So, we officially have an totally injury-prone team

[Kontradiction]

He's going overboard on some of the names here, but I see the method to his madness. The biggest downfall between this team and another Lombardi has been health to some of their biggest targets the last two seasons. So... with that in mind, the team lets their most consistent player outside of Brady ride off into the sunset to join Peyton Manning in Denver and then plucks up a guy that has missed 23 games the last couple of seasons. Still doesn't make sense, but I'm done railing against it after this. Thankfully, the draft is almost here.

 

[borg]

My favorite part of this thread, is that he typed "an totally", which means he was going to leave it as "an injury prone team" but thought nah, that's not inflammatory enough. An TOTALLY injury prone team will really convey my general dissatisfaction with the risk of injury in football, which is TOTALLY isolated to the New England Patriots.

"Totally" is too extreme.....just TEs and WRs. At least BB got some sweet deals on his injury prone WRs....so we got that going for us...which is nice

 

[bagwell368]

Our #1 slot receiver, Amendola, has missed 23 games in 4 seasons. His back up, Edleman, is also injury prone.

Gronk has had a major injury the last two seasons and is now going to need additional surgery, possibly missing the start of this season as well.

Hernandez is injured every single year.

Our top 3 receiving threats, all injury prone.

Our #1 corner is injury-prone, some related to questionable work-ethic/conditioning.

Is there absolutely anyone here who actually excepts all 4 of the above to be starting our first playoff game? This scares me. Hopefully Chandler Jones bounces back as well.

On paper, I still believe this is the best team in the NFL. Sadly, I can no longer expect a healthy Gronk/Hernandez to ever be on the field at the same time in a big playoff game.

In the thread title it's "a", not "an".

It's "expects" not "excepts"

AH and Gronk are signed long term, what is it you want done? Edelman may not even break camp with the team.

Do please explain about our top CB not being in shape - cite your sources.

 

[borg]

what is it you want done?

Without Gronk, the pass catching options vs. Baltimore were woefully inadequate. In other words, Plan B blew. Brady turned into a 53% passer and the offense died in the red zone.
Going into 2013 with a gimpy Gronk, BB's latest Plan B is full of injury prone options and roster filling JAGs. I get the concern

 

[Brady2Moss]

Without Gronk, the pass catching options vs. Baltimore were woefully inadequate. In other words, Plan B blew. Brady turned into a 53% passer and the offense died in the red zone.
Going into 2013 with a gimpy Gronk, BB's latest Plan B is full of injury prone options and roster filling JAGs. I get the concern

Please BB draft a redzone threat WR so that if Gronk is out we don't become inept

 

[Kontradiction]

Without Gronk, the pass catching options vs. Baltimore were woefully inadequate. In other words, Plan B blew. Brady turned into a 53% passer and the offense died in the red zone.
Going into 2013 with a gimpy Gronk, BB's latest Plan B is full of injury prone options and roster filling JAGs. I get the concern

The offense was able to sustain drives in that game, particularly because Welker was able to get off the press and dedicate the defense's attention his way. But yes, once we got into the red zone, the offense got shut down. That's why I'm so high on guys like Hunter. They provide an extra big body that can threaten all levels of the field and mitigate a potential loss of Gronk in the red zone.

 

[Brady2Moss]

The offense was able to sustain drives in that game, particularly because Welker was able to get off the press and dedicate the defense's attention his way. But yes, once we got into the red zone, the offense got shut down. That's why I'm so high on guys like Hunter. They provide an extra big body that can threaten all levels of the field and mitigate a potential loss of Gronk in the red zone.

And he'll be there in the 2nd round most likely. Would love Hunter.

 

[Nunchucks]

They have a red one threat on the team already. Ballard was a TD machine. The guy is a big target that can catch the ball in traffic.

 

[Kontradiction]

And he'll be there in the 2nd round most likely. Would love Hunter.

I like Hunter too. He has some route running issues but, IMO, they're overblown and not on par with Patterson's sloppy route running. Hunter's issues look easier to correct. Put that on top of his raw athleticism and ability to threaten all levels of the field, and you have a winner. But I wouldn't be disappointed with Woods or Wheaton either.

 

[Brady2Moss]

I like Hunter too. He has some route running issues but, IMO, they're overblown and not on par with Patterson's sloppy route running. Hunter's issues look easier to correct. Put that on top of his raw athleticism and ability to threaten all levels of the field, and you have a winner. But I wouldn't be disappointed with Woods or Wheaton either.

