Who will be our #2 WR this year - Reche Caldwell or Chad Jackson?

[mgcolby]

With, in some order, Branch, Caldwell, Jackson, Brown as the top 4 plus Bethel and Bam presumably competing for 5 and possibly 6 (if they both look good), I have no desire to go and get another guy. Especially with 3 TE and our new H Back.

Bethel just gets frustrating, all that speed and talent with seemingly no heart. It was the same with PK Sam. That is why I mentioned Edwards earlier but Pathon might be a good 5th as well, with potential to be a #4. But I am still holding out hope for Bam Bam!

 

[Lloyd_Christmas]

I voted for Jackson and I think he will be the #2... if not at the start of the season, then as the season progresses.

Having said that, Caldwell is a good receiver. I don't understand why some here bash him. I don't think he is another A. Davis (although even Davis wasn't a total failure).

 

[Lloyd_Christmas]

BTW, there's no reason to be bitter towards fantasy geeks because we know more than you.

know more about what?

fantasy means exactly what it implies....NOT REAL...you're an idiot, drunk on your own self important belief that because you can parrot 40 times and know the 4th and 5th receivers on the Arizona Cardinals depth chart, that makes you special...you're a GEEK. It's idiots like you that would argue for ten years why Troy Brown is a lousy player and how YOU would never rate him worthy of your "fantasy" squad. And BTW, you must be drunk right now....when was
Caldwell EVER SD's #1 receiver? Obviously you are some Left Coast wingnut "dude" with a skateboard and an I-Pod trippin' on some tasty shrooms at Mission Beach...you have to be to think Reche caldwell has been SD's #1 receiver...I mean 2 year old kids back here in NE know Gates is the MAN....all I know is when Caldwell was announced back here, the reaction was "this guy?"...really "dude", he's not all this big "America's Greatest Superhero" guy you're trying to make him out to be...I hope he CAN contribute but I have to think BB is going to be looking at more than a few other WR's before this roster is finalized

Seriously, you need some Calgon. http://www.takemeaway.com

Anyway, I would agree with you that Caldwell is not guranteed to be the #2. He is, however, a pretty good WR.

Also, fantasy football nerds may play a FANTASY game, but good FFL nerds watch a lot of REAL games in order to know what players around the leage are good and which ones are not. So even though we are looking for players based on their fantasy value as opposed to their NFL value, I still think it gives us an edge on those who only pay attention to their favorite team.

Don't forget to order that Calgon. Stress kills.

 

[Willie55]

STFU you self important windbag....I've been a Patriots fan since the mid 60's...the last thing I need to read is some young wet behind the ears Cali punk bragging about his wealth of knowledge because he's been following the Pats for FOUR freaking years...you have NO CLUE who will or who will not be available after June 1st....use YOUR reading comprehension...I said I'll wait until then before I jump on the "THIS IS ALL WE HAVE!!! OH NO!!!" crybaby wagon.You make the claim that there will be NO players cut for cap reasons OR for any other reason it seems, at the June 1st date becasue every team is well under the cap...you are a liar.

You are also the idiot that's been crying about the Patriots not picking any linebackers and how this is "weal baaaad for the Patwiots.."....if you wewre alive back in the 80's you'd have been one of those nitwits that went beserk when we drafted Nellie because North dakota State wasn't on your list of schools that "highly educated" football fans consider any good.

Let's just wait until June 1st and see what happens...you take your "no players!!!! All teams way way under cap!!! nobody will be there!!! I'm the genius who knows everything!!! For four years!!!!" position and I'll just wait and see for myself...you see, to ME you are a classic frontrunner...a johnny come lately bandwagon jumper....you have that classic snotty West Coast superiority thing going on strong but you're just another Johnny Come Lately bandwagon jumper...you'd be better served switching team allegiance to the Cardinals now that they have the proto SoCal hipster kewl dewd QB.

What an angry little man.

BTW I think it will be Caldwell to start the season just because he has NFL experience, but as the season progresses, and Jackson gets more experience he'll become the #2.

