborough faithful. It is Tom Tuesday here on the Locked On Patriots podcast. And sadly, it might be the last time that I say that, folks. Day one of the NFL's tampering period on Monday and the recap of the Patriots' actions.

Quite honestly, folks, seem a bit thin and a bit insignificant at this point. The news that we have all dreaded in Patriots Nation for the past 20 years seems to be a reality. Shortly before 9 a.m. Tuesday, March 17th, Tom Brady took to social media and issued the following statement under the heading, Forever a Patriot. Quote, To all of my teammates, coaches, executive and staff, Coach Belichick, RKK and the Kraft family, and the entire organization, I want to say thank you for the past 20 years of my life and the daily commitment to winning and creating a culture built on great values.

I am grateful for all that you have taught me. I have learned from everyone. You all have allowed me to maximize my potential and that is all a player can ever hope for. Everything we have accomplished brings me great joy and the lessons I have learned will carry on with me forever. I couldn't be the man I am today without the relationships you have allowed me to build with you. I have benefited from all you have given me. I cherished every opportunity I had to be a part of our team and I love you all for that. Our team has always set a great standard in pro sports, and I know it will continue to do just that. Although my football journey will take place elsewhere, I appreciate everything that we have achieved, and I'm grateful

for our incredible team accomplishments. I have been privileged to have had the opportunity to know each and every one of you, and to have the memories we've created together. Moments later, Brady issued the following statement under the heading, Love you, Pats Nation. Quote, I wanted to say thank you to all of the incredible Patriots fans and supporters. Massachusetts has been my home for 20 years. It has truly been the happiest two decades I could have envisioned in my life, and I have nothing but love and gratitude for my time in New England. The support has been overwhelming. I wish every player could experience it. My children were born and raised here, and you always embrace this California kid as your own. I love your commitment and your loyalty to your teams, and winning for our city means more than you will ever know.

I can't thank you enough for the support of our team. The pack training camps, the sold-out stadiums, and most importantly, the victory parades. I have been so blessed to share them with you all. I tried to represent us always in the best and most honorable way, and I fought hard with my teammates to help bring victory and triumph even in the most dire situations. You opened your heart to me, and I opened my heart to you, and Patriots Nation will always be a part of me. I don't know what my football future holds, but it's time for me to open a new stage in my life and career. I thank

you from the bottom of my heart, and I will always love you and what we have shared, a lifetime full So, Patriots Nation, now what do we do? How do you replace the most indelible athlete that has graced a football field or any professional sports playing surface in your region for the past 20 years? Quite simply, folks, you don't. Tom Brady is and always will be an indelible part of the fabric of the New England Patriots organization. I will firmly admit that I am surprised and quite frankly, folks, I'm disheartened that it ever got to this point. The contract needs and wants on both sides did not seem to be an insurmountable mountain that they couldn't climb. In the end,

maybe we have to face the facts that a new beginning is exactly what both sides wanted. As the day unfolds here on this St. Patrick's Day Tuesday, I'm sure we'll learn a lot more about these negotiations. Where it all went wrong. Did it ever really have a chance? And ultimately, will finance be the blame? Well, my originally slated guest today, Miguel Benzon, a.k.a. the Pat's Cat, joined me late last night to talk about what a potential deal for Brady and the Patriots might look like.

Of course, at the time, neither of us knew, and quite frankly, neither of us expected the news we received this morning. However, some in our industry and across the landscape may choose to use the excuse that the financial hurdles were simply too great to overcome. I asked Miguel that question and much more last night. And although the breaking news this morning casts a bit of a dark cloud on our discussion last night, I still feel incumbent to play that interview for you in its entirety. Miguel makes some great points about how the Patriots might now have to shed some cap space

in order to afford a new quarterback. That still doesn't sound right, folks, but I have to say it. And also now, why the tagging of Joe Tooney may mean that the prolific offensive lineman is indeed staying in New England. We will cover that and so much more in Miguel and my conversation today. But before I bring you my good friend's wisdom and counsel, I just wanted to say the following. To all of you in Patriots Nation, I know this is a heartbreaking morning. Please try to remember in the grand scheme of things, both sides are moving on by their

own decision. If 2020 has taught us anything, it's that true tragedy does not give you that option in life. You're going to be upset. You're going to be upset. You're going to be angry. The first time you see Tom wearing a new uniform, it is going to leave a bitter taste in your mouth. But folks, take this with a level head. You invest a lot of time, energy, and emotion in your team,

particularly in your fandom of Tom Brady. That does not have to wane. But neither should your commitment to the New England Patriots. Sports fandom and loyalty in your team is bigger than any one man, whether it be Tom Brady, Bill Belichick, Robert Kraft, anyone. For 20 years, this organization has maintained a level of excellence that we may never see again in professional sports. One thing I can tell you from covering this organization is that they never make a move without a plan in place. It may not be the plan we wanted, it may not be the plan we expected. It may not be the plan we expected.

