Patriots claim TE Jake Ballard

[BradyFTW!]

To be fair Ballard didn't start in any games in 2010 and only played in 1. He was playing behind Kevin Boss, Travis Beckum and Bear Pascoe.

The fact that he couldn't beat out Beckum and Pascoe on the depth chart as a rookie should kill any Gronk comparisons in its own right.

 

[Snake Eyes]

The fact that he couldn't beat out Beckum and Pascoe on the depth chart as a rookie should kill any Gronk comparisons in its own right.

Ballard couldnt beat them out then, that doesnt mean he wont be significalty better in the future. That said, after looking at some tape of him I dont think he's anywhere close to Gronk but I certainly hope he gives him a run for his money very soon.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Ballard couldnt beat them out then, that doesnt mean he wont be significalty better in the future. That said, after looking at some tape of him I dont think he's anywhere close to Gronk but I certainly hope he gives him a run for his money very soon.

It's not a statement on his potential, it's a statement on where he was as a rookie. Someone wanted to compare Ballard's second year to Gronk's rookie year, on the basis that it was both of their first years as starters. Well, if the Giants had drafted Gronk, you can most definitely bet that he would have passed Beckum and Pascoe as a rookie. The fact that Ballard couldn't is just further proof that Gronk was way better as a rookie, way better last year, and will almost certainly be way better in the future.

 

[Frezo]

It's not a statement on his potential, it's a statement on where he was as a rookie. Someone wanted to compare Ballard's second year to Gronk's rookie year, on the basis that it was both of their first years as starters. Well, if the Giants had drafted Gronk, you can most definitely bet that he would have passed Beckum and Pascoe as a rookie. The fact that Ballard couldn't is just further proof that Gronk was way better as a rookie, way better last year, and will almost certainly be way better in the future.

Ballard blew away Pascoe and Beckum in his 2nd year though. It wasn't even close.

Ballard: 38 rec 604 yards
Pascoe: 12 rec 136 yards
Beckum: 5 rec 93 yards

The guy grew leaps and bounds from year 1 to 2. If he heals up, the Pats got themselves some darned good depth.

 

[Ring 6]

Ballard blew away Pascoe and Beckum in his 2nd year though. It wasn't even close.

Ballard: 38 rec 604 yards
Pascoe: 12 rec 136 yards
Beckum: 5 rec 93 yards

The guy grew leaps and bounds from year 1 to 2. If he heals up, the Pats got themselves some darned good depth.

Not really an equal comparison, though because Boss left between 10 and 11.

 

[Frezo]

Not really an equal comparison, though because Boss left between 10 and 11.

He did answer the bell.

 

[Ring 6]

He did answer the bell.

Yes, but comparing what guys playing behind a receiving TE caught compared to what a guy who was not playing behind a receiving TE did isn't a parallel comparision.

 

[Frezo]

Yes, but comparing what guys playing behind a receiving TE caught compared to what a guy who was not playing behind a receiving TE did isn't a parallel comparision.

It was a perpendicular comparison.

 

[patsinthesnow]

First year
Ballard 0-0-0
Gronk 42-546-10

Second year
Balard 38-604-4
Gronk 90-1327-17

You are right they cannot be compared, unless you are trying to compare apples to rhubarb.

That's still really good Rhubarb for an eventual 3rd TE.

 

[NinjaZX6R]

Ballard's first year was spent on the PS. Travis's 1st year, he was on the active roster.

 

[Off The Grid]

I've enjoyed the Arguments on both sides, over the last several pages, despite my hideously phrased statement, which triggered most of this part of the Thread...A this point, it seems that it might be appropriate to both expiate that inexplicably clunky post of mine, and to both ReBoot and ~ considering how badly I phrased it the first time ~ clarify my position:

* I believe that Ballard will be worth a 2013 2nd Rounder, come next April. *

1 ~ Ballard's Future Market Value is purely a matter of opinion, obviously.

2 ~ But it's got little to do with Gronkowski, though interesting points've been made on both sides.

3 ~ And it's got nothing to do with how much money he's getting paid.

4 ~ And it's certainly got nothing to do with how he played in his Rookie year.

