Ben Watson

[Patjew]

I love the guy. Good blocker and pass catcher, freakish athleticism. I think he had a very solid 2009 and answered all of the haters. Certainly the haters will disagree, but they have to admit that the Watson complaints were far fewer this year.

It's not fair to punish a guy for being a great athlete and a first round pick. If this guy was a second round pick and ran a 4.7 the complaints would be a lot less. This guy is a good Patriot and I really hope we see him back this year.

(I also like Maroney)

 

[DarrylS]

Am a big fan of Watson, he is not a glamorous TE, but gets the job done..

The only issue with him is how poorly we have underused him and his talents...

 

[IronSheik]

I wonder if Ben Watson wants to stay here after being underused for the past 6 years. Or go somewhere else where he can be more part of the offense.

 

[PatsFanInVa]

Your "great" receiving TEs seem to magically pop up on teams with poor receiving corps... the Chargers and Chiefs, for example, for all those years when Gates/Gonzales were the gold standard. The other great situation is when the QB is young or just not very good, and needs that guaranteed TE pattern to go back to to stay in rhythm. For all our problems we don't have either of those problems, so we never evolved a TE-dependent passing game.

That said, every guy we have isn't automatically the best at a position, "except" blah blah blah. He's good, and plays his role in the offense well. I don't see why the hell we'd want to fix the TE position, it's not broken. (Now and then the drops drive me nuts though, of course.)

 

[PatsFanInVa]

I wonder if Ben Watson wants to stay here after being underused for the past 6 years. Or go somewhere else where he can be more part of the offense.

See previous comment. Bet he's jealous of Gonzo right?

 

[ricogatenby99]

I would love to see Watson back and used correctly, I think hes a great player.

 

[Mack Herron]

Watson will likely leave for a team that will use him better as a receiver. He will be tough to replace, and I think the position will likely be weaker next year.

 

[WelshPat]

I don't think he'll be back next year.

 

[Potter]

I'll never forget that play he made in the Playoff game at Denver. Champ Bailey had no idea what hit him. Should have been a fumble through the endzone (and a touchback).

I hope he comes back, still don't know why we didn't use the TE in the passing game more this year especially as we had no reliable 3rd WR option.

 

[PittPatriot]

Certainly the haters will disagree, but they have to admit that the Watson complaints were far fewer this year.

It's not fair to punish a guy for being a great athlete and a first round pick. If this guy was a second round pick and ran a 4.7 the complaints would be a lot less. This guy is a good Patriot and I really hope we see him back this year.

(I also like Maroney)

Watson will likely leave for a team that will use him better as a receiver. He will be tough to replace, and I think the position will likely be weaker next year.

Good thread, PJ...I agree with you 100%
The only reason complaints are down is because the only year it seems he played less or 'showed up on tv' less was the IR year.
He has some of the greatest plays (screen for TD vs. JAX in playoffs, the Denver Mile-High Run, and Buffalo catches, etc) in recent memory.
I think if he goes to another team (SD, KC, Denver, or even the NYJ), he may break out and we will repent.

 

[Patjew]

My gut feeling is he'll be back. It's not based on anything other than "who else do they have?" Baker and a bag of rice?

 

[Calciumee]

I agree that he should be used more. I would like to see him back and maybe help TFB with the lack of WW!!

 

[ausbacker]

Watson will likely leave for a team that will use him better as a receiver. He will be tough to replace, and I think the position will likely be weaker next year.

You're not employing the New Orleans Saints David Thomas school of thought on this one are you?

Tight End is the least of our worries in needing to upgrade. Employing our tight ends as receivers more often is more crucial than anything else. Then again, that could be a cause and affect deal with Brady's read progression.

 

[satz]

I think we all have seen flashes when he is employed correctly here.There is no LB or Safety who can cover him and he has the speed to go deep in the middle.

He is a great blocker as we forget he was the blocking TE 2yr ago when we ran for 2200 yds.

He will never be a pass catcher here as Wes welker places the same role as a TE. He runs the routes a TE runs and operates in the same area.

 

[PatsFanInVa]

Unless he's in very deep doodoo for some reason, he'll be back. 100+ catches per year is a lot to replace, Edelmensch notwithstanding. The need isn't at a TE with pretty good production when called on, and a high upside; it's at a #3 receiver. Pretty interesting question: can the Pats build an offense for '11 using Welker and Edelmensch both as starters, assuming Edelmensch continues to produce through '10? (And also: will we need a new #1 by then?)

PFnV

 

[WhiZa]

Unless he's in very deep doodoo for some reason, he'll be back. 100+ catches per year is a lot to replace, Edelmensch notwithstanding. The need isn't at a TE with pretty good production when called on, and a high upside; it's at a #3 receiver. Pretty interesting question: can the Pats build an offense for '11 using Welker and Edelmensch both as starters, assuming Edelmensch continues to produce through '10? (And also: will we need a new #1 by then?)

PFnV

Or he'll be gone if he gets a bigger contract. Are the Pats going to pay him #1 TE money? I think they should considering the lack of depth at WR.

 

[pats1]

According to PFW in Progress yesterday, there is a rumor that Watson has already put his house on the market.

 

[Warren94]

and considering he was a holdout. He has had some flashes but if the money is right resign him if not we have larger priorities like Mankins, Ghost and Wilfork.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Watson was a good solider here but IMO he was an average pass-catching TE and a very average blocking TE both in the run game and the passing game. His athletic ability is well documented. Can't get much better than him.

Not sure who is on the market, but the Pats could upgrade at this position.

 

[mgteich]

What we often forget is that it is not up to the patriots. It is not only the patriot needs and wants that are relevant. As Seymour says, there are 31 possibilities if a player wants to exclude one team.

It takes two to make a deal, and there has been no indication that Watson has any interest in continuing as a patriot.

My gut feeling is he'll be back. It's not based on anything other than "who else do they have?" Baker and a bag of rice?