I'll be the first to admit that right up until the last minute, I truly believed Tom was coming back. But the reality is now that he will be moving on. And this team will need the support of the true Patriots fans more than ever. Our fan base is constantly lambasted and ridiculed across the NFL landscape, constantly calling us bandwagoners, fans that don't know the game of football, fans that only care about winning.

When Tom leaves, you want to see the Patriots' bandwagon empty. Let's not give them any more satisfaction than we already have. New England sports fans as a whole are among the most loyal and knowledgeable fans you will find in any region of the country. I've lived here all my life. I say that without reservation. Continue to support Tom Brady, folks. What he's given us for the past 20 years will never be replicated, and our gratitude

will never be enough to show it. But don't stop supporting the New England Patriots. A step back may be necessary to take a step forward. Every organization in sports does it. For the next days and weeks, those that survive on a steady diet of snark and bile will be taking their victory lap. Let them have it. Patriots Nation in the last 20 years has experienced more success and celebration than any of those organizations combined. This is a hard hit for us, but we will rebound. After all, as Zig Ziglar once said, what truly defines us is how well we rise after falling. Show them what you got, Pats Nation. We're still here. And on a personal note, before I hand the microphone over to my good friend Miguel, I want to extend a personal note of thanks to Tom Brady. Having the opportunity to cover the greatest athlete I've ever seen is an

experience I will truly treasure. Almost 20 years ago, this lifelong Patriots fan from Rhode Island watched as a kid from the University of Michigan, just a few years older than me, lead the Patriots to a Super Bowl. It was something I never thought I'd see in my lifetime, and it began a run of excellence that no Patriots fan could have ever dreamed of prior to that moment. Almost four years ago, I got the opportunity to live my dream. I got a chance to cover training camp, games, press conferences, in the presence of the most highly decorated and successful athlete in New England. I've had the opportunity to both write about and witness Super Bowl championships,

MVP runs, and improbable playoff comebacks. I'm truly blessed to do what I do, and my memories of Tom Brady wearing Patriot blue on the field performing heroic after heroic feat is something I'll always remember fondly. But my lasting impression of Brady won't be for what he did on the field. It's the way he conducted himself off of it. Always showing class, humility, and concern for everyone around him. Putting aside the ridiculous accusation that briefly besmirched his name, Tom Brady is an example of an athlete that you want to be on and off the field. Whatever your next step may be, Tom, I wish you nothing but the best.

You've earned that love. You've earned that respect. And a grateful Patriots nation will forever be in your debt. Patriots fans, when we need the definitive word on any and all things Patriots salary cap, we seek the wisdom and counsel of the best there is. And my guest today is the most knowledgeable source when it comes to anything and everything that relates to the Patriots salary cap situation. He is one of the best followers on Twitter that you can find anywhere, and he is a dear friend of mine. You know him as the Pats cap.

He's been here several times gracing the presence of Locked On Patriots with his wisdom. Miguel Benzon joins me today. Miguel, welcome back to Locked On Patriots, and thank you so much for joining me today. It's always a pleasure. I always have to say this when I could join. You're my favorite On Patriots, and thank you so much for joining me today. It's always a pleasure. I always have to say this when I could join. You're my favorite daily Patriots podcast. I listen to you all the time. I just said it on before we started this show.

I thought the guest last week nailed it. I love Tanya. I love Steve and that guy from Locked On Auburn. He did a good job of giving us hope about Jared Stidham, but I still hope that Jared Stidham is a backup. We'll talk about Tom Brady next pretty soon in this podcast. Absolutely. You know we're bringing you on to talk some, Tom.

