Reggie Wayne reaches a 1-year deal with the Patriots

robertweathers said:

Add Andre Carter, Phifer, Brian Watters, Deion Branch part deux, Alge Crumpler and the immortal Doug Flutie to the list!

Lets leave off Joey Galloway and Shawn Springs for now...

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It cuts both ways. This + the part you were quoting is basically a "greatest hits" for veteran additions. There have been plenty like Torry Holt, John Lynch, the guys you mentioned, etc. who did pretty much nothing for us.

But that's totally fine, a 100% hit rate isn't necessary anyway. If half of the low-cost veterans that you bring in make valuable contributions to the team--and you cut the other half before the season even starts--then that's a total, unmitigated win. You've made the team better with cheap contracts.

If Wayne has enough left in the tank to help, he will. If not, he'll be gone pretty quickly. As long as he's sharing the field with Edelman and Gronk, he'll never be any more than the thirdbiggest threat out there anyway, so he doesn't need to be what he was even 3 years ago.

We're not particularly reliant on him, so based on that I think it's a good signing. I wouldn't go so far as to say that he's a depth guy, since that suggests a lower ceiling than I think he has, but he does provide depth. Maybe LaFell isn't healthy, maybe Dobson just isn't any good, maybe Amendola and/or Edelman get injured as the season pushes on. Maybe he just ends up genuinely being one of the 3 best WRs on the roster. Whatever the case, having him in a roster spot is better than having the next-best WR not to make the team would be.

BradyFTW! said:

It cuts both ways. This + the part you were quoting is basically a "greatest hits" for veteran additions. There have been plenty like Torry Holt, John Lynch, the guys you mentioned, etc. who did pretty much nothing for us.

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I feel that the list you quoted (particularly Carter and Waters) is more applicable since they were brought in after camp opened to fill a specific need. Those kinds of proven vets tend to offer more than older guys cobbled together during the offseason. The counter to this is obviously something like Ocho/Haynesworth/Gabriel, but Wayne's history puts him closer to Carter/Waters/Washington IMO.

Oswlek said:

I feel that the list you quoted (particularly Carter and Waters) is more applicable since they were brought in after camp opened to fill a specific need. Those kinds of proven vets tend to offer more than older guys cobbled together during the offseason. The counter to this is obviously something like Ocho/Haynesworth/Gabriel, but Wayne's history puts him closer to Carter/Waters/Washington IMO.

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Yeah, agreed. Wayne's age and recent injury history does worry me a bit, but that's kinda the point. If he wasn't 36 and a year+ removed from ACL surgery, he wouldn't have been available to us in the first place.

I think there's an understood chance that he's good nothing left and ends up being like Holt/Lynch and is gone within a month. There's also a chance that he gives us Fred Taylor-like production, where he's good enough to stick but a shadow of his former self and a little more than a rotational bit player. What matters most to me is that our WR corps has enough talent that this wouldn't be the end of the world. We aren't Indy signing Frank Gore and needing him to be good, here. Whatever he has to offer, we'll be able to find a role for him that will help the team. And if what he has to offer is nothing, he'll be cut and the depth chart won't be screwed. Pretty much every foreseeable outcome is fine.

BradyFTW! said:

It cuts both ways. This + the part you were quoting is basically a "greatest hits" for veteran additions. There have been plenty like Torry Holt, John Lynch, the guys you mentioned, etc. who did pretty much nothing for us.

But that's totally fine, a 100% hit rate isn't necessary anyway. If half of the low-cost veterans that you bring in make valuable contributions to the team--and you cut the other half before the season even starts--then that's a total, unmitigated win. You've made the team better with cheap contracts.

If Wayne has enough left in the tank to help, he will. If not, he'll be gone pretty quickly. As long as he's sharing the field with Edelman and Gronk, he'll never be any more than the thirdbiggest threat out there anyway, so he doesn't need to be what he was even 3 years ago.

We're not particularly reliant on him, so based on that I think it's a good signing. I wouldn't go so far as to say that he's a depth guy, since that suggests a lower ceiling than I think he has, but he does provide depth. Maybe LaFell isn't healthy, maybe Dobson just isn't any good, maybe Amendola and/or Edelman get injured as the season pushes on. Maybe he just ends up genuinely being one of the 3 best WRs on the roster. Whatever the case, having him in a roster spot is better than having the next-best WR not to make the team would be.

