Howe: Patriots considering placing Easley on IR

kennyb said:

Yes clowney is a bust. Unless he has a miraculous recovery. Bust doesn't mean he's a bad person. Or didn't try. Not in his case or Easley ' .

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I suppose we just gotta wait and see on both. Everything else is just a guess.

BobDigital said:

Clowney sure looks like a bust to me. He was healthy from what I heard before his injury and he just didn't produce while healthy. I think the questions about his will to be great coming out of college might have been justified. It was passed off as he played to not get hurt before going to the NFL but maybe he just does not have the intensity needed.

As for Easley. Well he has looked good in spurts but the knees are questionable right now. I am not calling him a bust but anyone saying they are not concerned is either lying or delusion (not saying this is what YOU are saying... just in generally).

I hope Easley will get past this will more time to heal in the off season but am I sure? Nope. Am I even confident? Nope. Still I think he is worth the risk. We got a taste of his talent this year and it seems clear to me that if he is healthy he will be a difference maker.

Now though I think it will be interesting to watch the draft. If they trade up for a DT is it gonna for cause Wilfork is on the way out or cause they think Easley is?

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Clowney got hurt right off the bat. This is going to be his second surgery of the year, already.

Deus Irae said:

Clowney got hurt right off the bat. This is going to be his second surgery of the year, already.

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Well I didn't hear anything about that or read anything about that. Maybe I have been on Mars then for the past 5 months. Sigh. I probably should edit it to try to save some face but nah...

Clowney if he doesn't have a miraculous recovery will be one of the biggest busts ever. Not his fault and very sad. At least he got a fat signing bonus.

did somebody say bust?? as in "big big big bigtime bust"??

Oswlek said:

Considering how few snaps Easley is playing, it really wouldn't be a big difference just having him inactive. If the guy who would replace him is on the PS it makes even less sense to put him on IR.

Only if they feel Easley has virtually no chance of returning this year does it make sense.

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I'm not saying it makes sense or doesn't, I don't know if he could play some after a few games off or is done. My contention is, the author is also guessing and doesn't have a sauce who knows "they are considering" this.

If the author knows he's shot, he should say so.

mgteich said:

Belichick likes having flexibility in his roster spots, being able to call up a special teamer or linebacker as needed. In any case, if he can't play, he should and will be placed on IR.

To put it another way, why should Belichick volunteer to have a 52 man roster when everyone else has 53?

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Did the author say he couldn't play?

BobDigital said:

Come on guys don't be like that. No need for it. If he thinks Easley is a bust let him say it without giving him crap about it. Honestly maybe he will be right at the end of the day. No one knows right now. We can only guess and hope.

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I apologize for my outburst and the shame I have brought to my family.

Bequette time?

Tunescribe said:

After reading the article (which actually is pretty insightful regarding Easley), it seems sensible to shut him down. Apparently, he just wasn't able to fully rehab and at the same time prepare physically/mentally for the rigors of an NFL season. I thought he was having more of an impact than just 10 tackles and one sack thus far.

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have re-read 3 times trying to find that part (the insightful bit). So far have found:

A bunch (~ 10) of publicly known facts that were not organized in time sequence (re-organized):

"-- Easley tore his left ACL in 2011,
-- Easley tore his right ACL in September 2013,
--Dr. James Andrews [sic: uh-oh??] conducted the surgery in October 2013.
--Patriots drafted him in the first round of May's draft,
--he took part in the final practice of minicamp in June before he made his training camp debut Aug. 11.
--Easley has missed eight regular-season practices, including six for knee-related reasons.
--Easley also suffered a separated AC joint in his right shoulder during the Pats' victory against the Bengals in Week 5, and he missed two practices and the following game against the Bills.
--[patriots] keeping him out of ... the Week 12 victory against the Lions
--He has been out of both practices this week.
--Easley has 10 tackles, one sack and one interception this season.

SPECULATIONS WITH SOME BASIS BUT COULD BE JUST OPINION:
--Easley has essentially been playing catch-up all season,
--Patriots have worked diligently to maintain his rehabilitation process by keeping him out of occasional practices*

SPECULATION BASED ON AN ANONYMOUS SOURCE:
--considering placing their first-round pick on injured reserve as a means to get him in a healthier position for the 2015 season**

So all things considered (resource Herald, writer-no track history with me for credibility, general media propensity to hype headlines with catastrophic untrue circumstances to get clicks); I didnt find much to give any credence one way or another.

* He missed a total of 8 practices while suffering an AC Separation over the course of 14 weeks of a season. I dont see how that is 'diligently ... keeping him out of practices'.

** the writer says they are "CONSIDERING"; well I could in effect say that about ANYBODY ON THE INJURY REPORT (to include TB) and say I am being 100% truthful. IR is always an option for an injured player. You can consider something and then immediately reject it out of hand or give it a 10% - lets wait and see. either of those are situations that wouldnt get me terribly excited about the loss of Easley.

I think he is a guy who has great potential to impact the pass-rush at least in obvious pass situations (3d long etc). So I hope, as I suspect, that this is just a click generating exercise for the author. Gotta give him credit in any event, he got my click.

kennyb said:

Yes a bust. Not his fault and it hurts me to say it. Dumb pick. Guys with major chronic injuries you take with low round picks or not at all. Hope he can come back not optimistic though.

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Do you think that Rob Gronkowski was a "dumb pick" too? Do you think that Vereen was a "dumb pick"?

