two words: bull sht
for the last time: it's not that Branch was an elite talent or was worth whatever he made from Seattle.
His value to THE PATRIOTS -- and the reason he was worth a premium to THE PATRIOTS -- was the RAPPORT and CHEMISTRY between him and the QB.
Bottom line is we could've afforded him if we'd simply called his agent down to Gillette and locked him in a room until we got a deal done. letting him shop around was amazingly ******ed.
anyone -- and I like Kerry and the CHFF guys -- but I mean anyone, who doesn't think we did NOT want to keep Branch and had it all planned out like this, is simply clueless.
If you don't realize we'd be:
A: unstoppable
B: coming off a bye week
C: hosting a game this week
D: on our way to a 4th SB
then you're delusional.
Not saying we're doomed as we stand...we have a shot.
But you can't put a price on a championship and IMO, Branch is worth way more THIS YEAR on OUR OFFENSE than he is to anyone else.
The Chargers are going to score next week.
Our offense has to win the game.
Next week, we're asking Tom to take a guy who was 3rd string in SD and a guy who was in the past year, cut by HOUSTON and cut by Philly after a poor training camp...let's be honest here, REJECTS -- the worst WR corps in football...and to somehow hang with one of the most scary offenses I've ever seen, an offense that can score whatever it needs to -- no matter how far behind they are....and against a defense that doesn't give receivers any time to separate.
If things break our way who knows...you just have to wonder how much easier it all would've been.
it's now time to move on...spinning the numbers doesn't change the fact that it's a far steeper climb right now without DB...can this offense play at a high level for the next 3 games against playoff caliber defenses? No matter what DB does in Seattle, that remains the ultimate question for the Patriots.
Nobody is pulling harder for this team than I am...you have to understand how difficult it is to do what they're doing right now...this is essentially a rebuilding year (to some extent every year is a rebuilding year for our team).
I'm too damn proud of them to pretend they're not disadvantaged...that's probably the best way I can put it.
Taildragger -
I'm sorry, man. I hate to do this, but wtf are you talking about? Deion Branch was not that much of a difference maker and you are kidding yourself if you think otherwise.
Yes, the Patriots wanted to keep Branch. We all know that. But, Branch didn't want to stay.
You are saying that Deion Branch is worth 2 VICTORIES? Actually, 4 victories since you include the AFC Divisional game and AFC Championship game as sure wins. No player, outside the QB, is worth two victories on his own, let alone 4.
And there is no guarantee that Branch would have been making the catches that Caldwell, Gaffney and Jackson have dropped. That is just wishful thinking on your part.
Something to keep in mind. The 2004 offense, the what many people consider to be the BEST Pats offense, in the dynasty, only put up 44 TDs. This year's offense put up 45. Yes, it was somewhat lopsided in that the Pats put up 25 passing and 20 rushing TDs compared to 26 passing and 18 rushing TDs. But its not that much of a difference.
So, forgive me if I feel that this offense doesn't revolve around Deion Branch and his rapport with Brady and that it revolves MORE around Brady and his rapport with ALL his receivers. I also believe that Brady's mechanics weren't 100% (hence him getting a hold of his body mechanic a few weeks ago).