Anyone that can threaten intermediate to deep is okay with me. I think Hunter can be refined, after all no one is perfect at WR otherwise they would go top 5. Hopefully we draft a guy this year, I think we will given all the private workouts we've had with WRs early and often in the pre-draft process.

 

[Archeryaddict12]

I am telling you guys its all luck and training. This will get cleared up and definitely gronk and amendola I see playing all year. Hernandez idk, he just doesn't seem to catch a break at all. But who knows. I expect them all healthy all year like I do every year. But it's the NFL and injuries happen, freak, chronic etc. the teams that have seemed to win the SB's were the ones who had a bunch of injuries. But we need a D!

 

[PATSNUTme]

I just checked wiht my brother, ParanoidPatriot, and he says the team is not injury prone.

But he's worried about it.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

But we need a D!

We also need gronk to stay healthy and our "big ticket" WR in Amendola to play at least 14 games..hell i will take 12

 

[Nunchucks]

Injuries in football happen to every team, to focus on them is to make yourself miserable for no good reason.

 

[Modest]

 

[Claremonster]

They have a red one threat on the team already. Ballard was a TD machine. The guy is a big target that can catch the ball in traffic.

Nope. He'll be on IR before Gonk.

 

[Pessimistic Pete]

I hope you guys are right, last year I thought this team was winning the SB even when people were starting to go insane over nothing. (See: Beating the Jets in overtime)

But once again, Gronk being injured for the second year in a row was, in my mind, the main reason why we don't have back-to-back SBs right now. A healthy Gronk in that Giants game + against the Ravens/49ers and we win.

Yes every team gets injuries but when your second, third and fourth most important specialty players on offense all have notable injury concerns, I think a bit of worry is warranted.

Like I said, on paper, I think this is the best team in the NFL. At the absolute worst, even if the aforementioned miss weeks, we are winning the AFC East and hosting a home game.

I'm just praying we're not heading into another playoff game against a physical defense without our TE-tandem.

P.S.: Apologies for the odd grammatical errors in the topic title.

Do please explain about our top CB not being in shape - cite your sources.

"Well, the team apparently wasn't thrilled with Talib's unwillingness to go above and beyond in terms of his work ethic, according to CSNNE. As such, the Patriots would prefer to retain Talib on a one-year deal."

Source: http://bostonherald.com/sports/patr...aqib_talibs_work_ethic_questioned_by_patriots

 

[DarrylS]

I hope you guys are right, last year I thought this team was winning the SB even when people were starting to go insane over nothing. (See: Beating the Jets in overtime)

But once again, Gronk being injured for the second year in a row was, in my mind, the main reason why we don't have back-to-back SBs right now. A healthy Gronk in that Giants game + against the Ravens/49ers and we win.

Yes every team gets injuries but when your second, third and fourth most important specialty players on offense all have notable injury concerns, I think a bit of worry is warranted.

Like I said, on paper, I think this is the best team in the NFL. At the absolute worst, even if the aforementioned miss weeks, we are winning the AFC East and hosting a home game.

I'm just praying we're not heading into another playoff game against a physical defense without our TE-tandem.

"Well, the team apparently wasn't thrilled with Talib's unwillingness to go above and beyond in terms of his work ethic, according to CSNNE. As such, the Patriots would prefer to retain Talib on a one-year deal."

Source: The Blitz with Jeff Howe & Karen Guregian | Boston Herald

I have always wanted to know the relationship between extending the season into the "tournament" and injuries the following year. It seems that every year we go deep into the playoffs, we have more injuries the next year. Maybe it is just anecdotal, or maybe there is a trend.

Thought that the NFLPA would do some type of longitudinal study on the impact of extended seasons on players the following year.

Have to remember that the average career in the NFL is something like 3.3 years... it is a violent game and injuries happen.

 

[bagwell368]

Without Gronk, the pass catching options vs. Baltimore were woefully inadequate. In other words, Plan B blew. Brady turned into a 53% passer and the offense died in the red zone.
Going into 2013 with a gimpy Gronk, BB's latest Plan B is full of injury prone options and roster filling JAGs. I get the concern

Sorry, this logic doesn't pass muster. It's the playoffs. Baltimore hit hard. Welker dropped the ball. I.E. there are so many variables involved that it's ridiculous to put them all at the feet of a missing Gronk.

Also Ballard wasn't available.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

Thread ignore champion in full effect.

yeah, we can all see that you ignored it.