The Patriots agree to a one-year deal with free-agent wide receiver Donte Stallworth

[BradyFTW!]

Re: The Patriots agree to a one-year deal with free-agent wide receiver Donte Stallwo

This team had one viable wide receiver as it went into the Super Bowl against the Giants last year.

Any wideout under contract with the team now has a shot to make the team.

Branch is a solid depth guy, I expect him back. But his spot is not secure. Neither is Edelman's. And I am not counting Slater as a WR.

The Patriots normally count 5-6 WRs. Some may call Hernandez a WR, but he's not really, and we carry 3TEs normally anyway.

That means we have 4-5 open spots at the WR position going into the offseason. Lloyd takes away one. But other than that, its still 3 or 4. Which sounds ridiculous, but is true. We are beginning to fill those spots.

I can see Stallworth making it as a deep threat, and as a guy who is deadly on screen passes. He offers real value there.

I pretty much agree- I see us carrying 5 WRs

Welker and Lloyd are sure things, but after them I think that the next safest bet is probably Stallworth. Branch might be serviceable in a lesser role, Ochocinco is a longshot, I don't count Slater at WR either (he gets one of the ST specialist spots), and Edelman, if he makes it, will only because of his contributions elsewhere. Even then, if the Pats upgrade at CB to the point that they don't need him there--which is something that damn well should do--then I doubt he makes the roster at all.

So, in addition to Stallworth probably making the team, I also wouldn't be surprised to see a round 2-3 pick spent on another WR.

 

[ATippett56]

Re: The Patriots agree to a one-year deal with free-agent wide receiver Donte Stallwo

They're putting themselves in position to trade hi, or so it seems. I'd have to see the trade before I had an opinion on it ........... but we seem to be preparing. We still have Ocho on this team ..... it's strange, all things considered.

Nope! Instead of pissing away draft picks on wide receivers every other year, sign every potentially viable wide receiver in the unrestricted free agent market on a discount:

Wes Welker (Franchise Tag)
Brandon Lloyd
Donte Stallworth
Anthony Gonzalez

I would not doubt that Deion Branch will be re-signed by the end of the week.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Re: The Patriots agree to a one-year deal with free-agent wide receiver Donte Stallwo

Crazy! I swear Stallworth got bumped down the depth chart by the end of 2007, but who knows what the reason for that was. There was a lot of talent on that roster and I'm not sure what to make of it. Regardless, this isn't a bad signing. If he still has the speed and familiarity what's not to like? I think Gaffney was the guy we made the mistake in letting go, and like a lot of you guys, I'm wondering if we'll make a move for him as well.

First thought is that Ocho is definitely gone, I'm not sure about Branch though. Brady loves the guy and that might be the thing that saves him.

I think 2007 Moss made 2007 Stallworth unnecessary, and as a result Gaffney was a better fit among that particular personnel set.

 

[Dutchmaster617]

Re: The Patriots agree to a one-year deal with free-agent wide receiver Donte Stallwo

Nobody values Wes Welker more than the Patriots do. I don't think any team out there would be willing to offer what it would take for us to trade him.

I don't think anyone not named Brady is safe from trading. I wouldn't be surprised if Welker was gone.

 

[patsfaninpittsburgh]

Re: The Patriots agree to a one-year deal with free-agent wide receiver Donte Stallwo

Why on Earth would anyone dismiss his stats when he's got two long ball throwers (Flacco and Grossman) passing the ball?

Easy

Because YOU don't dismiss them.

 

[AzPatsFan]

Re: The Patriots agree to a one-year deal with free-agent wide receiver Donte Stallwo

There is a dirth of FS talent availble this season in either the Draft or FA.

A frequent source of FS are college QBs conversions, who understand the Offense and therfore have the mentality to comprehend and be the QB of the Defense. Especially if they can tackle, as Edelman has already demonstrated. FS are also expected to be better than stone hands and be able to catch the INTs. Edelman has shown that catching ability at the NFL level too, maybe not good enough to be a NFL WR, but much better than some stone handed DBs.


With all of these WR signings, I am feeling that Edelman is headed to FS/PR fulltime, being a league leader PR, while he learns.

There is another college QB who might be able to convert. He is tough and might be able to become a FS too, a fellow who can be gotten cheaply, fellow name of Tebow. Leave it to Belichick to come up with this sort of unorthodox solution to his FS problem.

 

[JMarr]

Re: The Patriots agree to a one-year deal with free-agent wide receiver Donte Stallwo

Where are all the people who were claiming that paying Welker 9 million dollars was going to hold us down in free agency?