And Miguel, laugh or anything, but we do. We record these podcasts. We do our best to keep them as up-to-date as we possibly can, but there is a chance that when where people are listening to this they may already know the fate of tom brady it's possible they don't we might still be in a holding pattern like we are right now but it is possible that that fate will be known but folks today miguel is going to give us all of the information that we need when it comes to patriot salary cap to the best of his ability. And let me tell you, that ability is the best there is.

Whenever I have any questions regarding the Patriots salary cap, their financial situation, Miguel is the first source that I go to. And quite frankly, folks, he's the only one I need. So let's get down to it, my friend. On Monday, the Patriots franchised Joe Tooney. And that was to the surprise of many people, including myself. I believe that Joe was probably not going to be sticking around. Absolutely. And there's still a chance that the Patriots, again, at the time we're recording this, there's still a chance that the

Patriots may try to work out a long-term deal with Tooney. They may look to tag and trade him, which is what my assessment was when I first heard about it, well, they might just keep him on the roster under that franchise tag. Now, Miguel, this significantly cut into the Patriots' salary cap, or at least their present salary cap space going forward in the 2020 season. When you look at this, what was your first reaction to Tooney's being tagged with the franchise tag, other than just sheer surprise. And is there a scenario? I was very much surprised. Yeah, absolutely.

But is there a scenario where he may end up returning to the New England Patriots? Could this work? I guess the best way to ask this question, my friend, is, is there any way that financially this could work to bring back Tooney for 2020? Okay. So I didn't think it was going to happen. I didn't think it was going to get tagged. But here's, Mike, you're asking me if this – and some guy asked me on Twitter about the grievances about the Patriots.

So imagine this. So you asked me if they can keep them. Let's imagine this scenario. And folks, I always like to go on podcasts and leave a little excuse. It's exclusive only so you only hear it. I'm not going to tweet about it. You're only going to hear it

and know about it if you listen to the podcast. And this is the scenario. Alright? Imagine this. You carry Tooney's number, $14.671 million, whatever the number is. I forget. I'm off the top of my head. Win Antonio Brown's grievance in May, all right?

So you get a credit on the cap. Then you lower, and then you have a deadline of July 15th to lower Joe Tooney's number. But when you do that, when you lower Joe Tooney's number with a deal, that gives you the cap space to operate for the rest of the league year because in September, there's all these things, rules that increase your cap that you need to cover for, like players 52, 53, 53 practice squad paying for injury

injury settlements and stuff like that that's my that's a scenario that could happen but i thought i'm when i first heard the deal first thing that came out of mind they're trying to get a second round pick in 2020 to get you know saying and then like when joe banner was, you know what I'm saying? And then, like, when Joe Banner was saying, you know, talking about the tweeting but not saying there's a trade coming, but he wasn't giving a name. So I'm like, it's Joe Tuning. It's Joe Tuning. That's what I kept on thinking.

And then it was – it was the Buckner deal or the Amster deal, the Colts deal, right? That's what I was thinking. I still think – I still think it's going to be a trade. He's going to tag and trade him. We just don't know when. I still think it's going to be a trade. He's going to tag and trade him. We just don't know when. I just think that's going to happen. I was dead wrong about being him tags, and, folks,

I'll probably be dead wrong about this too. That's the best thing about it. You know what I'm saying? But I don't mind being wrong because, literally, it's – I'm not a hot take kind of guy, but I was like, if I give my – I think I have logic behind it, so if I'm wrong, hot take kind of guy, but I think I have logic behind it. So if I'm wrong, it is wrong. But I have good logic behind it.

I'm not saying this just because to get clicks or anything. I'm just saying because I think that's going to happen. That's what I first thought. I think when we talked about Tooney in the past, the first word that came out of my mind was gone. Because I still think that he's – I think when he still – man, I still think he could become the highest paid guard in the league. All right?

Let's see. I mean, like I guess the people are making a big deal of what the Patriots said. They tagged him to reach a long-term deal with him. see. I mean, I guess people are making a big deal of what the Patriots said. They tagged him to reach a long-term deal with him. Well, folks, that's just language they have to say. Because in the franchise tag, they're not supposed to tag a player, supposedly,

then trade him. So I don't give the Patriots any credit for saying that flowery language. They give them all those nice compliments and throw bouquets at them. That's still what they have to say. i wasn't giving the pages any credit for that no that is such a good point and i'm glad that you said that it is language that is typical when a player is tagged of course that's what you're going to say we want to tag this player with the intention of working out a long-term deal i agree with you my assessment was that they're going to

trade him and there's a number of reasons why. First of all, I think there's a great deal of value for Joe Tooney out there on the open market. I think the Patriots realized that they could get more than simply letting him walk away in free agency and picking up the third-round tender on him. You mentioned the second-round pick, or bringing back an NFL-caliber-ready talent

that they can put on this roster. If you're trying to entice a certain quarterback to come back, what better way to do it than get NFL caliber ready talent on the offensive side of the ball, particularly at the skill position and plug that player in. Now, a lot has to be worked out in those parameters and a lot's going to depend on how a player that they're bringing back in would fit under the salary cap.

