Troy Brown's surprise cut pick: Laurence Maroney

[JackBauer]

But to answer your question, "no", whether Maroney makes the team or not, will not affect the team at all this season. His fragile nature, dancing in the whole, fumbling problems and spotty pass protection, make him a below average RB.

That's completely absurd.

 

[crowell33]

That's completely absurd.

I truly do want Maroney to make the team. But in the last 24 hours, Troy Brown, Albert Breer and Michael Felger have all speculated about Maroney not making the 53 man roster, on a team desperate for youth at the RB position.
He also has a small salary.

Does that tell you that he is above average?

 

[crowell33]

That's completely absurd.

I'll also direct you to the scouts at Pro Football Focus, who grade Maroney as by far the worst RB on the Patriots ( yes that includes BJGE as well ).

 

[patsinthesnow]

I truly do want Maroney to make the team. But in the last 24 hours, Troy Brown, Albert Breer and Michael Felger have all speculated about Maroney not making the 53 man roster, on a team desperate for youth at the RB position.
He also has a small salary.

Does that tell you that he is above average?

Thank you for your non-biased reply and to someone who is speaking the truth. It is impossible calling Maroney above-average, even average is pushing it. If he's on the team or not, it will not impact the pat's success.

 

[JackBauer]

I truly do want Maroney to make the team. But in the last 24 hours, Troy Brown, Albert Breer and Michael Felger have all speculated about Maroney not making the 53 man roster, on a team desperate for youth at the RB position.
He also has a small salary.

Does that tell you that he is above average?

I was referring to your claim that keeping or cutting Maroney wouldn't affect the team either way.

The opinion of those three have no bearing on Maroney's qualities as a player. He just happens to be a convenient scapegoat.

Lastly, if the team is "desperate for youth" at the RB position, why would they cut the youngest non-scrub RB they have?

 

[JackBauer]

I'll also direct you to the scouts at Pro Football Focus, who grade Maroney as by far the worst RB on the Patriots ( yes that includes BJGE as well ).

The "scouts" on PFF have Justin Forsett rated as the #7 RB in the league, rank David Garrard above Tom Brady, rate Jerricho Cotchery and Malcolm Floyd over Miles Austin, and have Asomugha as the 17th best CB in the league.

 

[Armen Da Pats Fan]

Why do we always have to do this?

There are two clear camps on this board:

The Maroney Fans, who think he is just ready to turn the corner and become the next Walter Payton...

And the rest of us, who have watched him struggle through 4 seasons, never really reaching his potential and continuously disappointing us with flashes of brilliance followed by maddening periods of mediocrity. (I belong to this group).

My ideal situation would be to get an every down horse of a back and groom Maroney into Faulk's role of third-down/change-of-pace/pass-catching/screen type guy.

If Maroney was cut in camp, it would not surprise because it would mean the powers that be in the Pats organization finally see what the rest of us see.

Then again, they seem to be very committed to this kid, not to mention there are no suitable replacements for him on the roster, so Laurence making the roster would not be a surprise either.

I love BenJarvusGreenEllis, but he just has not shown that he can be the every down back either, although, in fairness, he really has not had a true shot to show that.

He is the latest Shockmain Davis - thrill us in pre-season, disappear when the real games start!

Bottom line is we are stuck with SLoMo.

Belichick saw no need to draft a top tier running back depsite having the picks to do so.

So here we are: Another season of dancing behind the line, key fumbles lost at the most damaging times, no real pile-pushing from the backfield - all that is Laurence Maroney!

The running backs give me agita. I prefer to concentrate on the linebackers - now there is an exciting group!

 

[JackBauer]

Bottom line is we are stuck with SLoMo.

That's cute. Kind of reminds me of Big Poo$ey.

One thing I think we can all agree on is that your player evaluation skills are sorely lacking. Which is probably why you feel the need to mischaracterize the position of the pro-Maroney fans on this board.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

There are two clear camps on this board:

The Maroney Fans, who think he is just ready to turn the corner and become the next Walter Payton...

And the rest of us, who have watched him struggle through 4 seasons, never really reaching his potential and continuously disappointing us with flashes of brilliance followed by maddening periods of mediocrity. (I belong to this group).

Hyperbole ill suits your unpersuasive arguement. Even those of us occasionally defending LoMo stipulate that he has struggled while sometimes showing flashes of brilliance and some mediocrity. Point being he is an adequate and a necessary contributor given the age of the rest of the RB crop.

Yeah, in a perfect world BB woulda drafted Curtis Martin Release 2.0 with a middle round pick. He didn't in this universe. Given what we have, we need his contribution.

