stinkypete

I think this thread is a touch over the top. The source of our disapointment over Watson stems from his being overdrafted in '04. He was graded a 2nd rounder, and taken with a luxury pick. We were wearing our Super Bowl goggles and the front office could do no wrong, so we assumed that Belichick snuck up and took the next Ben Coates.

If Watson were taken in the bottom of the 2nd round, after Karlos Dansby and Bob Sanders, we'd be singing a different tune. Watson is an above average tight end, and he'd be a starter on a dozen other teams. If you compare his numbers to his cap hit, he's one of the better values on this roster.

Deus Irae

People here love to slam Watson at pretty much every chance they get. It may be that the Patriots agree with those who do this, but you sure can't tell that by looking at the snaps taken on offense. Taking the Raiders game as the latest example, Watson took as many snaps as any other runner/receiver on offense, taking the same 68 out of 71 that Moss and Welker took. The week before, Watson played 59 of 72 snaps.

I don't pretend to know what the Patriots brain trust really thinks about Watson. Judging by the numbers, though, it seems pretty clear that they either don't have an issue with him to the extent that many of the fans do, or they are willing to use him all game long anyway just to get the formations they want.

__________________
"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane."
- Marcus Aurelius

Ryan

Dropping the ball is one thing, but it's the way Ben always seems to doink the ball into the air allowing the defense to get an easy pick that annoys the crap out of me.

PittPatriot

What in the name of Garrett Mills is wrong with Dave Thomas? He is a little small but has great hands...I really thought he could be our future Dallas Clark.

Sicilian

My guess would be, with the weapons we have on offense, the biggest thing a TE can add to it right now is blocking, and Watson is our best option for that. Thomas might be a slightly better receiver, but he doesn't block as well yet.

WhiZa

The depth at TE is not good enough to go cutting him next year. I'm thinking we'll draft a 2-3 round pick at TE. Use him as the 3rd TE next year, and hope he is able to grow into the #1 or #2 spot at TE, putting pressure on Watson and Thomas into their contract years.

__________________

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
- 4 years =
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Box_O_Rocks

His foot injury really set him back. He was a pretty good blocker as a rookie, now he struggles. He was finding ways to get open as a rookie...

I hope a full offseason program helps him get his body retuned for 2009.

__________________
"Avert thine eyes! You're not hot enough to be looking at me."
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Pat the Pats Fan

Agreed, 68 of 71 offensive plays. He'll be around next year.

Reiss reported that Hochstein had more offensive snaps than Thomas at tight end. Thomas must really be in the doghouse. 1 snap, at the end of the game? Maybe Thomas won't be around?

__________________

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.


A sarcastic Bill Belichick on Tom Brady's finger injury, "It's not life threatening."

PatsWickedPissah

Watson, yeah I was really pissed at him during the game but in reality he's a victim of us fans over rating. We (at least I) expected the world of the last 1st round reach draft pick. He's underperformed a bit as a receiver but obviously comes to play or he wouldn't be the guy out there. As others have said, he'd need to get caught with BB's girlfriend to get cut next year because he's such a good value for his cap hit.

Thomas went from rookie fan exhuberance to BB's doghouse upon return from last injury year. Maybe he ran over Belichick's kids' puppy or something but he can't get PT although healthy.

BB may take a later round developmental blocking TE.

__________________
Throughout history, poverty is the normal condition of man. Advances which permit this norm to be exceeded — here and there, now and then — are the work of an extremely small minority, frequently despised, often condemned, and almost always opposed by all right-thinking people. Whenever this tiny minority is kept from creating, or (as sometimes happens) is driven out of a society, the people then slip back into abject poverty.
This is known as "bad luck." RAH

Fanfrom1960

Didn't you hear that Whitten and Romo are roommates? Or woomates? Better stop there.