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11:02

GlobePatriots - Reiss's Pieces blog: Chat with Mike Reiss today at noon - http://is.gd/1d9vt #patriots

11:03

Chad Finn -

Welcome to today's chat! Mike will be with us at noon but you can pose your questions now ...

11:32

GlobePatriots - Reiss's Pieces blog: Patriots sweep ESPN.com All-Decade honors - http://is.gd/1daPk #patriots

11:56

Mike Reiss - Good afternoon. Just getting settled here and looking forward to the chat. Had a quick thought to pass along: I saw a few Patriots connections with Green Bay's extension with WR Greg Jennings this week. First, I think the deal is a reflection that the CBA uncertainty isn't a major issue. Teams are still signing big-money extensions if the sides can meet at an acceptable middle point (I'm thinking of Wilfork in this case). Also, Jennings was the receiver the Packers picked in their trade-down with the Patriots in 2006. The Packers got Jason Spitz and Jennings in the deal while the Patriots moved up for Chad Jackson.

11:58

[Comment From Mike C]
With Peppers finally signing his tender, would you expect a long term deal, a 1 year deal that promises he won't be franchised again(not that it's really needed considering he'd cost over 20m) or him to be traded somewhere else before the end of the 2009 season?

11:59

Mike Reiss -

Reading the tea leaves, Mike, it looks to me like Carolina and Peppers are making progress on the long-term contract. That would be my hunch.

12:00

[Comment From Tom]
Mike, if I remember right the Pats have almost ten players that will be unrestricted free agents next year. Obviously, the Pats are thinking that next year will be uncapped and that they could then sign the players (and also keep 6th year rookies as restricted free agents) , but what happens if the a CBA is negotiated and signed? Could the pats be in a bad position if this were to happen? Or would they have the cap space to resign people as necessary/desired?

12:01

Mike Reiss -

I believe the number is quite higher than that, Tom, but don't have the exact number of unrestricted free agents off the cuff. I want to say it was in the 20s. If the CBA is extended, and there is a cap, the team could potentially be in a tough spot. One thing to keep in mind, though, is that it wouldn't happen all at once. Once there is an extension, I'm sure there would be a window for teams to consummate deals before free agency began.

12:01

[Comment From Heavy G]
Mike, you don't list Tully Banta-Cain on your list of players likely to make the team, do you think he won't make the team? If he does make the team, can he help the pass rush?

12:02

Mike Reiss -

I project Banta-Cain as a bubble player at this point. If he makes the team, it will be because of his ability to help in the pass rush. I haven't seen enough of him to say definitively at this point.

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