Feb. 26, 2008

The “Spygate” fallout and the Super Bowl loss aren’t the only things weighing on the Patriots’ minds. Retaining numerous players and upgrading units with just an $8 million salary-cap buffer will put the league’s most resourceful front office to the test. It’s a testament to his record-breaking season and otherworldly ability that keeping WR Randy Moss is considered a “necessity” when the Patriots have one of the NFL’s reigning receptions leaders — Wes Welker, whose 112 catches tied the Bengals’ T.J. Houshmandzadeh — already on board. Then again, with the Pats unable to afford Donté Stallworth’s $8 million option and revelation Jabar Gaffney free to leave to the highest bidder, Moss could seemingly be even more important in 2008. The Pats have maximized the ability of an old and thin LB corps, and Bill Belichick will have to do his best coaching job yet to keep the veteran crew humming with little hope of a significant upgrade. Likewise, it’s unrealistic to think they can afford to retain coveted CB Asante Samuel, making it imperative that middling free-agent defensive backs such as Randall Gay stick around to ensure some semblance of a legitimate secondary. Unless they restructure enough deals, their need for personnel upgrades, coupled with their limited salary-cap maneuverability, makes for a daunting challenge.