Pats release Deion Branch and Malcolm Williams; Greg Salas and Aqib Talib added to 53

[cstjohn17]

Re: Branch cut

I think we will find out in the coming days that there are several bottom dwellers out there with injury problems of their own who are about to start mining some other teams PS for some hidden gold for next year.

At this point if jesters, miami or StL (who happens to know this guy since we swiped him from them) wanted some more wr help; they could have contacted his agent and BB said 'not so fast'.

I am sure that any player on the NE PS is going to give a strong-potential SB contender who they currently work for a chance to make them an offer {edit} before walking out the door.

This is fools gold, it is not like the Patriots at super loaded at every position.

I can't ever recall a player been taken from the Patriots practice squad, if it did happen I would be curious to see what impact the player had.

It feels like the same old artificial delusion junk that gets floated about the Patriots talent level, they have good talent but are far from stocked.

Remember the Brian Hoyer for a 2nd rounder non-sense.

Plain and simple, Branch is a marginal player, with a bad hammy he is nothing.

 

[FCB02062]

Taylor Price available?

 

[VrabelJr]

Re: Branch cut

Salas seems to project to a WR that can line up all over the rotation but will mostly be used in the slot and in between the numbers. He's an interesting prospect for sure. He seems to offer a bit more versatility than Edelman does.

 

[mgteich]

I think Branch is gone. Of course, he could be called up in an emergency later as he was last time.

If the team thought he was doing a good job, they could have kept him instead one of the 16 front seven players. We could certainly go to 15. Any one of the following:
BRACE
FRANCIS
SCOTT
RIVERA
KOUTOUVIDES
WHITE

 

[Bombdog]

This move makes perfeact sense. Deoin hurt his hamstring in practice this week. Plus Josh is familar with Salas he had him in St. Louis. Maybe this kid has been ripping it up in practice and its his time to show what he can do.You could see this move coming.

 

[Claremonster]

You don't remember how he kept 3 or 4 of our drives alive against the Rams two games ago?

It's now Salas time to shine! :rocker:

 

[Claremonster]

Re: Branch cut

Salas seems to project to a WR that can line up all over the rotation but will mostly be used in the slot and in between the numbers. He's an interesting prospect for sure. He seems to offer a bit more versatility than Edelman does.

If Salas plays lights out for the rest of the year, Welker might be playing elsewhere next year.

 

[FredFromDartmouth]

Branch cut is a shocker

I thought he was going to be utilized more when Brady was targeting him more than anyone else in the 1st quarter of the Bills game

Not really. He was not every effective at all. Everyone likes to complain about the Patriots DBs but their WRs are pretty bad also.

 

[patchick]

Re: Branch cut

I can't ever recall a player been taken from the Patriots practice squad, if it did happen I would be curious to see what impact the player had.

A few times the Pats have made a counteroffer to keep a PS player when another team offered to sign him, but I don't recall any notable successes there, either. (E.g. Markell Carter.) Here's to Salas being the first.

I wonder how many players around the league have gone from the practice squad to significant NFL careers. Any names come to mind?

EDIT: Just thought of an amusing one -- Jake Ballard.

 

[supafly]

Re: Branch cut

If Salas plays lights out for the rest of the year, Welker might be playing elsewhere next year.

I would think that Edelman's chances of staying or leaving may be closer to the truth if Salas would shine, but yes--Welker would also come into question too, or at the very least it may help them in determining their maximum value etc.

 

[Claremonster]

I remember Mike Reiss predicting Salas would have 61 receptions based on his rapport with Brady during training camp.

That would suffice

 

[Sciz]

Re: Branch cut

I wonder how many players around the league have gone from the practice squad to significant NFL careers. Any names come to mind?

James Harrison was on the Steelers' and Ravens' practice squads early in his career.

 

[Claremonster]

Re: Branch cut

I would think that Edelman's chances of staying or leaving may be closer to the truth if Salas would shine, but yes--Welker would also come into question too, or at the very least it may help them in determining their maximum value etc.

True, but, Welker wants a lot of scratch. That is why I put his name out there.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Re: Branch cut

Solid point, you could be onto something.

Considering that Salas is the highest paid player on the practice squad in terms of weekly pay (somewhere close to 9,000 per week IIRC) they may also have had another plan in place for him which consisted of them slowly grooming him into becoming some type of role player.

Just to be clear, $9K is (approximately) the normal salary for a PS player.

The Patriots are paying Salas as if he were a rookie on the 53.

 

[Fencer]

Obviously, Branch will have an 8+ catch, 100+ yard game for the Patriots before the season is over.

 

[VJCPatriot]

Obviously, Branch will have an 8+ catch, 100+ yard game for the Patriots before the season is over.

Can't make the club from the tub. I'm pretty sure that is why Branch was cut, the injury. I"m also intrigued to see what the Pats see in Salas. They must like him cos they paid him a lot to stay on the PS and now they are finally promoting him to the big club.

Should be interesting to see if he can make any impact for us. Addition of Talib of course is long anticipted Hope that hc can show us the goods!

 

[Armchair Quarterback]

Re: Branch cut

A few times the Pats have made a counteroffer to keep a PS player when another team offered to sign him, but I don't recall any notable successes there, either. (E.g. Markell Carter.) Here's to Salas being the first.

I wonder how many players around the league have gone from the practice squad to significant NFL careers. Any names come to mind?

EDIT: Just thought of an amusing one -- Jake Ballard.

Arian Foster

Dan Connolly, Ryan Wendell

 

[supafly]

Re: Branch cut

Just to be clear, $9K is (approximately) the normal salary for a PS player.

The Patriots are paying Salas as if he were a rookie on the 53.

So we are to assume that all of the other players on the squad are extremely underpaid then, in regards to the PS?

Either way, thanks for the clarification. Salas is the highest paid PS player by far, although there was one other that was around 8k per week too, although I can't remember who it is off hand.

The rest are being paid significantly less.

 

[DocHoliday]

Wasnt Victor Cruz on the PS?

 

[VrabelJr]

Re: Branch cut

Arian Foster

Dan Connolly, Ryan Wendell

Malcolm Floyd, Jason Peters, and Vonta Leach come to mind as well.