Pats726

Really...I think this is quite a dumb way to look at things...looking at transactions as if they were in some fantasy football league is HARDLY what reality is. And that is really what you have reduced it to. Firstly, Connolly was with the team way before any injuries..he was on the PSquad last year and was added to the roster in the winter. Sorry but I find that very simplified question as if one is dealing with playing cards aor pieces of paper..and not undesrtanding many other factors involved. As if the team was looking for the exact same thing when they signed each of those players....give me a break!! I think if you spent the few hours talking to ANY GM you would understand a bit more about it.

RayClay

If he's available, he couldn't be any good.

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jeffbiologist

Who? LT
What? LG
Where? C
When? RG
Why? RT

Whas tha matta you? QB of course

AzPatsFan

I'll add a little background with Welbourne too. He was part of the Great KC Offensive line along with Roaf and all the other probowlers. They all got old and retired, and Welbourne was the youngest, but he said he would retire too.

Herm and the GM went to his home and talked him into playing one more season, which he did. Then they let him go into retirement. He came out of retirement to sign here, and perhaps win a ring. So a valid ex-starter trying to eke out another year.

If you watched the Offensive line after Yates went down at the start of the Bucs third Q, it was like night and day.

The Pats couldn't run right before he came in and then were getting yards 4-5 at a clip, running right. All the pass pressure from the Buc left side stopped. Now it's true Welbourne was going against scrubs, but the difference was dramatic. IMHO he has ALREADY WON the starting RG position, off that Bucs second half play.

Flynn is going to be the swing C and hopefully G too. Russ Hochstein may or may not be heavily injured, but with both, they have great interior line depth.

Britt is close to being a starter, at both tackle spots and provides great depth at tackle. When Neal comes back in late midseason, or Ross even earlier, the O-line should be extraordinarily deep.

BTW, Connolly is earning a job as a swing G, but apparently not as a shotgun C. One more year on the PS and he will challenge, next year ...

If I were Matt Cassel I would be looking forward to a game for the first time. He has a a complete O- line and they will let him have more than cameos with the good recievers. The Oline will run the ball, to all sides, and protect him so he can throw too. And not constantly at 3rd and 15. Finally, an opportunity to show what he can do, without having his hands tied behind his back...

patsfaninpittsburgh

Why does everyone think a 10 year player is sitting around begging for a job?

OL are usually the smartest guys on the field so if a good situation comes along you sign. It's not like these guys were actively asking SF for a backup job.

None of these guys are named Joe Horn.

bradmahn

Thanks for the info on Welbourne, Az.

Optimistically, I think you're right that when Light and eventually Neal return the depth on the offensive line could be a huge plus.

Pessimistically, I question how effective Neal will be and am afraid Light's injury is worse than advertised. Also, that Flynn and Welbourne have very little left to showcase.

Ah, F it! Where are my sunglasses?

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I don't like Dungy and that's because he [was] the head coach of the Colts. Period. End of question. The degree to which I like a player or coach is predicated solely on the color of the laundry they wear on Sunday. When fans admit this and stop bashing players and coaches for any other reason, the world of sports will be infinitely improved.