This homer is gonna criticize the coach.

[Patriot_in_NY]

I don't sip BB's kool-aid, I gulp it. Always have. That is no secret

Every player decision over the years, I can't think of ONE in the Belichick era where I didn't ultimately side with him or the front office. When players demanded to much, I always take a "don't let the door hit where the good lord split ya" attitude. The coach was always right. In BB we trust, right????

UNTIL NOW

Not that any of you will care, but I've come to the sharp realization after yesterday's game: WE SHOULD HAVE NEVER LET BRANCH WALK. I believe we'd have at least 1 more championship had he stayed here and it was a huge mistake letting him go.

Don't get me wrong, it's not cuz I think he is a world-beater talent-wise. Nor was he particularly "worth" what he was asking back in the day. But it was eminently clear after yesterday's game (a good reminder for those of us that forgot), Dieon is absolutely, hands down.... Brady's ultimate binky.

Brady doesn't need a receiver to make him look good so I'm not saying that, but what I am saying is that for whatever reason, the two have an undeniable connection the comes out when the marbles are on the line and a play needs to be made. They always have, and we've always have known that.

So here goes - Bill, you effed up letting Branch walk back in 2007. There, I said it.

Enough of that crap. At least he was smart enough to make up for it by getting him back. Branch will not be the same player that you saw in Seattle and will return to his former Patriot self. Whatever he's lost in physical gifts due to age, will be made up by his wizzened veteran status.

p.s. I still overwhelmingly agree with just about every other decision the "coach" makes, so this is just a one-time thing. .

 

[The Dynasty]

I don't sip BB's kool-aid, I gulp it. Always have. That is no secret

Every player decision over the years, I can't think of ONE in the Belichick era where I didn't ultimately side with him or the front office. When players demanded to much, I always take a "don't let the door hit where the good lord split ya" attitude. The coach was always right. In BB we trust, right????

UNTIL NOW

Not that any of you will care, but I've come to the sharp realization after yesterday's game: WE SHOULD HAVE NEVER LET BRANCH WALK. I believe we'd have at least 1 more championship had he stayed here and it was a huge mistake letting him go.

Don't get me wrong, it's not cuz I think he is a world-beater talent-wise. Nor was he particularly "worth" what he was asking back in the day. But it was eminently clear after yesterday's game (a good reminder for those of us that forgot), Dieon is absolutely, hands down.... Brady's ultimate binky.

Brady doesn't need a receiver to make him look good so I'm not saying that, but what I am saying is that for whatever reason, the two have an undeniable connection the comes out when the marbles are on the line and a play needs to be made. They always have, and we've always have known that.

So here goes - Bill, you effed up letting Branch walk back in 2007. There, I said it.

Enough of that crap. At least he was smart enough to make up for it by getting him back. Branch will not be the same player that you saw in Seattle and will return to his former Patriot self. Whatever he's lost in physical gifts due to age, will be made up by his wizzened veteran status.

p.s. I still overwhelmingly agree with just about every other decision the "coach" makes, so this is just a one-time thing. .

The Patriots had the best offense in NFL history in 2007 without Branch. That doesnt happen with Branch. If you think we would have won the SB in 2007 with Branch I think you're mistaken. Many media members/players, including Tom Brady have said that the team was better with Moss. Branch is a solid player, but he definitely isnt that big of a game changer that you are saying he is.

 

[Haley]

Do you think it is possible to motivate a player to play for you that wants only to be traded?

....I don't.

 

[Patriot_in_NY]

The Patriots had the best offense in NFL history in 2007 without Branch. That doesnt happen with Branch. If you think we would have won the SB in 2007 with Branch I think you're mistaken. Many media members/players, including Tom Brady have said that the team was better with Moss. Branch is a solid player, but he definitely isnt that big of a game changer that you are saying he is.

Point out where I called him a game-changer? I said he is Brady's binky. There is a difference. I said they would have at least 1 more championship, thinking specifically of the 2006 season, which I think we would have won.

You might hang your hat on that "best offense in NFL history crap", but to me, that season is and will always be a disappointment because of the way it ended. Don't get me wrong. I love the "youtube" highlight reels of all those monster plays too, but in the end, they did not mean sh!t. We did not win the 1 game we needed to.

