Looks like a battle at WR...

[Sean Pa Patriot]

Stallworth and Welker are both locks, with Gaffney and Caldwell battle for the third and fourth Wr.. Chad Jackson , if he can contribute will be a plus..

2 things come to mind..

1 - I like to see Gaffney in a full offseason, but he or Caldwell could be in trouble now..

2 Sad to say, and he has been a great Patriot but it could mean the end of Troy Brown.. But if troy brown does come back Reche and Jabar better be ready to work hard , because if not one or both could be gone..

 

[Scott37]

IMO Troy has already told them he intened to retire. I don't think the urgency would have been there to make these signings if he hadn't.

If I'm wrong and he wants to come back, is there any chance he gets kept on the roster as a 3rd string cb / special teams player? He has shown better ability then half of the stiffs stuck in at cb over the past few years.

 

[DarrylS]

Roster competition is good for the team, keeps everyone focused.. better have this than picking up folks from the street, hope most of these new guys are injury free. Looks as though the Braintrust has decided to things different this year.

 

[Sean Pa Patriot]

What would be really wierd if we sign Kelly Washington...

 

[JoePats]

It's too bad about Troy Brown. I hope if he does retire they do some great things for him, Troy Brown day, retire number, etc...

We dont' know though if CJ will be able to play. That's the early reports but a torn ACL is still a torn ACL. That said if Kight is the 5th receiver at parts of the early year (assume Troy retires), that's a lot better than him starting in Jacksonville week 16.

 

[PatDaPatriot]

IMO Troy has already told them he intened to retire. I don't think the urgency would have been there to make these signings if he hadn't.

If I'm wrong and he wants to come back, is there any chance he gets kept on the roster as a 3rd string cb / special teams player? He has shown better ability then half of the stiffs stuck in at cb over the past few years.

I agree. I think he's probably going to retire. Hence the Welker trade. If he doesn't retire, then you absolutely bring him back in the role he's played the last couple of seasons...

 

[JoePats]

If he doesn't retire, then you absolutely bring him back in the role he's played the last couple of seasons...

In which he has been very effective, save one miscommunication w/ Brady on 3rd and 4 Colts which might have saved the win. Damn.

 

[Fumblerooski]

IMO Troy has already told them he intened to retire. I don't think the urgency would have been there to make these signings if he hadn't.

If I'm wrong and he wants to come back, is there any chance he gets kept on the roster as a 3rd string cb / special teams player? He has shown better ability then half of the stiffs stuck in at cb over the past few years.

Agree, Troy has already told the team he won't be back, and Welker is not the #2 WR. He works best from the slot. (Brown's old spot)

Washington could be the 6th WR at best. That is, if they even carry 6 WRs, normally they only carry 5 unless #6 plays STs. Not sure if Washington plays STs.

 

[Sean Pa Patriot]

Too many options right now, pretty pschyed.. I say get Hartwell in the fold, and the draft has many options, all on defense..

 

[PatDaPatriot]

Chad Jackson is really an unknown at this point given his knee. He'll probably have to start out on the PUP list given the nature of his injury...

I also still wouldn't be shocked to see them draft a WR on day two. This pool runs deep, and there will be some excellent value on day two...

 

[MoLewisrocks]

I think i's still entirely up to Bingo. Plenty of room on the roster for what he brings on offense/defense/ST not to mention in the locker room. Not sure we're ready for one of 2 new players or 2 players now on one year deals or a rookie who can't get on the field as a WR to date to be the leader of our WR unit - particularly with Graham now gone. If Jackson makes it back in time for any of TC or the pre season I doubt BB would have a problem carrying a 6th WR who can do as many other little things as Troy, including serving as an offensive captain.

 

[Poll]

Chad Jackson is really an unknown at this point given his knee. He'll probably have to start out on the PUP list given the nature of his injury...

I also still wouldn't be shocked to see them draft a WR on day two. This pool runs deep, and there will be some excellent value on day two...

They could still target a quick (instead of fast) guy or maybe a really tall player.

 

[PatsMyBoyz!]

I think i's still entirely up to Bingo. Plenty of room on the roster for what he brings on offense/defense/ST not to mention in the locker room. Not sure we're ready for one of 2 new players or 2 players now on one year deals or a rookie who can't get on the field as a WR to date to be the leader of our WR unit - particularly with Graham now gone. If Jackson makes it back in time for any of TC or the pre season I doubt BB would have a problem carrying a 6th WR who can do as many other little things as Troy, including serving as an offensive captain.

My thoughts exactly. Troy is one of our most valuable players for all the right reasons and he knows the system. Troy is much more than a WR-he can contribute almost anywhere. With all the experience and skills he brings,I hope we have him for another year in whatever capacity.

