Quit Yer Damn Whining!

[Off The Grid]

Hoyer is/was a weak armed UDFA. He was beaten out by last years strong armed 3rd rounder - that's they way it's supposed to work.

Branch/Gaffney/Stallworth are all well past their prime and were never that great to begin with. Branch was good - not great, the first time he was a Patriot. Someone will be brought in. Having Lloyd on the team automatically improves over last years stiffs.

Simmer Down, Opinion Nazi!!

Last I heard: In America, people are entitled to their opinions, Brother Chair.

If that's too much for you to handle, I believe that the "Block" feature is still operational.

Honestly, man: I have great respect for you...But telling people what to say??

You're better than that.

 

[FortressX]

I'm new here... Would someone please explain what a JAG is?

JAG = Just A Guy.

 

[supafly]

Going to have to respectfully disagree with you there - I wouldn't call the WR depth fine when the #3 WR has 11 catches, 120 yards, and 0 touchdowns over the past two season.

Don't get me wrong, FTW, I really like Gaffney. I just think his injury kind of clouded the picture, especially if MoLewisRocks is correct that it is a quad injury that may take several weeks before he can fully extend himself again.

As far as the receiving depth goes, a WR4 will be added very soon, or at least I would imagine after the first game in a worst case scenario. I'm actually guessing that it may be one of Branch or Gaffney.

In the meantime, we still have the top 3 receiving options from last year in Welker, Gronk, and Hernandez. They have also added Llyod to the mix to improve that area. Edelman has appeared to have a better camp and is supposedly improved his route running/development skills.

There's also the fact that the screen game will be back too. All of the statistics point to last season being a very 'down' year in the RB passes, so I would expect that to go back to normal. IIRC off the top of my head, last season we only had approx. 30 or so RB passes caught, whereas most years the number has been anywhere from 55-75 or so.

There are still plenty of receiving options right now. I think many are making the mistake of simply looking at the WR depth as of the current moment, and even that will change very soon, most likely after the week one salaries are not guaranteed any longer.

At any rate, the depth will be addressed, even though the WR3 position has only produced minimal numbers in the past 5 seasons anyway. In my opinion it's a major overreaction and Belichick simply took advantage of having some receiving beasts in our TE's to save a roster spot or two, but he'll most likely address the depth that everyone is so concerned about.

 

[supafly]

Worrying about guaranteed salaries for Branch and Gaffney is chump change to the dead money salary cap hit this season.

New England Patriots Salary Cap 2012

I don't think the dead cap money has anything of a relationship to this specific issue, but I do get your point. The dead cap money is lost, but you have to still move on and make good moves for the team. They shouldn't throw the whole season due to a couple/few situations where they lost some dead cap money. In Fanane's situation, they are trying to recoup some of that anyway, and I have a feeling they may be successful.

I certainly don't think it would help though, especially considering that Belichick was willing to shave off money wherever he could re: Hoyer etc.

Getting through the first game without Branch or Gaffney shouldn't really be much of a problem, and that's IF Gaffney is even ready to come back by then. He's injured, so I don't hardly blame them for that move.

Branch may have a nod and wink deal to return as depth in a week, or they could improve their depth altogether somehow with another player. I wouldn't put it past them.

At any rate the WR3-4 position hasn't really produced much of anything anyway, so it's just a depth move in the big picture.

 

[scout]

Gaffney just had the best season of his career - by what definition is he 'well past his prime'?

If the Patriots do re-sign Gaffney after week 1, it's going to be pretty funny seeing some of the ultra-homers go right back to saying that he's good--after two weeks of explaining how he's no more than a JAG--without ever missing a beat.

To your point, or maybe extended. BB might be looking at the first game and deciding who he wants for matchups. Makes cuts just like its' during the year. We should have a name for this: suggestions....Ventronschuffle ?

 

[Armchair Quarterback]

Last season's production for Jabar Gaffney is contrary to your overvalued evaluation.