This team may HAVE BEEN better with Moss, but it clearly wasn't in the last year or so. We became very predictable on offense. Not that we'll win it all this year (we could though), but once those puppies on defense matures, and we add another couple chips next draft, we'll be pretty damn good in the coming years.

Do you think it is possible to motivate a player to play for you that wants only to be traded?

....I don't.

Had we paid him, he would have been motivated. He only wanted a trade because we weren't willing to.

 

[patsfaninpittsburgh]

In 2010 and 11..... the offense will have better weapons than in the previous Branch administration. That will help Deion since TB can go to very good Whoever is open" guys.

 

[Haley]

Had we paid him, he would have been motivated. He only wanted a trade because we weren't willing to.

I'm not sure its really that simple. When someone cares only about the money, they stop caring about the game, the team, everything but themselves. Paying them just makes it worse.

Pretty soon you have created a monster or worse, a team cancer. You can't know he would be playing this well had he not learned this important lesson on selfishness.

I'd subscribe to the "If you love someone, set them free. If they come back they're yours; if they don't they never were." mentality on this.

 

[Fixit]

I'm not sure its really that simple. When someone cares only about the money, they stop caring about the game, the team, everything but themselves. Paying them just makes it worse.

This. Branch now has a new perspective and motivation that money never would have provided.

 

[Patriot_in_NY]

I'm not sure its really that simple. When someone cares only about the money, they stop caring about the game, the team, everything but themselves. Paying them just makes it worse.

Pretty soon you have created a monster or worse, a team cancer. You can't know he would be playing this well had he not learned this important lesson on selfishness.

I'd subscribe to the "If you love someone, set them free. If they come back they're yours; if they don't they never were." mentality on this.

I'm not sure that the division was to that level. Time may have dulled it for me, but I don't think he would have become "that guy" had we reached a contract agreement.

Don't get me wrong, I though he was being selfish at the time too (there's plenty of posts here where I refer to him as "Meion" too. I just ever remember the same level of vitriol from him that we are seeing from like Mankins, who has already said "I don't want to the play here any more" and called out the owner in a very ugly way.

I steadfastly don't want the guy back. When he comes back, I will be very annoyed if he even gets activated (unless its a must play due to OL injury or something).

Like I said, maybe time has dulled it, but I don't ever remember that from Dieon.

 

[The Dynasty]

Point out where I called him a game-changer? I said he is Brady's binky. There is a difference. I said they would have at least 1 more championship, thinking specifically of the 2006 season, which I think we would have won.

You might hang your hat on that "best offense in NFL history crap", but to me, that season is and will always be a disappointment because of the way it ended. Don't get me wrong. I love the "youtube" highlight reels of all those monster plays too, but in the end, they did not mean sh!t. We did not win the 1 game we needed to.

This team may HAVE BEEN better with Moss, but it clearly wasn't in the last year or so. We became very predictable on offense. Not that we'll win it all this year (we could though), but once those puppies on defense matures, and we add another couple chips next draft, we'll be pretty damn good in the coming years.

Okay, well Welker replaced Branch as Brady's binky. I dont know how one player can be the difference in winning a SB or not. Are you saying the Pats would have beaten the Colts in the 2006 playoffs? From what I remember it was the defense that struggled in the 2nd half and ultimately lost that game.

Yes, I've heard this argument time after time about how the 2007 season means nothing because there wasnt a championship. Again, I say one player is not the difference between winning and not winning a SB. The 2007 would not have put up the numbers that it did with Branch on the team instead of Moss, it just wouldnt have happened. Moss is the deep play threat that Branch isnt.

While Branch is a clutch WR and one of Brady's favorites I think you are going a little far with saying he would have won the team a SB in 2006. As for the coming years I agree they will be very good, with the defense evolving each and every week. I dont know how many years Branch has left though, he is getting up there in age and hasnt played a full season in awhile. I would say he plays next season and that will be it. Hopefully Tate can step in and take the role of Branch

 

[shmessy]

PiNY, I know we're all giddy about yesterday, but the little dude shot his way out of town - - and it was 2006, not 2007.