 

[Deus Irae]

I truly do want Maroney to make the team. But in the last 24 hours, Troy Brown, Albert Breer and Michael Felger have all speculated about Maroney not making the 53 man roster, on a team desperate for youth at the RB position.
He also has a small salary.

Does that tell you that he is above average?

His salary is that of a late first round draft pick. How is that at all relevant?

 

[Leave No Doubt]

Re: Troy Brown: Maroney to be cut

"Troy. It's Bill. Hey look — I need to light a nice big fire under Maroney's butt, so next time you do that media thing, stir it up a bit, OK?"

"You got Bingo, Bill."

"Thanks, Troy."

LOL :yeahthat:. I actually wouldn't be shocked if that's how it went

 

[Sicilian]

The Maroney Fans, who think he is just ready to turn the corner and become the next Walter Payton...

Should have stopped reading here but I'm a sucker. This is the most inaccurate portrayal of the Maroney supporters I've ever heard.

It's as absurd as me claiming that all the Maroney bashers are just too picky and because he's NOT Walter Payton they'll never be happy.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

So you think Moss, Welker, Warren, Bodden and Mayo, just for starters, all have a chance in hell of being cut?

While the chances of any of those you mentioned getting cut are near or at zero,I can't say that about the near future - How many of us thought in 2007 that the highest sought after FA stud in AD would not finish his contract and would end on him being released and in a foul finish in NE 3 years later? - I didn't and neither did you or anyone here.

 

[Kontradiction]

I just can't wait to the Maroney era next year is over. I can't stand the constant defenders on this forum for the last two years of a mediocre RB whom the majority posting here want him gone.

Be honest to yourself, if he was cut, would it affect the team at all? This is a passing-oriented team, and Fred Taylor/Sammy Morris with Faulk as 3rd down would be enough for this team.

You mean the same Fred Taylor who missed 10 games last season and the same Sammy Morris who missed 4 games last season? Yeah, I think the Patriots will be missing something if they cut a young, 750-800 yard RB, who was the best thing about the running game last season.

 

[crowell33]

That's cute. Kind of reminds me of Big Poo$ey.

One thing I think we can all agree on is that your player evaluation skills are sorely lacking. Which is probably why you feel the need to mischaracterize the position of the pro-Maroney fans on this board.

OK JackBauer, I just have to ask this...........What is it that makes you think Maroney is a productive back?

a. Quickness through the hole? ( no dancing )
b. Toughness ( lower the shoulder to power forward, not run out of bounds)
c. Ball Security
d. Durability ( stays injury free )
e. Pass Protection

 

[Patspsycho]

You mean the same Fred Taylor who missed 10 games last season and the same Sammy Morris who missed 4 games last season? Yeah, I think the Patriots will be missing something if they cut a young, 750-800 yard RB, who was the best thing about the running game last season.

Perhaps he would be replaced with something better?

My question is- if he was the best thing about the running game last season, why was he benched in the Baltimore playoff game? Doesn't that speak volumes?

 

[JackBauer]

OK JackBauer, I just have to ask this...........What is it that makes you think Maroney is a productive back?

a. Quickness through the hole? ( no dancing )
b. Toughness ( lower the shoulder to power forward, not run out of bounds)
c. Ball Security
d. Durability ( stays injury free )
e. Pass Protection

He's decently fast through whatever holes this par to subpar OL opens for him; he showed good toughness last season and generally; throughout the entirety of his career he has fumbled very rarely; like many RBs, he's had his share of injuries; he's decent at pass protection.

That said, how is any of that relevant?

 

[crowell33]

He's decently fast through whatever holes this par to subpar OL opens for him; he showed good toughness last season and generally; throughout the entirety of his career he has fumbled very rarely; like many RBs, he's had his share of injuries; he's decent at pass protection.

That said, how is any of that relevant?

(As you said earlier in this thread )...........that's completely absurd.

 

[JackBauer]

(As you said earlier in this thread )...........that's completely absurd.

Excellent point.

I certainly can't argue with that logic.

 

[Kontradiction]

Perhaps he would be replaced with something better?

My question is- if he was the best thing about the running game last season, why was he benched in the Baltimore playoff game? Doesn't that speak volumes?

I don't really see anything better becoming available before the season starts. As for the Baltimore game, it wouldn't be out of the ordinary to perhaps assume that he got injured in his only attempt. I wouldn't think that we would bring Kevin Faulk in to rush 14 times if Maroney is fully able to do so (even though the running game kind of went down the tubes when we fell behind). If Maroney was healthy and they benched him in favor of our best third down back (who is serviceable, at best, as a main running threat), that would speak bigger volumes about the coaching staff and their decision making last season to me.