Good Article from Callahan in the Herald - New England Patriots Forums

***cstjohn17*** · 12-12-2006, 12:54 PM

He is a good writer and is on point, the worst thing about it is how obvious the whole situation was.

http://patriots.bostonherald.com/pat...23&format=text

Tom Brady is 29-years old and almost at the end of his sixth season as a starter in the NFL. Somehow, he still is standing, still apparently healthy enough to make his 103rd straight start this Sunday against Houston.

That is the good news for the Patriots [team stats] as they stumble into the final three weeks of the regular season. At least they havenâ€™t gotten the franchise killed yet. The bad news: It appears theyâ€™ve wasted a year of Tom Brady [stats]â€™s prime.

***DarrylS*** · 12-12-2006, 01:05 PM

Callahan is a clown pure and simple, I am sure that behind closed doors Bob Kraft, Scott Pioli and BB planned this to be a crappy season. There are in every season a bunch of factors beyond their control starting with the Deion holdout, the late acquisition of receivers, the slow progress of Chad Jackson, the turnovers, penalties and now injuries are all part of the grand scheme planned by those in charge of this organization.

Callahan is like the proverbial rat leaving the sinking ship, but the sink is not sinking maybe listing a little bit, but not sinking.

Oswlek · 12-12-2006, 01:07 PM

I still vehemently disagree with those that claim that NE willingly chose to be in the situation that they are in. I don't mean to offend anyone that does not share my opinion, but I think that it reeks of being uninformed when people say that they shouldn't have let this guy go or whatever.

With regard to Givens, NE had one hand tied behind their backs. They couldn't give him what the market was because that would have ended any chance wahtsoever to sign Branch. Had NE had any inkling of Branch's issues. Givens would be here now.

Branch royally screwed NE this off season. Not only did he wait until the Givens thing played out to make his unhappiness known, but he advised Javon Walker to not come to NE. I do think that NE was at fault for not knowing that the 5th year bothered Branch so much, but once NE's offer did not waive that year, Branch never again had any intention of signing with NE. I don't know Deion personally, but it doesn't take a genius to see that his every move from that point on was to get out of NE.

Walker was pushed away by Branch. Peerless Price was all set to sign here as a reclamation project before Buffalo came in with an outrageous offer. Porter and Moss have proven that they aren't exactly great options themselves.

Add to that the fact that NE drafted receivers with their 2nd, 3rd and 4th picks in the draft along with a RB that was needed even more and I have to ask, "How did NE waste a year of Brady's prime again?"

***BelichickFan*** · 12-12-2006, 01:08 PM

I'm with you guys. The plan was to have Branch, Caldwell, Brown and a developing Jackson this year. Along with 2 good TE and a strong running game. That's not a wasted year. OK, so Branch refused to honor his contract and Jackson missed all of training camp. Sucks for us. But it happens. You can't plan around everything.

RayClay · 12-12-2006, 01:14 PM

3 super bowl rings and we're 9-4 now.

It's not that I'm happy but........

Dan Marino
Sonny Jurgensen
Dan Fouts
Peyton Manning........................................... .....

Krugman · 12-12-2006, 01:21 PM

I like your line of thinking,oswlek.I cant see the Pats planning to toss this season away,that makes no sense at all.In the preseason,things didnt look too bad,Dillon was healthy,Maroney was on board,Chad Jackson looked like he would be decent,Watson was set to have a good year.Branch was still a possibility.Sometimes the guys you sign work out(Brian Cox,Harrison,Vrabel)and sometimes they dont (Beisel,Starks).But its tough to see that sometimes,and then you add injuries to key players,it can hurt a team.
I didnt know that bit about Branch and Walker,thats interesting.