 

[Hoodie]

I'm still hoping for a veteran receiver to take the #2 spot.

 

[mgcolby]

I'm still hoping for a veteran receiver to take the #2 spot.

:ditto:

But the pool is thin and seems unlikely at this point unless they go after Stallworth or another receiver becomes available through trade.

 

[JJDChE]

I'm still hoping for a veteran receiver to take the #2 spot.

That's Caldwell.

 

[JoeSixPat]

Actually, it is the same thing that DaBruinz DOES do in the political forum, attacks other posters. Seems to be his way of doing things.

That comment really did nothing to help the situation here and seems only like it was intended to fan the flames

It is, in and of itself, an attack from another poster bringing what are apparently political forum issues into this forum, for which repeated warnings have been issued.

On the matter at hand, there was lots of heated debate leading up to the draft in which many posters argued long and hard that we didn't need a #2 WR because we already had Caldwell.

That seemed - and still seems - like an awful big leap of faith in a guy who I don't think has had more than 24 receptions in a season, so I advocated for the selection of Jackson and was glad to see BB grab him in the 2nd.

That being said, while I'll be thrilled if Jackson comes in and grabs the #2 WR position at the start of the season, I'm not going to expect that. I think we start with a #2 WR "by committee" but that Jackson ultimately ends the season with the 2nd highest number of receptions, as nearlly all rookies need a little bit of time to adjust.

The bottom line is that no one knows - Jackson could be a bust like other 2nd round picks before him (as the Chargers think Caldwell was) - no one's football credibility is really at stake in expressing expectations that Caldwell can be good or that Jackson was a bad choice at this stage. Its up to them - not us, to show what they can do.

I just think the prudent move is not to place your team's fortunes on the expectation that a player is going to more than double his past production, and as such I expect it will truly be an open competition for the #2 WR.

May the best man win - and may the best team win.

 

[Kdo5]

Caldwell didnt have big seasons in San Diego especially when your playing an offense that inculdes Antonio Gates, Ladanian Tomlinson and whoever the number one reciever was in it. My hopes are that he can show San Diego they made a mistake to get rid of him. I honestly believe he can have his career year next season if he's healthy and well.

 

[Joe_n99]

I was gonna reply to whoever said they didn't think there would even be a #2 WR, but got caught up in reading all the drama. Now, I am too lazy to go back and see who posted that.. anyway I agree with you and then some.

I think the Pats will field 6 number 2 receivers!

Branch, Watson, Caldwell, Jackson, Graham, backfield&Backups with Troy Brown getting lumped in with whichever one of them is falling behind.

My bet/guess/prediction/2cents is that when it is all said and done at the end of the year these six "categories" will all be more "similar" in production (Rec, Yds, TDs) than they ever have been, even with Brady's knack for spreading the ball around previously. With the end result being about the same total yds passing as last year (around 4000+/-).

I think the same applies to the rushing situation... with one "category"
Dillon,Maroney, "2-3 of whoevermakesthecut" with the goal being to improve from last years 1500+/- rushing yds to the 2004 2000+/- rushing yds and improving on short ydg and redzone.

Finally, not to add to the drama, but I don't really see the point in "attacking" or "personalizing" any post/response/reply to something as subjective as "what do you think", so I hope all this aggression is just due to withdrawal from watching the greatest team ever play the greatest game ever and the seemingly longer than usual offseason because I am SOOOOO ready to watch some PATRIOT FOOTBALL!


disclaimer: The post above is the just the opinion of a newbie poster, however this does not imply any lack of knowledge about the game of football, the team referred to as the patriots, or the english language. Nor does it intend to imply, infer or otherwise mistakenly misrepresent expertise, inside knowledge or understanding of anything. Yet, it does represent a fairly clear representation of the posters intent to post something here and try not to make a complete idiot of himself or insult,incite, or in anyway cause harm or injury to any person, place or thing.

