Leonard Fournette Visiting The Patriots
March 21st, 2022
The latest.
Uh, oh.
This doesn’t look good. It seems Bill Belicheat is starting his week playing host to Playoff Lenny. As we all know, Playoff Lenny is a free agent.
Is the Tom Brady sales pitch not working on Playoff Lenny any longer? Playoff Lenny had a subtle “Farewell to Tampa Bay” Instagram post a couple of weeks ago which he deleted when Brady unretired. Then last week he had a missive on Twitter basically saying he wants top-five running back money. Joe ran the numbers and Playoff Lenny wasn’t exactly wrong.
If Belicheat is hosting a guy, he must think Playoff Lenny still has gas in the tank.
Fields Yates of BSPN has the intel on Twitter below.
The Patriots are hosting free agent RB Leonard Fournette on a visit today, per source.
The 27-year old is coming off of the best all around season of his career with 812 rushing yards, 8 rushing TD and 69 catches for 454 yards in 2021.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) March 21, 2022
March 21st, 2022 at 8:41 am
Lenny is gone, and that’s ok. Good for him to get paid, bad for Bucs to pay him. We need to roll with KV, a draft pick, and a few 2nd/3rd tier RB FAs. Tons of cap space already allocated to OL and WR.
March 21st, 2022 at 8:42 am
The bucs simply don’t have the cap space to keep everybody.
March 21st, 2022 at 8:44 am
Simple as that.
March 21st, 2022 at 8:46 am
New England is also kicking the tires on Malcolm Butler. I wanted Licht to bring him in for a look.
March 21st, 2022 at 8:47 am
he deserves to get paid.
March 21st, 2022 at 8:50 am
Ya got to give a little to get a little
And you gotta give a lot to get a lot😬
In my opinion, the Bucs gave a lot (to the golden grill)
To get a little…
And now we’re gonna suffer the consequences…
March 21st, 2022 at 8:51 am
Looks like Bucs go a little against their philosophy and look for a running back earlier than they were thinking ….. Day 2 of the draft.
March 21st, 2022 at 8:51 am
I don’t think this is a bad thing. I think Leonard is a very good NFL running back, but paying big money is not the best use of resources for an NFL team.
If he would take a $5MM per year contract that would make sense, but he says he wants top five running back money which is $12.5MM per year.
March 21st, 2022 at 8:53 am
BellycheT isn’t going to pay Lenny top 5 money. Bucs just need to match his best offer as long as it’s not stupid.
March 21st, 2022 at 8:54 am
Still upset Patterson stayed with atl at the price he signed- That would’ve been a great replacement in my opinion.
March 21st, 2022 at 8:55 am
The Patriots have a good RB rotation, it’s one of the few real strengths on that team. I think they’d be more inclined to spend money elsewhere, especially after their postseason embarrassment to Buffalo.
March 21st, 2022 at 9:01 am
Let the Pats pay him top five money if they want. I doubt they will, but I guess we’ll see. Likely they won’t but they’ll still sign him. Would do well there just like he did here. Would love to have him back but at the right price. Likely not going to happen. Running back is the easiest position to replace via the draft.
March 21st, 2022 at 9:07 am
If the Pats sign Fournette could we do another deal with them and trade for Rhamondre Stevenson, a player we should of drafted last year?
March 21st, 2022 at 9:10 am
Going to NE to get paid??? How many RB’s does Billy boy need. Good luck playing for Joe Judge, Matt Patricia. The Pat’s aren’t going nowhere this season, it’s a good thing their schedule is relatively easy.
March 21st, 2022 at 9:14 am
Awesome hope he signs and gets his money would rather take the savings of signing a cheaper fa and draft another
March 21st, 2022 at 9:14 am
Good. Hope he signs with them.
He needs a new agent if they really thought they were going to get $12 million a year.
March 21st, 2022 at 9:15 am
This makes no sense; Rhamondre Stevenson and Damien Harris are arguably better than Lenny, as Passing Thru notes, and they each make under $1 M–why would the notoriously cheap Patriots pay Lenny $10 M? I can only think they are feigning interest to quiet fans who think they are doing nothing to improve.
March 21st, 2022 at 9:16 am
Where is the A Train when we need him?
