Al Johnson...Cut Thursday..but overlooked...what does it mean??

[Christopher_Price]

That is interesting about TBC.
BTW, do you know when Burgess is expected in camp?

If all goes well (physical, etc.) we've been told he will be there Sunday.

 

[Christopher_Price]

Johnson had missed all but a practice or two of camp.

ProFootballWeekly.com - NFL transactions for August 6, 2009



Any report of him being traded to the Raiders is inaccurate. The Patriots never reported that, and I distinctly remember their intial tweet reading: "C Al Johnson released; Pats about to acquire a veteran defensive player."

Pats1, thanks for this info -- knew he was dinged up, but I don't know how many people were aware of the injury settlement part of the story...

 

[DaBruinz]

If all goes well (physical, etc.) we've been told he will be there Sunday.

Chris- speaking for myself, I really appreciate the insight.

Can you give us some insight on guys like McGowan, Ciurui, and Tank Williams?

Have they been getting work primarily on special teams? Or have they been seeing time in sub-packages as well.

 

[captain stone]

I believe that AJ's release was due to 3 things:

1) Somebody had to go to make room on the 80 for Burgess, and even after his release, there are still 15 OLmen in TC, ass-u-ming that OBurger & LeVoir return soon.

2) Out of those backup-caliber OLmen (besides Hoch, SeaBass & OBurger, whom I consider all locks - for better or worse), AJ might've carried the largest cap hit, which is now at a premium.

3) As someone already mentioned, you can't make the club from the tub. Unfortunately for him - and us, AJ just didn't allow himself enough time to show Bill that he was worth keeping when cap room became a concern.

As MGT has stated before, we need to get bigger at Center. Koppen is getting pushed around more often (I still can't get that goal-line drive @SD out of my mind). I had hoped that AJ would become the big, starting-caliber backup C/G that Hochstein could only dream of becoming. Alas, when it comes to his backups, Bill seems to prefer keeping UDFA-talented JAGs instead of proven, bigger - and more expensive - vets.

 

[Deus Irae]

I can give you a quick, sugar-free breakdown:

Thomas -- fantastic--midseason form. Blowing guys up all over the place.
Woods -- average--holding his own in drills.
Banta-Cain -- struggaling (think Joe Namath and Suzy Kolber...) I'm thinking he might not make it through camp. I feel bad for Tully, I really do. He's a great guy, but it may not work for him in New England this year.
Ninkovich -- nondescript, at least to this point. Haven't seen him line up at OLB at all, in fact. Mostly just on special teams.

Thanks for the info.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

That is serious not good news about TBC's ineptitude, especially since it's not a one of observation but an assessment of 9 days in camp. This from a guy more familiar with the Pats style than the newbies. Bummah.


Bawk! BAAAAWK!!! The Sky Is Falling. (I can't help myself)

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Stan,

I see folks have been reminded that Al Johnson got an "injury Settlement" and was released, he may be available later. He was obviously the guy whom BB felt would take the longest to recover, and who had the least time on the field to show what he could do. The fact of his release should have been pretty non-controversial, revisiting it now pretty much points that out as most folks aware of the injury settlement have thread-jacked you.

Reports have Wendell getting the first team reps at RG when Neal is out and with Orhnberger on PUP. That suggests he's moved ahead of Yates, Connelly, and Hochstein. Capt. Downer, Dante Scarnecchia called, he meant to read your notes on undersized JAGs, but maintenance forgot to leave spare toilet paper and it was an emergency - he's really sorry, but very thankful for your timing.

The battle for reserve interior OL is shaping up to new kid Wendell vs the old threesome of Hochstein, Yates, and Connelly. Until Bussey gets out of the Trainer's room and Orhnberger comes off PUP, it's a four horse race with Wendell ahead by a nose.