 

[mgcolby]

disclaimer: The post above is the just the opinion of a newbie poster, however this does not imply any lack of knowledge about the game of football, the team referred to as the patriots, or the english language. Nor does it intend to imply, infer or otherwise mistakenly misrepresent expertise, inside knowledge or understanding of anything. Yet, it does represent a fairly clear representation of the posters intent to post something here and try not to make a complete idiot of himself or insult,incite, or in anyway cause harm or injury to any person, place or thing.

That is Classic!

 

[JoeSixPat]

That is Classic!

Shut up Jane, you ignorant slut.

 

[Johnny Z]

Is Bethel Johnson good as gone?

 

[mgcolby]

Shut up Jane, you ignorant slut.

WTF are you talking about? I'm assuming there is a joke in there!

 

[JJDChE]

On the matter at hand, there was lots of heated debate leading up to the draft in which many posters argued long and hard that we didn't need a #2 WR because we already had Caldwell.

That seemed - and still seems - like an awful big leap of faith in a guy who I don't think has had more than 24 receptions in a season, so I advocated for the selection of Jackson and was glad to see BB grab him in the 2nd.

Caldwell was the #1 WR in San Diego starting the 2004 season (Gates was the #1 overall option). In the first 5 games of 2004 Caldwell had 17 receptions for 301 yds, that's a pace for 54 receptions and 963 yds. Maybe that will make you feel better about a guy who never had "more than 24 receptions in a season". In those first 5 games of 2004, all of SD's other WRs combined had 8 receptions for 100 yds. In the sixth game Caldwell suffered a knee injury that knocked him out for the season.

Not surprisingly, after the knee injury, Caldwell wasn't 100% ready for camp last year and he never regained the starting spot he won in 2004 (even though many in SD expected it). He still managed to catch 28 balls for 350 yds as the #3 WR.

This year Caldwell will have a full offseason to prepare and given the progression he made in his first three years in the league, I expect him to win the #2 job barring a miraculous progression by Jackson.

 

[wcda]

The #2 receiver is going to be the one that TB has the most confidence. Wouldn't be a bit suprised if at the start of the season it was the other TB. Look how long it took for Brady to feel comfortable in throwing to Watson.

 

[Joker]

WTF are you talking about? I'm assuming there is a joke in there!

SNL skit...Akroyd to Jane Curtain...."shut up Jane, you ignorant slut"...

BTW...I'm a Sox, Pats ,Celtics.... and Rangers fan...oh wait...no, check that...I'm a Pats ,Celtics, Bruins ..and White Sox fan....no..wait a minute....uh well...whatever...I'm a BIG fan

 

[14thDragon]

Week 1 - Caldwel is the probable. But given that Jackson is reported to be pretty bright in picking up new offenses and with Deion taking the double teams, by the end of the year he will be the number 2.

Given that fact, does anyone believe that Troy Brown will be back in 07? I hope he just retires instead of going to a new team.

 

[Johnny Z]

I don't think Reche Caldwell has been very good, and I don't think he ever will be any good. On the other hand, I would never underestimate Tom Brady's ability to make a #-2 WR out of almost anything.

My darkhorse in this race is Brandon Childress.

 

[JoeSixPat]

SNL skit...Akroyd to Jane Curtain...."shut up Jane, you ignorant slut"...

Yes... just a nonsensical, uncalled for out of the blue insult used by the original SNL crew - seemed appropriate for this thread -... so off the wall and obscure that I didn't think mgcolby would really be insulted (nor was he)

I guess part of the reason I don't look at Caldwell as a number 1 (or 2) is that

1.) There's no reason to assume that his high level of production would continue had he not been injured
2.) Even assuming he did continue his high level of production pre-injury, 54 catches is not reflective of a #1 WR - #2 yes - but he's still never proven he can sustain #2 levels either
3.) Although I hope he's healthy, WRs with a history of knee injuries shouldn't be counted on to have all-time career years
4.) Most legitimate #1 WRs command more than $1 million a year in salary. I don't think that's too much more than the veteran minimum these days, and its not like teams were breaking down his door to sign him.

I look at Caldwell as a wise insurance policy, who, if he exceeds all expectations can have a career year of 40+ catches. At $1 million that would make him a good signing - it would not make him a #1 or #2 WR.