Donte Stallworth = Irving Fryar?

[VJCPatriot]

When I think of these two players their careers seem eerily similar. They are both very talented deep threat receivers. Both averaged 15 yards per catch over their career. Fryar's career blossomed after leaving his first team and going into free agency. I think that Stallworth is primed to have a Fryar-like career, especially since he will be hooking up with a top QB like Tom Brady now.

Ponder if you will these career stats.

Irving Fryar's last 2 seasons with Patriots:
| Year| GS| Catches Yards YPC TD|
| 1991 nwe | 16 | 68 1014 14.9 3|
| 1992 nwe | 15 | 55 791 14.4 4 |

Irving Fryar's next 5 years after entering free agency:
| 1993 mia | 16 | 64 1010 15.8 5 |
| 1994 mia | 16 | 73 1270 17.4 7 |
| 1995 mia | 16 | 62 910 14.7 8 |
| 1996 phi | 16 | 88 1195 13.6 11 |
| 1997 phi | 16 | 86 1316 15.3 6 |

http://pro-football-reference.com/players/FryaIr00.htm

Stallworth's last 2 seasons:
| 2005 nor | 16 | 70 945 13.5 7 |
| 2006 phi | 12 | 38 725 19.1 5 |

http://pro-football-reference.com/players/StalDo00.htm

And we have him signed for the next 6 years which should be his prime years.
I project Stallworth to have the same kind of career path as Fryar, which means we could be looking at 4 seasons of 1,000+ receiving yards. BB sure knows how to find them bargains! :singing:

 

[danny88]

And we have him signed for the next 5 years which should be his prime years.
I project Stallworth to have the same kind of career path as Fryar, which means we could be looking at 4 seasons of 1,000+ receiving yards. BB sure knows how to find them bargains! :singing:

If we extend him. Right now we have him signed for a year.

 

[FreeTedWilliams]

The Irving Fryer whose wife attacked him the night before the Superbowl, and the one who played for the Dolphins were two very different people. For a more recent player look no further than our old pal Terry Glenn. Glenn is a better reciever than "the player" who is on the other side from him.

Both needed to basically "grow up"

It appears that Stallworth has done this, and if he performs to the contract I'm sure that the Pats will pay him the bonuses and extend the contract.

 

[Oswlek]

If we extend him. Right now we have him signed for a year.

He is locked up for 6 years. All NE has to do is pay a bonus that is essentially the trigger on a 5yr option for $27mm.

All Stallworth has to do is earn it. I believe he will, considering the sizes of the contracts thrown around this offseason and the fact that the cap is going up again next year.

 

[VJCPatriot]

He is locked up for 6 years. All NE has to do is pay a bonus that is essentially the trigger on a 5yr option for $27mm.

All Stallworth has to do is earn it. I believe he will, considering the sizes of the contracts thrown around this offseason and the fact that the cap is going up again next year.

You beat me to it. Yes the Patriots have Stallworth locked up longterm if they wish to keep him. The reason the deal is called a one year "prove it" deal is that the Pats can cut Stallworth in year 2 with little cap consequences.

Oh and if they do pay his bonus in the second year please don't confuse the bonus with the cap hit for that year. The bonus money will be prorated over the duration of his contract making his cap hit for 2008, if we keep him, a manageable 6M. With the cap going up each year, Stallworth's contract will likely be lacked back at as a bargain for a #1 wideout a couple of years from now.

 

[zippo59]

I can see the comparison. Two immensely talented receivers how floundered for a little whil in the league. Eventually Irvin got his sh!t together and turned into an excellent player. We'll see if Stallworth does too.

 

[signbabybrady]

didnt Fryar end up an eagle, we could right the ship and get one from them

 

[frankiesfly]

I can see the comparison. Two immensely talented receivers how floundered for a little whil in the league. Eventually Irvin got his sh!t together and turned into an excellent player. We'll see if Stallworth does too.

Yeah. The thing with Fryar is that he really didnt have a QB. Not a Tom Brady at least. I see Donte having better numbers than Fryar for that reason.

 

[JoeSixPat]

Although I was pushing/hoping for Stallworth big time I want to play down the expectations that he's poised to be an 80 catch a season WR. Or a 70 catch WR - or even a 60 catch WR.

He quite simply doesn't need to do that to earn his money and do what we need him to do.

Throwing deep is a high risk high reward endeavor. Given the other weapons that we have at WR - not to mention TE and RB, the scenario in which Brady is throwing deep to Stallworth enough to get to Irving Fryar type numbers isn't something I'd be happy about.

Better to mix in the deep passes just enough to ensure the defense remains deep, without throwing so many one risks INTs. 4 catches a game from Stallworth would suit me more than fine.

It wouldn't surprise me to see them use Stallworth in roles other than a simple deep threat, as I believe he can get the job done, but that will only come over time as he and Brady get their long routes straight first, moving onto shorter routes later.

But quite simply, as much as you need a deep threat, if you have to throw deep too often, its probably because you need to come from behind to score.

I think BB's gameplan won't be quite that agressive given all the weapons he has - he will constantly keep DC's guessing just like he does to OC's with his defensive schemes (and with AD he'll do this even more effectively next season)