Because I like him better? I mean...that's all this is right now. This should be called, in reality, 'Which WRs would you like to see make the roster the most?'.
Simple fact is, regardless of salary, most of these guys (bar two, three if you count Slater) aren't locks to make the team. If they don't perform in camp over the other guy, they're not going to be on the team/...simples
Until you watch these guys in camp, none of you or myself can say which player is a lock based on any reason or fact....because there isn't very much of that right now/
Guessing the roster is as meaningful as a mock draft or grading the 2012 draft class...but we do it because it passes the time
I think that you are correct, at least on a very simplistic level (not saying that your thoughts are 'simplistic')
Yes--whomever produces the most in TC and shows the best ability and chemistry with TFB will make the team...BUT I also think that what ctpatsfan77 is saying should be taken into acct too.
Belichick has done a pretty nice job of making the potential decision at WR 'not' about monetary value, since most of them are pretty cheap. But when trying to assess whether or not a guy like Gaffney is a lock or not, we should take into acct Tom Brady's words regarding him, his knowledge and rapport with Brady and the system in general, and the fact that he has continued to produce at a pretty high level with basically no one throwing him the ball in the past 2-3 yrs.
In my opinion, the general goal is always to improve the positions at #'s 1-x. We have already probably improved the WR2 and WR3 levels automatically, keeping the WR1 the same with Welker. It will be the other 2-3 WR positions that need improvement also, and Branch probably improves the WR4 position just by returning with a lowered level of expectation and production, which the obvious ability to start in a pinch.
If Johnson can show anything at all, one could make the argument that he would also improve the WR5 level. One may also assume that Belichick:
1. Sees something in him, whether that is potential, work ethic, the ability to improve as the year went on in some areas, or maybe even all of the above
2. He may even have a bit of a chip on his shoulder, or at least one may at least run this thought past their heads. Most would have been cut last yr, and there's the possibility that Belichick may be bound and determined to fit him in as some kind of productional value, or at the very least see him as possible depth. Before I go too far into conspiracy theories, the issue will lie mostly with whether or not Johnson is able to show improvements from last yr, but if he does...it's probably his job to lose, as much as most wouldn't want to hear that.
The wildcards of course, are:
1. "where" to include Slater and Edelman, assuming both make it
2. Whether or not a guy like Stallworth or Gonzalez can show more than the above three (Gaffney, Branch, Johnson) who ALL have some knowledge of the current system and likely better talent overall.
I would think that the main battle will come down to Johnson vs. Stallworth, with Gonzalez being the obvious odd man out, providing valuable camp fodder.
One thing is for sure, if any of the guys who are not favored to win a spot, end up showing up for a great TC, they will make the decision a lot harder..
And that brings us back around to your original point
But I would say there are several factors involved, one of which many are forgetting (which is injuries)...and the injury factor may end up sorting things out for us in the long run anyway.
