Whence Ron Brace

[FredFromDartmouth]

Did my buddy, gasp, fail the conditioning test?

 

[SanAngeloState]

someone said non-football related injury. Maybe they can trade him if he doesn't work out. I would prefer that to an outright cut.

Seems they have a lot of guys on the DL this year.

 

[RayClay]

Did my buddy, gasp, fail the conditioning test?

I posted a link saying he has a non football injury, but i don't know what that means and I'll be damned if I know where. I'll repost here if i can find it.

 

[BradyFTW!]

He's injured, most of the TC reports have been mentioning it.

 

[RayClay]

Actually, I won't bother. Put Ron Brace in a google news search and you'll come up with tidbits.

Aiken Jenkins and Brace were on the NFI list and Aikens just came off. Herald says minor injury, BB says day to day.

It's just snippets, so I'm not going to pull quotes, but no one's implying he flunked the test and a Worcester writer even stated he doubted it because he was in great shape in June.

Like I said, put his name or NFI patriots in google news and you get lots of snippets and you can read the tea leaves yourself and see what you think.

 

[Fencer]

BB says day to day.

Oh no! My condolences to the Brace family!

 

[efin98]

Did my buddy, gasp, fail the conditioning test?

Here's the quote from the Worcester T&G writer:

All three players didn't practice today and spent the double sessions doing conditioning work on the sidelines. It's not known whether they're nicked up or failed to pass their team-administered physical and/or conditioning test.

Considering Aiken was a team captain last season and Brace looked to be in great shape at minicamp in June, the former reason seems more likely than the latter.

http://www.telegram.com/article/20100729/NEWS/100729629/1009/SPORTS

One from SMY:

while Wes Welker, Ron Brace, Thomas Clayton, Bret Lockett and Kyle Love were all on the field in shorts and t-shirts and were put through their paces by the conditioning staff before watching the action.

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/extra_points/2010/07/quick_hits_from_4.html


And the one that actually gives the real reason for him being out:

– Brace’s injury is not believed to be serious, as he’s been suffering from cramps.

http://www.bostonherald.com/blogs/sports/rap_sheet/?p=7907&srvc=sports&position=recent

It is early in camp, he was looking in shape in practices prior...once again your sick obsession with Brace is getting the better of you.

 

[Fencer]

As per Bruschi's recent comments, guys who are big FOR THEIR POSITION GROUPS might get a little latitude for struggling with the conditioning tests.

No mercy if you can't pass it, but the slate might get wiped clean of style points if and when you squeak through.

Not a lot of style points in the test anyway; it's pretty binary.

 

[IllegalContact]

Brace is a bust

Some people knew that a long time ago

 

[Sciz]

Yeah, let's judge every draft pick after just over a season. He's playing at one of the hardest positions to enter the NFL at, in addition to switching schemes. I'll give up on him when he has done nothing after his second season (or is cut before then). Right now is way too early though.

 

[efin98]

Yeah, let's judge every draft pick after just over a season. He's playing at one of the hardest positions to enter the NFL at, in addition to switching schemes. I'll give up on him when he has done nothing after his second season (or is cut before then). Right now is way too early though.

I wouldn't give up on him after his 2nd season either...unless the guy blows easy tackles, can't shake blocks, can't get at the QB or block up the run the way they need or simply is too damn fat or slow to play in their defense they keep him for a couple of more years.

But that's not going to stop people from calling him a bust for not being the next Wilfork right out of the chute.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Brace is a bust

Some people knew that a long time ago

He's been in the league for one year. Right now is too early to know, so to have known that 'a long time ago' you'd have to be either an accomplished fortune teller or an unabashed BSer.

 

[patsfan-1982]

he is a 1 gap 4-3 DT that is trying to become a 2 gap 3-4 NT that is not easy to do yes wilfork, did it but he was a top 10 talent that the pats got at #21


i won't lie i did not like the pick last year i wanted Connor Barwin, at he's spot but im not redy to call him a bust yet. i don't think he will be a starter. but he could add good dept later on.

 

[BradyFTW!]

he is a 1 gap 4-3 DT that is trying to become a 2 gap 3-4 NT that is not easy to do yes wilfork, did it but he was a top 10 talent that the pats got at #21


i won't lie i did not like the pick last year i wanted Connor Barwin, at he's spot but im not redy to call him a bust yet. i don't think he will be a starter. but he could add good dept later on.

Agreed, I wasn't a fan of the pick either (I'm still not), but it's just way too early to call the guy a bust. He's not Wilfork, but if he was he wouldn't have been around in the 2nd round, so that shouldn't exactly surprise anyone.

 

[BritPat]

Brace is a bust after just 55 snaps?

Some people simply shouldn't be allowed opinions if that's the product of it.

 

[BritPat]

he is a 1 gap 4-3 DT that is trying to become a 2 gap 3-4 NT that is not easy to do yes wilfork, did it but he was a top 10 talent that the pats got at #21


i won't lie i did not like the pick last year i wanted Connor Barwin, at he's spot but im not redy to call him a bust yet. i don't think he will be a starter. but he could add good dept later on.

See, now that's the really funny thing. I was on the Draft Barwin Committee in the Draft forum, but he had a poor year, yet anyone who mentions taking him over Brace seems to neglect to mention that.

No doubt someone will be along soon to say "I didn't want Brace and said to Draft (insert name of someone who has had a good rookie year here) instead, look at me".

 

[Rob0729]

he is a 1 gap 4-3 DT that is trying to become a 2 gap 3-4 NT that is not easy to do yes wilfork, did it but he was a top 10 talent that the pats got at #21


i won't lie i did not like the pick last year i wanted Connor Barwin, at he's spot but im not redy to call him a bust yet. i don't think he will be a starter. but he could add good dept later on.

People forget Wilfork sucked his rookie season and a decent part of his second year. It wasn't until they changed where he lined up where he actually became a good player. Wilfork was a bust after his first season though.

As for Brace, the guy did play pretty well in spot duty towards the end of the season last year. It is the fourth day of training camp. I wouldn't be ready to give up on him because he is out now.

 

[borg]

Wow....24 hours....48 hours....72 hours....96.......that is some case of cramps. Must be his period.

 

[upstater1]

I agree you can't call Brace a bust, BUT... Belichick may have seen enough to not want to risk parting with either Pryor or Deadrick in favor of Brace. At that point, it will be a numbers game rather than a faith game. Heck, Weston and Richard may be showing BB more promise than Brace at this point. There's no shame in cutting a recent 2nd rounder if it makes the team better.

The Patriots are old up front. The backups show promise. It's going to be a tough decision when you have 4 guys who are 29 or older, and then 4 young guys behind them, with Wright being the only player in the midrange. 9 players. Do you get rid of the old guys or young guys? I presume Richard and Weston can be stashed on the PS. Maybe then one player goes on IR mysteriously (Deadrick, Brace or Pryor).

 

[BelichickFan]

I'm not one to give up on players this quickly but combining his perfornace last year and the fact that he can't even get on the practice field so far this year (maybe that changes today, who knows) and looking at the DL depth - well, I'm considering Edelman a second rounder with the Brace pick and moving on. Hopefully he'll prove me wrong.