 

[signbabybrady]

I think i's still entirely up to Bingo. Plenty of room on the roster for what he brings on offense/defense/ST not to mention in the locker room. Not sure we're ready for one of 2 new players or 2 players now on one year deals or a rookie who can't get on the field as a WR to date to be the leader of our WR unit - particularly with Graham now gone. If Jackson makes it back in time for any of TC or the pre season I doubt BB would have a problem carrying a 6th WR who can do as many other little things as Troy, including serving as an offensive captain.

While I think it is up to Troy you have to wonder what the extra bodies at his position will do to his decision. I highly doubt he would come back to be the 6th WR, he may not want to come back to be the 5th WR, so I think his decision will probably come after the draft and maybe even after the team knows more about Chad Jack. From a team and Fan prosepective there is plent of room for a versatile leader like him.

 

[patfanken]

Stallworth and Welker are both locks, with Gaffney and Caldwell battle for the third and fourth Wr.. Chad Jackson , if he can contribute will be a plus..

1 - I like to see Gaffney in a full offseason, but he or Caldwell could be in trouble now..

Wrong on a couple of points, Sean. Welker WON'T be the #2, he'll play the slot WR when they go to 3 wide. Caldwell will be the "#2" and Gaffney will be the back up, when someone eventually goes down with an injury. With the Pats likely to keep 4 TEs (Watson, Thomas, Brady, Mills) It is likely that they will keep only 5 WRs on the active roster...at most. Subject to injuries, Gaffney and Caldwell have NO WORRIES about making the roster.

I feel you have have go into this season with ZERO expectations from Jackson. Then if you get something out of him at the end of the year, its gravy. I don't think the Pats would have signed Stallworth, IF it was likely that Jackson could be back in time to participate in training camp. Having a full off season was critical to Jackson's learning curve. Because of the injury its likely that he will miss training camp AGAIN. Not good. So, its better for the Pats to pretend that he won't be a factor in 2007.

 

[Kdo5]

I wouldnt announce Stallworth and Welker as our two starters right now. That will be decided after training camp. Any four of them may be a starter when the season is underway. And any four of them could also stink it up at training camp or the preseason.

 

[satz]

what no one is talking is last year when we went 3 WR or more Jabbar and reche were on the field more than 90% of time.Its very hard to go on a deep route many times when you play the whole game in offence.Its easier with rotation as running 30-40 yards once every once or twice every 4 downs is hard.

If reche /jabbar/ donte go deep they can take a play off and still have another deep threat fresh and ready to go.When jabbar goes deep you know he is not getting a deep route call next play as he just ran 1.But in rotation just replace him and the defence never knows.

 

[Kdo5]

Stallworth & Reche can be pretty good deep threats.

 

[Prufrock]

Troy Brown should always have a door open for him in NE. I have no doubt in my mind that he would be able to contribute to the team next year.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

While I think it is up to Troy you have to wonder what the extra bodies at his position will do to his decision. I highly doubt he would come back to be the 6th WR, he may not want to come back to be the 5th WR, so I think his decision will probably come after the draft and maybe even after the team knows more about Chad Jack. From a team and Fan prosepective there is plent of room for a versatile leader like him.

The first indication on whether or not Troy is coming back will come in the next few weeks. Last year he attended the full off season program. If he intends to play this season he will again. I don't think he cares about how they use him at this juncture, just that he sees that he has good usage and fills a need or needs. Last year he was our #1 WR more than once, as I recall...as well as a mentor and role model for the new guys. We have more new guys again who need to get off on the right foot and learn the Patriot way.

But I think the better we look heading into mini camps the more likely he is to get motivated to go out on a Championship note. Two years ago he was not ready to hang 'em up and was to some extent insulted at being left dangling. I think that was an almost unavoidable offshoot of being cap strapped. Last year we weren't and we gave him a fair deal and he earned it and a bit more. I don't think we need him back at veteran minimum for cap reasons, which would likely be the kind of scenario under which he would pass. He certainly doesn't want to go through the rigors only to be a roster casualty, so he likely wants a bonus for his efforts and some assurance that if he performs like he did last season he's got a job in September or at least the choice is his.

I also agree with Ken that the Patriots are likely not counting on anything from Jackson - which is why we signed Stallworth. If Jackson pans out what it could mean is Caldwell or Gaffney are fighting for jobs at least going forward. Troy is more the guy in that unit who can be anyone/anything on a limited basis in a pinch. He knows all the routes and will run them whether it's a best use scenario or not. Same with CB and PR. And there is a better than even money chance we again start the season with him as the emergency QB again unless we draft a QB too promising to make it to the PS.