Off The Grid

Simmer Down, Opinion Nazi!!

Last I heard: In America, people are entitled to their opinions, Brother Chair.

If that's too much for you to handle, I believe that the "Block" feature is still operational.

Honestly, man: I have great respect for you...But telling people what to say??

You're better than that.

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Love HURTS!!

FortressX

JAG = Just A Guy.

supafly

Don't get me wrong, FTW, I really like Gaffney. I just think his injury kind of clouded the picture, especially if MoLewisRocks is correct that it is a quad injury that may take several weeks before he can fully extend himself again.

As far as the receiving depth goes, a WR4 will be added very soon, or at least I would imagine after the first game in a worst case scenario. I'm actually guessing that it may be one of Branch or Gaffney.

In the meantime, we still have the top 3 receiving options from last year in Welker, Gronk, and Hernandez. They have also added Llyod to the mix to improve that area. Edelman has appeared to have a better camp and is supposedly improved his route running/development skills.

There's also the fact that the screen game will be back too. All of the statistics point to last season being a very 'down' year in the RB passes, so I would expect that to go back to normal. IIRC off the top of my head, last season we only had approx. 30 or so RB passes caught, whereas most years the number has been anywhere from 55-75 or so.

There are still plenty of receiving options right now. I think many are making the mistake of simply looking at the WR depth as of the current moment, and even that will change very soon, most likely after the week one salaries are not guaranteed any longer.

At any rate, the depth will be addressed, even though the WR3 position has only produced minimal numbers in the past 5 seasons anyway. In my opinion it's a major overreaction and Belichick simply took advantage of having some receiving beasts in our TE's to save a roster spot or two, but he'll most likely address the depth that everyone is so concerned about.

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Patiently waiting to defend the next "bubble" player in this summer's training camp.....

supafly

I don't think the dead cap money has anything of a relationship to this specific issue, but I do get your point. The dead cap money is lost, but you have to still move on and make good moves for the team. They shouldn't throw the whole season due to a couple/few situations where they lost some dead cap money. In Fanane's situation, they are trying to recoup some of that anyway, and I have a feeling they may be successful.

I certainly don't think it would help though, especially considering that Belichick was willing to shave off money wherever he could re: Hoyer etc.

Getting through the first game without Branch or Gaffney shouldn't really be much of a problem, and that's IF Gaffney is even ready to come back by then. He's injured, so I don't hardly blame them for that move.

Branch may have a nod and wink deal to return as depth in a week, or they could improve their depth altogether somehow with another player. I wouldn't put it past them.

At any rate the WR3-4 position hasn't really produced much of anything anyway, so it's just a depth move in the big picture.

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Patiently waiting to defend the next "bubble" player in this summer's training camp.....

scout

To your point, or maybe extended. BB might be looking at the first game and deciding who he wants for matchups. Makes cuts just like its' during the year. We should have a name for this: suggestions....Ventronschuffle ?

Armchair Quarterback

Neither one is a special player. Branch was always good, not great but that was a long time ago.

Gaffney has never been more than an average WR regardless of what his stats were last year. Washington's passing game was awful. Stats mean little.

The Patriots will add someone at WR. These guys are far from irreplaceable.

Armchair Quarterback

Whether they re-sign Branch or Gaffney or sign someone else, the results will likely be the same. Do you really think Gaffney or Branch at this point are above average receivers?

Armchair Quarterback

People are entitled to their opinions and my opinion is that people shouldn't get so upset over the loss (maybe temporary) of some very average or past their prime players. I never told anyone what to say.

1960Pats

I agree that the post was Off The Grid.

Game one for 12AB is almost here... tick tock, tick tock...

KontradictioN

1. Branch is still very effective and knows this offense inside and out. He also has a better connection with Brady than most guys on the team, save Welker. Further, he's a much better outside receiver than Edelman.

2. Gaffney is injured but was coming off of his finest season as a pro.

3. Both Hoyer and Mallett looked like complete ***** this preseason.

The OP is pretty much full of fail.

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CREDIT - Sicilian