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Free Agent Snapshot: Mathias Kiwanuka 05.14.11 at 12:53 am ET
By

Mathias Kiwanuka (AP)

Despite the labor uncertainty, WEEI.com will present a list of 10 possible fits for the Patriots in free agency (under the old Collective Bargaining Agreement) this offseason. To check out the complete list of possibilities to date, click here.

Mathias Kiwanuka
Position: Defensive end/outside linebacker
Age: 28
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 265

When we started this feature, we were immediately hit with a flurry of e-mails and Tweets asking whether or not we were going to include Kiwanuka as a possibility for the Patriots. So here he is: When healthy, the former Boston College product has been able to generate some very good pressure on opposing quarterbacks. He has 23.5 career sacks over 61 games in the NFL, including a career-best eight in 2008, and he had four in three games last season before going down with a season-ending neck injury. (To put that in perspective, he would have tied for third on the 2010 Patriots’ in sacks.)

Kiwanuka has displayed some versatility in New York’s scheme, playing both defensive end and outside linebacker. In fact, Giants’ defensive coordinator Perry Fewell was grooming Kiwanuka to serve as a chess piece who would play multiple spots before the former BC star was injured, and Fewell later said the injury was a big blow to New York’s defense. “I think about that all the time,” Fewell told reporters at the end of December who asked about the loss of Kiwanuka. “Tom [Coughlin] tells me don’t cry over spilled milk. You never know the impact of a player, but I think about [Kiwanuka] like, ‘Boy, if we had him, we could do this, we could do this, we would be like this, we would be like that, we could change our complexion a little bit more.’”

(For what it’s worth, Kiwanuka’s overall compatibility with the Patriots’ 3-4 base defense — where he would be an outside linebacker — is a question, but he certainly fits the Willie McGinest body type the Patriots look for at the outside linebacker spot.)

Why it might not work: Like Manny Lawson, under the old rules, he’d be a restricted free agent, which could mean he’d be a bit pricey. (There’s still the possibility that he would be unrestricted if the language is changed in the new CBA.) But there’s also the long-term question about Kiwanuka’s health — at the combine in February, Giants GM Jerry Reese acknowledged Kiwanuka’s career is in jeopardy following the neck injury he suffered last year, a statement he later backpedaled from. (Of course, if he is made available, the injury history would almost certainly drive his price down.)

Read More: free agent snapshot, Jerry Reese, Mathias Kiwanuka, Perry Fewell Print  |  Bark It Up!  |  Digg It
  • karl in boston

    WORTH THE RISK!
    Go for him Bill.

  • Angry John

    At least Price didn’t call himan offensive lineman. Getting better Chris.

  • Jim

    We overate the Giants defense because we witnessed their collective best game ever in that infamous superbowl. That whole defense is weak. They showcase the passrush and that is why they have high sack totals. New England does not rush the passer as frequently and therfore the numbers are skewed.

    The Giants struggle to make the wildcard every year and find ways to blow winnable games.

    Stay away!!!

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  • NYCBruinsFan

    Good come from behind win. Tuukka gets the credit for a great game in net. Nice seeing Krejci getting the game winning shoot out goal tonight. Hopefully that quiets any trade thoughts or rummors.

  • Troll Hunter

    Nice road win and an even bigger test in less than 24hrs….

  • Xander Bogaerts

    No reason to trade Krejci as he has been good all year with the exception of a couple of bad games just like everyone else. His linemates are another story. Both Lucic and especially Horton have been terrible the last couple of weeks. I would love to see the Bruins pick up a player with some skill, hockey sense & speed to play with Krejci. Horton is just not getting it done. The guy handles the puck like a grenade & takes forever to decide what to do when he do have the puck on his stick.

  • Great Win

    They seem to allow more goals in less than two minutes at the start of a period. They also score a lot of goals with less than two minutes in a period. Great win and hope Kelley is OK. Keeping pace with games in hand and this is a tough place to play.

  • Fab4ever

    Yes…nice win, solid 2 periods of hockey…coming out “flat” was an understatement…..Losing Kelly is tough…but that’s the way it is…injuries happen…now lets see what the B’s do at the deadline….

  • Chris Nilan

    If Kelly is going to be out for a while, then Seguin should play center, and this is what the lines should be…

    Lucic Krejci Perry
    Marchand Bergeron Peverly
    Soderberg Seguin Horton 
    Paille Campbell Thornton 

  • mike

    juts plug Soderberg into Kelly’s spot-the guy is a center..

  • mike

    Hope Kelly is ok but good opportunity to bring Soderberg who is a center…

  • ILoveHockey

    “The Senators could have made it 3-0 with just over three minutes to go in the third period”, Sorry Bean they couldn’t first period maybe?

  • Anonymous

    No way you slide Seguin to the 3rd line!!!!

  • Uncle Buck

    And yet another 2 points on the road.  I’m guessing Kelly is done based on what we could see.  Two goals from the 4th line is pretty nice.  I thought the little toe drag spin-o-rama move in the SO was bush league. I thought I was back on the pond on Sunday afternoon. As if the SO isn’t enough of a joke….Am I alone in thinking the camera positions and angles combined with the sound quality/acoustics were pretty impressive last night?  NESN and the Bruins should consider trying to duplicate that at home.  Much better broadcast.

  • Claude’s Toupee

    Way too early to rule Kelly out. It’s probably nothing more than a deep bone bruise. His knee and surrounding tendons are likely very bruised and will take a few days for the swelling to go down. I’d expect to see him back against Washington/Pittsburgh. 

  • rogerroger

    I’d honestly like to see Lucic go. He’s got more penalty minutes than should ever be considered acceptable and he doesn’t produce like a first-liner (and never really has). He’s certainly not the “next Cam Neely” that he was billed to be 2 or 3 years ago. If not for Krejci neither of those two get much done so far this year. He’s one of the best, and most consistent, on the team. 

  • rogerroger

    Bean is brutal. Can’t write. Knows nothing about hockey. 

  • glenn88

    Roger, Lucic racks up high PIMs for a first liner because he fights.  He didn’t rack up penalties with lazy hooking penalties.   You also undervalue what he brings to a top line in terms of checking, going in the corners, winning pucks, operating in front of the net, moving the puck through the neutral zone and the havic he creates for defensemen.  There is a reason opposing teams hate playing him.

    With Calgary tanking their final road trip game last night they should be  looking to dump of players.  Wonder if Peter swallows one of those LW contracts of either Cammalleri or Tanguay, because the asking price shouldn’t be that high as the Flames want those contracts off the books.  

  • Marcosautoservice

    why is there such a love fest with Lucic?????? I now live in florida so I don’t get to see as many games as I would like, but everytime I do see a game, i can’t stand to watch him. First that “#1″ line seems to be on the ice for 75% of the other teams goals… that may be a big #, but every goal that he is on the ice all you see is him coast into the play a minute late….. The breakaway goal against Ottawa is a prime example. One min into the game and Luc is coasting out of the offensive zone while the play goes the other way, then just coasts into the defensive zone. if you watch that play I don’t think he took a stride once, just coasting…. i like his toughness but it bothers me to always see him coasting out there!!!!

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