Patriots Release Milloy

[Blitz]

Milloy released
2 Sep 03 / by Bryan Morry, Patriots Football Weekly

It's not unusual for teams to continue tweaking the roster in the week before the first game as all 32 teams release and sign players at a frenzied pace to prepare for the opener. But it is surprising when a team releases a four-time Pro Bowl safety and team captain as the Patriots did Tuesday morning when they announced Lawyer Milloy, 29, was cut.

Milloy played seven seasons in New England and totaled 846 tackles, seven sacks, 19 interceptions, 12 forced fumbles and seven fumble recoveries. He led the team in tackles in 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001. He also was a huge part of two AFC Championship teams and one Super Bowl winner.

Milloy went to his first Pro Bowl in 1998 starting a string of four all-star appearances in five years, including 2002, and was the first Patriots safety selected to the Pro Bowl since Fred Marion in 1985.

He was a mark of durability during his career in New England playing in all 112 professional games with 106 consecutive starts. He was first voted a team captain in 1999 and was subsequently voted as a captain in each of the next three seasons.

The Patriots were negotiating to reduce Milloy's cap hit for this season, but obviously could not reach an agreement. Milloy's cap number for 2003 was scheduled to be in $5.8 million range, but since his release came after June 1, the Patriots can spread out his accelerated cap hit (around $5.6 million) over two seasons with about $1.4 million coming this year and $4.2 million next year in the form of dead money.

Milloy's salary, according to the NFLPA, jumped from $525,000 in 2002 to $4.4 million in 2003 in what was the fourth year of what was originally a seven-year, $35 million. That original contract had two tiers with the first a four-year $15 million portion that included $6 million up front. After the fourth season, the Patriots held an option to pick up the remaining three years for $20 million with a $2 million bonus payment.

The safeties on the roster who could replace the 6-0, 210-pound Milloy in the starting lineup are Aric Morris, Chris Akins and Antwan Harris.

 

[Vegas Dave]

This is an absolute bone-head move.

I know the Patriots like to cut salary, and keep their payroll low, but this guy with Ty Law was the heart and soul of the defense. You don't want to cut guys that led your defense in tackles 4 of the 7 years he was there and a guy who went to the pro bowl 4 out of 7 years.

What a dumb move.

Not to mention a perfect fit for this defense and a locker room leader......

 

[StevieD]

This doesn't seem right.

 

[pt1gard]

followed this kid since HS

followed this kid since HS

exactly all's thats wrong with pro sports manifested once again, guy plays hard, improves, and prices himself off a team due to diligence and heart ... shame on you PATS, shame on pro sports... I guess message sent is only be so good and that way you can muddle yourself thru at avg. pay scale and play 10 years or some convoluted logic like that; that or flipside get big $$ for a couple years then get unceremoniously cut ... too bad Pats seemed poised for big things that Millioy helped create--try explaining this one to your kids or players if U R a father or coach

gl, gregg

 

[Vegas Dave]

This is definitely something that will kill moral and could directly affect where they finish this year.

 

["TheEdge"]

Sorry Fella's- Behlicheck made a smart move

Sorry Fella's- Behlicheck made a smart move

No way in HELL is Lawyer Milloy worth 4.7 million. NO WAY in HELL!! We're talkin about a player who finished last season with these numbers...
0 int's
0 Fumble recoveries
0 Forced fumbles
No doubt- he is the emotional leader of this defense but he has NOT put up the numbers worthy of being the highest paid safety in the NFL. Plain and simple folks- this was a business decision made by the BRIGHTEST defensive mind in the NFL in Behlicheck. Also- Milloy started every game on a defense that finished in the bottom 3 in every defensive category last year including... Run Defense. Even in that defensive environment his tackles went down considerably.

Again- he is a tremendous loss to this team and if the rumors hold true that he is about to sign with Buffalo- I WOULD NOT want to be Tom Brady this Sunday afternoon!

This was also a colossal blunder by Carl Poston (Milloy's agent) in not seeing the writing on the wall when they brought in Rodney Harrison.

This is Business fella's--- What have you done for me lately???
Sadly- Milloy just hasn't done enough to justify the $$$$$ he was demanding!