5 ~ Ballard's Future Market Value ~ his Value next Spring, going into the 2013 Draft ~ will be based entirely on his Perceived Value by 32 teams at that point, based on his Health and how his play projects into the Future.

6 ~ Much has been made of Ballard's supposedly lumbering ways, but it's very hard to describe his coming out of nowhere to do what he did in 2011 as anything but an "Explosive Break Out Year".

7 ~ At the end of the day, what you do on the field ~ not "Talent" ~ is what matters.

8 ~ If the 2010 Draft were ReDrafted today ~ without his current health being factored in ~ Ballard would clearly go in the 3rd Round at the latest.

9 ~ There's every reason in the world to believe that Ballard will be 100%, come April, and poised to take up where he left off: A Brutal Blocking Specialist who cranked out 38/604/4 in his first year on the roster, and gave every reason to suggest that that was only the beginning.

10 ~ And not only will we have the rights to'is services for at least two more years at that point....We will have no Rookie Growing Pains to deal with, something you can not say about any of the 2013 Rookie Tight End Class!!

Now, do I think any of the other 31 teams would then give a 2013 2nd Rounder for'm??

HELL, no.

That would be tantamount to 31 teams admitting that they screwed up ROYALLY 10 days ago, which of course is exactly what happened!!

But do I think that this established receiving Weapon who consistently gets open, RACKS up yards, is coming off a CLASSIC "BreakOut Year", and is a BRUTAL Blocking Specialist on top of all that is WORTH a 2nd Rounder??

HELL, yes!! :rocker:

But, of course: That's only my opinion, Brethren. I've enjoyed reading your Arguments.

 

[Ring 6]

I've enjoyed the Arguments on both sides, over the last several pages, despite my hideously phrased statement, which triggered most of this part of the Thread...A this point, it seems that it might be appropriate to both expiate that inexplicably clunky post of mine, and to both ReBoot and ~ considering how badly I phrased it the first time ~ clarify my position:

* I believe that Ballard will be worth a 2013 2nd Rounder, come next April. *

1 ~ Ballard's Future Market Value is purely a matter of opinion, obviously.

2 ~ But it's got little to do with Gronkowski, though interesting points've been made on both sides.

3 ~ And it's got nothing to do with how much money he's getting paid.

4 ~ And it's certainly got nothing to do with how he played in his Rookie year.

5 ~ Ballard's Future Market Value ~ his Value next Spring, going into the 2013 Draft ~ will be based entirely on his Perceived Value by 32 teams at that point, based on his Health and how his play projects into the Future.

6 ~ Much has been made of Ballard's supposedly lumbering ways, but it's very hard to describe his coming out of nowhere to do what he did in 2011 as anything but an "Explosive Break Out Year".

7 ~ At the end of the day, what you do on the field ~ not "Talent" ~ is what matters.

8 ~ If the 2010 Draft were ReDrafted today ~ without his current health being factored in ~ Ballard would clearly go in the 3rd Round at the latest.

9 ~ There's every reason in the world to believe that Ballard will be 100%, come April, and poised to take up where he left off: A Brutal Blocking Specialist who cranked out 38/604/4 in his first year on the roster, and gave every reason to suggest that that was only the beginning.

10 ~ And not only will we have the rights to'is services for at least two more years at that point....We will have no Rookie Growing Pains to deal with, something you can not say about any of the 2013 Rookie Tight End Class!!

Now, do I think any of the other 31 teams would then give a 2013 2nd Rounder for'm??

HELL, no.

That would be tantamount to 31 teams admitting that they screwed up ROYALLY 10 days ago, which of course is exactly what happened!!

But do I think that this established receiving Weapon who consistently gets open, RACKS up yards, is coming off a CLASSIC "BreakOut Year", and is a BRUTAL Blocking Specialist on top of all that is WORTH a 2nd Rounder??

HELL, yes!! :rocker:

But, of course: That's only my opinion, Brethren. I've enjoyed reading your Arguments.

Thanks for clarification. I think we disagree on the quality of hjis production last year. His receptions were tied for 22nd among TEs, and his yards 17th.
He does lack footspeed, and seems to me to be a 2nd TE, who could be #1 if you are weak there but you would always want to upgrade.
I think if you could do the draft again, he would be a late day 3 pick, but would get drafted. I like his blocking but there are a bunch of TEs who are better weapons as receivers.
Hopefully, we will get to see first hand, which of us is closer, and of course, if he stays here, I hope you are right!!!!