But I believe that you are definitely the person to ask about that. And I will ask you about that in just a minute. However, we're going to move on from Tooney for just a second. And with your salary cap wisdom, Miguel, you approximate that the Patriots have, according to your latest number, I believe it was just over $5 million in cap space available. That's taking under account. Yeah, 5.4.

5.4, exactly. Thank you. That's taking under account all of the moves that we know of where we have substantial contract information of the moves they made over the weekend. In addition to the Joe Tooney tag, which I'm so glad that you were able to set the record straight for myself and a lot of people, and that that hits right away when it's a tender, the way they placed the franchise tag on Joe Tooney today. So in order to clear some... No, it's true. It really is. So I can't believe I had to clarify that for three different beat writers.

You're saying, I literally, sometimes I feel, not to jump in, but like literally sometimes I feel like I'm a crutch for the Patriots beat writers, right? Because I don't think they're not doing, like literally to have three of them and get that wrong when it's in the CBA. Come on. I mean, like literally, that's not that hard. I mean, I know those guys gotta do a lot they gotta know

the be a beat writer going to go into the scouts for the draft they gotta do that and scout for a free agency but it was in the CBA

and I and all and and Evan and Doug follow me on Twitter I put down I lost the cap space

why would you say then say to your followers it only counts against the cap when you sign it? That was just like, whoa, man. I love Evan, but I'm like, come on. I'll give credit to Evan.

I thought it was classy of him to say I'm good catch by Miguel. But that was funny i i could not believe it three three of them today i'm like oh my god no no and i know and believe me and the one thing that i know we all agree upon is thank god for you know your wisdom and thank god for you catching these things because folks again the reason why miguel is so knowledgeable and what he does is he lives and breathes the cap and he's the most knowledgeable person out there when it comes to that so if it comes from miguel you can take it to the bank and i say that with every bit of

confidence and that's why you're the perfect person to ask this question too because if the patriots want to explore free agency independent of whether tom comes back or not. They're going to need more than $5.4 million worth of cap space to do it. So in your estimation, we look at Stephon Gilmore's contract and we see that that looks primed for an extension. Dante Hightower is probably a candidate for an extension. And then you've got contracts that we've discussed here on Locked On Patriots before, like Marcus Cannon and some of the others that might be expendable contracts. In your opinion, when you look at this now, now knowing that the Patriots have placed the franchise tag on Joe Tooney, where do they look to create additional cap space in order to help them in free agency? Okay.

For example, let's go with Stephon Gilbert because he's the biggest money. All right? Right. Right now, he's got a cap hit about $18.6 million, $6, $7 million. He's going to know what I mean? So that's going from a deal that covers five years of the contract, from 2020 to 2024, all right? That pays him around $15 million and lower his cap number by $4 million. Okay? So imagine that. You could do that, keep him around for the next five years, and then you could do that.

And then other plays you can look at, you can high tower you could probably get two to three million dollars with him i would if you needed some other things i would i'm like i started doing this before this podcast and i started cutting players on my on my scenario spreadsheet i'm so i'm sorry so if i got i had i didn't put the numbers in for toonies, for Gilmore, but I could do this while we're speaking. Like I've cut Marcus Cannon. I cut Daron Harmon. I cut Rex Burkhead. I went up to Mohamed Sanu and I lowered his cash from $6.5 million to $4.5 million.

