Five facts that continue to amaze me

[ctpatsfan77]

5. The Welker trade: Hard to believe that you could make a case for all of the following arguments:
(1) The second-round pick was an absolute bargain for the Patriots.
(2) Welker was not worth a second-rounder to, essentially, any other team in the NFL.
(3) Welker has exceeded most of our expectations.
(4) The Dolphins improved their team, in the long term, with the trade.
(5) Nevertheless, by sending Welker to the Pats, they ultimately left themselves further behind the Patriots than they were before they traded him.

4. The Patriots have had more players score touchdowns (21) than three teams have touchdowns, period. Tom Brady has more touchdown passes this season than 29 teams have touchdowns, period (the Colts have 48 and the Cowboys 52).

3. We're honestly having a serious discussion about a 0 TD, 1 INT 20-10 Patriots win in terrible weather being Brady's annual "stinker." (Could any of you have imagined, in 2004, that we'd be having this discussion right now?)

2. The Patriots are 15-2 on the road the last two seasons (including playoffs)--and 10 of those wins have been by two touchdowns or more.

1. Tom Brady is the only quarterback in the Super Bowl era to have won more than 16 consecutive regular-season games . . . and he's now done it twice.

 

[BradyManny]

3. We're honestly having a serious discussion about a 0 TD, 1 INT 20-10 Patriots win in terrible weather being Brady's annual "stinker." (Could any of you have imagined, in 2004, that we'd be having this discussion right now?)

All great points, this one stands out. Brady's "annual stinker" normally consists of 4 interceptions and a loss, so if his stinker is last week, well then that just tells you what a great year he's having. Even his crappy game works out just OK.

 

[TheGodInAGreyHoodie]

5. The Welker trade: Hard to believe that you could make a case for all of the following arguments:
(1) The second-round pick was an absolute bargain for the Patriots.
(2) Welker was not worth a second-rounder to, essentially, any other team in the NFL.
(3) Welker has exceeded most of our expectations.
(4) The Dolphins improved their team, in the long term, with the trade.
(5) Nevertheless, by sending Welker to the Pats, they ultimately left themselves further behind the Patriots than they were before they traded him.

The ironic thing about Welker is when he was on a team full of talent and superstar players such as the powerhouse known as the Miami Dolphins, he lacked the skill set to earn a starting role at WR, starting only 3 games in two years. However, on a team with less skilled WR, the New England Patriots, he rose to the level of starter, starting 12 of 14 games this season.

If the fact that Welker could not cut it at the Dolphins, but leads in receptions on the New England is not absolute proof that the Dolphins are talent packed and Patriots is an abyss of quality players, then I don't know what other proof exists.

 

[PatsFaninAZ]

(5) Nevertheless, by sending Welker to the Pats, they ultimately left themselves further behind the Patriots than they were before they traded him.

Great list.

On Welker, though, there seems to be this impression out there that Miami gave him up voluntarily. They didn't. It didn't start out as a trade. The Patriots were set to sign him as an RFA, but then the parties sat down and agreed to a "trade" in which New England gave up a 7th (in addition to the 2d which Miami would have received anyway if Welker had been signed as an RFA) in order to avoid the unpleasantness of a poison pill scenario.

I guess one could argue that Miami made a mistake by giving Welker a 2d round tender instead of a 1st round tender. I'd agree with that. But when you hear commentators refer to Welker as having been "traded" by Miami, to the extent it implies a voluntary trade and desire to get rid of him, it's not entirely accurate.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

All great points, this one stands out. Brady's "annual stinker" normally consists of 4 interceptions and a loss, so if his stinker is last week, well then that just tells you what a great year he's having. Even his crappy game works out just OK.

Exactly. That's what makes this year so special. Last year he had the Jets and before that the loss to the Phins but now the dropoff from supreme excellence is a 0 TD 1 pick game. I'm sure he's totaly pissed at himself for the pick.

 

[TheGodInAGreyHoodie]

Great list.

On Welker, though, there seems to be this impression out there that Miami gave him up voluntarily. They didn't. It didn't start out as a trade. The Patriots were set to sign him as an RFA, but then the parties sat down and agreed to a "trade" in which New England gave up a 7th (in addition to the 2d which Miami would have received anyway if Welker had been signed as an RFA) in order to avoid the unpleasantness of a poison pill scenario.

I guess one could argue that Miami made a mistake by giving Welker a 2d round tender instead of a 1st round tender. I'd agree with that. But when you hear commentators refer to Welker as having been "traded" by Miami, to the extent it implies a voluntary trade and desire to get rid of him, it's not entirely accurate.

That is all true. What amazes me it that the Dolphins didn't put him to better use while he was there.

 

[ClevTrev]

Good thread and good stats that really stand out when you consider them together.

 

[DarrylS]

Then this means that the sky is not falling, I can be happy once again.. lah, de dah.. nice post.

 

[fourthandmiles]

What would Welker be worth now? HYPOTHETICALLY!

