Brady's confidence must be diminishing watching Manning throw to a bunch of big, fast wide outs.
You can forget about Decker. No way the Broncos are going to leave Manning high and dry. If you have a Ferrari you don't put ****ty tires on it. You put on the best money can by.
BB buys tires for Brady from the back of the building at the Mobile station. All bald and dry rotted.
Rant over
Yeah, you might want to consider that Decker, Thomas, and Thomas are all still on ROOKIE deals for this season.The Broncos brought Manning into an elite cost-controlled receiving corps, built through the draft. Demaryus Thomas was taken 22nd overall in 2010, with Decker taken in the 3rd Round that same year. Julius Thomas was taken in the 4th Round the next year. They got Welker, sure, and paid 6 million for a guy who gave them less production than Edelman gave us...and I doubt they're keeping him next year. Also, if you're coaching against Denver and you get to choose which of Manning's four primary targets has to sit out, you probably choose Welker last.
The big three were all developed by Denver - they weren't brought in as z-rated tires for Manning's sports car.
None of these guys was worth writing home about in their first couple of years, either:
Demaryus Thomas:
2010, started 2 games, played in 10 and caught 22 balls for 283 yards.*
2011, started 5 games, played in 11 and caught 32 balls for 551 yards.
* Remember, he was a first-rounder, taken 22nd overall!
Eric Decker:
2010, never started, played in 14 and caught 6 balls for 106 yards.
2011, started 13 games, played in all 16 and caught 44 balls for 612 yards.
Julius Thomas:
2011, started 1 game, played in 5 and caught one pass for 5 yards.
2012, never started, played in only 4 and caught...nothing.
And here we are, ready to throw Dobson, Thompkins, and Boyce to the wind. I guess Pats fans really are spoiled.
Aaron Dobson:
2013, started 9 games, played in 12 and caught 37 balls for 519 yards.
Kembrell Thompkins:
2013, started 8 games, played in 12 and caught 32 balls for 466 yards.
Josh Boyce:
2013, started 3 games, played in 9 and caught 9 balls for 121 yards.
They all need to improve, but I think there's a good chance that Dobson could become the FA we'd be drooling for in a couple of years, and Thompkins as an FA in a couple of years would have many people on this board calling for us to sign him. As for Boyce, I agree with Brady6. With his physical gifts, he could be a Victor Cruz in a couple of years. nothing's guaranteed of course, but two times this year, I took note of Boyce and went, "Wow."
The first was at one of the late practices, 1-on-1's. The receivers were doing simple down-and-outs. When Boyce made that cut, he left any and every DB eating dust. His acceleration was out of this world.
The second was on the long TD he caught in preseason. Watch the replay: his adjustment and burst to get to that Mallet throw was remarkable. You can't teach that.
If they can't resign Edelman, I want them to go and grab someone like Manny Sanders to add some veteran depth on the outside. (I also noted Cotchery if someone gets hurt or there's room for some reason, because the guy will be had on the cheap. Despite the outrage at the suggestion on this thread, Cotchery is a strong and reliable red zone or possession receiver.)
If they keep Edelman, I don't know that they should add ANY other receivers, unless a Sanders could be had for a bargain, or there's someone they love high in the draft. They've got more pressing needs (TE, OL) and the only way to see if Dobson, Thompkins, Boyce, or even Moe or Harrison can step up is to put them on the damned field and throw the ball at them!
Yeah, sure, if they can swing a deal for Fitz or A. Johnson or any player of that caliber, then hey, go to! I think you're all dreaming, though I'd love to be proven wrong. It's against everything BB has preached and practiced in assembling 13 straight winning seasons (next closest franchise has...4).