And I said – and I would give them the opportunity to earn the $2 million back via incentives, all right? I haven't, but I haven't plugged it in my spreadsheet. So, and I got, I did all that, and I got to $22 million, all right, in cap space. And then add another four, that's 26, all right? And I, and we haven't heard, we're still

hours away from the start of free agency so I haven't heard anything about what the what the adjustments is for the Patriots right and I'm saying we could finally get a credit for Aaron and enders so it could make it my increase my capital by another three million dollars all right so I've done that all right so then I got this going on right and i tell you folks we could then i could sign we'll talk about this later but we could talk i could sign tom brady to a deal right now and around four and have his cap number around 14 million dollars and i'll and i will we can explain that later but literally, so I can give him $24 million

right now in cash in 2020 and his cap number would be right around a little less than $14 million I'm carrying on my books $13.5 million, so the net effect of having Tom Brady signed

would be close to zero because the choice for the Patriots, and I guess this is a good time to jump into Brady discussion, right? The choice for the Patriots right now is no matter what's going to happen, do you want to count the $13.5 million in dead money in 2020 or do you want to count it in 2022? All right? All right.

In 2022, everybody keeps on saying with this extended CBA, the CBAs will go up. Well, $13.5 million now in 2022 is a lot smaller percentage. So if you do it, defer that cap, that dead money hit allows you to continue this dynasty. And you have him on the team. So let's just say you got him for the next two years. He gives you a chance in the next two years to win the seventh one.

And then in 2022, boom, you take the dead money hit. And folks, because you do this, and you probably leave the team, he leaves the team on good terms, he could do us a favor and retire on June 2nd, 2022. And then you have a dead money hit in 2022 and some dead money in 2023, minimizing the hits. So I literally have that in front of me.

Hold on a minute. So this is what I would do to get the taco. I would literally pay him around a big, small, lower his cap number to his lowest salary, so the minimum for a guy his age with his number of credit seasons, excuse me, which is like one point, a little over a million dollars. All right? And then I get to, I give him a bonus, about $20 million, all right? And then I give him, I would want him to do the same thing.

They had him a million dollars, 46,000, he gets $24 million in cash. His cap number's around the same as it is I would have. I've been saying this all along, Mike, is they could do the deal. They're going to take it no matter what. You know you're going to take a dead minute hit. When do you want to take it? When do you want to take it? That's the question for the Patriots.

Is he where, for example, right in front of me I'm paying him $24.55 million in 2020, and his cap hit is 13.3 million dollars because i'm giving his a bonus the signing bonus i'm prorating over five years i'm going but so you'll say whoa miguel i'm having a 13 what that means is 13 and a half million dollars hit in 2022 so i'm asking you know so, but I'm saying that the present value, pushing that hit is worth it for the Patriots. It gives you two years to win the number seven, and then you transition off of him.

And if he does play, and let's say he does play well, if he wants to play in 2022, you already have him signed. Absolutely. Absolutely. and you know what the one thing that i love about this is it puts to rest the rumors or the innuendo that this cannot be done and i hear that a lot i still hear that to this day and you know what regardless of where tom signs whether he's already signed somewhere by the time people are listening to this podcast or whether we're still waiting on his decision, you're going to hear that argument. Oh, it just couldn't be done. The Patriots just couldn't do it. Obviously, you laid out a scenario, a crystal clear scenario that allows for the Patriots to be able to sign him to a value that's not an insult to Tom I mean let's face it we heard rumors last week that the

Patriots were only willing to offer the one year at the 13 to 15 million I think at the time that was more of a product of the original CBA than anything else if that even is the case I mean we don't know we don't have definitive uh you know proof that that was indeed the uh the offer I know some reputable sources have said that and I'm and I'm not gonna you know i'm not impugning anyone by any stretch but there's a lot that's being said about what happened yeah but i would have asked them i heard that report why was it a one-year report one-year deal why would it be a one-year deal when you have his why would you do offer him now the deal and say it's one year why would you want the third the the to have the dead money all of his dead money all of his signing operation hit in 2020 why would you want that that's not the

smart way to build a team so i had a hard time i heard that story i didn't comment on twitter because i didn't believe it because it just doesn't make any sense to me that the Patriots would go up and insult the intelligence of their greatest player. If I know, all Joe Phan knows what's going to happen with the $13.5 million. Don Yee knows that. Tom Brady knows that. Tom, anybody who works, knows about the, follows a little bit of the salary cap, know what's going to happen if his deal voids. All right? knows about the falls a little bit of salary cap know what's going to happen if his deal voids all right and he knows what's going to happen because the reason they have this voiding thing is to force the patrons to make a decision all right right like so it was i couldn't believe

that off i didn't believe the offer if if the radio host had told me like we were out drinking all right with that radio host who put that story i would have said who why didn't you ask about why it was one year thing like so they just you know that's where i have a problem with reporting that that reporting that story because that led that should have been a follow-up question you know and so i'm like banging on the on the desk because i'm like so passionate about this but like that's would have been my first follow-up question. So I didn't believe it. I don't believe it at all.