Jabar Gaffney NFL Football Statistics - Pro-Football-Reference.com

Neither one is a special player. Branch was always good, not great but that was a long time ago.

Gaffney has never been more than an average WR regardless of what his stats were last year. Washington's passing game was awful. Stats mean little.

The Patriots will add someone at WR. These guys are far from irreplaceable.

 

[Armchair Quarterback]

Gaffney just had the best season of his career - by what definition is he 'well past his prime'?

If the Patriots do re-sign Gaffney after week 1, it's going to be pretty funny seeing some of the ultra-homers go right back to saying that he's good--after two weeks of explaining how he's no more than a JAG--without ever missing a beat.

Whether they re-sign Branch or Gaffney or sign someone else, the results will likely be the same. Do you really think Gaffney or Branch at this point are above average receivers?

 

[Armchair Quarterback]

Simmer Down, Opinion Nazi!!

Last I heard: In America, people are entitled to their opinions, Brother Chair.

If that's too much for you to handle, I believe that the "Block" feature is still operational.

Honestly, man: I have great respect for you...But telling people what to say??

You're better than that.

People are entitled to their opinions and my opinion is that people shouldn't get so upset over the loss (maybe temporary) of some very average or past their prime players. I never told anyone what to say.

 

[1960Pats]

People are entitled to their opinions and my opinion is that people shouldn't get so upset over the loss (maybe temporary) of some very average or past their prime players. I never told anyone what to say.

I agree that the post was Off The Grid.

Game one for 12AB is almost here... tick tock, tick tock...

 

[Kontradiction]

1. Branch is still very effective and knows this offense inside and out. He also has a better connection with Brady than most guys on the team, save Welker. Further, he's a much better outside receiver than Edelman.

2. Gaffney is injured but was coming off of his finest season as a pro.

3. Both Hoyer and Mallett looked like complete ***** this preseason.

The OP is pretty much full of fail.

 

[jmt57]

Brian Hoyer ..... LOL!

Brian Hoyer has been the most overrated New England Patriot since Rohan Davey!

Ha ha you beat me to it, though I was going to use Michael Bishop for my example - but Rohan Davey would certainly suffice.

 

[Ring 6]

I'd be awfully surprised if he makes it that far through waivers, and even more surprised if Rex actually realizes that his QBs suck.

If no one would trade a pick for him, why would there be a massive waiver fight?
Pats fans think Hoyer is a good QB because we kept him, not because of his talent. The rest of the NFL is looking at it from a different perspective than that.

 

[Ring 6]

Gaffney just had the best season of his career - by what definition is he 'well past his prime'?

If the Patriots do re-sign Gaffney after week 1, it's going to be pretty funny seeing some of the ultra-homers go right back to saying that he's good--after two weeks of explaining how he's no more than a JAG--without ever missing a beat.

I think you will get your wish because yesterdays moves make it obvious to me that Gaffney is unofficially on the roster.
Its not about the guaranteed salary thing. Its about having the roster flexibility to make the moves we always make after cutdown day.
There may well be trades. We will be picking up players. Having the 53rd guy sitting home as unemployed and waiting for activation gives more flexibility.
I wouldn't be surprised at all if Branch fits this description too.

 

[Kasmir]

I think you will get your wish because yesterdays moves make it obvious to me that Gaffney is unofficially on the roster.
Its not about the guaranteed salary thing. Its about having the roster flexibility to make the moves we always make after cutdown day.
There may well be trades. We will be picking up players. Having the 53rd guy sitting home as unemployed and waiting for activation gives more flexibility.
I wouldn't be surprised at all if Branch fits this description too.

Looks like you're right and it's fascinating that they've managed to create a shadow roster in 2012. That the players would agree to sit out and not sign -- and get paid -- elsewhere is amazing to the point where it suggests something more is going on behind the scenes. I wonder if the Pats have figured a way around the contractual constraints to make binding promises without having to carry them on the roster officially. Sure hope none of it is truly shady as the Landry Cowboys shadow roster was...

