Pats sign Chris Harper off PS

Won't be surprised if Harper turns into a player for us. He's the youngest player on the team and last time we saw him he was burning 2nd/3rd teamers in the Edelman outside/slot role.

Monday Night our WR sets could be:

Lafell
Amendola

Lafell
Harper
Amendola (slot)

Well, he's not injured.

Seriously, I remember him burning JAGs in the pre-season.

called it!

This is awesome news, I think, as he is likely better/more comfortable in the slot than is Martin

Palm Beach Pats Fan said:

This is awesome news, I think, as he is likely better/more comfortable in the slot than is Martin

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Why?

The team needs more to replace JE than a slot WR.

@NEPD_Loyko: Adding Chris Harper is an obvious move and probably the right one. Adds different type of WR, the type that they lost with Edelman.

HAApaah!!!!

dannydyn said:

NOICE! The kid is a stud receiver, great hands and good route running! Unleash him!

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How about he plays a snap in an NFL game first? This is Mark Harrison-level praise.

Cal produces some pretty good receivers. He's a pretty good route runner with a little explosiveness. Not a speed demon, but pretty quick. Martin is faster. I think Martin must not be ready, so this movement from the PS makes sense at this time.

robertweathers said:

Martin must not be ready and a member of the oline is getting healthy.

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He might not be. But I think it has to do more with the fact that even with Martin they needed another WR.

robertweathers said:

Why?

The team needs more to replace JE than a slot WR.

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It really seems that people miss where Jules lines up. It's like people think, Welker was white and short, Edelman is white and short. So obviously they play the same position. When they are looking at the wrong short white guy. Amendola is the one that plays the position closer to what Welker did here.

JMC00 said:

He might not be. But I think it has to do more with the fact that even with Martin they needed another WR.

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Hmmm.

DA
LaFell
Dobson
Martin
Harper

Dont think theyve dressed 5wr this year but w/o a legit threat of a passcatcher out of the backfield you might be right.

JMC00 said:

He might not be. But I think it has to do more with the fact that even with Martin they needed another WR.

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His point could be that if Martin were healthy, he replaces Edelman and they are right back were they were number-wise. Harper gives them +1.

Marinlik said:

It really seems that people miss where Jules lines up. It's like people think, Welker was white and short, Edelman is short. So obviously they play the same position.When they are looking at the wrong short white guy. Amendola is the one that plays the position closer to what Welker did here.

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Welker and Jules are used differently. He has a lot more route flexibility that WW.

robertweathers said:

Hmmm.

DA
LaFell
Dobson
Martin
Harper

Dont think theyve dressed 5wr this year but w/o a legit threat of a passcatcher out of the backfield you might be right.

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Even then they still might not dress 5 WR. If Martin is healthy I can see either Dobson or Harper being an inactive. Which my guess is it would be Dobson because he is behind LaFell and Martin and Harper is an Edelman/Amendola like player.

JMC00 said:

Even then they still might not dress 5 WR. If Martin is healthy I can see either Dobson or Harper being an inactive. Which my guess is it would be Dobson because he is behind LaFell and Martin and Harper is an Edelman/Amendola like player.

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I tend to agree w Harper > Dobson.

Plus he has value as a KR/PR backup.

robertweathers said:

Why?

The team needs more to replace JE than a slot WR.

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Because Amendola, with the greatest familiarity with the offense, will probably spend quite a bit more time outside, replacing JE. Maybe Martin or Dobson goes out there, but do you trust them as much?

Marinlik said:

It really seems that people miss where Jules lines up. It's like people think, Welker was white and short, Edelman is short. So obviously they play the same position.When they are looking at the wrong short white guy. Amendola is the one that plays the position closer to what Welker did here.

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No, not in the least, if you are referring to me. JE was used outside, totally unlike Welker. Can Amendola play more outside, vs. the slot? Maybe, based upon his familiarity with the offense, I tend to trust him more out there than Dobson or Martin, if indeed Harper proves capable in the slot

Palm Beach Pats Fan said:

Because Amendola, with the greatest familiarity with the offense, will probably spend quite a bit more time outside, replacing JE. Maybe Martin or Dobson goes out there, but do you trust them as much?

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I gotcha now.

I trust Martin in the slot more than Harper and Harper in the slot more than Dobson.

I'm not so sure the give 100% of JEs plays to DA. Might see a mix of Dobson/Harper and Martin if he can go on the outside and a big helping of DA in the slot.

robertweathers said:

Martin must not be ready and a member of the oline is getting healthy.

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Agree. This makes little sense unless he will immediately be game-day active. Also, cutting Barker makes little sense unless 7 other OL are ready to be game-day active.

robertweathers said:

I tend to agree w Harper > Dobson.

Plus he has value as a KR/PR backup.

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Don't get me wrong, I'm fine with Harper being activated, and he does lend some depth in the return game if need be.

But let's not go "stud receiver" on a guy who only made the practice squad because Reggie Wayne retired. He had a nice preseason. So did Brian Tyms last year.

In truth, Brandon Gibson's injury really hurts at this point.