:nono: :nono: :nono:

 

[pt1gard]

great pts edge

great pts edge

I whole heartedly admit i was coming from coaching/compassion side ... I guess being an elder statesman (fossil, hehe) in here I bang the drum for the old way sometimes ... your thoughts are well stated and welcomed, so nice to see people attack the subject and not posters, well done, my friend

gl
gregg

 

[cooz3]

EDGE....INTERESTING YOU SAY MILLOY IS NOT WORTH 4 MILLION...

I AGREE...BUT IS HE WORTH 1 MILLION???...I WOULD SAY ABSOLUTELY

I SAY 1 MILL..BECAUSE THAT IS ALL YOUR SAVING ON YOUR CAP THIS YEAR BY CUTTING HIM TODAY....AND NEXT YEAR HE IS A CAP HIT OF 4 MILLION...AND HE WOULD HAVE BEEN A CAP HIT OF 4 MILLION IF HE WAS CUT NEXT JULY...

SO ECONOMICALLY...1 MILLION IN TODAYS NFL IS POPCORN...AND THIS WAS CLEARLY NOT JUST AN ECONOMIC MOVE BEACUSE THE PATS DID REALLY NOTHING WITH REGARDS TO SAVING MONEY ON THE "CAP"...AND LETS FACE IT TODAYS NFL IS ALL ABOUT THE SALARY CAP..

SO THE ECONOMIC ARGUMENT REGARDING THE SALRY CAP..IS NOT A STRONG ARGUMENT IN CUTTING MILLOY..

THERE HAS TO BE SOME OTHER REASON FOR THIS...

SO LET LOOK TO PRODUCTION..I DONT CARE WHAT THIS GUYS NUMBERS SHOW...HE WAS NOT THE PROBLEM ON DEFENSE...
THGE PATRIOTS ACTUALLY HAD A GOOD PASS DEFENSE LAST YEAR ...IT WAS THE RUNNING DEFENSE THAT CHIT THE BED...THERE PASS DEFENSE WAS GOOD FOR 11TH IN THE NFL LAST YEAR...SO IT WASNT HIS PRODUCTION DEFENDING THE PASS SITUATIONS...

THIS WAS A BAD MOVE ALL AROUND BY THE PATS ..IMO..

I DO AGREE WITH YOU WHOLE HEARTEDLY THAT HE IS NOT A PLAYER WORTH 4 MILLION...BUT I WOULD SAY HE IS NOT A PLAYER WORTH 4 MILLION AGAINST THE CAP...RATHER THAN JUST 4 MILLION..

BOTTOM LINE IS THEY ARE STILL ON THE BOOKS FOR THE BULK OF JIS SALARY THIS YEAR AND NEXT YEAR AGAINST THE CAP..SO COULD HAVE DONE THE SAME THING NEXT YEAR IN JULY...HAD A BETTER PLAN IN PLACE TO REAPLCE HIM...AND ALL THEY HAD TO DO WAS PAY HIM 1 MILLION ADDITIONAL DOLLARS..

THATS IS NOT TO DOWN PLAY THE SIGNIFIGANCE OF 1 MILL...TO YOU ...ME OR ANY OTHER COOMOM PERSON...BUT TO TOPDAYS NFL PLAYERS AND OWNERS THAT IS PLAY MONEY..

COOZ

 

["TheEdge"]

thanks gregg

thanks gregg

I appreciate the compliment pal- I love this game with a passion and IMO the more we know about it, the better prepared we are to TRY and predict its outcome.

cooz-
From what I understand, Behlicheck has been dropping several "not so subtle" hints to the local media for some time now that he was unhappy with the play of his secondary.
Also-
The portion of Malloys contract that the Pats are culpable for will be absorbed by whatever team signs him, correct?

We probably will never know the "truth" cooz, but Malloy making statements this spring about his refusing to restructure his contract to help out other cap problems most likely didnt help. Youre right on- 1 Million is Peanuts to these guys, which makes you wonder why they couldnt get something done. I also agree he was not the primary problem on defense- he just didnt excel to the point of deserving to be paid as the HIGHEST safety in the NFL. I wonder what this will do to the rest of that "d" emotionally.

I know I'll be pulling for them,
GL

 

[cooz3]

I AGREE EDGE...THIER HAS TO BE SOMETHING OTHER THAN MONEY HERE...BELICHECK HAS BEEN DAYING SOME THINGS OR RATHER NOT CONTRADICTING SOME STATEMENTS ABOUT LAWYERS LACK OF " PRODUCTION"....

