SI.com: Patriots' savvy receiver strategy
 

My apologies if this has already been posted:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/si_...-strategy.html

Actually, I post the article more for the reader feedback than Andrew Perloff's take (how savvy could this guy be if he thinks Reche Caldwell had anything to do with the 41-0 win?)

There still might be some value to his points however, but it is a long season, and eventually teams might figure out how to defend a 4 TE set.... and as good as our TEs are, having a consistent deep #1 WR threat will make them even better.

Re: SI.com: Patriots' savvy receiver strategy
 

Actually, Caldwell got 1st downs on two third down conversions that kept drives going that resulted in a FG and a TD.

Re: SI.com: Patriots' savvy receiver strategy
 

Yet another poster who lets facts get in the way of a good tirade against a player.

Re: SI.com: Patriots' savvy receiver strategy
 

We won't look so savvy if Branch gets away and we have no one to replace him. I just wish this whole thing would get over with one way or another so we can concentrate on the season!

Re: SI.com: Patriots' savvy receiver strategy
 

Really? I must have missed that. All I saw through the third quarter was a few incompletions and at least one dropped pass. I also saw Brady going off on him once for not running his route right.

There was a pass interference call that I remember on third down - you're not counting that as a reception, are you?

You're probably right but it wouldn't surprise me if Caldwell's big plays came against the third stringers as that seems to be when he really shines. Against the 1st stringers - not so good.

Re: SI.com: Patriots' savvy receiver strategy
 

I think the Pats are better with Branch, I like the guy, and I hope it all works out, but ... the SI dude is exactly right. The Patriots know what guys at positions are really worth, and WRs just aren't worth huge money. QBs are worth almost whatever they want (if they're as good as Brady), good RBs are worth pretty good money, dominant d-lineman are gold ... CBs are generally over-priced, etc, etc.

Generally, the closer they are to the ball on D, and the more they handle the ball on O ... that's where you need to spend the money. Even the best WRs just aren't worth the money showered on them. How much better did Moss make the Raiders?

Re: SI.com: Patriots' savvy receiver strategy
 

He did that with Troy Brown, too, when Troy failed to turn to catch a pass at the right time. Should the Patriots cut Troy?

Re: SI.com: Patriots' savvy receiver strategy
 

JoeSixPunt.......I love this site but you IRRITATE THE FU#K outta me!!! Always so negative.

Re: SI.com: Patriots' savvy receiver strategy
 

lets go through it. how many SB Champs had dominant WRs?
Bob Hayes and Paul Warfield were mostly decoys by the time their teams won the SBs in the early 70's.
Swann and Stallworth.
Branch and Biletnikoff
Drew Pearson was terrific for Dallas
Dwight Clark - not as great as "The Catch" leads people to remember
Art Monk
Jerry Rice and John Taylor
Michael Irvin
Bruce and Holt?
Ward?
thats about it folks, and only Swann, Stallworth, Rice, Irvin, and maybe Monk could even be called dominant.

WR is a luxury, but give me a solid OL,DL, and QB anyday

Re: SI.com: Patriots' savvy receiver strategy
 

JSP-
Caldwell's 2 receptions in the 3rd quarter went for 1st downs. Caldwell also drew the pass interference penalty for another 1st down.

Now, on the incompletions, by all accounts, there was no way that Caldwell could have gotten them. The only fault was on the one that hit him in the hands. And arrellbee's breakdown admitted that.