I guess the question is whether the Patriots want to pay him anything. That could be the most likely scenario, a one-year highly incentivized deal, but I could see him looking for a new start somewhere and I’d bet there’s at least one team out there willing to give the same kind of money the Pats would.
As for Vereen, not many people remember this was the first full season in his career and his production came in an offense designed to get him the ball. IS he going to produce the same kind of way in a lesser offense? I have my doubts.
A lot of us were concerned about handing the job to Vereen and letting Woodhead walk. (I still kinda wish they kept Woodhead). So while there’s definitely concerns about understanding pass protection, I don’t think that this receiving back spot is much different than the slot receiver spot in the offense.
Any capable back should produce in the role, but it does take a bit of time to assimilate.
I’m coming to accept that with all the money that needs to be spent on defense as well as at the guard spot (at least one), Vereen might just be the cap casualty this offseason.