BUT I THINK YOUR WRONG ABOUT THE SALARY....THE WAY THE NFL SALRY CAP WORKS...THIS GUY'S SALRY CAP NUMBER ...STAYS AGAINST THE PATS CAP ,...REGARDLESS IF HE SIGNS ANYWHERE ELSE...I THINK THEY TERM IT "DEAD WEIGHT"...TO THE CAPOLOGISTS....THATS WHY IM REALLY TROUBLKED BY THE RELEASE THEY REALLY DONT GET ANY RELIEF ON THE CAP THIS YR. OR NEXT YR.

LIKE I SAID ...THE ONLY THING THEY SAVE IS 1 MILLION AGAINST THE CAP THIS SEASON ..THATS IT OFF THE CAP...

GOOD LUCK THIS YEAR EDGE..

COOZ

 

[ELVIS]

THERE IS A TEAM IN CALIFORNIA THAT COULD USE HIM. PROBABLY CANNOT AFFORD HIM, BUT HE WOULD IMPROVE THE SS POSITION.

 

["TheEdge"]

Hey cooz - check this out- it clears it up a bit

Hey cooz - check this out- it clears it up a bit

Taken from ESPN.com----

If safety Lawyer Milloy is a veteran of at least moderately declining skills, as suggested by some New England officials after a Tuesday morning departure that sent shockwaves through the Patriots locker room, other teams around the league clearly don't share that assessment of him.

Within two hours of Milloy's stunning release, ESPN.com reported Tuesday afternoon that the Buffalo Bills had already made a solid contract offer.

By Tuesday night, Milloy and his representatives were mulling offers from at least three franchises, ESPN.com had learned. And a decision on where the seven-year veteran will resume his career could come as early as Wednesday, as some of the teams are seeking an expeditious resolution, and negotiations on all fronts are accelerating.

"We'd sign him right now and play him on Sunday," said Buffalo team president Tom Donahoe. "We've made it clear that we want him here."

The Bills host the Patriots in Sunday's regular-season opener in what already is viewed as a critical AFC East matchup.

Beyond the Bills, the Washington Redskins and New Orleans Saints have made offers and remain in the hunt. It is believed Washington has offered a multi-year contract that would pay Milloy about $5 million over the first two seasons. League sources said that the Saints had offered a three-year contract.

The Minnesota Vikings demonstrated early interest and then, when they saw where the market was headed, backed off later in the day. The New York Jets also made at least one exploratory phone call but it is believed their interest waned as well.

Responses were mixed when ESPN.com phoned league personnel directors and general managers throughout the day Tuesday to ask if they think Milloy's abilities had declined. But most personnel men surveyed said they felt Milloy is still among the NFL's top players at his position. Several noted that his big-play skills were somewhat diminished but that he still had several good years remaining.

"It doesn't show up on film," said one general manager of Milloy's alleged decline.

Milloy was entering the fourth season of a seven-year, $35 million contract that was seen as a landmark deal for a safety when he signed it in 2000. New England will save $4.4 million on its 2003 cap but will have to count about $6 million on its 2004 spending limit because of various prorated signing bonus segments.

Patriots sources said late Tuesday night that keeping Milloy on the regular-season roster would have pushed the team over the 2003 cap limit and perhaps forced the release of a starter or two. During the offseason, the so-called "rule of 51" applies to a team's salary cap, meaning it must count only its highest-paid 51 players against the ceiling. But when the regular season begins, every player under contract counts against the cap, and a club's account typically rises.

The scheduled 2003 cap charge for Milloy was $5.836 million. The two sides had been working on a potential reworked deal for four or five months but could not get together on numbers amenable to Milloy and the Patriots brass.

Of the three teams known to still be chasing Milloy, all offer a degree of attractiveness, and he may ultimately be forced to decide between money and a chance to perhaps play in a third Super Bowl game.

In Buffalo, he would be reunited with former New England quarterback Drew Bledsoe, who urged Bills officials to sign Milloy, and who spoke with the safety by phone a few times on Tuesday. There is also the specter of being able to play the Patriots twice yearly, an obvious revenge element. Bledsoe, who is being counted on to demonstrate his skills as a recruiter, figures to be Buffalo's big plus. The Bills want more big plays from their safeties and their current starters, Pierson Prioleau and Coy Wire, combined for zero interceptions in 2002.

