Ras-I Dowling released

[Dingleberry]

I remember bb saying he didn't believe some players were "injury prone". Some are hurt in college but injury free in the pros etc. And some ate the opposite.

I hope he rethinks that.

Eh, I'm still glad he drafted Gronk. And Cannon. And Vollmer. All were college injury (or sickness) risks.

We can't dismiss the strategy based on a bust while ignoring the risks that were rewards.

 

[kennyb]

Eh, I'm still glad he drafted Gronk. And Cannon. And Vollmer. All were college injury (or sickness) risks.

We can't dismiss the strategy based on a bust while ignoring the risks that were rewards.

I agree with that but ir Dowling wasn't injured just once. He had been injured chronically.

 

[ForThoseAboutToRock]

Have we ever seen an offseason award winner get cut in the upcoming season?

I wonder if there was some desire to IR him, and he simply wouldn't accept it - feeling healthy enough for whatever.

aaaaaand, not to pile on, but is this something we should be raising our eyebrows about, regarding the health care team? Yes, some guys are fragile, but to have a player taken #33 overall and not be able to stay on the field to the point of comedy can't 100% just be on the player... what's up with their support system?

Whole situation is stupid. It's really a bummer that people on this board have essentially been counting down to this day since he was drafted.

 

[Sciz]

I agree with that but ir Dowling wasn't injured just once. He had been injured chronically.

Never to the extent that he was in the NFL, though. He played in 40 games in college, 35 in his first three seasons there before a senior season that was the reason he fell to the Pats at 33. His first three seasons in college, he basically had the durability of Talib, who has missed 1, 1, 5, 3, and 2 games per season due to injury in the NFL.

 

[mgteich]

Everyone has their own method of assessment, and their own labels. To me, a player who is injured twice is not a bust or a significant misevaluation.

Dowling was drafted where folks thought he would be. His projected spot was lower than it would have been had he never been injured in college.

If we should not draft players injured in college, people should say so. And then we won't take chances on players like Gronkowski.

Am I comparing the two? Yes I am. If Gronkowski had played only 9 games in two years, and injured himself in his third preseason, then perhaps it would be Gronkowski who is the bust.

The bottom line is that players work out no better than half the time. Sometimes, they just weren't good enough to justify being [icked where they were picked (T Wilson). We can call such player overvalued, but they are only busts if they don't end up even producing. Personally, I don't call any player who is injured a bust.

 

[50-yard-line]

We all understand that the draft is a crapshoot but if we are going to praise their unconventional picks when they hit then we should also give them **** for picks like Ras "IR" Dowling and Tavon "Who?" Wilson when they don't work. Now before someone jumps on me, yes, yes, jury is still out on Tavon.

Why?

That's a serious question.

Why? What do YOU gain by giving them **** for picks that didn't work out.

Bottom line: they're the best franchise in the league over the last dozen years. They're playing deep into January every year.

You're not giving them ****, you're just venting on a board full of fans - so what really is accomplished by p***ing and m***ing? Seriously, who cares?

I'm sorry to see that it didn't work out with Dowling, This defense is thin at interior DL, and now seems thin at CB. Two needs instead of one. That's not good. I was hoping Dowling could get past it and get on the field, because he has the physical gifts to really excel at CB, Talib-like. Also, from the tapes I saw from his college days, seems like a good kid.

His body couldn't take the NFL, apparently. Sucks, but it is what it is.

As for giving BB and the organization ****, well...

Just win.

And thank you for the last 12 years. I remember 30 before that.

 

[Ozymandias]

I wonder if there was some desire to IR him, and he simply wouldn't accept it - feeling healthy enough for whatever.

That's a possibility. Though, as I mentioned in my http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/10/1040645-time-give-up-dowling.html thread:

If he does get placed on I.R., that does beg to question why even bother? He may just be damaged goods at this point and is to far gone to ever amount to anything.

If [this] is the reality, I would just cut my losses now and move on from a colossal wasted pick. No point in keeping him around for a fourth try, if as his track record clearly proves, that he's just going to get injured again.

It would seem the Patriots probably viewed it like that too. Why bother placing him on I.R. if he'll never amount to anything contribution wise. The NFL might just not be for him.

 

[Joey007]

If you wanna see a bad track record-

Bill Belichick's 2nd round corners- 2008 Wheatley, 2009 Butler, 2011 Dowling.