March 21st, 2022 at 9:17 am
I would rather have Sony Michel and draft a RB in rounds 1-3 then over pay Fournette…
He is good not great plus 28 years old for a RB is getting close to the end of his more productive years.
March 21st, 2022 at 9:18 am
RBs who can pound the rock are fairly easy to find. RBs who can catch as well (or better) than other receivers on the team are MUCH harder to find. And RBs who will lay it all on the line to protect their QB … and who do it extremely well … are just difficult to find. And the odds of finding a RB who does ALL THREE WELL aren’t very good.
Lenny does all three very well. And even more importantly, he’s got TWO YEARS experience with Tom Brady. The complement each other. All of our other ‘weapons’ will get us to the post-season. Playoff Lenny has shown that he can win it for us. Re-signing him is an absolute no-brainer. Stop screwing around to save a few shekels. Pay him what he’s earned & deserves.
March 21st, 2022 at 9:20 am
And the article just before this touts JaDarius Smith…….how ridiculous……Lenny’s fate was sealed when we decided to spend $10 mil on a #3 WR……not disagreeing with the move because I’m sure Brady decided he’d rather have Gage than Lenny…
Yes, I know they are different positions….but the cap is not dependent on positions…..
March 21st, 2022 at 9:23 am
He won’t have anyone to block for him, lol.
March 21st, 2022 at 9:29 am
Cheat trying to get even for his Mason blunder?
March 21st, 2022 at 9:31 am
He’s driving the price up. As a super bowl winner, he deserves to get paid. We can’t pay him his worth unfortunately.
March 21st, 2022 at 9:31 am
If the league thought it was that hard to find a RB as good as Lenny he would have already been signed. Putting alot of resources in a position as volatile as the RB position doesn’t seem smart to me.
March 21st, 2022 at 9:31 am
Not sure if BB will pay top 5 $$$
March 21st, 2022 at 9:34 am
pat’s arent paying him big money, The already have a great young back and they never invest heavily into a single back, that’s always been their way, unless they are changing their philosophy
March 21st, 2022 at 9:51 am
I’d like to think he’s prodding the Bucs.
March 21st, 2022 at 10:03 am
@ DR
You make solid points – pass catching and pass blocking plus time spent with Tom Brady are all important attributes.
I just don’t like the idea of over paying for a 28 year old RB who almost quit the team in 2020…
If we can sign Fournette for @ $6M per and make it a 3 year deal (2 years in reality) I would be OK with that.
3 years $24M with @ $14M guaranteed…
March 21st, 2022 at 10:04 am
Wait my math isn’t right…
More like 3 years $20M with $12M guaranteed…
That’s more like it.
March 21st, 2022 at 10:06 am
NFL GM s crack me up at times ,,,, Duke Johnson is worth 5 mil a year for any and every NFL Team ………. Catches Well , Very Good Short Yardage, plus but not great runner , can put a team on his back in those couple of battle games a year when the D has a great passing game match up or game plan ( that alone is a win or two a season ) ……. 3 down back if need be ………. Would be a Great Great fit with Brady and Lefty wouldn’t have to tip off his plays as often …….. Is He Barry Sanders , No but he is a slightly different James Wilder …….. Wilder wasn’t great at anything but was very good at allot and most importantly the GM recognized that …….. Backs like Duke are so over looked but so so hard to find …….. GM s draft every year y trying to find the Great Wilder or DJ instead of letting the very good player make their offense great !! Not Flashy but very very Good !!!
March 21st, 2022 at 10:19 am
Lenny deserves to get paid, but we can not afford to pay him what he wants.
March 21st, 2022 at 10:19 am
Lenny deserves to get paid, but we can not afford to pay him what he wants.
March 21st, 2022 at 10:22 am
@ Chris
You can say that again… lol
March 21st, 2022 at 10:29 am
I don’t see him actually joining the Pat. They have Harris and Stevenson and we know Lenny isn’t going to second fiddle to anyone. Even if he’s starter I think he’s gotten really used to being a three down back. No way this happens. And I agree with Defense Rules, Lenny is more valuable than what people think.
March 21st, 2022 at 10:44 am
Hate to see him go, but others posting here are right. We can’t afford to pay him what he’s worth!
