Patriots Sign WR Brandon LaFell to 3-year contract

PatriotReign said:

Since this team seems to like signing players that have had good games against them, why haven't they gone after Jerricho Cotchery?

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Cotchery was on many of our radars over the past month or so. I think he'd be an excellent fit here.

I suppose it may be a question of value/someone else overpaying for him, along with the fact that we're basically in the hunt for the low risk/high reward kind of signings at the moment.

I still would have liked to see him pursued though.

Man, what a typical Kraft/Bellicheck signing. Low budget receiver at the wideout position again. Tate, back to Branch, Ocho, Lloyd, Dobson/Thompkins, and now Lefell. Par the course I guess. Ever since the Patriots lost Moss, they did a pathetic job at trying to replace the talent at the wideout spot to stretch the defense. I just don't understand it. Lefell is not an upgrade. He is just another average guy that Brady is forced to use as an adequate receiver. Steve Smith would be a way better guy to pick up.

Texxx said:

Man, what a typical Kraft/Bellicheck signing. Low budget receiver at the wideout position again. Tate, back to Branch, Ocho, Lloyd, Dobson/Thompkins, and now Lefell. Par the course I guess. Ever since the Patriots lost Moss, they did a pathetic job at trying to replace the talent at the wideout spot to stretch the defense. I just don't understand it. Lefell is not an upgrade. He is just another average guy that Brady is forced to use as an adequate receiver. Steve Smith would be a way better guy to pick up.

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It's reassuring that you trash the move. Thanks, I feel even better about it now.

I'd rather Smith...

AndyJohnson said:

It's reassuring that you trash the move. Thanks, I feel even better about it now.

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Seriously. Has this guy ever posted a positive thing about the Pats? Thought he got banned until I saw one of his posts the other day. But such a clear JAT*


*Just Another Troll

Texxx said:

Steve Smith would be a way better guy to pick up.

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Smith wasn't an option. He decided to visit Baltimore first and Baltimore gave him a deal he agreed on.

Btw.. the year before Ochostinko came to the Pats he had in 14g, 67 rec, 831 yds, 12.4 avg 4tds....Smith last year 16g , 64 rec, 745yds, 11.6 avg 4tds.

Of course Smith is a "bit " more serious. So on paper at least about the same,
glad pats got Lafell instead. Pats haven't really done well with old wrs>> Galloway, Ocho

nowayback said:

Btw.. the year before Ochostinko came to the Pats he had in 14g, 67 rec, 831 yds, 12.4 avg 4tds....Smith last year 16g , 64 rec, 745yds, 11.6 avg 4tds.

Of course Smith is a "bit " more serious. So on paper at least about the same,
glad pats got Lafell instead. Pats haven't really done well with old wrs>> Galloway, Ocho

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Boy that is some spinning there to try to justify being glad we got LaFell instead...

Smith in his career was a #1 now a #2 option but still with all the skills and tricks of an old vet #1. The other guy was and ever was a #2 and now is more likely a #3 or #4.

It is what it is, and what that is...is that LaFell is not an alternative to missing out Smith.

Why did Carolina not want lafell? Did he la fall down their depth chart? I think I smell a rat.

supafly said:

Cotchery was on many of our radars over the past month or so. I think he'd be an excellent fit here.

I suppose it may be a question of value/someone else overpaying for him, along with the fact that we're basically in the hunt for the low risk/high reward kind of signings at the moment.

I still would have liked to see him pursued though.

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Interesting that we also had Lance Moore in for a visit this week, and that he's heading to Pittsburgh tomorrow for a visit as well.

We all know Steve Smith was scheduled to come here for a visit, but stayed in BAL instead.

Moore, Smith, LaFell, Britt....I think it's pretty obvious that Belichick was interested in upgrading the position, and for good reason. While it would be nice to see the rookies step up and make a year two leap, we also shouldn't have to depend on it happening either.

All of these guys have potential to be the kind of lower risk veteran signings for reasonable money that Belichick likes to make, so I'm very happy to see that he's addressing the issue and also doing it in a much better manner than just opening up the checkbook to fill a hole (cough, cough, Denver).

kennyb said:

Why did Carolina not want lafell? Did he la fall down their depth chart? I think I smell a rat.

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Why did they not want Steve Smith, after a very nice season?

Why did they choose to totally gut their WR depth chart in positions 1-3 or 1-4?

LaFell has improved in all 4 seasons at CAR, and had 50 catches and 5 TDs last season. He's also had some great YPC seasons with 17.0 and 15.4 as well. I don't "smell a rat" like you do at all.

It's quite possible their decisions were based on cap management and the fact that they had to retain Hardy at a hefty price.

supafly said:

Why did they not want Steve Smith, after a very nice season?

Why did they choose to totally gut their WR depth chart in positions 1-3 or 1-4?

LaFell has improved in all 4 seasons at CAR, and had 50 catches and 5 TDs last season. He's also had some great YPC seasons with 17.0 and 15.4 as well. I don't "smell a rat" like you do at all.

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Smith is old and slowing. He would have been a bad signing too.

What makes this signing more delicious is that Elway had a bead on Lefell too:

2014 NFL free agency: Broncos may pursue Brandon LaFell, Miles Austin - Mile High Report

kennyb said:

Why did Carolina not want lafell? Did he la fall down their depth chart? I think I smell a rat.

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They have no la cap space.

Really like this signing. He played very well vs. The Pats last yr. He has a similar build to Hernandez-- and can be physical at the line and in the backfield. He caught a bunch, he tackled and he impressed this observer.

I think he brings real value as someone who can play the slot and give Dobson some competition going down field.

More than anything else, signing LaFell and Browner -- says 1 thing. BB is warming to tall receivers and tall CBs -- a la the Seahawks. About time.

kennyb said:

Smith is old and slowing. He would have been a bad signing too.

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I'm not so sure about that. Smith will likely be exactly what BAL needed, and has been lacking since Boldin left last offseason. He certainly has the capacity to give them another weapon and make important catches.

He's been in range of 70-80 catch seasons in the past 3 years, had YPC averages of 17.6, 16.1, and 11.6. He's also had 1394, 1174, and 745 yard seasons.

He plays very tough, is consistent, and was shifty enough to make Aqib Talib look like a joke.

I think any WR not named Johnson, Bryant, Thomas, Green, or Marshall is viewed upon by the "average" fan who doesn't follow the NFL that closely as something of a fail. That simply isn't true at all.

Veteran receivers have the capacity to improve our depth chart 1-5 with experience, tough catches, and physical play. None of us expected a big splash signing at the position, so many are happy that it's being addressed whatsoever.

Username said:

Scouts view: Brandon LaFell - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

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Yates analyzes this well. I decided to watch a little film of LaFell and he doesn't really impress as a route runner; Yates is saying politely that the routes he had to run were easy and he is right. He will be forced to run more precise and complex routes with the Pats or Brady won't throw to him and he won't be on the field. That and making the decisions Brady expects him to make are his two biggest challenges.

TomPatriot said:

Yates is saying politely that the routes he had to run were easy and he is right.

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Can you produce a quote in which he said anything that comes close to him saying that ? I read it three times and have yet to find it.

He looks like a solid addition. In clips he looks big, athletic, good open field runner, plenty fast enough, and capable of making the difficult catch. He's also great insurance in case Dobson isn't ready to go in September. I think we're going to be psyched with this guy.