NE39
Rotational Player and Threatening Starter's Job
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- Mar 12, 2006
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Why was this guy not on someone's roster?
I'm not trying to make it sound like Jabar Gaffney is a superstar by any means, but looking around the NFL he is more talented than people give him credit for. He has good size and while not a burner he has decent speed and quickness for his size. He is supposed to be a fairly polished route runner and isn't afraid to make catches in traffic.
Here is a kid who had a terrific college career, averaging 6 catches and over 100 yards receiving a game. He came out early and was a fairly high pick by the Texans. He hasn't lit the world on fire as a Pro, but 171 catches over 4 years is pretty good production for a guy who wasn't the main target on a team that struggled to pass the ball (they couldn't keep David Carr upright).
Yet, this guy was cut by Philadelphia in camp and didn't get a sniff from another team until the Pats decided to work him out and sign him? Something doesn't compute there.
Granted, lack of ST ability might be one strike against him and could be part of the answer, I'm not sure how he does in that area. However, this guy is more talented and a more accomplished WR than you would think might be on the street in October. If he had been injured I might understand, but he was healthy.
I'm wondering if a lack of maturity might be a problem. By all accounts, Gaffney appears to be putting in the work since the Pats signed him, with both Belichick and Brady mentioning he is fitting in well. However, when he was drafted there were questions about his character.
In December 1999 he was arrested for stealing some cash and a gold watch. Spurrier kicked him off the team and he lost his scholarship. After begging Spurrier for a second chance, he was allowed back on the team as a walk-on and responded by working his way back into good graces and having a big Freshman season.
There were other issues. After a catching a TD against Tennessee, Gaffney grabbed his crotch and performed a throat slashing gesture to celebrate and earned a game suspension. He was part of the Miami/Florida Bourbon Street brawl prior to the Sugar Bowl. He also got in trouble for roughing up a 15-year old kid that tried to steal his motor scooter.
So, what do we have with this kid? It wouldn't surprise me if he does pretty well in the passing game and is productive, because he has some ability. However, he doesn't strike me as the normal kind of guy on the Patriot's roster.
Did the Patriots get a decent player who is finally maturing as he gets older, or is he just another piece of crap waiting to be flushed?
I'm not trying to make it sound like Jabar Gaffney is a superstar by any means, but looking around the NFL he is more talented than people give him credit for. He has good size and while not a burner he has decent speed and quickness for his size. He is supposed to be a fairly polished route runner and isn't afraid to make catches in traffic.
Here is a kid who had a terrific college career, averaging 6 catches and over 100 yards receiving a game. He came out early and was a fairly high pick by the Texans. He hasn't lit the world on fire as a Pro, but 171 catches over 4 years is pretty good production for a guy who wasn't the main target on a team that struggled to pass the ball (they couldn't keep David Carr upright).
Yet, this guy was cut by Philadelphia in camp and didn't get a sniff from another team until the Pats decided to work him out and sign him? Something doesn't compute there.
Granted, lack of ST ability might be one strike against him and could be part of the answer, I'm not sure how he does in that area. However, this guy is more talented and a more accomplished WR than you would think might be on the street in October. If he had been injured I might understand, but he was healthy.
I'm wondering if a lack of maturity might be a problem. By all accounts, Gaffney appears to be putting in the work since the Pats signed him, with both Belichick and Brady mentioning he is fitting in well. However, when he was drafted there were questions about his character.
In December 1999 he was arrested for stealing some cash and a gold watch. Spurrier kicked him off the team and he lost his scholarship. After begging Spurrier for a second chance, he was allowed back on the team as a walk-on and responded by working his way back into good graces and having a big Freshman season.
There were other issues. After a catching a TD against Tennessee, Gaffney grabbed his crotch and performed a throat slashing gesture to celebrate and earned a game suspension. He was part of the Miami/Florida Bourbon Street brawl prior to the Sugar Bowl. He also got in trouble for roughing up a 15-year old kid that tried to steal his motor scooter.
So, what do we have with this kid? It wouldn't surprise me if he does pretty well in the passing game and is productive, because he has some ability. However, he doesn't strike me as the normal kind of guy on the Patriot's roster.
Did the Patriots get a decent player who is finally maturing as he gets older, or is he just another piece of crap waiting to be flushed?
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