 

[Ring 6]

That's still really good Rhubarb for an eventual 3rd TE.

I have no complaints with acquiring his as a 3rd TE. I would have bowed out of the thread long ago if that was the topic being discussed. I'm discussing the liklihood that he has the value of a high 2nd round pick.

 

[rainmaker]

Giants didn't expect to be willing to pay Ballard's salary for a hedge. BB did his analysis and was willing to pay for the chance that Ballard comes back healthy next season and contributes. We will control a young, talented player and worst case is that he is signed away and we get a compensatory pick in the 3rd to 5th round. For Giants, they lose a player that they valued just to keep some extra practice players for a few more days. Smart move would be for the Giants to admit the mistake and trade a 4th rounder for Ballard now. Won't happen since there's too much pride.

 

[mayoclinic]

The Saints just cut DE Greg Romeus, with the likely plan to place him on IR if he clears waivers:

Saints waive Greg Romeus | ProFootballTalk

PFT gets in a few jabs at the Pats and the Jake Ballard scenario, suggesting that someone may take a gamble on Romeus.

Romeus was Chandler Jones before Chandler Jones. He was the Big East DPOY in 2009, and would have been a 1st/2nd round pick if he had come out in the 2010 draft. It's possible that he would have given Jason Pierre-Paul a run. Romeus was 6'5" 265# with 35# arms. He didn't have an elite first step, but he had great strength and length like Jones and an all around game, and could play in space to some extent though he wasn't an OLB. He decided to go back for his Senior Season, and his body fell apart - back problems followed by an ACL injury - that dropped him to the 7th round in the 2011 draft.

Rough break for the kid. I would have loved the Pats to take Romeus in 2010, and hoped they would pick him up on day 3 of the 2011 draft. But after 2 ACLs and a history of back problems, he faces an uphill struggle.

 

[Ring 6]

Giants didn't expect to be willing to pay Ballard's salary for a hedge. BB did his analysis and was willing to pay for the chance that Ballard comes back healthy next season and contributes. We will control a young, talented player and worst case is that he is signed away and we get a compensatory pick in the 3rd to 5th round. For Giants, they lose a player that they valued just to keep some extra practice players for a few more days. Smart move would be for the Giants to admit the mistake and trade a 4th rounder for Ballard now. Won't happen since there's too much pride.

If they thought he was worth a 4th round pick they would have cut a UDFA to open the roster spot.
Frankly, I think they felt he was damaged goods, are concerned he will recover and thought he had no value as is, so no one would claim him.
Hopefully they are wrong, but to all the "BB outsmarted them" comments about to follow, BB had no inside knowledge of the extent of his injury and took a flyer. That is really all he did, take a flyer, and I'm sure he isn't thinking it was a sure thing.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Ballard blew away Pascoe and Beckum in his 2nd year though. It wasn't even close.

Ballard: 38 rec 604 yards
Pascoe: 12 rec 136 yards
Beckum: 5 rec 93 yards

The guy grew leaps and bounds from year 1 to 2. If he heals up, the Pats got themselves some darned good depth.

I agree that he's a starter-caliber TE and a great depth signing, but any comparison to Gronk needs to be shot down, because they're not even remotely on the same level. Ballard is a good player, but with Gronk you're talking about a guy who's playing tight end as well as it's ever been played.

 

[patchick]

If they thought he was worth a 4th round pick they would have cut a UDFA to open the roster spot.
Frankly, I think they felt he was damaged goods, are concerned he will recover and thought he had no value as is, so no one would claim him.
Hopefully they are wrong, but to all the "BB outsmarted them" comments about to follow, BB had no inside knowledge of the extent of his injury and took a flyer. That is really all he did, take a flyer, and I'm sure he isn't thinking it was a sure thing.

That was EXACTLY what I thought...until I saw the smoke coming out of Tom Coughlin's ears as he gave a heroic effort at not publicly cursing out his GM.

 

[JoeSixPat]

I just want to know when I can get my Ballard Patriots Jersey.

Someone in marketing is asleep at the switch!

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