 

[patfanken]

I can give you a quick, sugar-free breakdown:

Thomas -- fantastic--midseason form. Blowing guys up all over the place.
Woods -- average--holding his own in drills.
Banta-Cain -- struggaling (think Joe Namath and Suzy Kolber...) I'm thinking he might not make it through camp. I feel bad for Tully, I really do. He's a great guy, but it may not work for him in New England this year.
Ninkovich -- nondescript, at least to this point. Haven't seen him line up at OLB at all, in fact. Mostly just on special teams.

Chris, do you get a better view of the LB drills than someone from the stands. The OLB do their pass rush drill on the far field from the stands, so I never get a good look. However on what I CAN see, I have an entirely different view of the OLBs. (6 practices)

Thomas - fine tuning, constantly talking to BB about details
Woods - The most consistent OLB in camp
Banta Cain - I wish I could see the rush drill better, but I origninally thought he was brought back for STs in the first place.
Ninkovich- I actually thought he has decent explosion in the 2 practices I've seen him, where i"ve seen him as an OLB4 ``. Also might have some position flexibility since I've seen him a few times with his hand on the ground as a 4-3 DE. In other words better than I thought

 

[JSn]

Don't let him fool you, Chris spends ALL his time with the cheerleaders or sipping Latte's with the Krafts.

 

[jmt57]

Al was cut because he had decided to devote time to his new career:

 

[captain stone]

Stan,


Reports have Wendell getting the first team reps at RG when Neal is out and with Orhnberger on PUP. That suggests he's moved ahead of Yates, Connelly, and Hochstein. Capt. Downer, Dante Scarnecchia called, he meant to read your notes on undersized JAGs, but maintenance forgot to leave spare toilet paper and it was an emergency - he's really sorry, but very thankful for your timing.

The battle for reserve interior OL is shaping up to new kid Wendell vs the old threesome of Hochstein, Yates, and Connelly. Until Bussey gets out of the Trainer's room and Orhnberger comes off PUP, it's a four horse race with Wendell ahead by a nose.

Glad to be of service; I prefer the 2-ply notes myself.

In the aforementioned 4-horse race, I'm cheering for Connelly, but my money's with Hochstein, and I would be very disappointed if the winner is Yates or Wendell, who makes Koppen look as big as Al Johnson.

 

[Pats726]

Glad to be of service; I prefer the 2-ply notes myself.

In the aforementioned 4-horse race, I'm cheering for Connelly, but my money's with Hochstein, and I would be very disappointed if the winner is Yates or Wendell, who makes Koppen look as big as Al Johnson.

You must be looking in fun house mirrors...Wendell and Yates are more or less Koppen's height.. I undesrtand your thinking...but..I tend to agree with Connolly or Hochstein over the latter two...Wendell could be on the PSqd so that would not be bad...

 

[Ochmed Jones]

I can give you a quick, sugar-free breakdown:

Thomas -- fantastic--midseason form. Blowing guys up all over the place.
Woods -- average--holding his own in drills.
Banta-Cain -- struggaling (think Joe Namath and Suzy Kolber...) I'm thinking he might not make it through camp. I feel bad for Tully, I really do. He's a great guy, but it may not work for him in New England this year.
Ninkovich -- nondescript, at least to this point. Haven't seen him line up at OLB at all, in fact. Mostly just on special teams.

Wow! Very insightful. Thanks, it makes me wonder what BB was thinking at draft time.

 

[spacecrime]

Alas, when it comes to his backups, Bill seems to prefer keeping UDFA-talented JAGs instead of proven, bigger - and more expensive - vets.

Capt. Downer, Dante Scarnecchia called, he meant to read your notes on undersized JAGs, but maintenance forgot to leave spare toilet paper and it was an emergency - he's really sorry, but very thankful for your timing.

Now be fair, BOR. The carping captain did not blame Dante. He placed the blame squarely on BB's incompetent shoulders. I'm sure Captain Contrary feels that Dante is doing the best he can with those second day draftees and UDFAs that BB (and SP) selected in their collective personnel ignorance.