3 2nd rounders on corners that have failed. No wonder it's been a revolving door back there.

 

[captain stone]

When he misses on a pick it energizes the Felgerites and the Mazzites...

and the Ravens...and the Giants...

 

[Ozymandias]

If we should not draft players injured in college, people should say so. And then we won't take chances on players like Gronkowski.

Am I comparing the two? Yes I am. If Gronkowski had played only 9 games in two years, and injured himself in his third preseason, then perhaps it would be Gronkowski who is the bust.

The bottom line is that players work out no better than half the time.

That's the part that gets me the most, is people who act like they can see the future or something and then they come around with "see I told you so" nonsense. Nobody knows who is going to bust or not. Every draft choice has a risk/reward factor. Some have more risk others, but they're all risky business.

 

[captain stone]

Eh, I'm still glad he drafted Gronk. And Cannon. And Vollmer. All were college injury (or sickness) risks...

...and all taken lower in their draft than #33 overall Glas-IR.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

and the Ravens...and the Giants...

As patchick has noted, almost no one ever nails their first four picks in a single year. And it's not like they've never screwed up, either. . . .

 

[Dingleberry]

...and all taken lower in their draft than #33 overall Glas-IR.

Gronk and Vollmer were 2nd rounders. Close enough.

Both were risks of 2nd round picks given their histories. Both ended up well worth the risk. Dowling did not. Ya win some, ya lose some. If Belichick refused to take these risks, as some are wishing for, then one could guess he wouldn't have drafted Gronk and Vollmer either. That would have been a shame.

Bottom line, all three of these players had/have 1st round talent. 2 of the 3 have worked out ok.

20/20 hindsight is wonderful thing, but in the real world either all 3 picks were risks worth taking....or all 3 were not.

 

[IcyPatriot]

So where is he going ... Eagles? Redskins?

 

[Brady6]

Re: Re: Ras-I Dowling released

But they would snag a vet to be the backup outside CB which i'm guessing they were hoping Dowling could have been this year, which would leave Arrington as the nickel, while bringing Ryan along slowly.

Then there is still a huge question around Dennard and if the State of Nebraska gets their way he will be unavailable until probably Week 7, assuming Lord Goodell doesn't suspend him, then the team is down to
Talib
Arrington
Ryan
Cole
Week 1 against the Bills and honestly that's what they are down to anyways, I just don't see Dennard being active for that game even if he goes to Nebraska on Sept 6th and things go his way.

And Stephon Morris was brought in strictly so Bill could put someone out there instead of risk Talib.

It is tough to envision Dennard being suspended this season, a DUI doesn't violate the personal conduct policy, it is a violation of the substance abuse policy. If he was to be suspended it would have to be based upon a violation of probation verdict, which likely will not occur until after a finding in the DUI case. I'm not saying its impossible he would be suspended, I just see it being more an issue in 2014.

 

[Brady6]

Re: Re: Ras-I Dowling released

the only thing that sucks about this is the fact that he was Drafted so high the first pick in the 2th round, there was so many players they could have taken, pass rusher ( Jabaal Sheard ) WR ( Torrey Smith, Randall Cobb ) G (Stefen Wisniewski ) but it is what it is

Richard Sherman went 2 rounds later, its amazing how the draft pans out.

Maybe there is a higher draft power, and it is asking for repayment in the form of 2nd round DB draft picks for the gift of Brady in the 6th round :sly:

 

[Archeryaddict12]

Richard Sherman went 2 rounds later, its amazing how the draft pans out.

Maybe there is a higher draft power, and it is asking for repayment in the form of 2nd round DB draft picks for the gift of Brady in the 6th round :sly:

That's the most important draft choice in the history of the draft. Who would ever think a 6th round drafted QB would be one that has rewrote the history books.

 

[Brady6]

Re: Re: Ras-I Dowling released

Well, Richard Sherman for one. Other than that, it doesn't look like it.

He does have eligiblty, but I don't think that it will happen, the timing of the move seems to indicate some type of creative differences, at least in my amateur opinion.

 

[Brady6]

Re: Re: Ras-I Dowling released

That's the most important draft choice in the history of the draft. Who would ever think a 6th round drafted QB would be one that has rewrote the history books.

Exactly, if the draft gods want us to sacrifice a Dowling, Brace, Jackson, or Butler, I say its the least we can do.

 

[BennyBledsoe]

Who's Ras-I Dowling? Did he play for us?