Baker and E. Jackson wavied...Rashad Moore signed

[mgteich]

I agree. Few would doubt that Belichick is violating the rules yet again by ahve agreements with non-roster players. Me. I do indeed doubt it.

I would have added Moore last week. I am somewhat surprised that we have no backups at corner.

It does seem as though Wilson's health and (fingers crossed) the coaching staff's faith in Meriweather made these moves acceptable to BB, et al. I hope so, anyway.

That said, it wouldn't shock me to find Baker and Jackson on the shadow roster, quietly guaranteed a reason to stay by their phones as the next couple of weeks pass.

 

[tombonneau]

I'm thinking the other spot has to be Santonio, no?

Unless, as others pointed out, Watson or Brady injuries are worse than anticipated, could be a TE...

(Man, I really wish they had PUP'd Dave Thomas ...)

 

[patchick]

Unless, as others pointed out, Watson or Brady injuries are worse than anticipated, could be a TE...

That's my big worry. Marcellus Rivers, come on down!

Just think of how the TE position was so stacked in September that we had to waive Mills. Now TE is the new DB.

 

[unoriginal]

That's my big worry. Marcellus Rivers, come on down!

Just think of how the TE position was so stacked in September that we had to waive Mills. Now TE is the new DB.

At leat its not last year, where that one tight end got hurt putting on his jersey.

 

[BelichickFan]

Unless, as others pointed out, Watson or Brady injuries are worse than anticipated, could be a TE...

Watson was said to be (per Reiss) on the field running and cutting for the trainer to determine if he should be active pre game last week. Barring a setback it's inconceivable he won't be fine for the first playoff game.

 

[unoriginal]

Watson was said to be (per Reiss) on the field running and cutting for the trainer to determine if he should be active pre game last week. Barring a setback it's inconceivable he won't be fine for the first playoff game.

Maybe they want another tight end so they don't have to rush Brady and Watson back in there until, as you said, the playoffs.

 

[mgteich]

Agreed. However, some folks think that the Miami and Giant games are also important. We need TE's for the those games. We just picked up our backup DL. We now need a TE.

Watson was said to be (per Reiss) on the field running and cutting for the trainer to determine if he should be active pre game last week. Barring a setback it's inconceivable he won't be fine for the first playoff game.

 

[BelichickFan]

Agreed. However, some folks think that the Miami and Giant games are also important.

They are important but it's relative - it doesn't have to be all or nothing. Going 16-0 is VERY important to me, however not ultimately important such that we play guys who are already hurt.

 

[oldskool138]

Watson was said to be (per Reiss) on the field running and cutting for the trainer to determine if he should be active pre game last week. Barring a setback it's inconceivable he won't be fine for the first playoff game.

[wallace shawn] Inconceivable!!! [/wallace shawn]

 

[cstjohn17]

That's my big worry. Marcellus Rivers, come on down!

Just think of how the TE position was so stacked in September that we had to waive Mills. Now TE is the new DB.

Mills sucked, time for us to get over it. They guy never did anything as a Patriot and has done less for the Vikings.

I don't know which way the go but having Watson healthy for a potential matchup against the Colts is very important. With both outside receivers doubled up the middle should be open.

 

[mcbee]

Shouldn't have cut Kareem Brown. Could have cut either one of these guys then.

 

[mgteich]

Cutting Brown was a consequence of Belichick's celebrated one game at a time philosophy, and also of his wnating to do favors for old vets.

Shouldn't have cut Kareem Brown. Could have cut either one of these guys then.

 

[stevepratt]

I dont think any of these guys being mentioned in this thread are anything to lose sleep over. Kareem Brown was unimpressive in preseason games and had ample opportunities to impress in practice. Its not like the patriots just picked his name out of a hat..when he was on the team he wasnt active for any games..behind guys like le kevin smith and at times santino thomas..eddie jackson and rashard baker were fill in special teamers when mitchell was injured. They could not be trusted on defense and Chad Jackson is back to fill any special team roles if necessary. We also have Spann who shown he can hold his own on special teams if needed and has playoff experience

 

[mgteich]

Why not simply just trade all our draft choices for those players who can contribute this year?

Kareem Brown was a 4th round draft choice. It was HOPED that he would contribute next year or the year after. Most here acknowledged at the beginning of the year, that he would likely be inactive all year. If he is indeed no big loss, then the team amde a terrible draft choice (one of many) and are cutting losses. Now, we can draft another backup NT in the 3rd or 4th round.

Cutting a future backup so that Troy Brown can be inactive instead is the choice that Belichick made. The cost is a 4th rounder. And surely, we knew that others would snap up a future prospect when the cost was zilch, sort of like getting an extra pick.

I dont think any of these guys being mentioned in this thread are anything to lose sleep over. Kareem Brown was unimpressive in preseason games and had ample opportunities to impress in practice. Its not like the patriots just picked his name out of a hat..when he was on the team he wasnt active for any games..behind guys like le kevin smith and at times santino thomas..eddie jackson and rashard baker were fill in special teamers when mitchell was injured. They could not be trusted on defense and Chad Jackson is back to fill any special team roles if necessary. We also have Spann who shown he can hold his own on special teams if needed and has playoff experience

 

[mgteich]

Lose sleep? No! Hopefully this means Meriweather is ahead of Baker on the depth charts. A few weeks ago, Baker was #3, as he was in the last year's championship game.