Even worse for the military moaner, when BB saves money on less expensive OLinemen, does he spend it all on one megacontract superstar like most other teams? No, he spreads the money around to other areas. Like those perennial losers the Steelers and Colts, BB puts money into the QB position, and into useless places like the DL.

 

[captain stone]

Wow! Very insightful. Thanks, it makes me wonder what BB was thinking at draft time.

It makes me wonder, too.

Over the last 4 drafts, Bill has passed over some guys who, while maybe never becoming All-Pro, probably could've helped us more than those currenly in TC not named Adalius Thomas & Derrick Burgess.

 

[DaBruinz]

It makes me wonder, too.

Over the last 4 drafts, Bill has passed over some guys who, while maybe never becoming All-Pro, probably could've helped us more than those currenly in TC not named Adalius Thomas & Derrick Burgess.

Yeah, you keep spouting the same garbage over and over, yet you have NOTHING but your conjecture to support it. You've never interviewed the guys nor sat down and had them dissect game film for you or had them do drills for you, yet you know better than BB.

 

[Lloyd_Christmas]

Wow! Very insightful. Thanks, it makes me wonder what BB was thinking at draft time.

This is a very curious post. I would love to know how Chris' assessment of 4 outside linebackers makes you wonder what BB was thinking at draft time. Since the Patriots did not draft any of those guys except Banta-Cain in the 7th round, I can only assume you mean that BB SHOULD have drafted an OLB in this year's draft... not that he screwed up on drafting the players mentioned.

Although BB did draft McKenzie in the 3rd round this year and he drafted Crable in the 3rd round last year. Neither were talked about in Chris' post.

Furthermore, we just traded for Burgess. BB may have been working on that trade and/or other trades we don't know about and for some reason never materialized.

I am interested to know what you meant though.

 

[Lloyd_Christmas]

It makes me wonder, too.

Over the last 4 drafts, Bill has passed over some guys who, while maybe never becoming All-Pro, probably could've helped us more than those currenly in TC not named Adalius Thomas & Derrick Burgess.

Well, this is a fine piece of Monday morning quarterbacking.

You could easily analyze any team's draft two or threee years later and laugh at who they passed over and who they actually drafted.

Choosing well IN THE MOMENT is much more difficult and I am willing to bet that the Patriot's level of success if very competitive compared to other teams.

BB has coached our team to 3 Championships and appears to have us very well positioned for a 4th this year. Our team is very competitive every year. If that is not good enough for you, then I submit that you are more Captain Veruca Salt than you are Captain Stone.

 

[tanked_as_usual]

Yeah, you keep spouting the same garbage over and over, yet you have NOTHING but your conjecture to support it. You've never interviewed the guys nor sat down and had them dissect game film for you or had them do drills for you, yet you know better than BB.

LMFAO..........one can certainly make that assertion when BB makes moves to acquire chad jackson instead of demeco ryans or d'qwell jackson........or draft a guy like jackson instead of thomas howard........now its not 100% guaranteed that these guys would fit the scheme, but it is a safe bet that they would be contributing substantially more than jackson......

DB, there's nothing wrong with questioning moves, no matter how much of a hissy fit you throw

 

[DaBruinz]

LMFAO..........one can certainly make that assertion when BB makes moves to acquire chad jackson instead of demeco ryans or d'qwell jackson........or draft a guy like jackson instead of thomas howard........now its not 100% guaranteed that these guys would fit the scheme, but it is a safe bet that they would be contributing substantially more than jackson......

DB, there's nothing wrong with questioning moves, no matter how much of a hissy fit you throw

Tanked - How is it a safe bet that they would be contributing more? Can you see alternate realities where those players are playing for BB and the Patriots? I didn't think so.

What you fail to understand, Tanked, is that Stone has gone out of his way to say that BB sucks at drafting.

What Stone and others have continously failed at is the understand that these players get interviewed just like in any other business. And like in any other business, people can ace the interview and be lousy performers or blow the interview and go on to work for 30 years at another company and be one of their best employees. Its one of the things that gets over-looked by almost every draftnik.