Pro Football Talk says Woody a Bill...

[Ickybaluky]

Yeah, I know, consider the source. But it is the offseason and this is topical:

http://www.profootballtalk.com/rumormill.htm

Here is what they say:


We picked up a tip on Sunday that Patriots' offensive lineman Damien Woody could be making a bee line to Buffalo once free agency officially opens on March 3.

In fact, there are indications that Woody might already have a side deal in place with the Bills, who desperately need help along the offensive line.

The Pats already have decided to allow Woody to test the free-agent market. Still, the Pats likely didn't give Woody permission to begin talking to other teams (including their division rivals) before March 3.

Stay tuned. If/when Woody signs quickly with Buffalo, it could be time for the Pats to ask the NFL to lean on Woody's agent to produce his February phone and fax records to see if any tampering has occurred.

[Scott]

Great, another Pats retread that we will overpay for and he will not play up to expectations.

[Ickybaluky]

Woody is no retread. He is a very good player, and is only 26 years old.

His departure from NE isn't a case of them not liking him as much as not wanting to pay him as much as he wants. The Pats don't pay their OL very much, and they have younger players they like (Dan Koppen, Russ Hochstein) at Woody's positions. Koppen was a rookie last year and started at C. Hochstein was just signed for 3 years/$2M ($200K SB), and filled in for Woody in the playoffs, playing well.

Woody's departure is simply the reality of the NFL system. There is only so much cap space, so eventually good teams lose good players.

[The Spaz]

Originally posted by Scott
Great, another Pats retread that we will overpay for and he will not play up to expectations.

Hello, Woody has already been to the Pro Bowl and concidered one of the best centers ot there. I hope we get him but I just can't really get all hyped about tit because it is pro football talk reporting this.

[cordog]

Originally posted by Scott
Great, another Pats retread that we will overpay for and he will not play up to expectations.

This is probably the worst post i have ever read. What is wrong with going after NE guys anyways? Didnt they just win the SB?? And Woody is one hell of a player.

[Tatonka]

Originally posted by Scott
Great, another Pats retread that we will overpay for and he will not play up to expectations.

thanks for contributing ...

[Tatonka]

NE39.. thanks for the info.. i hope your right.

[elltrain22]

Woody would be a very needed piece to our offense. We could have our first legitimate center since Kent Hull

[Gunzlingr]

We could use all the help we can get, that is for sure.

[eyedog]

Woody would be the best possible fa pickup for the Bills. If they can land him it would be outstanding. I know some people have been talking about getting him but I really didn't think they had a shot or would even try. He would be a huge signing. Keep clearing cap space and get Woody in here.

[TigerJ]

I'm skeptical about the notion of a side deal already in place. My impression of TD is that while he is very sharp at using league rules to his advantage, he is very much by the book. If league rules forbid negotiation before a certain date, I really don't think he would do it. Is there anyone who has knowledge of TD dealings when he was with the Steelers either to correct me or back me up?

[Ickybaluky]

The only two questions raised about Woody are shotgun snapping and weight/conditioning. IMO, the first is an issue, the 2nd is not.

As for shotgun snapping, Woody struggled with it badly early in his career, to the point where Belichick/Weis decided to remove the formation entirely from the offense a few games into the 2000 season (despite the fact that the Pats had trouble protecting the passer and Bledsoe liked shotgun). He has not been called upon to do it in a game since then, although he claims to have worked on it each offseason and wants to try it again. However, at worst, he is a very athletic OG, still a top OL.

Weight and conditioning have been raised about Woody ever since Boston College. Woody's greatest strength is his athleticism, which is rare in a guy as big as he is. However, he tends to balloon up in the offseason and comes into camp heavy. This has always been a bone of contention with Belichick, who has fined him heavily for being overweight. Woody is an effective player if he keeps his weight under 330#, but the Pats wanted him to get down to 315#.

That said, I have seen Woody in person and he isn't a doughboy. He is naturally big and very strong. He works very hard and even the times he has been overweight at the start of camp, he works himself back into shape quickly. This is more of the case of a guy that likes to relax a little before the seasons starts, but he lifts hard each offseason and plays himself into shape quickly.

[The Spaz]

Weight and conditioning have been raised about Woody ever since Boston College. Woody's greatest strength is his athleticism, which is rare in a guy as big as he is. However, he tends to balloon up in the offseason and comes into camp heavy. This has always been a bone of contention with Belichick, who has fined him heavily for being overweight. Woody is an effective player if he keeps his weight under 330#, but the Pats wanted him to get down to 315#.

If he comes here he will be in dieting boot camp with Rusty Jones and Brad Roll that's for sure!

[eyedog]

Well that is exactly what the Bills need in the interior of their o-line, a big heavy,athletic body. Woody playing at 325lbs will help stop the bullrushing and blitzing up the middle that took place all last season. As good as some people think Ruben Brown is, his problem is he is on the small side and gets bullrushed by the big d-tackles.

[ShadowHawk7]

Well, it seems that RB is cut now, even tho i still think we needed him. This makes us NEED Woody more than ever. Even tho Brown isn't quite Pro Bowl caliber anymore, he still is a vital part in our line that won't be replaced easily if Woody is our center. Brown is a great leader that wanted to play for no one but Buffalo. People like that, u gotta keep, he still has a couple good years in him. I'm all for restucturing his contract tho.