Going to New Orleans would reunite Milloy with his former Patriots safety partner, Tebucky Jones, who was traded to the Saints this spring. During the several weeks in which team officials were negotiating the Jones swap, ESPN.com confirmed the Patriots several times offered Milloy as an alternative in the trade. New Orleans last week lost starting free safety Mel Mitchell to a knee injury. Last year's starter, Jay Bellamy, has been promoted into the lineup. Some Saints officials see him, though, as a liability in the club's revamped defense.

Given the past history of owner Daniel Snyder, the Redskins may well offer the most money of all Milloy's suitors. Washington has more than $5 million in cap room, may not blink if the financial ante is raised, and certainly could use a player of Milloy's ilk to anchor its interior secondary. One of the Saints' players said Tuesday night that Milloy had hinted he favored the Redskins but wanted more time to consider his decision.

While the action was heated for the teams pursuing Milloy, his former New England teammates remained puzzled by the move, and by its unusual timing.

"Has it ever been this quiet in here? I don't think it has," said linebacker Tedy Bruschi, a former Milloy teammate, of the Pats' locker room. "I think 'shocked' is the word. . . . You sort of just shake your head and ask yourself, 'Why?' "

Milloy started in 106 consecutive games going back to his rookie year in 1996, when the Patriots won the AFC championship but lost to Green Bay in Super Bowl XXXI. He led the team in tackles in 2001, when New England won Super Bowl XXXVI.

But last year, Milloy had no sacks, no forced fumbles, no sacks and no interceptions. His 91 tackles represented his fewest since he became a full-time starter. The Patriots will not concede this point, at least not publicly, but some team officials and coaches felt Milloy had not performed on the field to his salary level.

Said coach Bill Belichick in announcing the release: "Today is a day that nobody is happy about. This isn't the way we wanted this story to end. This is the hardest player that I have had to release. It was the hardest situation that I've had to go through like this, here or anywhere else."

The Patriots have said they did not make the move in order to create a position for a player to be added from outside the organization. They stressed publicly the release was a financial matter only and said Milloy's successor will come from a group of younger players that includes Antwan Harris, Aric Morris and Chris Akins, none of whom has ever been a starter.

"It is scary in the timing," said New England cornerback Ty Law, who has the same agent as Milloy, and who has also been approached about reworking his contract. "There is such a thing as good business and bad business. I don't know what category this one falls under. But to my eyes, and being selfish, at this late in the game and in regard to him and his family, I'm sure this is something that could have been done a long time ago."

GL cooz

 

[Hoops]

I think the reaction from the Patriot players and the management from other teams tell you how valuable Milloy is. He didn't put-up the usual numbers last season, but does that discount what he did every season prior to that? The guy can still play at a high level. Bottom line, it was a bad move by the Patriots.

 

[jmizeus]

and yes we are loving it in buffalo! i havent heard all the details but my brother-inlaw said he could have made more with signing with washington or the jets..but wanted to play in buffalo. i heard yesterday both sam gash and drew bledsoe both talked to milloy on the phone to convince hin into coming to buffalo. yes i really think it was a bone-head move on belichecks part.

i was going to start a thread for cooz about this move and see what he thought. but after reading the posts here it was definitely a bad move on the pats. this will only make buffalo's defense that much stronger this year. now if we can get fat-ass sam adams to lose some weight and fast ..could be a very tough defensive team the bills will be fielding this year

 

[shamrock]

Patriots floating the notion that Miloy s play has declined is a cheap shot. He had 92 tackles last year something like 50 solo. That is far from slipping. Led team in tackles in 98, 99, 00, 01, and was right behind MLB Ted Johnson last season. He has never been a interception or sack guy so pointing that out isn't all that accurate. He has been a pro Bowl player 4 times including last season, these are picked by the NFL players, NOT FANS LIKE MLB, clearly his peers don't think he has slipped.

Miloy played in 107 straight games, never misses practices or off season workouts he is a absolute class act and has done countless work in the Boston Community.

Ty law is the only starter in the entire secondary surviving from last season. Otis Smith, Jones, Victor Green & Miloy all gone now.

Miloy is one of "parcels guys" and I think to some degree this is another reason why he is gone. Willie McGinnist numbers are almost as high and he has given New England next to no production compared to Miloy. With back and groin injuries he is completely not dependable.