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Potential Patriots: LaMarr Woodley 02.08.11 at 11:38 pm ET
By Christopher Price

LaMarr Woodley (AP)

Despite the looming labor uncertainty, as free agency approaches, WEEI.com will continue to offer daily insight and analysis regarding options that could be available to the Patriots in free agency this offseason.

LaMarr Woodley
Position: Outside linebacker
Team: Pittsburgh
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 265 pounds
Age: 26

Why the Patriots would be interested: New England has struggled to put together a consistent pass rush since the start of the 2009 season, and the arrival of someone like Woodley would bring an instant jolt of respectability to the outside linebacker spot. When it comes to pass rushers, Woodley figures to be one of the best available options on the free agent market — he has 39 sacks the last three years, including 13.5 in 2009 and 10 this past season. (He also had a sack in the Super Bowl XLV, which extended his NFL record of seven straight postseason games with a sack.)

Why it would happen: The 26-year-old is at the peak of his abilities. When you consider the Patriots were 14th in the league in sacks this past season with 36, the arrival of someone like Woodley would instantly change the look of the defense. In addition, he’s durable — according to Pro Football Focus, he played 1,132 of a possible 1,220 defensive snaps this season. (He played every snap of 15 of the Steelers’ 20 games this past season.)

Why it won’t happen: He was a ridiculous bargain this past season in Pittsburgh — 2010 marked the final year of a contract he signed as a rookie that paid him $550,000 annually. That’s going to change. This offseason, he will command serious dollars on the open market, and would likely have to be talked into taking less than market value to sign with New England. In addition, while his numbers aren’t in dispute, he doesn’t quite fit the physical mold of what the Patriots usually look for in their ideal outside linebacker — there’s a reason they passed over him when he was available in the 2007 draft. (He was taken in the second round by the Steelers. Instead, New England selected Brandon Meriweather.) Now, if Bill Belichick is going to go all in for an outside linebacker like he’d have to do with Woodley, history tells us that he’d be taller and leaner.

Chances he lands in New England: Not great. While there’s some question right now about the status of the franchise tag, the odds are pretty good that if its’ around, Pittsburgh would use it on Woodley. He sounds cool with that, having told reporters during Super Bowl week, “I wouldn’t be against it at all. Whatever happens, happens. Would you like to have a long-term contract? Yeah. But a franchise tag, it doesn’t matter to me.” And even if he does become available, he would command a deal somewhere in the neighborhood of Rosevelt Colvin and Adalius Thomas.

Some alternatives: Kamerion Wimbley (Raiders), Tamba Hali (Chiefs), Mike Vrabel (Chiefs), Mathias Kiwanuka (Giants).

Read More: Adalius Thomas, Bill Belichick, Brandon Meriweather, Kamerion Wimbley Print  |  Bark It Up!  |  Digg It
  • mike fitzgerald

    did you guys seriously put mike vrabels name as an alternative to lamarr woodley?????????!!!!!! hes not even an alternative to tully right now. mike, we loved you when you were preforming, but its time to hang em up. sorry, ur a standup guy but the stats from the past 3 years tell the tale. if vrabel is in the top 4 alternatives at outside lb this season we better hit a grand slam in the draft

  • Insert name here:_______

    LOL, I agree with mike fitz above. If Vrabel wasnt an option for the Pats when they traded him to KC, why would he be an option now??? Granted, part of the trade revolved around the fact that he was going to make more than he was worth, but still, BB knew he wasnt the player that he once was, he hasnt gotten any younger since….

  • http://weei.com rob morano

    Woodley is nice…but i see the pats going after a guy like kiwanuka from the giants.I am a giants fan as well as pats and kiwanuka is a beast at wasy less money! He has a better body type and is faster off the snap.And hes in a no win situation with the depth of the giants defence!W ould be a great fit in NE!!

  • Atlanta Pats Fan

    Why do you even bring him up if you think the Pats won’t go after him? If Leigh Bodden comes back, the Pats do not need another CB this year. If Ty Warren and Mike Wright come back they have better depth at D line. This allows them to focus on a pass ruching LB and a D-lineman that can be worked into the system as a pass rushing DE. 3 picks in the top 33 should allow them to find one. I think Bill is moving in the direction that he would rather have a player that he can teach his way than retrain.

  • JimDaytona

    Why it won’t happen: He was a ridiculous bargain this past season in Pittsburgh…………………….

    THEN WHY THE HECK EVEN MENTION IT!

  • Peter

    If the assumption is that the Pats won’t or can’t get Woodley…explain to me then what exactly is the point of this article?

  • pat

    This is the most irrelevant news story/article/column possible. Why write an article about someone who pretty much has zero chance of leaving Pitt, let alone go to a team that won’t pay him what he would want if he were a free agent. Give us some info on guys that have a GOOD chance of signing. Idiots.

  • http://www.weei.com Christopher Price

    Hey everyone … As I said in the introduction, this series is just a way of looking at possible options that COULD be available to the Patriots this offseason in free agency. Sort of an introduction to some possible free agents and handicapping their chances of landing in New England.

    Rob … good point on Kiwanuka. He’s certainly an intriguing guy who has the body type they look for at the position.

  • Cherokee Chief

    Chris -
    Don’t let the B’tards get you down, go ahead and brainstorm. It sure beats reading all the useless and inane “probable draft” pieces that are coming out of the woodwork now. One thing I’ve observed is that with BB you never can predict what he’ll do or what he’s actually thinking. I sort of like it like that.

  • chris mcnally

    So they won’t sign woodley cus of his body type. So they signed tully, adalius, and colvin cus of their body type?

  • Anthony

    Tamba Hali! Tamba Hali! Tamba Hali! The guy is a BEAST! Go get him, forget Woodley or Kiwanuka and get HALI!

  • talkinnow

    It does seem like every person they are putting up as a potential Patriots isnt really that good of a fit. The alternatives seem to always be better (excluding the Mike Vrabel obviously). Im with Anthony i think out of all the guys they put up there i would take Tamba Hali. Hes a good player and id like being able to yell that out when he makes a sack. HAAAALIIIII!!! lol

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  • Dano

    Hali or Kiwanuka would be great.There pass rush would make the whole defense stronger.

  • Rick Nau

    A. Hes getting the tag in Pittsburgh
    B. The pats wouldnt pay him enough
    C. He has already said he would do whatever it takes to stay with the Steelers

    Sorry pats, no deal.

  • Chris

    Zero chance of this happening. Woodley is getting tagged.

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