Patriots expected to sign DL Alan Branch

alan branch.

can't be as useless as isaac sapoaga??

mayoclinic said:

I'd like to see a 4-3 Under base:

LDE Branch - NT Wilfork - 3Tech Jones/Easley - RDE Ninkovich
SAM Ayers - MLB Hightower - WLB Collins

Stand Nink up and change the spacing and you can have a 1-gapping 3-4. Move Hightower up on the line in sub packages and take out one of the big linemen.

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Would it be a consideration to swap the strongside and weakside LBs, mayo?

I don't see how Alan Branch plays for the Pats this year. Skipped offseason workouts in Buffalo. Failed conditioning test when he reported. Arrested for DUI (puking out the car door, 0.14 BAC). Cut by Buffalo in late August. Out of football ever since.

Even if he were in shape, he's gotta be in line for suspension on the DUI rap.

hwc said:

I don't see how Alan Branch plays for the Pats this year. Skipped offseason workouts in Buffalo. Failed conditioning test when he reported. Arrested for DUI (puking out the car door, 0.14 BAC). Cut by Buffalo in late August. Out of football ever since.

Even if he were in shape, he's gotta be in line for suspension on the DUI rap.

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I highly doubt that we'd have signed him without him taking a physical. Also I am sure the pats didn't sign a guy just to have him suspended... i may be wrong here. But that's just my take

hwc said:

I don't see how Alan Branch plays for the Pats this year. Skipped offseason workouts in Buffalo. Failed conditioning test when he reported. Arrested for DUI (puking out the car door, 0.14 BAC). Cut by Buffalo in late August. Out of football ever since.

Even if he were in shape, he's gotta be in line for suspension on the DUI rap.

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Understanding this is your personal opinion, that's an awfully negative spin on things.

Marshawn Lynch got a DUI about 2 years ago and still hasn't been punished by the league yet. (Edit: actually, he postponed things for almost 2 full years and never was punished by the NFL, nor does he expect to be)

How does Brandon Browner's recent suspension where he couldn't work out with the team for over a month any different from Branch being cut at the end of August?

We play a total of 2 games from the Thursday night Jets game to the Nov.16th game at Indy in that calendar month, which was only 5 days ago from the Branch signing. I would expect him to be able to contribute after the bye week, yes.

Certainly questionable attitudes, not talent questions. Both capable of playing at a high level if the change of scenery suits them.

The new NFL drug policy implemented in Sept mandates a two game suspension for a DUI arrest. Branch's arrest was late August (at 2:30 am Saturday morning before a Saturday preseason game). Whether he would fall under the new policy is probably something we'd have to ask Roger Goodell. The old policy was typically a fine of two game checks for a first-offense DUI.

Optimistically, the guy has been in rehab, 12-step program since August. Puking out the car door, BAC of .14 fourteen hours before kickoff of an afternoon game suggests the guy has a serious drinking problem.

None of you children remember Joe willie arriving at the stadium falling over drunk, back in '66.

The game meant nothing to the Jets, but a victory by the Pats would have sent the Patriots against Lombardi's Packers instead of the Chiefs, in Super Bowl I. But such was not to be.

Namath had a game out of his mind, and the Jets shellacked the Pats. It wasn't close. In the post game interviews, it was obvious that Joe Willie was Still drunk.

AzPatsFan said:

None of you children remember Joe willie arriving at the stadium falling over drunk, back in '66.

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I do. And, I remember that he was still an alcoholic when he humiliated himself on national TV wanting to kiss Suzy Kolber.

Different era. I don't think players are going to get much playing time on a Bill Belichick team while falling down drunk (or puking out the driver's door drunk).

supafly said:

Would it be a consideration to swap the strongside and weakside LBs, mayo?

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Sure. I love Collins as a SAM, though his tackling would need to improve some. I'm more sure that Collins can play WILL than Ayers, which is why I listed it that way, but I'm sure the team will look at different combinations and go with whatever works best.

mayoclinic said:

I'd like to see a 4-3 Under base:

LDE Branch - NT Wilfork - 3Tech Jones/Easley - RDE Ninkovich
SAM Ayers - MLB Hightower - WLB Collins

Stand Nink up and change the spacing and you can have a 1-gapping 3-4. Move Hightower up on the line in sub packages and take out one of the big linemen.

