Schefter: Ochocinco will stay with Patriots

[BradyBranch39]

IMHO that is what should have been done with Chad - who was supposedly lobbying for just a shot to play here for Bill and with Tom. And if it had been he wouldn't be here now. Instead he was given the diva/celebrity treatment even as he was being "rescued". A very un-Belichick approach that flew in the face of the meritocracy. Instead he got a 3 year extension for twice what he was owed on his last season of the Cincy deal. And that created $6M in sunk cost and a $3M dead cap scenario which is what they are apparently determined to continue to try and salvage.

If I had read this first, I wouldn't have just wrote the same thing. Well, they're different enough, I guess. We still could get him on a deal like this if he feels threatened by not making much if he gets cut and goes elsewhere.

 

[Gronkandez]

Maybe Spikes will give him some of his ritalin.

Was it 'ritalin' or 'cough syrup' he tested positive for? Either way it was just on oversight of the very stringent NFL rules on bannes substances. Happens every time.

 

[Snake Eyes]

You must be one of the children.

Oh yes, anyone with an opinion other than yours must be stupid and childish, we know that because they disagree with you.

If a player doesnt want to be disrespected they only need to get it done on the field, that shuts people up. Ocho has not performed so I don't feel the need to attack people that don't respect his modified name.

 

[RayClay]

Was it 'ritalin' or 'cough syrup' he tested positive for? Either way it was just on oversight of the very stringent NFL rules on bannes substances. Happens every time.

Might have been adderall. same idea

Patriots' linebacker Brandon Spikes' four-game suspension came not for a steroid, but for an attention deficit and hyperactivity drug, Comcast Sports New England is reporting.

Brandon Spikes' Suspension Reportedly From ADHD Medication

 

[Triumph]

He'll stay through training camp, but he's going to have a very hard time making the final roster.

Welker and Lloyd are locks right now. I'm pretty sure Branch will make the cut. He wasnt awful last season and he has Bradys confidence.

If the Pats keep Fells and 3 TEs, that could mean only 2 open WR roster spots between Stinko, Gonzalez, Edelman, Stallworth, Slater.

 

[Triumph]

Anyone who's childish enough to still be using "Ochostinko" is someone who's opinions on the matter can be completely disregarded anyway.

Mature like Ras IR Dowling.

Stinko stunk last season - 1 TD and 17 receptions. Everyone knows how much money he made for all that production.

 

[Deus Irae]

Oh yes, anyone with an opinion other than yours must be stupid and childish, we know that because they disagree with you.

No, anyone who's childish enough to use something as lame as "Ochostinko" because they find it an amusing way of showing disdain for the player is childish.

Just as I'm being childish when I use Glass IR Dowling, by the way. Even though I say that strictly because I find it amusing, I've got no call to complain if people don't take my opinion on Dowling's health seriously.

If a player doesnt want to be disrespected they only need to get it done on the field, that shuts people up. Ocho has not performed so I don't feel the need to attack people that don't respect his modified name.

What a load of crap. People often disrespect players who get it done on the field.

 

[JackBauer]

What a load of crap. People often disrespect players who get it done on the field.

Not to mention the fact that plenty of guys haven't gotten it done for the Patriots and I'm having trouble recalling many, if any, of them getting similar treatment.

 

[patsderoer]

Hernandez had to tell him where to line up in the SB. LOL. Stinko was a joke last season.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

No, anyone who's childish enough to use something as lame as "Ochostinko" because they find it an amusing way of showing disdain for the player is childish.

Just as I'm being childish when I use Glass IR Dowling, by the way. Even though I say that strictly because I find it amusing, I've got no call to complain if people don't take my opinion on Dowling's health seriously.



What a load of crap. People often disrespect players who get it done on the field.

This post is so...you.

 

[Gronkandez]

Might have been adderall. same idea



Brandon Spikes' Suspension Reportedly From ADHD Medication

I personally don't buy it. Pretty sure the source was his agent, or someone associated with his agent. Reiss has said the same.

 

[rjw]

He still has all the physical skills to be pretty darn good. Now if he can just mentally get there again.

 

[Snake Eyes]

Hernandez had to tell him where to line up in the SB. LOL. Stinko was a joke last season.

Very true. Hype + not getting it done = extra crapping on a player.

 

[patfanken]

I personally think the "he didn't get the offense" is way over blown. It might have been true for the first 2 thirds of the year, but not as much by the end of the year. By the end of the year his lack of productivity was more a function of there being 4 receivers more likely to get Brady's look before Ocho.

In the superbowl - Ocho made a beautiful double move, got clear separation, and made a nicely timed catch for 21 yds. Then never got a single look after that. Who's fault is that. Brady? BOB?, Ocho? I don't know, IMHO by the end of the season, Brady was simply locked in on the 4 guys who had caught well over 4000 yds between them. Brady also often ignored wide open RBs to go for one of the fab 4 who was more tightly covered. So it wasn't just the #5 receiver that got ignored. And in Brady's defense its perfectly natural to go to the guys who had been doing it all year.

So while there might have been problems getting on the same page earlier in the season, but the end of it, I believe his lack of production was more an issue of not getting looks and opportunities.