March 21st, 2022 at 10:48 am
If you got $10 mil a year to give to Gage, you can give Lenny a reasonable raise. So far, this team has a ridiculous air raid attack style offense, with no running game, no pass rush, and holes all over the defense. If Brady misses any time, the $50 million plus we pay for receivers are wasted on the qb stylings of Trask and Gabbert. Get it done!
March 21st, 2022 at 10:54 am
He absolutely needs to take the best money!
I’d Love to have him back but he plays a brutal punishment taking position.
Take the biggest payday and call it a great head start on life !
March 21st, 2022 at 11:15 am
Interesting point on the Gage salary. Ditto Davis, Godwin and Jensen.
Lenny see’s everyone else getting paid but himself. If he does takes the Bucs offer, he’ll feel low balled, disrespected and sour grapes is certain.
Fournette is unrealistic about his market value. Like the Pats are gonna pay him what he expects? Not. Best we look toward the draft.
March 21st, 2022 at 11:25 am
We still need a RB though. I don’t see Brady going into the season with a rookie RB and Vaughn.
March 21st, 2022 at 11:34 am
Pats fans better get ready for another year of run the ball and Jones throwing 5 yards check downs. Lenny didn’t like sharing with Rojo, he will be 4th man there. And White will catch more pass
March 21st, 2022 at 11:40 am
Lmao @ him visiting. Does he think they’re going to make him a top 5 RB! They have TWO capable RBs, this clearly him trying to see his value w/ frugal franchise. If the Bucs can’t match that offer then he’ll know it’s really over w/ the Bucs…
Nothing more to see here…
March 21st, 2022 at 11:45 am
Jason Licht is on the fence; Bill wants Brady to win, so he is scouting Fournette to see if the Bucs should bring him back. Same as why he gifted them a lineman.
March 21st, 2022 at 11:52 am
If he was annoyed sharing the back field with RoJo, what’s going to happen in NE?
I still think we’ll get him to sign. We are doing some restructuring of contracts, using void years, signing bonuses, etc.
The cap is mostly malleable.
March 21st, 2022 at 11:54 am
Also, if he wants to get back to the Super Bowl, it’s through the NFC, not the AFC. AFC is legit going to be hyper competitive for those playoff births.
March 21st, 2022 at 12:18 pm
If 4Net wants a big payday, it’s not happening in NE. It sounds like 4Net isn’t getting any legitimate offers.
March 21st, 2022 at 12:24 pm
I just can’t see them paying him more than 5 million per which is probably what the Buccaneers would offer. I’m also wondering how he’s going to fit in with the military style of that organization
March 21st, 2022 at 12:54 pm
That is a low money investment position and upgrades aren’t difficult to find. Fournette is a top 32 RB. He should be starting somewhere in the NFL but he isn’t special. As a runner, he runs hard, always falls forward after contact but his legs go dead and he rarely runs through contact and breaks tackles. He also lacks speed and quickness and is not elusive at all. As a pass catcher, he has dependable but unspectacular hands, he runs decent routes for a RB but will never be confused with a wide receiver. After the catch, he rarely is able to break tackles of much smaller DBs. The one area that he truly excels in is pass blocking. He is very good here. Good center of gravity, good pad level, great decision making, always blocking the inner most free rusher. I like him a lot as a pass blocker…that being said… he’s nothing spectacular in all other areas… there are much better all around threats at RB in the NFL and coming out of college. I theorize, that when the Bucs drafted Vaughn, that Antonio Gibson was high on their list but came off to the Redskins much earlier. I’m 99% sure I was right there… and wish we had got him. He is the ideal RB for our offense.
March 21st, 2022 at 1:01 pm
Belicheat won’t need James White if Lenny signs. Maybe that was part of the Mason deal now Licht will trade our 4th round pick for White.
March 21st, 2022 at 4:16 pm
I would take James White as a 3rd down back 100 times out of 100 over Lenny.
March 21st, 2022 at 7:37 pm
MARLON MACK… low mileage, get him done for $2.0-2.5M with some incentives if he outplays the contract. He will be a sleeper this year.
March 21st, 2022 at 9:46 pm
If Pats want Lenny, great. He can go there, and be their new Laurence Maroney.
Melvin Gordon/Rashaad Penny/Marlon Mack and/or draft Kenneth Walker/Breece Hall/Zamir White/Dameon Pierce/James bro of Dalvin Cook.