A couple of points on this never ending topic. I really don't understand how Julian Edelman has become such a lightening rod of debate, when quite frankly the role he is filling (that of backing up Welker, the 3rd WR in 3 WR sets, and blocking WR) just isn't relatively important enough to cause this kind of emotion. It wasn't when we when this debate started, and is only slightly more relevant now with Hernandez's injury.
1. Anyone who postulates that there is some plan by the Pats to keep the ball away from Welker as some sort of negotiating or contract ploy is just a plain IDIOT. It would mean that for no apparent reason the Pats have decided to put punishing Wes Welker, a very productive team player, ahead of what's best for the team. Its just plain preposterous.
2. Anyone quoting Rappaport as a source to bolster his or her position is foolish since there is hardly a person posting on this board who doesn't know more football than Ian Rappaport. That's like quoting Justin Bieber to back up a hypothesis on string theory.
3. It is fun to SPECULATE what's going on within the confines of Foxboro Stadium, and in that respect every has a right to their opinion. But there are some here who cross the line and assume they KNOW what is real and if you don't agree you are ripe for derision. This "I am right and you are wrong" mentality is offensive.
The reality is that all we have are relatively uninformed OPINIONS. and to claim the mantel of "knowing" is to be both laughable and tiresome at the same time
Yes laughable, because it is laughable to state as fact that BB is wrong to have Edelman on the field when for the snaps he's gotten given the amount of evidence HE has to make that decision and the comparative lack of evidence WE have to make that assumption.
4. I'm not sure what you want Edelman to do. IIRC he has caught every ball that has been within his catch radius. That he's blocked every man he's been assigned to. I can just imagine the outrage what would have rained down on him if HE had already dropped 2 key 3rd down passes so far this season.
5. There is a lot of hubris and testosterone being exhibited in this thread, and most of it based on some very flimsy evidence. Granted "flimsy evidence" is about all we have to go on most of the time. Sometimes I get the feeling that for some, having a "discussion" is no longer the point, but having an "argument". That the free exchange of ideas isn't the object, but proving "I'm right and you are wrong". Brow beating seems to be the weapon of choice, and ignoring/rejecting another's points of view, while repeating one's own's as often as possible.
Its making this a less inviting place to come when you'd like to have an exchange of ideas and learn something, and not engage in a "to the death" argument every time you disagree. I'm not a guiltless party in this, god knows. I've participated in more than a few of these never ending slugfests. but I think its time to step back to a more genteel and respectful dialogue .... even if its just a bit.