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

[Sciz]

Wasnt Victor Cruz on the PS?

I don't think so. Good old Rex couldn't keep his mouth shut and said that if the Giants cut him, the Jets would want to sign him, so the Giants kept him.

 

[mayoclinic]

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?

There was this kid named Tom Brady once ...

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Re: Branch cut

There was this kid named Tom Brady once ...

Who never spent a day on a PS....

 

[mayoclinic]

Re: Branch cut

Who never spent a day on a PS....

I thought he did ... my bad if wrong. I was trying to find a reference and couldn't, so it was obviously my error.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Reiss and Curran both seem to think the move was strictly precipitated by the hammy coupled with the potential for additional need at the position with Welker iffy and even Lloyd dealing with a knee. Think he will be back when ready. Makes no sense to part with Branch given his performance of late - he's been in on a majority of snaps and still doing all those little things they have to have and when targeted he's delivered. He wasn't signed when cut out of camp so they are apparently confident he won't be claimed now injured. They may also have a sense that his hammy is more serious than a week of rest will fix. Maybe they see him out for a couple of weeks, in which case other teams won't likely be filing claims. Also gives them an opportunity to see if Salas was worth the trade and PS price. Given their overall injury situation including lingering OL issues they had to deal with too, risk worth taking unless of course it backfires.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Re: Branch cut

I thought he did ... my bad if wrong. I was trying to find a reference and couldn't, so it was obviously my error.

Tommy was the 4th string QB coming out of that 2000 camp, remember? Because they knew they'd lose him on the way to a PS and because they had little talent to challenge for the roster spot. Although he had risen to #2 by the end of the season overtaking Friese and Bishop. They traded for Damon Huard in the off season as insurance, but Tom held him off and nearly displaced Bledsoe out of the gate in 2001 but for the experience factor (aka we just signed Bledsoe to a $100M deal...).

 

[mayoclinic]

Re: Branch cut

Tommy was the 4th string QB coming out of that 2000 camp, remember? Because they knew they'd lose him on the way to a PS and because they had little talent to challenge for the roster spot. Although he had risen to #2 by the end of the season overtaking Friese and Bishop. They traded for Damon Huard in the off season as insurance, but Tom held him off and nearly displaced Bledsoe out of the gate in 2001 but for the experience factor (aka we just signed Bledsoe to a $100M deal...).

Remember all of it, just somehow got scrambled and thought he was briefly on the PS. Thanks for setting things straight.

 

[Raymond]

I don't think so. Good old Rex couldn't keep his mouth shut and said that if the Giants cut him, the Jets would want to sign him, so the Giants kept him.

Regarding Victor Cruz..........

wow. That's the first time I'd heard this. A google confirms it.

Rex Ryan Responsible for Victor Cruz Not Being Cut by Giants in 2010 | Robert Littal Presents BlackSportsOnline

If there were ever a better example of a coach with diarrhea of the mouth that clearly hurts his own team, I haven't seen it.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Re: Branch cut

There was this kid named Tom Brady once ...

Chad Eaton. Fmr Pats DT

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Re: Branch cut

Tommy was the 4th string QB coming out of that 2000 camp, remember? Because they knew they'd lose him on the way to a PS and because they had little talent to challenge for the roster spot. Although he had risen to #2 by the end of the season overtaking Friese and Bishop. They traded for Damon Huard in the off season as insurance, but Tom held him off and nearly displaced Bledsoe out of the gate in 2001 but for the experience factor (aka we just signed Bledsoe to a $100M deal...).

Used to go to Smithfield all the time. In 2000, Michael Bishop (a mini-me Michael Vick) was all the rage in camp and in the "exhibition" games. Tom Brady, 4th on the depth chart was unremarkable to this non-college fan observer not looking for Michigan players, but he obviously showed enough to those who know what they're seeing to make the squad as an unprecedented 4th QB.

Summer 2001 was a different story where even those of us not discerning enough to spot subtle early indications of talent could readily see that TFB was the best QB at Smithfield that summer. The difference was a shock. His confidence and mastery of the offense was readily displayed.

I miss post practice at Parentes.

 

[JMC00]

Re: Branch cut

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.

All the guys on the practice squad are making around 8k. Salas was making 27k.