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

Re: The Patriots agree to a one-year deal with free-agent wide receiver Donte Stallwo

So much for a offense re-direct to a more ground and pound style. Brady's getting more toys for spreading the field. This is still the strangest signing to me, though

 

[SpaceOdyssey]

Re: The Patriots agree to a one-year deal with free-agent wide receiver Donte Stallwo

Pretty surprising signing. We have a lot of depth at WR, but I guess it doesn't hurt. Now hopefully they focus on the defense through the draft.

 

[ATippett56]

Re: The Patriots agree to a one-year deal with free-agent wide receiver Donte Stallwo

This is still the strangest signing to me, though.

A wide receiver with speed to stretch the defense?

 

[patsfan-1982]

Re: The Patriots agree to a one-year deal with free-agent wide receiver Donte Stallwo

2th best pass offense in NFL history and 2th worst defense in the NFL so naturally they go heavy on offense in agency funny but good pick up...GO PATS

 

[Boomer B]

Re: The Patriots agree to a one-year deal with free-agent wide receiver Donte Stallwo

Go out to a business lunch (i'm on the West Coast) and come back to see the Pats have signed Stallworth and Gallery.

Wow, didn't see either of those coming. Adds some nice depth and also some competition in camp. Highly unlikely though that both Stallworth and Gonzalez make the team. Could it be possible that Branch is looking for more $ then the Pats are willing to give? I could see Branch in Denver. They need to add WR's who are good route runners for Peyton and Branch would be a reliable player for them.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

Re: The Patriots agree to a one-year deal with free-agent wide receiver Donte Stallwo

stumped by this..he's not really going to do much..at all

 

[ATippett56]

Re: The Patriots agree to a one-year deal with free-agent wide receiver Donte Stallwo

Could it be possible that Branch is looking for more $ then the Pats are willing to give? I could see Branch in Denver.

Denver? How about Kansas City?

 

[ATippett56]

Re: The Patriots agree to a one-year deal with free-agent wide receiver Donte Stallwo

2th best pass offense in NFL history and 2th worst defense in the NFL so naturally they go heavy on offense in agency funny but good pick up...GO PATS

Anthony Gonzalez looks like a veteran minimum signing and Donte Stallworth may be as well.

 

[PatriotReign]

Re: The Patriots agree to a one-year deal with free-agent wide receiver Donte Stallwo

I would have preferred that they look at younger talent like Andre Caldwell, Early Doucet, and Legedu Naanee.

 

[captain stone]

Re: The Patriots agree to a one-year deal with free-agent wide receiver Donte Stallwo

There is a dirth of FS talent availble this season in either the Draft or FA.

A frequent source of FS are college QBs conversions, who understand the Offense and therfore have the mentality to comprehend and be the QB of the Defense. Especially if they can tackle, as Edelman has already demonstrated. FS are also expected to be better than stone hands and be able to catch the INTs. Edelman has shown that catching ability at the NFL level too, maybe not good enough to be a NFL WR, but much better than some stone handed DBs.


With all of these WR signings, I am feeling that Edelman is headed to FS/PR fulltime, being a league leader PR, while he learns.

There is another college QB who might be able to convert. He is tough and might be able to become a FS too, a fellow who can be gotten cheaply, fellow name of Tebow. Leave it to Belichick to come up with this sort of unorthodox solution to his FS problem.

I'm not sure about Tebow to FS, but I agree that Edelman became our best FS last year, by default.
(I'm still surprised that he wasn't used on defense during the Other SB That Must Not Be Named.)
So depending on whatever else transpires in free agency & the draft, I feel that an Edelman-to-FS
conversion on a more permanent basis is worth persuing.

 

[Ring 6]

Re: The Patriots agree to a one-year deal with free-agent wide receiver Donte Stallwo

There is a dirth of FS talent availble this season in either the Draft or FA.

A frequent source of FS are college QBs conversions, who understand the Offense and therfore have the mentality to comprehend and be the QB of the Defense. Especially if they can tackle, as Edelman has already demonstrated. FS are also expected to be better than stone hands and be able to catch the INTs. Edelman has shown that catching ability at the NFL level too, maybe not good enough to be a NFL WR, but much better than some stone handed DBs.


With all of these WR signings, I am feeling that Edelman is headed to FS/PR fulltime, being a league leader PR, while he learns.

There is another college QB who might be able to convert. He is tough and might be able to become a FS too, a fellow who can be gotten cheaply, fellow name of Tebow. Leave it to Belichick to come up with this sort of unorthodox solution to his FS problem.

Edleman didn't play S, he played slot corner, but really only played in rare situaitons.
Tebow is too slow to play S.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

Re: The Patriots agree to a one-year deal with free-agent wide receiver Donte Stallwo

maybe it's a retirement signing? one day contract?

 

[robbomango]

Re: The Patriots agree to a one-year deal with free-agent wide receiver Donte Stallwo

He tweeted this after signing

@DonteStallworth
This time around, things will be different....