Logic: Gronkowski had a serious injury history that scared teams when he entered the NFL. His back woes were potentially more severe than even ACL concerns. But he recovered well and the rest is history (in the making). For Vereen, he did almost nothing his first year due to injuries. I worried that Vereen would be a bust.

Easley: I didn't like that he was damaged goods when we drafted him, but realize that it created a draft discount, which created his draftability to a team like the Pats. Some individuals in the media noted that this would be a "red-shirt" year for the player. Again, I didn't like to hear it, and I think many people ignored those predictions.

Bottomline: Beyond 2014, we get the player for essentially 4 years. Of course with the NFL, players need to produce NOW and not later. But his injury, draft status, and questionable first-year impact were weighed and measured gambits. The benefit of the selection, if any, will be yielded post-2014, but we have to wait until then to judge the selection.

Unless he needs multiple weeks of break or another DT suffers a season ending injury I don't see any benefit of putting him onto IR. Even if he doesn't play until the playoffs and there only on a limited basis he could still potentially contribute.

patriot lifer said:

Beyond 2014, we get the player for essentially 4 years. Of course with the NFL, players need to produce NOW and not later. But his injury, draft status, and questionable first-year impact were weighed and measured gambits. The benefit of the selection, if any, will be yielded post-2014, but we have to wait until then to judge the selection.

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The lack of patience for young players is really astounding to me sometimes. I agree that we live in some kind of "produce NOW" era but just look at Hightower. It took him until this season to really come into his own and be a pro-bowl/all-pro caliber player. And he came in without any injuries.

Give the kids some time..

luuked said:

The lack of patience for young players is really astounding to me sometimes. I agree that we live in some kind of "produce NOW" era but just look at Hightower. It took him until this season to really come into his own and be a pro-bowl/all-pro caliber player. And he came in without any injuries.

Give the kids some time..

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I generally agree, especially with talented athletes like Hightower and Easley; but I think there needs to be some element of:

Execution/Production > Potential/the Dream of Production.

A front-office has to strike an appropriate balance, and I think BB is a master at smartly managing this concept.

Gumby said:

have re-read 3 times trying to find that part (the insightful bit). So far have found:

A bunch (~ 10) of publicly known facts that were not organized in time sequence (re-organized):

"-- Easley tore his left ACL in 2011,
-- Easley tore his right ACL in September 2013,
--Dr. James Andrews [sic: uh-oh??] conducted the surgery in October 2013.
--Patriots drafted him in the first round of May's draft,
--he took part in the final practice of minicamp in June before he made his training camp debut Aug. 11.
--Easley has missed eight regular-season practices, including six for knee-related reasons.
--Easley also suffered a separated AC joint in his right shoulder during the Pats' victory against the Bengals in Week 5, and he missed two practices and the following game against the Bills.
--[patriots] keeping him out of ... the Week 12 victory against the Lions
--He has been out of both practices this week.
--Easley has 10 tackles, one sack and one interception this season.

SPECULATIONS WITH SOME BASIS BUT COULD BE JUST OPINION:
--Easley has essentially been playing catch-up all season,
--Patriots have worked diligently to maintain his rehabilitation process by keeping him out of occasional practices*

SPECULATION BASED ON AN ANONYMOUS SOURCE:
--considering placing their first-round pick on injured reserve as a means to get him in a healthier position for the 2015 season**

So all things considered (resource Herald, writer-no track history with me for credibility, general media propensity to hype headlines with catastrophic untrue circumstances to get clicks); I didnt find much to give any credence one way or another.

* He missed a total of 8 practices while suffering an AC Separation over the course of 14 weeks of a season. I dont see how that is 'diligently ... keeping him out of practices'.

** the writer says they are "CONSIDERING"; well I could in effect say that about ANYBODY ON THE INJURY REPORT (to include TB) and say I am being 100% truthful. IR is always an option for an injured player. You can consider something and then immediately reject it out of hand or give it a 10% - lets wait and see. either of those are situations that wouldnt get me terribly excited about the loss of Easley.

I think he is a guy who has great potential to impact the pass-rush at least in obvious pass situations (3d long etc). So I hope, as I suspect, that this is just a click generating exercise for the author. Gotta give him credit in any event, he got my click.

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OK then, replace "insightful" with "plausible."

Easley hasn't played much this season. He consistently has been listed on the injury reports with "knee" whether practicing in full, limited, or DNP. Veracity of the anonymous source regarding possible IR appears key. I doubt the reporter is lying about it. We'll find out.

Agin I will say I don't believe anything the media says, not one bit until it happens. I completely ignore everything they say until I see it for real. The media goes unchecked, unaccountable and flat out lie half the time to spurn a story.

He has a chance to not be a bust but right now I'm smelling bust. I'm a veteran of the ken sims bust. I was thrilled when they drafted him. I remember the ken sims bowl colts pats.

So I'm a little quick on the bust trigger. There's still time but....I haven't made the pronouncement yet.

Mack Herron said:

Nobody on the PS likely to be as helpful, but perhaps another glimmer for the Jake Bequette fan club.

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AHH Please ,,me no understand ,,,who is Mr Jake Bequette ? Did we just pick him up on waivers ?
I like baguette as my favorite bread. I really hope Mr Bequette is as good as bread.

The Pats are considering this move, I say do it because it is the smart thing to do. Why play a player short on a 53 man rooster going forward?

I'm withholding judgement until Dikembe chimes in with true knowledge, no? And eff the commies, yes