I dont think any of these guys being mentioned in this thread are anything to lose sleep over. Kareem Brown was unimpressive in preseason games and had ample opportunities to impress in practice. Its not like the patriots just picked his name out of a hat..when he was on the team he wasnt active for any games..behind guys like le kevin smith and at times santino thomas..eddie jackson and rashard baker were fill in special teamers when mitchell was injured. They could not be trusted on defense and Chad Jackson is back to fill any special team roles if necessary. We also have Spann who shown he can hold his own on special teams if needed and has playoff experience

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Why not simply just trade all our draft choices for those players who can contribute this year?

Kareem Brown was a 4th round draft choice. It was HOPED that he would contribute next year or the year after. Most here acknowledged at the beginning of the year, that he would likely be inactive all year. If he is indeed no big loss, then the team amde a terrible draft choice (one of many) and are cutting losses. Now, we can draft another backup NT in the 3rd or 4th round.

Cutting a future backup so that Troy Brown can be inactive instead is the choice that Belichick made. The cost is a 4th rounder. And surely, we knew that others would snap up a future prospect when the cost was zilch, sort of like getting an extra pick.

I agree somewhat.
I didn't like cuting Justin Rogers at OLB. We have little in the developmental pipeline for real LB positions. Alexander doesn't count as he's clearly an ST player. And Kareem Brown should not have been waived.

 

[Jimke]

Why not simply just trade all our draft choices for those players who can contribute this year?

Kareem Brown was a 4th round draft choice. It was HOPED that he would contribute next year or the year after. Most here acknowledged at the beginning of the year, that he would likely be inactive all year. If he is indeed no big loss, then the team amde a terrible draft choice (one of many) and are cutting losses. Now, we can draft another backup NT in the 3rd or 4th round.

Cutting a future backup so that Troy Brown can be inactive instead is the choice that Belichick made. The cost is a 4th rounder. And surely, we knew that others would snap up a future prospect when the cost was zilch, sort of like getting an extra pick.

From the very start of the season the Pats let it be known from
their free agent moves and trades that they were playing to win the
Super Bowl this year. Getting players who could contribute this year and
worry about the future later. The future may be the 2008 draft. There
are going to be a significant amount of job vacancies next year. I don't
believe that all the vacancies can be filled from free agency and remain
under the cap.
I am in the minority on this forum who believed that the Patriots had a
lousy draft in 2007. I also think that they were not willing to spend the
time to develop raw talent like Kareem Brown and Justin Rodgers. This
is why a player like Chad Brown made the initial 53 man roster.

 

[stevepratt]

I dont think we need to worry about Brown beginning a future pro bowler or anything. We have Warren, Wilfork, Seymour and Green at the top of the depth chart and they clearly think higher of guys like Wright and Smith than they do Brown. Belicheck has been watching this guy in practice for the last 3 or 4 monthes so he obviously didnt "project" him to be a future contributor. There is nothing wrong with recognizing a mistake pick and moving on...what are we suppose to do hang on to the guy and put him the rotation because he was a 4th rd pick??

 

[mgteich]

No one has suggested putting him in the rotation. LeKevin will be in the 5-man rotation, and Thomas can be activated if needed. Brown was at the bottom of the depth chart, the #7 DL, a player always inactive. And he was NOT expected to contribute this year, or even be a backup. We kept Thomas (and might have kept Moore) on the Practice Squad for that role.

But I guess you are correct, cutting Brown is an admission of the total failure to pick players in a very bad draft.

I dont think we need to worry about Brown beginning a future pro bowler or anything. We have Warren, Wilfork, Seymour and Green at the top of the depth chart and they clearly think higher of guys like Wright and Smith than they do Brown. Belicheck has been watching this guy in practice for the last 3 or 4 monthes so he obviously didnt "project" him to be a future contributor. There is nothing wrong with recognizing a mistake pick and moving on...what are we suppose to do hang on to the guy and put him the rotation because he was a 4th rd pick??

 

[mgteich]

We SHOULD be trying to win a SB this year. Having a couple of inactive developmental players has never stood in the way in the past. I undertand that keeping Chad Brown was a problem for many posters. The issue indeed was to have insurance in case a LB or two were injured (and Woods and Alexander didn't step up). I do think that even in 100% hindsight that this was the right choice. I expect to see some reps from chad Brown over the next couple of weeks. Hopefully, he won't be needed in the playoffs, but he's there if needed.

From the very start of the season the Pats let it be known from
their free agent moves and trades that they were playing to win the
Super Bowl this year. Getting players who could contribute this year and
worry about the future later. The future may be the 2008 draft. There
are going to be a significant amount of job vacancies next year. I don't
believe that all the vacancies can be filled from free agency and remain
under the cap.
I am in the minority on this forum who believed that the Patriots had a
lousy draft in 2007. I also think that they were not willing to spend the
time to develop raw talent like Kareem Brown and Justin Rodgers. This
is why a player like Chad Brown made the initial 53 man roster.