***cstjohn17*** · 12-12-2006, 01:24 PM

Sorry, I am with Callahan. I am tired of hearing how "they almost signed this guy.." or "they wanted this guy", in the end their WRs are among the worst in the league. Branch's departure hurt them, but the issue could have been solved by working harder to sign him. All the talk of negotiating with Branch sets a bad precedent is garbage. They caved to Seymour last year (no Branch is not is Seymour's class but he was far and away their best receiver). Each negotiation is unique. In 2005 even with Branch and Givens they tried to sign Mason so they did see some need to improve the unit.

None of us have all the information that SP and BB have, they are the professionals, they should have developed contingencies for these situations. Drafting an undersized TE in the 3rd round and even more undersized out of position TE in the 4th round doesn't help the WRs.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oswlek

I still vehemently disagree with those that claim that NE willingly chose to be in the situation that they are in. I don't mean to offend anyone that does not share my opinion, but I think that it reeks of being uninformed when people say that they shouldn't have let this guy go or whatever.

With regard to Givens, NE had one hand tied behind their backs. They couldn't give him what the market was because that would have ended any chance wahtsoever to sign Branch. Had NE had any inkling of Branch's issues. Givens would be here now.

Branch royally screwed NE this off season. Not only did he wait until the Givens thing played out to make his unhappiness known, but he advised Javon Walker to not come to NE. I do think that NE was at fault for not knowing that the 5th year bothered Branch so much, but once NE's offer did not waive that year, Branch never again had any intention of signing with NE. I don't know Deion personally, but it doesn't take a genius to see that his every move from that point on was to get out of NE.

Walker was pushed away by Branch. Peerless Price was all set to sign here as a reclamation project before Buffalo came in with an outrageous offer. Porter and Moss have proven that they aren't exactly great options themselves.

Add to that the fact that NE drafted receivers with their 2nd, 3rd and 4th picks in the draft along with a RB that was needed even more and I have to ask, "How did NE waste a year of Brady's prime again?"

RayClay · 12-12-2006, 01:25 PM

So the other 25 or so teams below us, many with glamorous and wonderful wide receivers, wouldn't be happy to be 9-4?

RayClay · 12-12-2006, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cstjohn17

Sorry, I am with Callahan. I am tired of hearing how "they almost signed this guy.." or "they wanted this guy", in the end their WRs are among the worst in the league. Branch's departure hurt them, but the issue could have been solved by working harder to sign him. All the talk of negotiating with Branch sets a bad precedent is garbage. They caved to Seymour last year (no Branch is not is Seymour's class but he was far and away their best receiver). Each negotiation is unique. In 2005 even with Branch and Givens they tried to sign Mason so they did see some need to improve the unit.

None of us have all the information that SP and BB have, they are the professionals, they should have developed contingencies for these situations. Drafting an undersized TE in the 3rd round and even more undersized out of position TE in the 4th round doesn't help the WRs.

I thought they drafted the, (arguably) top WR in the draft?

Let me check my draft board again.

***DarrylS*** · 12-12-2006, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cstjohn17

Sorry, I am with Callahan. I am tired of hearing how "they almost signed this guy.." or "they wanted this guy", in the end their WRs are among the worst in the league. Branch's departure hurt them, but the issue could have been solved by working harder to sign him. All the talk of negotiating with Branch sets a bad precedent is garbage. They caved to Seymour last year (no Branch is not is Seymour's class but he was far and away their best receiver). Each negotiation is unique. In 2005 even with Branch and Givens they tried to sign Mason so they did see some need to improve the unit.

So tired of hearing the crap about Branch could be the savior of this offense, it is about as tiring of blaming McDaniels for our current problems. First of all they could not renegotiate with one of the regular players, they made an exception for our all pro #93, but to tear up the last year of his contract is not something that would sit well with the other 52 guys on the team. Branch is doing ok, but not spectacular in Seattle. Read where the last two weeks he came up short in 1st down sitz. Instead of wouldof, couldof need to deal with the realities of what is. At best Branch is a receiver who excelled in this system as we played to his strengths. If Branch was here would there be less false starts, turnovers and the rest of the problems we are facing, I think not a lot of folks need to take a reality pill here.. it is what it is.