MooseKnuckles

Branch in 2006
REC YDS TD
53 725 4

Caldwell in 2006
REC YDS TD
61 760 4

Caldwell did play in 2 more games than Branch, but Rache only put up 10/118/0 in his first 5 games.

Hey .. I'm just sayin

MoLewisrocks

Reche got to play with Tom Brady and be his #1 if he chose to step up. Branch played with Hasselback and Wallace and an injured Hasselback along side 2 established WR's and a WR picked up in the offseason who had a whole camp with the team.

Just sayin... and like BB says it's not what you do in some other system, it's what you do in this system.

That said, after a rough couple of games in which he was nearly MIA, Reche had a nice day today.

PATRIOTS-80

An interesting comparison is that of Reche vs. Givens. I believe BB/SP adequately replaced Given's production.

Reche..............Givens
61 catches........59 catches
760 yards.........738 yards
4 TDs...............2 TD
12.5 yard avg...12.5 yard avg

Here a petition to extend Reche Caldwell's contract!

Kasmir

Final stats not collated, but Caldwell also had more first downs, more receptions over 20 yards, and more receptions over 40 yards than Givens had last year.

And the consensus around the league is that Brady has had an off year. If Brady returns to 2003/4 form and we pair Caldwell with another decent receiver or two, his total production might or might not be up, but he surely would be even more productive on a per play basis.

He will likely never be as productive as Branch was here, but Caldwell is a solid #2 and could be a great #3.

The problem this year's WR game has been (a) loss of Branch, (b) disruption from simultaneously losing Givens, (c) Brady's mysterious problems. Not Reche Caldwell.

Caldwell has been by far the best WR free agent we've brought in here in the 7 Belichick years, with the arguable exception of David Patten.

Ignore the stats say if you must. You have to be blinded by your anger at the front office not to have seen this with your own eyes.

The skeptics will now say wait for the playoffs, but with all the abuse heaped on Caldwell this year, it's about time he got his props for what he's already contributed. If Chad Jackson had exactly the same year as Caldwell has had he'd be lionized.

old 55

I have to give Caldwell a great deal of credit because he looked like crap in preseason.

He obviously has worked hard and has contributed well throughout the year with the exception of a couple of no show games. But the same can be said of the entire team since we have seen some very uncharacteristic performances this year.

Lets hope CJ is working hard to get better too. A veteran WR might be nice in the offseason too. Maybe one with some height too.

SoonerPatriot

I'm thrilled with Caldwell. But I wouldn't read too much into Branch's numbers. He played 2 less games. If Branch had chosen to return to the Pats he would have solid numbers.

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Sean Pa Patriot

Caldwell was ok, he might have been even better if Branch was here.. We have to still get another WR next yr ..

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We going to take it one game at a time

Fixit

"Okay?" Man, you're a tough grader. Caldwell exceeded everyone's expectations. Not just his numbers, which are very respectable, but his effort, which I saw from the beginning of the season. Coming back to balls, taking hits, blocking...I've become a fan of his, especially since he shut his eyelids a little more.

shmessy

For the Patriots, Caldwell was the player that most stepped up and exceeded expectations this year. I can't think of one other player who exceeded expectations as much as he did.

Caldwell was brought in a Givens' substitute (not Branch's) this year and nobody (I admit I didn't) believed he was a decent sub for Givens.

In his first season with Brady he matched Givens' production in his best of four seasons with Brady. And he did it at 10% of Givens' cost this year.

On top of that, he took the most hellacious hit I've ever seen a WR take in the NFL.......and he came right back up and didn't lose his nerve.

Thanks for a great year Reche!

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Digger44

I guess I just cannot understand where you are coming from. Reche deserves major props for coming this far, however I don't know where you are getting that the league consensus is that Brady is having an off year. In fact, it is just the opposite. The consensus was that he should not have been snubbed for the ProBowl. The majority of media outlets, espn, foxsports, nesn, si, cbs sportsline, all talk about our poor WRs. The offensive problems are no mystery. Just listen to what the major media is saying and not silly Boston sports radio. For most of the season the WRs have not picked up the timing or the routes. Brady throws to a particular spot and expects the WR to be there. For much of the season they have not been there. Reche has come around to the new system and is doing very well.

The comparrison of Reche to Dieon is ridiculous. You need to look past the stats and get a grip on the actual situations.