No offense to that radio host because the guy, you know what I'm saying. But I didn't believe it at all. I mean, I'm not saying he's wrong, but I'm just saying I couldn't believe. It doesn't make any sense to me. I believe in logic, and I don't believe the Patriots would go out of their way to insult Tom Brady. I mean, I could see that. Oh, I just didn't believe it. Sorry. I'm just going off. No, no, no, no. You're not going off. And I'm glad that you educated this because on Monday's episode of Lockdown Patriots, I repeated what that story was. And I thought to myself

saying, well, maybe there was a little something to that. Maybe at that point, Bill was saying, well, until the CBA comes out, Tom, I mean, we're looking at a similar deal to what we gave you last year. When we know more, then we can have a more in-depth conversation. And to me, that was my interpretation. But for you to come out and say what you said about the one year and how that is not really accurate, whether you're dealing with the previous cba or the current cba that's an eye-opener and i'm glad that you brought that to our attention myself sometimes we get lost in the details of what the contract should be or what it is between tom and

bill and really i think it becomes more about the narrative than the logistics i'm glad you bring it back to the numbers my friend because that's where the power, I think, in both sides really lies here. It's in the numbers. It's not only should it be done, but can it be done. You outlined scenarios where it can and should be done, in my opinion. Yeah, like the first thing you heard, like after this report, I was like, oh, the CBA extended after. Oh, that means Brady could get the –

the only thing that really mattered about the CBA and Brady was 30% rule was not in place. That was the only thing. People kept on saying that the voided years was still up. That isn't true, folks, because the voided – you still could have had voided years as long as the voided year wasn't in 2020. All right? Right. So, and the reason that Drew Brees and Tom Brady

have voided years in their contracts is not to make it easy to prorate the signing bonus. It's to make the team come to a decision on what the future was.

Because there's other ways for the teams to structure the signing bonus. It was just the, if you wanted to make a decision, right, and you wanted to make a decision, if they're going forward, the voided thing was the way to structure the signing boards. It was just, if you wanted to make a decision, right, and you wanted to make a decision, if they're going forward, the forwarded thing

was the way to do it. And people just, people, oh my god, I was just like, oh, I was like, please stop it, stop it. I mean, it was just, it was just so annoying because I really cannot wait for March 18th.

I mean, like, if he, I still say he's going to sign with the Patriots on March 18th. But that's when my luck is going to be like at 4 o'clock. Maybe it's going to probably be while I'm working. And then people will be saying, what a number. Yeah, he's going to have to. Yeah, by Wednesday at 3.59 p.m., it's going to have to happen. And at that point, it really would be the most typical Brady and the Patriots thing to announce that right at 3.59 on Wednesday.

I, for one, would absolutely laugh hysterically if that was indeed the case. And really, I think we'd get an April Fool's joke a couple of weeks early, I think would be dynamic, which would really, really be great. Miguel, one more question before I let you go today, my friend. In the event that we do see Tom Brady come back to New England, because you know the both of us, we're all about positivity, my man. We've been beating the drum that he's coming back right from the get-go. So let's get one more positive vibe in there, hopefully.

If Tom Brady is indeed back for 2020 and the Patriots sign him to a similar deal to what you outlined, what does that mean for bringing in another quote-unquote weapon? And I hate that word. I'd rather use the word player, but people love to use that word weapon. Somebody that is a little bit more of a dynamic player than just a run of the two of a run of the two or run of the mill, a wide receiver, a W a WR two or a WR three. You want a guy that's capable of being a one or a tight end. And I will say that too. Yeah. I don't know if there's any available left.

Absolutely. I know after today, it's, it's a really slim pickings, but at this point, if you do bring in guys, if you do bring in one person to try to help out Brady on the offensive side of the ball, are they better off trying to sign someone in free agency or were they

much better off trying to go the trade route in order to work within the parameters of the cap? Always better to do it for trade. Always better for the trade because you have established numbers to work off. All right? With the problem with free agency, you don't know how many people are bidding for them. It's always good to do it for a trade

and then you work off the numbers. The trade thing also helps is that A, you know the player wants to come there. You've got to be more willing to lower his number, work out a deal with the Patriots. With free agency, if it's a second contract, folks,

he might be wanting the most money. If I was a player and I was coming off my rookie deal and I was just my second contract, I'd want the most money. All right. It's possible. So I would definitely say trade. That's why I think – so like we talked about trading Joe Tooney for a second-round pick.