 

[Synovia]

Not that any of you will care, but I've come to the sharp realization after yesterday's game: WE SHOULD HAVE NEVER LET BRANCH WALK. I believe we'd have at least 1 more championship had he stayed here and it was a huge mistake letting him go.

You seem to not remember the situation at all.


Branch's agent broke off communication with the front office, and refused to continue negotiating.

 

[Bella*chick]

PiNY, I know we're all giddy about yesterday, but the little dude shot his way out of town - - and it was 2006, not 2007.

Agreed. Deion needed to learn a few things. I think he did. You just can't say with any certainty what would have happened had he stayed.

 

[Synovia]

PTis team may HAVE BEEN better with Moss, but it clearly wasn't in the last year or so. We became very predictable on offense. Not that we'll win it all this year (we could though), but once those puppies on defense matures, and we add another couple chips next draft, we'll be pretty damn good in the coming years.

Offense was never the problem while Randy Moss was here. Defense was.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

The Patriots had the best offense in NFL history in 2007 without Branch. That doesnt happen with Branch. If you think we would have won the SB in 2007 with Branch I think you're mistaken. Many media members/players, including Tom Brady have said that the team was better with Moss. Branch is a solid player, but he definitely isnt that big of a game changer that you are saying he is.

Bunk. I think we win it in 2006. The team wasn't better with Moss, especially in the playoffs. It was more prolific in the passing game in 2007, although that started to evaporate down the stretch. There are many theories why, but it is what it is. I think it took BB and Brady all of 2009 to figure that out in part because of what happened in the first game of 2008...

Bill didn't appreciate the significance of the intangibles factor in this offense for a long time. It took striking out with multiple measurables talents to finally drive home how difficult it is to operate in this offense unless you are not merely physically gifted but more importantly uniquely gifted in the intangibles category including being incredibly intuitive, cerebral, mentally tough, physically tough, unselfish, driven to win at any cost.

As for the split, it takes two and Deion wasn't honest with them out of the gate and they weren't honest with him, either. Had they both been more honest with each other he probably could have been signed before camp for what they tried to up the offer to at the 11th hour which was still less than what Seattle ultimately offered. They wanted him at $5.5M, he wanted $6.5M - they could have met in the middle, and should have once Givens moved on. Thing is it remains hard for this team to deal with holdouts because of the broader message that sends.

 

[patsfaninpittsburgh]

This. Branch now has a new perspective and motivation that money never would have provided.

Fix

I have to disagree. The new perspective probably came about because he has banked several million since 2006.

Rings
Money
Fulfillment

Besides, I'm not so sure this wasn't a prudent move on his part.

Look at the consensus that he was a washed up receiver with one leg. Nothing wrong with a contract that allows you to make $4-5 million the next 5 years vs jumping around the league at vet minmums.

 

[Patriot_in_NY]

PiNY, I know we're all giddy about yesterday, but the little dude shot his way out of town - - and it was 2006, not 2007.

2006 season, correct, sorry.....

I hear ya, and you may be right (I'm giddy), but 4 days...... and he and Brady played like they never missed a beat. Deion was NEVER a 9 catch guy (exceept when it mattered most ).

Point acknowledged though. He did shoot his way out. I do remember that too.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Offense was never the problem while Randy Moss was here. Defense was.

If you still believe that then you probably won't ever get why he's gone.

 

[Synovia]

Yes, I've heard this argument time after time about how the 2007 season means nothing because there wasnt a championship. Again, I say one player is not the difference between winning and not winning a SB. The 2007 would not have put up the numbers that it did with Branch on the team instead of Moss, it just wouldnt have happened. Moss is the deep play threat that Branch isnt.

Without Moss, I'm not even sure the 2007 team makes gets to the superbowl. There's a reason that the 2 best offenses in NFL history have both had Moss as their #1 WR.


The huge improvement in the offense in 2007 was about the receivers, not the QB like everyone around here believes.

 

[Synovia]

If you still believe that then you probably won't ever get why he's gone.

Could you please point out a time since 2004 where the defense was better than the offense.

 

[Haley]

Keep in mind the draft pick exchange that went on as well. We got a 1st rounder for him as I recall.