Patriots release Kevin O'Connell

[mgteich]

If cut, perhaps Hoyer would like to go to a team where he might have a chance to fight for a starting spot in the next decade.

That's likely the way it goes, but a PS QB can run the scout team. Depending on how he looks this week it will likely be a matter of whether they believe they can get him to the PS. If they can then that frees up a roster spot early on and they can always activate him if someone comes calling. Players can be signed off the PS to someone's 53. But it's their choice. This kid likey wants to hang around here for a year or two or three...knowing Walter is merely auditioning for another shot as a starter somewhere and he has a legit shot at being Brady's backup come 2010.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

funny hah ha ha.

ok, what about this plan?
1. put Hoyer on the PS.
2. have walters as # 2
3. have Edelman as emergency #3
if something happens to one of them, then Hoyer could be signed to the 53, or BB could just pick someone up off the scrap heap. Like, Huard for instance.

Im not sure we really need to sign another vet at this time. Your thoughts Sir Box?

NE is in a bad situation at the moment:
-- Walter isn't developed to the point I'd be comfortable with him, and he's looking at #2 reps so he'll be slowed further.
-- Hoyer isn't developed to where he's going to bypass Walter.
-- Edelman is not a NE/NFL Quarterback and should only be considered a gimmick option.

NE is shopping for available QBs. They will be looking for a veteran (6+ years experience - and not the kind of experience Walter received from Oakland), they will be looking for someone they think can be successful stepping into Brady's shoes - after that article Bucky posted on reserve QBs, I have to wonder if O'Connell failed his plug in test and the team lost confidence in him.

Feeley is one of the better options, NE has an excess TE which Philly might like, and they don't compete directly with each other. I understand the attraction, it's just a bummer being needy at QB after all these years with Cassel sitting on the bench. There are still cutdowns to come, so NE might claim a youngster off waivers or sign another veteran scrub, but it looks like they will make some QB move.

And regarding the Scout team QB discussion that was born after nash's post - Larry Izzo was a scout team QB, so was BB's youngest in Camp too.

 

[spacecrime]

-- Walter isn't developed to the point I'd be comfortable with him, and he's looking at #2 reps so he'll be slowed further.

NE is shopping for available QBs. They will be looking for a veteran (6+ years experience - and not the kind of experience Walter received from Oakland)

If the problem with Walter is not enough experience in the Pats system, the solution is not to bring in a guy and start at square one.

If the Pats were going to get another QB, I would have thought they would have done it by now. Game 4 is in two days. Last chance for live reps.

I'd have to say that BB has more confidence in Andrew than you do.

Besides, I don't think playing for a bad team is bad experience. Why? I would think the opposite: that playing for a good team isn't necessarily good experience. Remember the Cassel and early Brady debate: Is Cassel that good or is it Moss and Welker? Early Brady was better than he looked because he had Brown and Patten and Coleman to throw to.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

If the problem with Walter is not enough experience in the Pats system, the solution is not to bring in a guy and start at square one.

If the Pats were going to get another QB, I would have thought they would have done it by now. Game 4 is in two days. Last chance for live reps.

I'd have to say that BB has more confidence in Andrew than you do.

Besides, I don't think playing for a bad team is bad experience. Why? I would think the opposite: that playing for a good team isn't necessarily good experience. Remember the Cassel and early Brady debate: Is Cassel that good or is it Moss and Welker? Early Brady was better than he looked because he had Brown and Patten and Coleman to throw to.

Perhaps, but I wasn't expecting NE to sign Walter, so the talk of further QB shopping makes sense - I wouldn't consider Walter a "veteran" in the perspective that BB used (Testeverde/Flutie) when it came to picking someone who could be a resource for Tom initially, then Cassel. Now BB has Hoyer, and an under-developed Walter - and I'm afraid I do have to insist that Oakland is not a breeding ground for good QB habits. That leaves the meat market and some backroom wheeling and dealing - interesting times.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

If cut, perhaps Hoyer would like to go to a team where he might have a chance to fight for a starting spot in the next decade.

As an UDFA he has a better chance of launching a starting career coming from here than if he were cut and picked up as a 3 or 4 (or not) on most any other team. Bill rewards solid performance irrespective of draft status in a way few other HC's do. And this organization has the stability that so many others lack that allow a guy to progress in a system if he is in fact capable of progression.

That is why Walter chose to come here when there were two or three other teams interested who didn't have an entrenched HOF starter clogging their pipeline... He's here to get back on track with a solid foundation.

 

[captain stone]

I think he might be a decent fit for a team who tends to wing it. That's just not how we roll here. He was never gonna amount to anything worthwhile here as a result. And those of you who pine for certain name jags like Leftwich or Garcia or Culpepper need to wrap your heads around that reality. This is a thinking mans team on both sides of the ball - which is why he so valued Tedy.

Don't you believe Garcia to be more of a thinking man's QB than Leftwich, Culpepper et. al.?

The questions that still nag me are: Why release him now? Why not give him one last chance on Thursday, when there are still 3 open spots on the 75? Heck, why are there still 3 open spots on the 75?