Report: Wheatley to be released, Mankins activated

[BlueThunder]

Must need the OL help...Ojinakka still on roster?

 

[Gumby]

is nobody concerned about cb depth? historically in Pats losing playoff runs (and even a couple SB wins) there has been a whole bunch of DBs getting injured.

 

[patriotscpfc]

is nobody concerned about cb depth? historically in Pats losing playoff runs (and even a couple SB wins) there has been a whole bunch of DBs getting injured.

I think having 4 completely different Safeties allows us to have one less CB.

At CB, we've got McCourty, Arrington, Wilhite and Butler who have their different rules.

Then we have Meriweather, Chung, Sanders and Page at Safety. All of whom i'm comfortable starting

Chung and Meriweather are effective enough at Nickel if needed and I don't think i'd hesitate to put Meriweather out wide if we needed it that badly.

And if the worst happened, I'd put Woody out there, hell, he's handled everything else

 

[FredFromDartmouth]

Before the draft I noted that he was a china doll and the Patriots needed another CB...little did I know that the Patriots would end up with the DROY.

It was unfortunate that Wheatley was drafted by a turf team especially a team that had green cement like last year. If he gets picked up by a grass team he should do better. Oakland? Al Davis does have a CB obsession...

 

[FredFromDartmouth]

Chung and Meriweather are effective enough at Nickel if needed and I don't think i'd hesitate to put Meriweather out wide if we needed it that badly.

So he can cover like he did with his take-down of Moss?

OK that's cruel; Moss had a huge jump on him....

 

[Deus Irae]

Just a thought......

I wonder if McKenzie asking to be released saved the job of one of the bottom end offensive linemen, since I believe that Wheatley's eligible to be signed to the practice squad.

 

[convertedpatsfan]

is nobody concerned about cb depth? historically in Pats losing playoff runs (and even a couple SB wins) there has been a whole bunch of DBs getting injured.

I'm a bit concerned. Maybe we call up Troy Brown

Wheatley showed some promise in the pre-season before getting injured again. I thought he'd get a chance since we gave him a roster spot even though he was injured, but guess not.

Hopefully this means BB thinks Butler is coming around. Despite the early struggles, I do think Butler is going to play some meaningful minutes for us this season, whether by choice or need.

 

[TheGodInAGreyHoodie]

Just a thought......

I wonder if McKenzie asking to be released saved the job of one of the bottom end offensive linemen, since I believe that Wheatley's eligible to be signed to the practice squad.

Might have. Might have even accelerated the decision to bring back Mankins. We will never know for sure.

 

[Gwedd]

Might have. Might have even accelerated the decision to bring back Mankins. We will never know for sure.

At least not until BB retires and writes his "tell all" book. If he even writes anything.

 

[ahmed]

I never liked the Wheatley pick but I was hoping for the best and he did show some moments. I am just glad that Mankins is back before anything happened to Neal and that Neal is still fine.

 

[patriotscpfc]

So he can cover like he did with his take-down of Moss?

OK that's cruel; Moss had a huge jump on him....

That's be future HoF'er Randy Moss.

Who this year has beat Revis and Cromartie for Deep Ball TDs. Including Safety help.

All Out blitz on Favre, It was a TD if Meriweather didn't bring him down.

Like Burress on Hobbs ... oh why did I bring that up

 

[shmessy]

Re: Report: Wheatley to be realeased

First sign of trouble out of the offensive line and there will be hell to pay from these fans. "How dare they bench Connoly!" You might as well just start a thread/pole right now. "Mankins or Connoly? Who's better?"

No one in his/her right mind thinks Connolly is better than Mankins.

The issue is whether the gap at left guard is worth $7 million per year for a team that went 6-1 without Mankins.

 

[IllegalContact]

Re: Report: Wheatley to be realeased

No one in his/her right mind thinks Connolly is better than Mankins.

The issue is whether the gap at left guard is worth $7 million per year for a team that went 6-1 without Mankins.

wasn't connolly already yanked once? replaced by wendell I believe against the ravens, no?

 

[shmessy]

Re: Report: Wheatley to be realeased

wasn't connolly already yanked once? replaced by wendell I believe against the ravens, no?

Chargers. And he was put back in again to finish the game.

Following week he played the entire game. A game in which Ben Jarvis Green-Ellis ran for over 100 yards with his productive runs coming right up the middle and towards the left side. When BJGE had problems in the first half, it was on runs going to the sideline. I'd say whatever he was taken out for in the SD game was immediately corrected quite nicely.

Once again, I see Mankins as a definite upgrade, just not one that is worth an extra $7 million per year to this team. There are more crucial areas to spend that $7 million.

 

[IllegalContact]

Re: Report: Wheatley to be realeased

Chargers. And he was put back in again to finish the game.

Following week he played the entire game. A game in which Ben Jarvis Green-Ellis ran for over 100 yards with his productive runs coming right up the middle and towards the left side. When BJGE had problems in the first half, it was on runs going to the sideline. I'd say whatever he was taken out for in the SD game was immediately corrected quite nicely.

Once again, I see Mankins as a definite upgrade, just not one that is worth an extra $7 million per year to this team. There are more crucial areas to spend that $7 million.

I disagree....I think you will see a huge difference within a few weeks.

 

[Armchair Quarterback]

I never liked the Wheatley pick but I was hoping for the best and he did show some moments. I am just glad that Mankins is back before anything happened to Neal and that Neal is still fine.

I didn't like the pick either, I wanted them to draft Zack Bowman. At least he's not wasting a roster spot anymore. Horrible production for a second rounder.

11 games played
3 tackles
2 passes defensed

 

[Seneschal2]

Too bad about Wheatley, as he was one of my favorite draft picks because of his cover skills. Still believe he would have been better than some of the sub-package DBs Belichick has employed throughout the years. Oh well...

Happy to see Mankins back in the mix if his veteran presence can get this offense in sync. That said, leading the team in penalties as he did last season would be unacceptable.

 

[FredFromDartmouth]

That's be future HoF'er Randy Moss.

Who this year has beat Revis and Cromartie for Deep Ball TDs. Including Safety help.

All Out blitz on Favre, It was a TD if Meriweather didn't bring him down.

Like Burress on Hobbs ... oh why did I bring that up

Yes yes I understand. Merriwether did the right thing; it was a heady move on his part. I was just being snarky when I should have simply noted that you don't want to have Merriwether as a starting CB. In spite of what Felger says Merriwether has played extremely well this season and his hits have been just what the defense needs. There is a reason that a lot of WRs have dropped the ball when playing the Patriots; they are going to get killed going over the middle.

In previous years (i.e. after Rodney left) WRs would do little pirouettes in the defensive backfield like male figure skaters without worrying about a thing. Not anymore.

 

[Froob]

Only memory of have of Wheatley is him knocking down a pass on 3rd down infront of marvin harrison on the colts 1st drive vs pats in 08.

 

[Sean Pa Patriot]

You mean whilhite and butler are better than wheatley???... fail.... well i wish we could have seen more from him before he hurt his hand against indy in 2008 was starting to make progress, but could never get on the field..