fgssand said:
Suddenly we are turing David Givens into the next Derrick Mason right before our very eyes. He is a decent #2, notihng more, nothing less. Tough, great blocker - but somewhat slow and unable to run all routes.
Don't get me worng, I wish we could keep him, but not for the kings ransome he is going to receieve.
Which Derrick Mason are you talking about, the 26 year old Mason or the 31 year old Mason??
Let's compare apples to apples.
At the start of the 2006 season David Givens will be 26 years old.
At the start of the 2000 season Derrick Mason was 26 years old.
Career stats at the same age
Mason - 45 games, 2 starts, 47 receptions, 508 yards, 3 TDs.
Givens - 53 games, 27 starts, 158 receptions, 2214 yards, 12 TDs
At the age of 26 in 2000 Mason played in 16 games, started 10 of them, caught 63 balls for 895 yards and 5 TDs. AFTER the 2000 season Mason signed a 5-year deal with the Titans worth $23 million. I am sure that there were Titans fans saying the same things (limited ability, decent#2, average #2) about Mason then as there are Patriots fans now saying those things about Givens. At the age of 27 in 2001 Mason played in 15 games, started 15 of them, caught 73 balls for 1,128 yards and 9 TDs. At the age of 28 in 2002 Mason played in 14 games, started 14 of them, caughts 79 balls for 1,012 yards and 5 TDs. I see no reason why Givens could not improve the same way Mason did. Derrick Mason is by no means a speedy guy.