Why do the Pats juggle so many Punters?

[miDeuce]

I was kinda shocked when I read that the Pats had pulled the switcheroo Wednesday. Like most I assumed that Baugher had won the job. But it's interesting to me how the Pats deal with Punters - having two on the practice squad, both in NFLE, trying to hang on to Saurbrun. They actively had four punters in the organization at one time. I wonder why they can't really seem to find one who can stick for more than a couple years. Just when it seems they're grooming a young leg for the job they cut both young guys, and an old guy who had been fairly reliable and bring in some journeyman who had been cut from two other teams.

I wonder if this is to send some sort of message to Baugher. Maybe he lost a bit of his edge once the job was his by default. Maybe they're not pleased with his consistency. Or maybe they just decided they wanted a vet in there. Who knows. I'm sure Baugher'll probably be back on the practice squad next week. But I wonder if other teams behave similarly, or if this is yet another strange thing about our team that no one else is doing.

 

[patsox23]

They clearly weren't set with Baugher, a vet came available and they jumped on it. Just trying to improve the team.

 

[Birdman21]

Definitely something strange that you guys are doing. I am a Cardinals fan and we just got rid of Player after having him for over 9 years. I really do not understand the reasoning behind this, I am very close friends with Baugher and I am just stunned. As a Cardinals fan though, I can't really question the way BB does things cause in case you haven't noticed we haven't won much lately. I just hope for Baugher's sake that BB realizes that he is letting a player go who is only going to get better (he is only 20 months of ACL and MCL replacement surgery and was on pace to break the NCAA record before he got hurt.) If Baugher doesn't end up in NE though you will see him land on his feet elsewhere, he has too much talent and upside to not.

But like I said earlier, BB must have felt this move improved his team....and it is tough to really question the guy with his track record.

 

[miDeuce]

They clearly weren't set with Baugher, a vet came available and they jumped on it. Just trying to improve the team.

I guess it really does probably just come back to that simple BB philosophy. Any time they see the chance to potentially gain just the slighest edge they pounce. Regardless if they have to pull the rug out from under a first year kicker who thinks he just won a job on the Super Bowl favorites.

 

[NEPatriot]

I've previously expressed my concern with the punting situation. With the number of draft picks that we had, drafting a punter was one of my priorities and seemed to make sense.

 

[RayClay]

The liked Miller. He got hurt and he's old.

They tried to tie up Sauerbrun, it didn't work. They don't like to roll the dice with young guys and they are working with Gost's confidence issues it seems.

That's my take.

Of course they loved "he who will not be named" so what do I know?

 

[Canada's #1 Pats Fan]

I hope Baugher does not become this years Robbie Gould to us.

 

[miDeuce]

I am very close friends with Baugher and I am just stunned.

Did this completely blindside him? I was excited to give the young guy a try. I heard great things about him.

 

[Birdman21]

Did this completely blindside him? I was excited to give the young guy a try. I heard great things about him.

He had zero idea that this was coming, I was talking with him the night before planning to head back to Cincy to watch him play on MNF. What I will say is that he loved being on your team and was pumped to do his part to get you guys a ring. He will end up on his feet though, and now BB knows what he has in him so once someone else starts struggling he knows who he can call. My hope is that he ends up here in AZ with the uncertainty surrounding our punting situation. And if that is the case, I hope he is your guys' next Gould. But if he ends up coming back to NE....you guys will still be my AFC team.

 

[BadMoFo]

Not the greatest review by BB on Hanson's performance tonight, but that's just BB.

Q: Any impressions of [Chris] Hanson's effort tonight?
"I thought it was okay. I thought it was okay. I've seen a lot worse, put it that way."

 

[miDeuce]

He had zero idea that this was coming, I was talking with him the night before planning to head back to Cincy to watch him play on MNF. What I will say is that he loved being on your team and was pumped to do his part to get you guys a ring. He will end up on his feet though, and now BB knows what he has in him so once someone else starts struggling he knows who he can call. My hope is that he ends up here in AZ with the uncertainty surrounding our punting situation. And if that is the case, I hope he is your guys' next Gould. But if he ends up coming back to NE....you guys will still be my AFC team.