Now this year is a clean slate and I doubt "getting the offense" is going to be much of an issue. However what will be still an issue will be the fact that regardless of how well he does, this isn't going to change. Even if he knocks the socks off everyone in camp, he's STILL going t be the #5 target, barring injuries. Only THIS season his pay will likely merit his production,

The goal here is to go into the season with a very deep and skills diverse WR corps. Last season the Pats were pretty lucky with injuries at this position. BB knows better than to tempt fate 2 years running,

BTW- I'm getting tired of the "ochostinko" moniker too. Mostly its used by guys with little ****s who like to diminish their betters in order to feel superior in some sort of "internet tough guy" way. Pretty pathetic if you ask me. Ocho has caught passes for over 11,000 yds in his NFL career. He doesn't "stink". If he did, BB wouldn't be bringing him back.

 

[supafly]

Welker and Lloyd are locks right now. I'm pretty sure Branch will make the cut. He wasnt awful last season and he has Bradys confidence.

If the Pats keep Fells and 3 TEs, that could mean only 2 open WR roster spots between Stinko, Gonzalez, Edelman, Stallworth, Slater.

I don't think the issue of the Pats keeping 3 TE's will have anything at all to do with how many WR's they will keep. They usually keep 3 TE's every year, and usually another on the practice squad.

Right off the bat, I think at least for a fan's/media label, we can probably remove Slater from the WR grouping. They upgraded the position this yr, and he does not belong there in my opinion. He can be included with the safeties instead.

It may be a huge stretch, but it may also be that Edelman is grouped in with the CB's. Or, as I said it's not like it matters who's where in a Belichick view, since he knows they will likely contribute on some level anyway. This exercise is just for the fans. They may consider keeping 7 WR's, I guess anything's possible.

There is always the possibility that one of these guys gets hurt, and the situation takes care of itself at the same time. We know they will keep at least 6 WR's, which is much more likely in my opinion:

--Welker, Llyod, Stallworth, Edelman (With 2 out of 3 in Ochocinco, Branch, Gonzelez)

Drafting a WR throws a whole other wrench into the equation of course.

Either way, it will be better competition and depth for the WR position this yr.

 

[Sivy]

Do any of you people really think you know more about evaluatiing whether a player will contribute to the team more than BB does?

NO..that should be everyones answer.

If BB says Ocho is going to be the best WR in the nfl next season. You better think he knows more than you..because he does.

 

[BradyManny]

Welker and Lloyd are locks right now. I'm pretty sure Branch will make the cut. He wasnt awful last season and he has Bradys confidence.

If the Pats keep Fells and 3 TEs, that could mean only 2 open WR roster spots between Stinko, Gonzalez, Edelman, Stallworth, Slater.

Keeping 3 TEs is the norm for us, and we might carry less RBs this year.

I don't know how anyone can count Slater as a WR at this point, though I know we all do. But looking at it: he's a key contributor on Special Teams, and depth at safety. He comes in as a blocking WR or runs a deep route a handful of times a year. It would've been like counting Mike Vrabel as a TE.

So for me: Slater != wide receiver. It deprives the offense of a spot to count him towards that position.

Edelman, at this point, hardly counts as a wide receiver either. He's a jack of all trades spot who contributes on ST, defense and offense - and in that order.

This offense - especially under McDaniels - runs multi WR sets, and takes advantage of WRs with different skillsets. We could use - and have room for - 4-5 pure WRs (that means not Edelman or Slater).

Welker and Lloyd are two. Branch is likely one. Gonzalez, Ocho, Stallworth and a rookie fight for between one to two.

If we get deep into the playoffs and fall short b/c of lack of weapons on the outside because we needed to make room for STers instead of a WR who could've contributed on offense, I might shoot myself.

 

[Garbanza]

Being optimistic,

Last season when we acquired Ocho, he didnt have much time to learn the system. This season, he will have OTA's and training camp! Competition is great and lets see who will be on the roster.

Yah, he'll have time between taping his new VHI reality show with his bride to be and former of Basketball Wives reality star. Sure seems like he's studying really hard.

Sigh......

Whatever....get to camp, TRY to grasp the O - and get cut. Sooner of later, he WILL get cut. There is NO WAY in Hell he'll learn the system. Take that to the bank.

 

[patfanken]

I think it kind of pointless trying to project who the WRs are going to be. Here are the only things we DO know.

1. Welker and Lloyd are WR locks to make the team.

2. Of the other 6 true WRs (Edelman, Branch, Gonsales, Ocho, Underwood, and Stallworth), only 3 will make the final roster

3. If we draft a WR with a pick in the first 3 rounds, then only 2 of the 6 will get jobs

That's it. That's all we know and rest is pure speculation

BTW- as to Josh's past tendency to use a lot of WRs in his offense, I think the reality of Gronk and Hernandez will cause him to adjust his view somewhat. I still don't see a situation that the #3 WR will be anything more than the 5th target unless there is an injury

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Do any of you people really think you know more about evaluatiing whether a player will contribute to the team more than BB does?

NO..that should be everyones answer.

If BB says Ocho is going to be the best WR in the nfl next season. You better think he knows more than you..because he does.

Guys like Maroney tells me sometimes that Belichick keeps guys on the roster way too long than they deserve to be because they simply are not a good fit on the team.

It doesn't happen often,but it happens.