 

[Drew_Brady]

What about:
A) Mike Vrabel still comes with a 100% receiving TD guarantee
B) Through week 15, no offensive lineman of an opposing team have taken a cheap shot at Brady despite my local commentator being certain this would happen!

 

[ALP]

What about:
A) Mike Vrabel still comes with a 100% receiving TD guarantee
B) Through week 15, no offensive lineman of an opposing team have taken a cheap shot at Brady despite my local commentator being certain this would happen!

u mean defensive?

 

[BTTA]

What about:
A) Mike Vrabel still comes with a 100% receiving TD guarantee
B) Through week 15, no offensive lineman of an opposing team have taken a cheap shot at Brady despite my local commentator being certain this would happen!

Or defensive player, for that matter!

 

[ALP]

What about:
A) Mike Vrabel still comes with a 100% receiving TD guarantee
B) Through week 15, no offensive lineman of an opposing team have taken a cheap shot at Brady despite my local commentator being certain this would happen!

u mean defensive linemen? LOL


also, if branch was worth a 1st round pick, i think welker is at least that

 

[BTTA]

Great list.

On Welker, though, there seems to be this impression out there that Miami gave him up voluntarily. They didn't. It didn't start out as a trade. The Patriots were set to sign him as an RFA, but then the parties sat down and agreed to a "trade" in which New England gave up a 7th (in addition to the 2d which Miami would have received anyway if Welker had been signed as an RFA) in order to avoid the unpleasantness of a poison pill scenario.

It irritates me that no one else seems to get this, that it is spoken of as a trade. The press is just remarkably ignorant, time and time again.

 

[Drew_Brady]

u mean defensive linemen? LOL


also, if branch was worth a 1st round pick, i think welker is at least that

Nah, just waiting for for Logan to give Tommy the old runaround

Of course, an opposing defensive lineman

 

[ctpatsfan77]

It irritates me that no one else seems to get this, that it is spoken of as a trade. The press is just remarkably ignorant, time and time again.

To be fair, though, according to the Krafts, the rumors of the poison pill 7-year offer sheet were just that--rumors. That said, I do agree with you that it was essentially a trade in name only (i.e., if they couldn't trade for him, they'd have used the poison pill), and that the Dolphins sealed Welker's fate when they didn't use the highest tender on him. [I'm not arguing they should have, BTW.]

 

[Fanfrom1960]

If the fact that Welker could not cut it at the Dolphins, but leads in receptions on the New England is not absolute proof that the Dolphins are talent packed and Patriots is an abyss of quality players, then I don't know what other proof exists.

Maybe they thought he was too short (like Steve Smith).

 

[xmarkd400x]

I hate the whole "I'm surprised nobody has taken a cheap shot at Brady yet" talk. It's rediculous, unfounded, and ignorant. What motivation does ANY defensive player have to intentionally end Brady's season and/or career?

Within the NFL, as it is with every large professional sport in America, there are regular guys earning paychecks to support families. I know people cry cry cry about how much NFL players make and whatnot, but imagine if you were making 4 MILLION/year and some idiot took out your knees, destroying your earning potential. Not only that, but HE WOULD GAIN NOTHING. Wow, one lousy stinking win (maybe).

If ANY player were to intentionally hurt any other player, it would be a selfish, despicable act. That player could be suspended indefinitely. I'm honestly surprised that the guy who stomped on Albert Haynseworth is even allowed in the league.

I mean come on. The guys are competetive, but they aren't vindictive.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

If ANY player were to intentionally hurt any other player, it would be a selfish, despicable act. That player could be suspended indefinitely. I'm honestly surprised that the guy who stomped on Albert Haynseworth is even allowed in the league.

Two things:

(1) Haynesworth was the stomper, not the stompee.
(2) I agree with you that it would be beyond disgusting to do. I also think that if it happened at Gillette, there would be Pats fans out for blood (granted, probably not the red seat folks).

 

[Drew_Brady]

I hate the whole "I'm surprised nobody has taken a cheap shot at Brady yet" talk. It's rediculous, unfounded, and ignorant. What motivation does ANY defensive player have to intentionally end Brady's season and/or career?

Within the NFL, as it is with every large professional sport in America, there are regular guys earning paychecks to support families. I know people cry cry cry about how much NFL players make and whatnot, but imagine if you were making 4 MILLION/year and some idiot took out your knees, destroying your earning potential. Not only that, but HE WOULD GAIN NOTHING. Wow, one lousy stinking win (maybe).

If ANY player were to intentionally hurt any other player, it would be a selfish, despicable act. That player could be suspended indefinitely. I'm honestly surprised that the guy who stomped on Albert Haynseworth is even allowed in the league.

I mean come on. The guys are competetive, but they aren't vindictive.

Can't say that I disagree. The reason I brought it up was just b/c I'm fed up with mediots trying to make some sort of headline.

But then again, how can one be sure that the NFL don't have their own version of Chris Simon of the NY Islanders ?