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In this case I think you would see jones or Easley at LDE and the larger branch in the 3 tech.
I'm far from sold on ayers seeing the field much less playing every down as you have him.
I believe he has played zero snaps of defense this season.

AndyJohnson said:

In this case I think you would see jones or Easley at LDE and the larger branch in the 3 tech.
I'm far from sold on ayers seeing the field much less playing every down as you have him.
I believe he has played zero snaps of defense this season.

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Usually in the 4-3 Under the LDE is a 3-4 DE with run stopping capability (Red Bryant), not a penetrator, so I'm not sure I understand that, but whatever works.

You may well be right about Ayers - my discussion was assuming that BB sees him as a regular in the base formation. Sub was a separate discussion. FWIW, Ayers played in all 48 games his first 3 seasons and started 43 of them, so he was a starting caliber player. I'm not sure why he has been a healthy scratch most of this season - I would guess it's a result of either injury or disfavor from the new regime, or some combination of the above. But until recently he was a starting caliber player. His 2012 season wasn't at all bad, statistically: 104 tackles, 6 sacks, 8 PD, 1 INT, 1 FF. He fell off some last year, but that could have been as a result of the knee issues which caused him to have surgery on both knees. A lot depends on the medical reports, and his physical condition.

ausbacker said:

I completely forgot about Easley. Mea culpa!

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Who???

Oh, him. That's understandable.

Branch was really good against the run last year. Word was he got lazy after he got a new contract in December, but he may be hungry again now that he is trying to play for a contract. He might be a two down DT/DE even after Jones and Siliga get back from injury.

hwc said:

I don't see how Alan Branch plays for the Pats this year. Skipped offseason workouts in Buffalo. Failed conditioning test when he reported. Arrested for DUI (puking out the car door, 0.14 BAC). Cut by Buffalo in late August. Out of football ever since.

Even if he were in shape, he's gotta be in line for suspension on the DUI rap.

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First, he will likely be suspended for his DUI rap after Dennard serves his suspension for his DUI rap. Ain't going to happen. His DUI was before the new drug policy where you can get suspended for DUI.

Second, Branch got lazy after getting for a new deal. He might be hungry again (and not in an eating food way) with him being cut served as a wake up call. He could have spent the time off getting into shape and realizing he is playing for a contract.

How many former or present players have DUI's if the cop doesn't let em slide after recognizing their name?

Not making light of a serious problem. If you drink, you've probably done it dozens of times. Just takes some longer than others to get caught.

jsull87 said:

I highly doubt that we'd have signed him without him taking a physical. Also I am sure the pats didn't sign a guy just to have him suspended... i may be wrong here. But that's just my take

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DUIs are a suspendable offense with the new drug policy signed a few weeks ago. But Branch got a DUI before that and DUIs were not suspendable offenses unless you were in the drug program already. He won't be suspended just like Dennard was not suspended for his DUI.

patsfaninpa said:

How many former or present players have DUI's if the cop doesn't let em slide after recognizing their name?

Not making light of a serious problem. If you drink, you've probably done it dozens of times. Just takes some longer than others to get caught.

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NFL players have no reason to ever get caught with a DUI. The league has a program that any NFL player can make a call and they will send a limo or Town Car for them free of charge. They pretty much have it set up that they can get a ride any time of the day anywhere in the country. I guess if they live in really rural areas, then they can't get a car. But a lot of these arrests happen in major cities where a car can be to them in 15-20 minutes.

Rob0729 said:

NFL players have no reason to ever get caught with a DUI. The league has a program that any NFL player can make a call and they will send a limo or Town Car for them free of charge. They pretty much have it set up that they can get a ride any time of the day anywhere in the country. I guess if they live in really rural areas, then they can't get a car. But a lot of these arrests happen in major cities where a car can be to them in 15-20 minutes.

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We're dealing with rich, immature young men. They want to impress everyone at the club with their ride. Doesn't look cool to hail a cab. A lot of the players live in the suburbs and go to the city to party.

patsfaninpa said:

We're dealing with rich, immature young men. They want to impress everyone at the club with their ride. Doesn't look cool to hail a cab. A lot of the players live in the suburbs and go to the city to party.

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Personally, if I was rich and I was going out drinking, I would get a limo every time. These guys have no problems dropping a grand in a bar. Why not spend a few hundred bucks for a limo.

But I know there are a million excuses why they don't take advantage of this program, but it is something the average person doesn't have access to.