I think a lot of people seem to forget some of this stuff. Chad Jackson was a very tough and durable WR throughout his HS and college career. He got a lot of his time working out of the slot in his final season at Florida, and the Gators ran their offense through him (Chad recorded 88 recepts that year). He was the offensive team captain at Hoover, and broke a few long standing records during his HS and college career. While these are all previous achievements, I still think it is important for people to realize what some of us have liked about him, and why we still believe he could be an effective WR in the NFL. I also think some of his mental/maturity issues have been overblown. I remember BB talking about how well he retained the portion of the playbook BB had given him during a pre-draft meeting, and I also remember how much Urban simply loved the kid.
Hopefully he'll stay healthy through the offseason and remain healthy through training camp. If NE doesn't have Stallworth they are going to need someone who can replace his athleticism and speed. I like Gaffney and think he's a good receiver, but I don't think he's the man for that particular job on a full time basis. Chad has that speed and athleticism. He can also break tackles with his strength, so maybe he could fit the bill. I guess we'll just have to wait and see though.
PS: I'm interested to see what CJ Jones does during training camp and this preseason. I think he could develop into a nice returner, and potential 4th/5th WR. Let's also not forget about Bam, who's actually a pretty tough little receiver, and could be a decent 5th option.