 

[Reckedtrek]

What exactly did Hoyer do to make himself a legend? While he worked hard every week i think he only played a few snaps in a real game situation and i don't remember him being the second coming of TB.

Nothing, but a few posters here thought we'd get a 3rd, maybe even a second round pick for him. It turns out that he was over valued.

 

[Deus Irae]

What exactly did Hoyer do to make himself a legend? While he worked hard every week i think he only played a few snaps in a real game situation and i don't remember him being the second coming of TB.

I don't know of a single poster who looked at Hoyer as a legend, or as much of anything beyond Brady's backup and a possible trade chip.

 

[Snake Eyes]

I'm new here... Would someone please explain what a JAG is?

Just Another Guy.

 

[BradyFTW!]

The reaction over the last 24 hours reminds me of the reaction last year when the Pats cut Sanders and Meriweather. The mantra last year was that move guaranteed the Pats were one and done in the playoffs. Guess what. They weren't.

Let's face facts, with Brady's healthy history, if Hoyer or Mallet saw anything more than mop up duty in a blowout this season, the Pats' season is over anyway. With a guy like Brady, I am not worried about the back up QB because odds are if Brady is out due to injuries that he is done for the season.

As for the WRs, I expect Gaffney back in a few weeks. Word is he is one to two weeks away from being healthy which means he is likely to be back on the team in time for the Arizona game. Branch could be back for that game too. I am not worried about the WR depth situation because the current depth will only be that way for the Titans' game if that.

Imagine, for a moment, that Brady suffers a significant-but-not-season-ending injury around week 3 or 4. Say he misses five weeks. The competence of the backup, in that case, will be one of the strongest factors in determining whether or not the Patriots make the playoffs. In short: having a competent backup matters, and, for what it's worth, it seems like Belichick thinks he has one in Mallett. I doubt that he'd dump Hoyer without believing that Mallett was capable of winning a game if called upon.

Without a competent backup in 2001, the Patriots wouldn't have made the Super Bowl, let alone won it.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Whether they re-sign Branch or Gaffney or sign someone else, the results will likely be the same. Do you really think Gaffney or Branch at this point are above average receivers?

Yes, I think that Gaffney is a slightly above average WR, which is a lot more than can be said for Slater or Edelman.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Don't get me wrong, FTW, I really like Gaffney. I just think his injury kind of clouded the picture, especially if MoLewisRocks is correct that it is a quad injury that may take several weeks before he can fully extend himself again.

As far as the receiving depth goes, a WR4 will be added very soon, or at least I would imagine after the first game in a worst case scenario. I'm actually guessing that it may be one of Branch or Gaffney.

In the meantime, we still have the top 3 receiving options from last year in Welker, Gronk, and Hernandez. They have also added Llyod to the mix to improve that area. Edelman has appeared to have a better camp and is supposedly improved his route running/development skills.

There's also the fact that the screen game will be back too. All of the statistics point to last season being a very 'down' year in the RB passes, so I would expect that to go back to normal. IIRC off the top of my head, last season we only had approx. 30 or so RB passes caught, whereas most years the number has been anywhere from 55-75 or so.

There are still plenty of receiving options right now. I think many are making the mistake of simply looking at the WR depth as of the current moment, and even that will change very soon, most likely after the week one salaries are not guaranteed any longer.

At any rate, the depth will be addressed, even though the WR3 position has only produced minimal numbers in the past 5 seasons anyway. In my opinion it's a major overreaction and Belichick simply took advantage of having some receiving beasts in our TE's to save a roster spot or two, but he'll most likely address the depth that everyone is so concerned about.

That's fair, and I don't disagree, but a large part of my concern, assuming that Gaffney stays gone, is that if Lloyd goes down we don't have any outside-the-numbers WR. It's as much a depth issue as a WR3 issue, but as you said, I'm still holding out hope that the issue will be resolved before it has a chance to become a problem.