Man, I love the Pats but it sounds like a scary place to be a player when you're one of those low draft pick, free agent, must go balls to the wall at all time types. I wonder if that was how they took Doug Gabriel out. Quick. Painless. Unless someone snaps Baugher up quick I'd bet he's back with the Pats. If not at least we saved you from having to go to Cincinatti.

 

[spacecrime]

Not the greatest review by BB on Hanson's performance tonight, but that's just BB.

Q: Any impressions of [Chris] Hanson's effort tonight?
"I thought it was okay. I thought it was okay. I've seen a lot worse, put it that way."

I took it to mean the lot worse he'd seen was Baugher.

 

[Birdman21]

Man, I love the Pats but it sounds like a scary place to be a player when you're one of those low draft pick, free agent, must go balls to the wall at all time types. I wonder if that was how they took Doug Gabriel out. Quick. Painless. Unless someone snaps Baugher up quick I'd bet he's back with the Pats. If not at least we saved you from having to go to Cincinatti.

Ya it will be interesting to see if someone snaps him up. I think I am more in shock than he is for the simple fact that I have watched every game and aside from 1 or 2 punts he has looked very good. But I never followed the Pats until they signed Baugher to the PS last year. So I really don't know how things are handled there. But from what I have seen and read on this MB it is VERY different from here in AZ (but once again, we haven't won much so maybe players need to feel like they could lose their job any given day to get 100% out of them). I hope that after reviewing the film BB decides to give Baugher a shot and just resigns him to the roster...but if he doesn't hopefully some team snatches him up soon. Cause this kid has worked his ASS off for you guys and deserves a shot somewhere.

 

[DarrylS]

Cause this kid has worked his ASS off for you guys and deserves a shot somewhere.

Has he worked his ass off for the Pats, or has he worked his ass off to play in the NFL?... I suspect the latter, one thing about the Pats is that it is business first, and no matter how hard he worked, it all depends on what happens on the field. Obviously BB thought he needed an upgrade in this area.. but I wish Baugher luck wherever he winds up.

 

[dhamz]

Man, I love the Pats but it sounds like a scary place to be a player when you're one of those low draft pick, free agent, must go balls to the wall at all time types.

This makes them different from every other NFL team in what way?

 

[JoeSixPat]

Punters IMO can't be looked at like other players.

There's a ton of them out there from years of college, CFL- most are right in the average category though only 32 can make it in the NFL

Their careers often span decades and all often have their ups and downs as very small changes in mechanics can set the great apart from the good.

Sometimes a guy loses it for a time - sometimes he gets it back. Some guys who were average in college can wind up getting good if they stick with it and keep practicing.

BB and SP realize all this and if a guy;s out of sync and not doing what they know a punter should, they look to audition any one of the dozens upon dozens of punters looking for a job.

 

[rabthepat]

I was surprised when Josh was let go and now this. Maybe Bill will surprise us with another punter decision before the season starts. How about Troy Brown punting the ball? It's about the only thing he hasn't done for us.

 

[Oswlek]

I hope Baugher does not become this years Robbie Gould to us.

Gost is better than Gould at KOs and he also proved that he is a capable FG kicker when the chips are down. I don't see a reason why anyone should fret over that one.

I thought the new guy was just fine yesterday, He had two nice punts that ended up giving the Giants the ball inside the 10. Plus he was consistnent. Not sure what there is to complain about on this one.

 

[FirstAndGoal]

I guess the real reason he was released is that he was in court Thursday for beating up his old man.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

I guess the real reason he was released is that he was in court Thursday for beating up his old man.

Yep, just read that over at Planet. Sad news all the way around, hopefully he gets his act together and gets a chance elsewhere.