Veteran Presence for Pats?

Some interesting NFL veterans being cut or requesting trades these days. Here’s a few I could see with the Pats:

Fred Taylor

Taylor is someone who could replace Lamont Jordan as a bruising downhill runner to compliment Laurence Maroney. And as we saw the last two years, the health of Maroney and Sammy Morris is always questionable. One more running back can never hurt, especially one who admittedly wants to play for a contender.

Could he take a lesser role in New England? Well, he didn’t have much of a role with Jacksonville in 2008, with 143 carries for 556 yards. The 3.9 yards per carry is nothing spectacular, but part of that onus is on the Jaguars’ line, which only gave Maurice Jones-Drew enough room for 4.2 ypc and had David Garrard on behind most of the season.

A one-year deal in the $2-3 million range doesn’t seem out of the question.

Chris McAlister

McAlister spent most of last season rehabbing a knee injury away from his team, a fact that no doubt irked coach John Harbaugh and contributed to his release.

The Ravens’ decision to cut McAlister had more to do with money -- they saved $8 million by cutting him loose – and less with his play. McAlister is only 31 and he still has it. The three-time Pro Bowler recorded three interceptions in just five games last season before suffering his season-ending knee injury in the sixth game against the Colts.

He’s tall for Pats’ corner standards (6-foot-1) and he can bump the receiver or run with some of the best. There are injury concerns, as McAlister has missed 18 games the past two years, but that’s what I hope would bring him at a discount.

Is there anything the Pats need more than an affordable, physical veteran corner? I think not.

Tony Gonzalez

People always laugh when I say this one, but he wants out of Kansas City, the Chiefs need a QB, the Pats have a QB, the Chiefs have the No. 3 pick in the draft, Pats don’t want a Top 5 pick. A logical trade scenario would involve Cassel for Tony G and the early 2nd-round pick.

Could this work? Why not? A good-receiving tight end would do wonders for the Pats’ passing attack. Plus he’s a Madden and fantasy favorite of mine.

--Nick