 

[RelocatedPatFan]

Re: Branch cut

Tommy was the 4th string QB coming out of that 2000 camp, remember? Because they knew they'd lose him on the way to a PS and because they had little talent to challenge for the roster spot. Although he had risen to #2 by the end of the season overtaking Friese and Bishop. They traded for Damon Huard in the off season as insurance, but Tom held him off and nearly displaced Bledsoe out of the gate in 2001 but for the experience factor (aka we just signed Bledsoe to a $100M deal...).

I think TB had outplayed Bledsoe i nthe pre season, but BB hadto go wigth the established starter. there were thoughts that TB might have dispelled Bledsoe by the end of the season if there was any issue with Bledsoe's play. We should remind Jet fans that they helped push TB into the starter role a year early and thank them heavily for that

 

[Uncle Rico]

Re: Branch cut

...We should remind Jet fans that they helped push TB into the starter role a year early...

I think "MoLewisRocks" is doing his part toward this end. ...

 

[Fencer]

Re: Branch cut

Arian Foster

Dan Connolly, Ryan Wendell

Stephen Neal

 

[PatriotSeven]

Pssshhht. As even some Jet fans will tell you, we would be in seriously trouble because they would be picking Branch up in a second to try and strong arm us for draft picks. That is of course, if the Patriots didn't replace the real Branch with a cadavre before they released him. But they are too smart and they saw that coming as well.

 

[TruthSeeker]

Regarding Salas, common sense would tell you that without Hernandez (whom style he is similar to), and possibly without Welker, and obviously without Branch, Salas will have a huge, breakout, welcome to the Patriots type of game. BUT, IF Welker is able to go, I don't think Salas even sees the field. Brady has always proven that he has his Binkies, Welker, Gronk and Lloyd will be the guys who catch 99% of Brady's passes. It takes quite some time for a receiver to gain Brady's trust. I've seen many a rookie/new receiver come in and NEVER click with Brady. Unless of course, they are clicking like crazy in practice, but I would assume most of Salas' catches in practice probably come from Mallette.

 

[Fencer]

Reiss and Curran both seem to think the move was strictly precipitated by the hammy coupled with the potential for additional need at the position with Welker iffy and even Lloyd dealing with a knee. Think he will be back when ready. Makes no sense to part with Branch given his performance of late - he's been in on a majority of snaps and still doing all those little things they have to have and when targeted he's delivered. He wasn't signed when cut out of camp so they are apparently confident he won't be claimed now injured. They may also have a sense that his hammy is more serious than a week of rest will fix. Maybe they see him out for a couple of weeks, in which case other teams won't likely be filing claims. Also gives them an opportunity to see if Salas was worth the trade and PS price. Given their overall injury situation including lingering OL issues they had to deal with too, risk worth taking unless of course it backfires.

By the time he's ready to come back, some fringe DL or LB may have become cut-worthy. I.e., locking into an extra roster spot for Salas for the balance of the season isn't a big deal, especially since ALL of our established receivers are hurt, including the top TEs.

 

[northernpatriot]

OMG!!!!! Are you serious!?!?!? ... The Pats cut Wlliams?

 

[Finnishfan]

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.

I have seen him play and I actually followed him a while becouse I owned him in my fantasy team last year (yeah, I'm in a league that deep).

He was a true wideout in college but was moved to play slot in Rams, because of his lack of speed/size (didn't have the tools to beat NFL 1st/2nd string CBs). He is very sure-handed and runs crisp routes, and last year I thought he showed some moves to break contain and was moving up in the Rams depth chart until he had an unfortunate injury.

Back then media predicted that he might take Amendolas place as the starter. And Amendola is not the easiest of competitions.

I don't know if he has recovered from that broken leg to the level he was before the injury, but McD probably knows that guy is a gem who will turn into legit NFL receiver one day if he can stay healthy.

EDIT: And also one more thing came to mind... while his combine speed was the biggest reason he fell into the 4th round despite his monster college stats, I specifically remember reading a Rams TC report in 2011 or this year where they said that Salas showed increase in his speed coming into that TC. I also remember that it said there that they were considering him for an outside role.

 

[Mack Herron]

Re: Branch cut

He was a true wideout in college but was moved to play slot in Rams, because of his lack of speed/size (didn't have the tools to beat NFL 1st/2nd string CBs).

He will instantly become our biggest, fastest WR.