patfanken

....Steve Smith
Terrell Owen
Javon Walker
Deion Branch
Marvin Harrison

According to PFT, Steve Smith just got a new contract befitting his standing among WRs in the league. Now these are now the 5 highest paid WRs in the league, and all I could think of when I saw it, was "what is Deion Branch doing in that company?" The more stuff like this comes out the more I believe the Pats made the right decision in letting him go.

Here is a guy who has never had a 1000 yd season, and by his own admission can be taken out of a game by scheme. A very good little WR, who maximized his potential in the Pats system and with the Pats QB. I wish we could have signed him, but not at a contract that makes him one of the 5 highest paid WRs in the league. When you look at the stats that the OTHER 4 guys have put up, I'm pretty sure Seahawk fans are shaking their heads in shame.

BTW- I am among those who DO NOT believe that having Branch on the team last season would have made the difference in the Pats season. The passing numbers might have been better, but I can't think of a game where his presence would have likely made a difference. It was an injury ridden defense, especially the DBs, that was the straw that broke our backs in Indy. Thinking that the Pats signing of Branch would have made the difference is a real stretch.

The only mistake the Pats FO made was the fact that they lost a player that they didn't have a replacement for in place. Up to this time the Pats FO had prepared well when it looked like they would lose a player. I believe they truly believed Branch would sign. They just misread how much a team would overpay in order to pick up "the final piece" to a superbowl run.

patsox23

Not sure I agree with "he wouldn't have made a difference" - mainly due to how much can change with the slightest of tweaks, and Deion's presence may not have been a "slight" tweak. Having said that, I concur generally with your thesis that the Patriots, while being a bit cuaght with their pants down, were smart to have handled it as they did. And they came out of it with:

1) the freedom to deal their OWN #1 for a better one next year.

2) Randy Moss

3) Donte Stallworth

One could also argue that, along with Stallworth, the money freed up by NOT investing it in #83 helped bring in - or establish a better financial environment in WHICH to bring in - other impact players.

PatsMyBoyz!

Agreed on the Pats' being unprepared for Twig's payday but I too like what it's gotten us.
This season should be a truer test for him,barring another injury of course. He's basically had a year to recover, learn the plays,learn the system,etc so I'll reserve my judgement on him until then but you're point is well-made nonetheless.
How much of Deion's success here was due to our system,our coaching,and our QB remains to be seen. How do we (or can we) determine which players would likely succeed elsewhere and which likely would not? Length of time with the Pats? Draftees vs FA's? Age? Position played? Just throwing it out there. Obviously Benedictieri is in the best position to succeed due to the nature of his position so he's probably an exception,but by and large most teams hold very high expectations for ex-Patriot players and not all have fulfilled these expectations.
TO has had success with 3 teams so he's proven he can play no matter where he is (personality aside). Can't say the same for Deion yet.

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MARQUISE HILL
1982-2007
RIP

questionman

Whe you look at that group, I'd have to say Branch is the only one you don't really need to scheme for. He is a good receiver, but won't beat you single handedly.

theONLYJerseypatsfan

How long until the seahawks dump him to save some money

By the way Patfranken, you win the award for biggest "wow" moment Ive had when reading the beginning of a thread......awesome point

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Tony Westover : "I can understand why LT thought it was disrespectful and unclassy that the Patriots started 'doing the dance Shawne Merriman is known for.' Imagine if the Chargers won and some of their players went and did the Tom Brady dance at the midfield? Oh wait ... Tom Brady doesn't have a dance because he's a class act and doesn't do steroids."

Todd Sullivan: "Marty's challenge of Brown's strip reminded me of Demi Moore's 'I strenuously object' scene in 'A Few Good Men.'"

spacecrime

That's what we all say now, but there were a lot of people who said he was one of the top 5 WRs back before he was traded.

Just recently we had a similar thread in which a lot of people claimed Asante was a top 5 CB. In a year, when a list of the 5 highest paid CBS is listed, we will be saying, "Why is Samuel being paid as one of the top 5 Cbs?"

I like Asante, I hope we keep him, he is good, but he isn't worth being paid top 5 money.

Born_a_Patriot

I hate to say it but in the championship game Branch could have helped get that first down to win the game instead of punting. But we will never know.

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zippo59

I read that too and had the exact same reaction. The other four are ELITE receivers and Deion is a lower tier number one receiver (he wasn't even that in Seattle last year). I thought that when he was here, and I still think it now that he is gone. He did play big in big games when he was here but look who his quarterback was and how he raised his game in big games also. David Givens shares the record for most consecutive playoff games with a touchdown catch. Tom Brady makes all these receivers better in the playoffs, and both receivers fit our system very well. I agree that the Patriots were caught off guard by the hold out and the trade, but they made out well and made the right decision IMO.

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Unofficial Kevin Faulk supporter.

He Ban Me

You may be right, but of course, no one can blame the guy for wanting to get paid. Look out, you have some other guys that might just say, screw the system, I want paid too!

Born_a_Patriot

Yes you can blame him, because he was still under contract. A contract he signed.

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Tonight A Dynasty Is Born