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Retirement on hold as Seau expected to sign with Patriots

MR NFLFAN

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By Jim Trotter
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

3:16 p.m. August 17, 2006

Three days after announcing his retirement from the National Football League, former Chargers linebacker Junior Seau is on the verge of returning.
League sources confirmed that Seau will fly to New England tonight and, barring a last-second complication, will sign with the Patriots no later than Friday.

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Injuries and free-agent losses have depleted the Patriots' linebacking corps, particularly in the middle. New England targeted Seau late last weekend, soon after word began circulating that he would announce an end to his 16-year career.
Seau, 37, is expected to play middle linebacker with New England. Current starter Tedy Bruschi is sidelined with a wrist injury and fellow inside linebackers Monty Beisel and Freddie Roach have been battling injuries as well.
Finding a big, physical interior presence took on greater importance for the Patriots after they were gashed for an average of nearly 6 yards a carry and 196 yards rushing overall last weekend in an exhibition-opening loss to Atlanta.
At 6-feet-3, 250 pounds, Seau has the size, instincts and physical nature to help slow opposing running games. He played most of his career on the outside, including the past three seasons with Miami, but filled in at middle linebacker in San Diego when other players were sidelined with injuries.
Before his retirement ceremony Monday, Seau, a 12-time Pro Bowl selection, said he was leaving the game because there wasn't a team that needed him. He said there were clubs that wanted him, but not one that viewed him as a key element to winning a championship.
That isn't the case with the Patriots, who have claimed three of the past five Super Bowls and could be among the favorites again if they're able to improve their linebacking corps and upgrade at wide receiver, where former Super Bowl MVP Deion Branch is holding out in a contract dispute.
Patriots coach Bill Belichick likely got an extensive scouting report on Seau from strong safety Rodney Harrison, who teamed with Seau for nine seasons in San Diego. The players parted company after the 2002 season, when Harrison was released (and signed with New England) and Seau was traded to Miami.
Former Chargers coordinator Joe Pascale said he used to balance his defense by playing Seau on the weak side and Harrison on the strong side, adding: “You had to pick your poison.” Seau declined comment this afternoon, but he is said to have informed Chargers President Dean Spanos of his decision.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/chargers/20060817-1516-bn17seau.html


Good to hear even though Seau is a bit long in the tooth he'll give us some depth until Bruschi is at full speed and he's probably a better choice than either Beisel or Brown.
 
Alex44 said:
:sidelol: You can keep his washed up skills
Ok buddy.

Rodney Harrison was said to be washed up and everyone was saying that right before he signed with the Patriots and look what he has done? Seau and Rodney are back together on the same defense. Seau has some unfinished business.

It isnt official necesarily. And I dunno if it might change suddenly but as of now it appears he will be on the Pats by tommorow.
 
Alex44 said:
:sidelol: You can keep his washed up skills

If I had a choice of Monty Beisel, Chad Brown or Junior Seau I'll take Jr.

Alex I figured you were smarter that that...Seau's skills aren't washed up it was injuries that kept him out plus he's got 1 yr under his belt in Saban's defense which should help him transition nicely into the Belichick style of defense. I think he'll help out both on and off the field and the man does have great leadership potiential. It was also said that Harrision had lost a step when Marty cut him along with Seau but he hasn't shown that here. I think this was a very smart signing by the Patriots. Jr will fill a role here most likely a fill in type roll so I don't expect to see him every down which should help him stay healthy. Didn't we win our last super bowl with 36 yr old Roman Phifer at ILB?
 
I was just talking about this with a friend.

I just lost a lot of respect for Seau, not because it is the Pats, but because he is pulling a Roger Clemens on us. Clemens was with the Yanks a few years ago and told everybody it was his last season. He went from stadium to stadium collecting dirt from the mounds and all of the fans came out to wish him a happy farewell. MLB even had a camera crew follow him around to document his last year. Flash forward to the World Series with the Marlins, he walked off the mound to a huge ovation from the away crowd and he tipped his cap for the last time. Until a few weeks later when he signed with the Astros. And he did the same thing again this year, played us all for fools.

If you are going to retire, stay retired. Don't pull a Clemens or Charles Haley (and that other guy) who would sit out the whole preseason and regular season and sign with a playoff team for a ring. That's like a marathon runner that starts running at the finish line. That isn't sports IMO.

If Seau wanted to play for the Pats (or any team for that matter) why retire? What purpose did that serve?


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MR NFLFAN said:
If I had a choice of Monty Beisel, Chad Brown or Junior Seau I'll take Jr.