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I have nothing to go on but my spidey sense tells me LaFell is going on PUP.

robertweathers said:

I have nothing to go on but my spidey sense tells me LaFell is going on PUP.

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If that's the case, will he be eligible to get on the roster?

robertweathers said:

I have nothing to go on but my spidey sense tells me LaFell is going on PUP.

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I've read in the past day or so that he's expected to be ready for week 1 but I could absolutely see the team being cautious with LaFell if Wayne shows the team he's picking things up at a good pace and still has his legs under him.

Chiuba E. Obele said:

If that's the case, will he be eligible to get on the roster?

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Yes, he must sit out the first handful of games and practices and will be eligible to return for game 6 I believe, and I believe the team has a 3 week window to activate him or he defaults to IR.

While on the PUP list he doesn't count against the 53 man roster either.

Chiuba E. Obele said:

If that's the case, will he be eligible to get on the roster?

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My understanding is that if they did PUP him he is not eligible to return until Week 8 or something like that

strngplyr said:

I've read in the past day or so that he's expected to be ready for week 1 but I could absolutely see the team being cautious with LaFell if Wayne shows the team he's picking things up at a good pace and still has his legs under him.

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I had not heard that. That is excellent news.

Its a long, hard season. No need to rush anyone to play in the freaking preseason.

strngplyr said:

I've read in the past day or so that he's expected to be ready for week 1 but I could absolutely see the team being cautious with LaFell if Wayne shows the team he's picking things up at a good pace and still has his legs under him.

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Yeah this makes sense. If Wayne looks good, keep LaFell on PUP to let him rest up. If Wayne looks bad, cut him and activate LaFell.

Ian Rapoport ‏@RapSheet 7m7 minutes ago
The #Patriots 1-year deal for WR Reggie Wayne is worth up to nearly $3M, including incentives. Almost $500K up front, source said.

Folks seemed to want major contributions from Wayne in order for the signing to be reasonable. I strongly disagree. He is our #4 WR or #5 WR. How many catches have we had from these positions? How many should we expect this year, since we have too top receiving tight ends?

If we are playing Edelman, LaFell, Amendola, Gronkowski, and Chandler as our primary receivers, I'm not sure how many reps our #4 WR would have.

Obviously, Wayne (and/or Dobson) would get many more reps if LaFell is on the PUP list, which is seeming less likely each day.

strngplyr said:

Ian Rapoport ‏@RapSheet 7m7 minutes ago
The #Patriots 1-year deal for WR Reggie Wayne is worth up to nearly $3M, including incentives. Almost $500K up front, source said.

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Impressive.

That's not "#4 WR or #5 WR" money.

Marqui said:

That's not "#4 WR or #5 WR" money.

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Yep more like WR#3 $$$.

@MikeReiss: Reggie Wayne asked about message to Colts fans on him crossing enemy lines: "No time for that right now." #Patriots

@DougKyedNESN: Reggie Wayne on why he signed with Patriots: "I want to win. Point blank."

Love it!

patsinthesnow said:

@MikeReiss: Reggie Wayne asked about message to Colts fans on him crossing enemy lines: "No time for that right now." #Patriots

@DougKyedNESN: Reggie Wayne on why he signed with Patriots: "I want to win. Point blank."

Love it!

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Dude, he's becoming a Patriot already! I'm sure Bill has a smile on his face now

Mark Daniels ‏@MarkDanielsPJ 8m8 minutes ago
Wayne also said he heard from multiple teams, but felt the Patriots were the best fit

Mike Reiss ‏@MikeReiss 2m2 minutes ago
Reggie Wayne's impressions of NE offense is that it's unlike anything he's played in. "No comparison," he says. "That makes it even worse."

Mike Petraglia ‏@Trags 4m4 minutes agoFoxborough, MA
Photo: Asked Reggie Wayne about his role. "That will take of itself. It's back to school time for me"…

Christopher Price ‏@cpriceNFL 6m6 minutes ago
Wayne on previous relationship with Belichick: It was always mutual respect. He’s one of the best.

Mike Reiss ‏@MikeReiss 6m6 minutes ago
Reggie Wayne: "Sitting at home in Miami...getting that itch. The longer I waited, the harder it was going to be. I think it’s right on time"

patsinthesnow said:

@DougKyedNESN: Reggie Wayne on why he signed with Patriots: "I want to win. Point blank…oh, and the nearly $3M I could make, which was higher than any other team was willing to give me."

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Finished the quote.

I really hope that Bill saved some for Evan Mathis.