More proof that situational football pays dividends

[ctpatsfan77]

Kelley Washington on his "save" (from The Day):

"It's a play where me and Chris [Hanson], we sometimes stay after practice and work on that exact play," Washington said. "I just try to go down there and use my athleticism and make a play. I was able to find the ball in the air and it was just a great kick."

And that was only the second-best punt downing of the season (remember, if Andrews hadn't gone out of bounds, he could have downed a punt at the 1).

 

[TX_Patriot]

I'm not naive enough to think the Pats are the only team in the league to practice this stuff, but it still give me a warm feeling that we never leave anything to chance. Practice makes perfect...always.

 

[BrianPat]

We get this guy from the Bengals, he's playing as the #4 receiver for the Bengals because Henry can't stop breaking the law. We sign him in FA too compete for the #4 spot, he loses and ends up on special teams. He's been one our standout players on ST, just seeing that quote from him that Hansen and he stay after practice to work on that play. So after practice, Hansen's punting down the field with this guy chasing it down to try and down it. I wonder how many wind sprints he does during this after practice fine tuning !! This is why he's doing so well, he understands this is his role and he wants to be the best he can be, even though he'd love to be out there catching passes from Brady.

No better example of a team player, like Evans, Andrews, and all the other unknowns doing something, anything to help the team.

 

[Redcell]

I heard a little of BB on WEEI yesterday talking about Washington. Bill loves the guy and said he's got great hands and just hasn't had the opportunities to play receiver but loves him on ST.

I love the fact that you don't hear him b'ching and moaning about not getting playing time as receiver. At least not in public.

The downing of that punt was awesome. I made it a point to call my 8 year-old son over during the replay and show him a text-book example of pure hustle.

 

[primetime]

I've said it once and I'll say it again: Washington is the best special teamer I've seen since Steve Tasker. Forget all the great STers the Patriots have had over the last decade and a half, and forget all the great ones other teams have had. Washington does everything... he's a great gunner, he blocks punts, he's always the first to hit the returnman on kickoffs... he's just superb. He's worth picking up the option next year on.

 

[weswelker#83]

Kelley Washington Owns againt SD chargers


Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4e3hDsTLpPw

 

[Fencer]

I think Washington is going to be a Patriot for a long time.

I presume he lacks the quicks to get separation as a receiver, because I have trouble thinking of what else he's apt to be bad at.

 

[alamo]

Washington will stay around if he wants to... if he is willing to renegotiate his contract to a level the team can afford. If not, he is gone.

A $4M option bonus is way too much for a pure special teams guy no matter how good he is. For that matter his salaries (2008 900K, 2010 1.9M, 2011 & 2012 2.4M) are too high for a pure special teamer, especially for a team with so many places to spend their cap.

I think Washington will be willing to deal, though. I think he'll probably end up with about what he got this year, 600K salary plus 300K guaranteed. But add a bunch of incentives for receptions in case he does become a part of the WR corps, as he wanted to originally.

 

[Cannon Arm]

We get this guy from the Bengals, he's playing as the #4 receiver for the Bengals because Henry can't stop breaking the law. We sign him in FA too compete for the #4 spot, he loses and ends up on special teams. He's been one our standout players on ST, just seeing that quote from him that Hansen and he stay after practice to work on that play. So after practice, Hansen's punting down the field with this guy chasing it down to try and down it. I wonder how many wind sprints he does during this after practice fine tuning !! This is why he's doing so well, he understands this is his role and he wants to be the best he can be, even though he'd love to be out there catching passes from Brady.

No better example of a team player, like Evans, Andrews, and all the other unknowns doing something, anything to help the team.

I think you are able to get this sort of top to bottom commitment to excellence because the players at the bottom of the food chain are told by Belichick that they are critical players and they know that there is a tremendous pay out for all that work-- a real chance at playing in the Super Bowl.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Well, we don't know what the Pats' plans are at WR. But they have two definitely under contract (Welker, Jackson), three FAs (Brown, Moss, Gaffney), and two with Pats options (Stallworth, Washington).

If Gaffney leaves, and/or the Pats don't pick up Stallworth's option, I'd expect Washington to join the WR rotation.