We'll circle back to it. It could be a – the other thing we could we talked about trading Joe Tooney for a second-round pick. We'll circle back to it. It could be – the other thing we could do is maybe they trade Tooney for a player. And then all you – so imagine you trade Tooney for a player. Then all you're doing is trading – there's hardly any players with Joe Tooney's cap number of $14.7 million dollars so you would crank so you increase that you would lower the Patriots increase the Patriots cap space number because the new play would have a lower cash for 2020 then Joe tuning okay before we end can I just get a couple things off my chest like I like absolutely okay so let's set the record i like to come on like i always like to have a setting the record straight thing let's say say one let's say i like i said before like i said before joe tuning's tag number

counts as soon as they made it it's not when he's not when he signs it that's just wrong folks all right the other thing is out there is that for some reason people keep on thinking that Marcus Cannon can't be cut this year before June 2nd because his dead money is too large. That's incorrect, folks. If they cut Marcus Cannon, they would create over $5 million in cap space. They would have a relatively large amount of dead money, what, $3.7 million, but still, since this cap number is over nine, they still would create cap space. All right? The other thing I'll say is that – now, those two things I wanted to set the record straight. The other thing I'm saying is I'm still – my cap number right now is still – we're still waiting for one piece of information.

All right? we're still waiting for one piece information all right i'm projecting that they're going to have a negative adjustment around two hundred thousand dollars but we're still waiting for that to become official i'm hoping that aaron hernandez money hits it so i would here's i don't like being wrong but here i would love to be wrong and aaron hernandez credit we get a page just get a credit for that all right now, now it's just the $3 million. That's like a middle, mid-tier player. All right? And the other thing I want to clear up is people say, wow, a lot of cap spaces. What happened to all the cap space?

Well, that's because the Patriots actually did their transactions in an odd faction. They're signing people, and they haven't cut anyone yet. I am confident they're cutting a couple of players before or low on cap numbers before the start of free agency on Wednesday. On Wednesday. Yeah, I just think it's weird. Like if, for example, they've done it in reverse order, then the Patriots have a ton of cap space. Right? reversed order, then the Patriots, oh, the Patriots have a ton of cap space. Usually they don't do all the signs. It's usually like a mismatch. One offsets the other. You've got a signing

and you've got a cut and they kind of offset each other. Now it's just all these signings and all these tags that come all at once. So that's kind of weird in that sense. Somebody had asked me on Twitter but why does other teams have so much cap space than the Patriots it's price and winning folks plus you know

they don't the team typically does not carry over a lot of cap space the Browns like I said on carried over 30 million dollars in cap space the Patriots are carryover since since they've been able, teams have been able to carry over cap space. The Patriots are down like $34 million. Some teams have carried over $200 million. I'm like, and that's what

prices, that's the price of winning. They have, I haven't done it because there's so many transactions, right? But every year the Patriots have the most players with a $1 million cap hit. The most players with a $2 million cap hit. And probably this year they have the most players with a $3 million cap hit.

That's what they believe in a strong middle class. That's why the Patriots have very little. You can say, I'll say right now they have very little cap space they have the capability of creating more cap space I don't in this narrative that somehow they're doing all these deals and then it can't afford Tom Brady that's just it cracks me up because it's come from the same people who've been telling me for years past that the cap is crap now you're telling me that now we can't afford the greatest play in the Patriots' history because of the cap. That's just, you know what I'm saying?

You guys, be consistent on this. I know you guys, the only thing that's consistent is their heart takings. Their heart takings. And you know what? Unfortunately, buddy, in our business, it just continues. And it seems like the cycle just keeps going on and on. The one thing that I can tell you, folks, is if you are listening to this podcast and we do know Tom's fate, whether he is returning to New England, whether he has chosen to go elsewhere or whether we still don't know what he's going to do yet.