Alex I figured you were smarter that that...Seau's skills aren't washed up it was injuries that kept him out plus he's got 1 yr under his belt in Saban's defense which should help him transition nicely into the Belichick style of defense. I think he'll help out both on and off the field and the man does have great leadership potiential. It was also said that Harrision had lost a step when Marty cut him along with Seau but he hasn't shown that here. I think this was a very smart signing by the Patriots. Jr will fill a role here most likely a fill in type roll so I don't expect to see him every down which should help him stay healthy. Didn't we win our last super bowl with 36 yr old Roman Phifer at ILB?
Yes we did and I recall Phifer didnt play badly at all, he was very nice depth for us.
 
like2god said:
I was just talking about this with a friend.

I just lost a lot of respect for Seau, not because it is the Pats, but because he is pulling a Roger Clemens on us. Clemens was with the Yanks a few years ago and told everybody it was his last season. He went from stadium to stadium collecting dirt from the mounds and all of the fans came out to wish him a happy farewell. MLB even had a camera crew follow him around to document his last year. Flash forward to the World Series with the Marlins, he walked off the mound to a huge ovation from the away crowd and he tipped his cap for the last time. Until a few weeks later when he signed with the Astros. And he did the same thing again this year, played us all for fools.

If you are going to retire, stay retired. Don't pull a Clemens or Charles Haley (and that other guy) who would sit out the whole preseason and regular season and sign with a playoff team for a ring. That's like a marathon runner that starts running at the finish line. That isn't sports IMO.

If Seau wanted to play for the Pats (or any team for that matter) why retire? What purpose did that serve?


.
I agree with you...that was sort of a stupid thing to do to say your finished and done then pop back and decide your problably going to sign with another team. Not a nice thing on his part but whatever I'm not a big Chargers fan or anything. Well we'll see if he can go uninjured for a season and do decent. I figure he will be done anyway after next season but still it isnt official he will sign, he will problably sign.
 
Willie Mays and Muhammad Ali embarassed themselves by not knowing when it was time to retire. Their big egos won't allow them to hang it up when they should. Seau is the same way. Oh well. :rolleyes:
 
Well Seau knew New England was the team interested in him and he knows the Patriots have a legitimate shot at the Superbowl and his first ring ever. Afterall Harrison and Dillon found themselves with a ring not a year after they joined the Patriots.
 
ThePats said:
Well Seau knew New England was the team interested in him and he knows the Patriots have a legitimate shot at the Superbowl and his first ring ever. Afterall Harrison and Dillon found themselves with a ring not a year after they joined the Patriots.

I don't see the Pats winning another ring anytime soon....they probably have fallen off more than any team in the NFL. I am not just saying this as a Phin's fan....many NFL publications are saying the Pats are on the downslide. Too many key pieces have left (like Vinatieri).
 
Roman529 said:
I don't see the Pats winning another ring anytime soon....they probably have fallen off more than any team in the NFL. I am not just saying this as a Phin's fan....many NFL publications are saying the Pats are on the downslide. Too many key pieces have left (like Vinatieri).

Agreed, they are still a good team, but they haven't fully addressed the holes left by FA departures. Asking rookies to step up and play big is not a very good gameplan.
 
Roman529 said:
I don't see the Pats winning another ring anytime soon....they probably have fallen off more than any team in the NFL. I am not just saying this as a Phin's fan....many NFL publications are saying the Pats are on the downslide. Too many key pieces have left (like Vinatieri).

You are entitled to your opinion and I respect your right to do that. I wouldn't however place all my eggs in the NFL publications or the so called nfl experts basket. Remember first they said we couldn't beat the greatest show on turf then the great Warren Sapp said we couldn't hold up against carolina's "D" line. right after The wonderful Tom Jackson of espn said after the late release of Lawyer Milloy "the Patriots players hate their coach". If beating Carolina in the super bowl was the NE players way of showing coach Belichick how much they hated him I hope they never get over it. It's fine to have your own opinion but those fruit cakes have proven time and again they are nothing more than talking heads most of which are empty.
 
Like I said in the other thread -

Worse case scenario: Seau goes all out when playing against the Dolphins and re-injures Daunte's knee.

Then, us Dol-fans will hate Seau more than Ray Lucas.

I can see it now..
 
MR NFLFAN said:
If I had a choice of Monty Beisel, Chad Brown or Junior Seau I'll take Jr.

Alex I figured you were smarter that that...Seau's skills aren't washed up it was injuries that kept him out plus he's got 1 yr under his belt in Saban's defense which should help him transition nicely into the Belichick style of defense. I think he'll help out both on and off the field and the man does have great leadership potiential. It was also said that Harrision had lost a step when Marty cut him along with Seau but he hasn't shown that here. I think this was a very smart signing by the Patriots. Jr will fill a role here most likely a fill in type roll so I don't expect to see him every down which should help him stay healthy. Didn't we win our last super bowl with 36 yr old Roman Phifer at ILB?

We cut him because he could no longer stay healthy and be an effective player. So Im confident he wont do anything for you
 
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