The one thing that listening to today's show can tell you definitively, folks, is that it can be done. So don't let anything fool you in terms of saying, well, it just logistically couldn't be done. Miguel has laid out again a very clear scenario that could bring Tom Brady back to New England and if for any reason he's chosen to move on, it's not because

the cap prevented them from being able to do it or the salary restraints prevented them from being able to do it or the salary restraints prevented them from being able to do it. And Miguel, I thank you humbly for coming on the show today, lending your wisdom and counsel, taking time out of your insanely busy schedule to join me here on locked on Patriots.

I know work is setting the absolutely. And for setting the record straight on so much and giving our listeners so much to digest and think about when it comes to Tooney, Gilmore, Cannon, Hightower, Brady. You've done it all. You've done it with class. Thank you. Always do.

Thank you so much, my friend. Again, at Patscap, he is the best Twitter follow when it comes to anything related to Patriots financial information. Not only that, he's a great guy. He's a great friend of mine. I value our friendship, my friend, and I can't thank you enough for coming on Locked On Patriots

whenever there's a situation where we need to hear the right information, you always provide it. And again, I can't thank you enough for coming on today, bud. I love coming on this show. I really do. I mean, I think you got – I love listening to you, Mike. You got a great Twitter feed. And the people who love – I mean, it's great.

The people who are like Claire and Sarah, people just love you. And Murph and all those guys. I just love being part of your community. It people just love you. And I'm like, and Murph and all those guys. I just, I just, I love being part of your community. It's just, it's just an honor. It's just so much fun for me. Well, thank you, my friend. The honor is all I'm humbled by the company. I keep. Yeah. I just want to say to everyone, just be safe.

And just be safe out there, folks. If I can just help you distract from what's going on in the real world, that's what I'm just doing. I feel kind of weird. I was telling Mike before the show, a couple days, sometimes I feel guilty about tweeting stuff out about the salary cap because this is just compared to real life, this is nothing. All right? But if I can just help you, distract you, something like that,

I'm just glad I can do it. I personally think, I'm saying this on Monday night, I think Brady's coming back. We'll find out if I'm wrong or not pretty soon. But it is what it is. Absolutely, my friend. From your lips to the ears of God. And hopefully, hopefully brady has not finished his career in new england just yet again yeah i don't know where he's going with it yeah

no i mean i just kind of cracks me up because i go out when i go on i wear a lot of pagers again people ask me all the time i haven't changed my percentage. And even today, I'm still at 80-20. 80% that he's staying. Nothing I've learned over the last... Nothing I've heard has changed my underlying logic. So, we'll see what happens.

This folks is crazy. I underestimated how many times I'd be asked about him. I really did. It's true. It's the biggest story in New England right now and really I think one of the biggest stories in New England ever. Over the past 20 years, we have not had to worry about

who's going to take snaps under center as the quarterback, and now we find ourselves in this unique position. So you know what, my friend? We live in hope, and we hope for the best. And I thank you for giving us some hope and letting us know that it's possible. And whether it's happened or whether it hasn't, we'll know

soon enough, folks. And again, follow Miguel for all of the latest information, whether Tom's back, whether he's not, because Miguel never sleeps when it comes to this stuff. And neither do we. We will always have our eyes wide open on the great work that this man does. Thank you, my friend.

Have a great week. Take care. Bye-bye. Okay, bye-bye. And so, Patriots fans, we are now left to pick up the pieces, and we will continue to do just that each and every day here on the Locked On Patriots podcast. Has the Jarrett Stidham era really begun in New England, or will the Patriots still make a move for a quarterback?

As Miguel and I spoke about, they're still under salary cap restraint. They will need to clear space, and now that we know for sure that Tom is moving on, the Patriots are going to need that space and as much help as they can get on both sides of the ball. As always, please be sure to join me each and every day here on the Locked On Patriots podcast. Subscribe and download via your preferred podcast provider. And if you've been a listener of this podcast, I'm sure you've heard all of the great advertisers working with Locked On to reach sports fans.

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As for me, I will be back tomorrow to bring you the latest news notes and analysis from Foxborough and all of the fallout on Tom's decision, which we expect sometime on Wednesday. And I will be joined by a very special guest. Once again, I'm Mike DeBate. I thank Miguel Benzón,

a.k.a. the Pat's Cat, for his time, his wisdom, and his appearance on today's show. But most of all, I thank you so much for listening and hope that you continue to remain locked into Locked On Patriots. And if you've enjoyed today's episode, now tell your smart device to play the most recent episode of Locked On Fantasy Football. Stay safe, stay healthy, and have a great day, everyone.