Jabar Gaffney, Austin Collie in for tryouts

[ctpatsfan77]

Ironically, everyone was tweeting that Jabar Gaffney was on the field practicing. . . . turns out he wasn't.

 

[lamafist]

So you want to tell a football player he isn't allowed to play football even when Doctors have cleared him?
Perhaps bars should install breathalizers and not serve anyone who is at the legal driving limit since they can't be trusted to act in their own best interest.
Maybe we should go for sterilization of people with low incomes, IQs, or medical and psychological issues.
Not really busting your b@lls just pointing out that you can extend taking someones rights away from them because you consider it better for them a long way.

Actually, in most states, drinking establishments and even individual bartenders are held partially liable for any injury or damage caused by someone they continued to serve after they were visibly intoxicated. It's not a matter of taking someone's rights away, it's a matter of holding everyone involved accountable for the consequences of their negligent behavior.

You mention a player being cleared by doctors -- that, itself, is a major issue of conflicted interests in the NFL. The NFL does not require team-employed doctors to be board certified, and, unlike in any hospital or licensed medical practice, there is zero oversight over the treatment the players receive by their team medical staff.

A team doctor is held accountable only to the team that employs him, and are under a lot of pressure to players back on the field, even if there's risk of long-term damage. This coming season, for the first time, there will be independent neurologists present at games to examine players for signs of concussions.

As a first step, it's modestly better than nothing. The majority of a player's medical treatment will still be administered by a "doctor" whose interests often conflict with the players', and players will continue to be strongly discouraged from demanding second opinions from third parties. Until there is honest and effective oversight of the day-to-day medical treatment and counsel that teams provide for their players, any discussion of a player's right to go against said counsel is a farce.

 

[Bruins29]

Gaffney should have never been let go last year. But the homers were all fine with it.

How did Gaff do last year?

 

[Rob0729]

Collie has had a small earthquake occur in his head. For his own good, he should probably hang them up. Gaffney should have never been let go last year. But the homers were all fine with it. They were vindicated when Branch was supremely effective in his role.

Gaffney made far more news for his two game suspension than anything he did on the field last year (4 catches for 11 yards for the entire season). Branch sucked last year, but he looked like Calvin Johnson compared to Gaffney last year.

I wouldn't mind letting Gaffney back to get one last chance to prove he isn't done, but I would give him a huge uphill battle to make the roster. If he is signed, he will most likely be used as a mentor for the younger players to get them up to speed.

 

[BadMoFo]

It was Chaz Shillens.

Field Yates ‏@FieldYates 42s

WR Chaz Schilens, who spent 2012 with the Jets, was 1 of 5 players at Patriots mini-camp on tryout basis, league source tells @ESPNBoston.

 

[Rob0729]

It was Chaz Shillens.

Field Yates ‏@FieldYates 42s

WR Chaz Schilens, who spent 2012 with the Jets, was 1 of 5 players at Patriots mini-camp on tryout basis, league source tells @ESPNBoston.

He sucks. Will be gone fairly quickly.

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

Ironically, everyone was tweeting that Jabar Gaffney was on the field practicing. . . . turns out he wasn't.

Tebow removed a rib and MADE a Gaffney on the spot.

 

[Kontradiction]

How did Gaff do last year?

Gaffney made far more news for his two game suspension than anything he did on the field last year (4 catches for 11 yards for the entire season). Branch sucked last year, but he looked like Calvin Johnson compared to Gaffney last year.

I wouldn't mind letting Gaffney back to get one last chance to prove he isn't done, but I would give him a huge uphill battle to make the roster. If he is signed, he will most likely be used as a mentor for the younger players to get them up to speed.

You two were probably saying the same things about Gaffney prior to 2006 too. Then he broke out. The fact of the matter is that Gaffney has always been a better fit in our system than elsewhere. He was solid in Denver during his time there under McDaniels as well. He had just come off a solid 2011 season and is more athletic and able to gain better separation than Branch at this point in his career. Gaffney would have been the better alternative of the two, and it was a mistake letting him go and then bringing back Branch, who was clearly on his last leg toward the end of the 2011 season.

 

[Matt991]

I like Gaffney but its time to find the next one. As for Collie if he passes the tryouts sign him. If he wants to play and is cleared it is his choice.

 

[Bruins29]

You two were probably saying the same things about Gaffney prior to 2006 too. Then he broke out. The fact of the matter is that Gaffney has always been a better fit in our system than elsewhere. He was solid in Denver during his time there under McDaniels as well. He had just come off a solid 2011 season and is more athletic and able to gain better separation than Branch at this point in his career. Gaffney would have been the better alternative of the two, and it was a mistake letting him go and then bringing back Branch, who was clearly on his last leg toward the end of the 2011 season.

But he wasnt healthy

And What does 2006 have to do with last year.

And how has Gaffney been a better fit in our system when Branch has put up much better numbers in this system.

I cant beleive you are cranking on the FO over last years decision about Jabbar f u k i n g Gaffney. Especially over Bradays all time fav receiver. Plus went to the Dolphins who had nobody for WRs. aff played 3 games and had 68 yards. So, either Gaff sucked or was hurt. Either way us not getting to the SB had nothing to do with Gaffney on this team.

 

[TruthSeeker]

It was Chaz Shillens.

Field Yates ‏@FieldYates 42s

WR Chaz Schilens, who spent 2012 with the Jets, was 1 of 5 players at Patriots mini-camp on tryout basis, league source tells @ESPNBoston.

Chaz Schilens was the Jamie Collins of the 2008 Draft. Sick measuarbles. Hopefully, Collins will be 100x better than Schilens turned out to be. Schilens ran a 4.38 at 6'4" 208 and had a 43 inch vertical jump !! 6.84 3 cone and a 10.03 broad jump. I'm surprised this guy hasn't turned out better, I think it has been all about injuries.

On a side note, it seems like BB is finally over his allergy to tall receivers, with Jenkins, Dobson, Harrison, and now with Schilens in for a tryout.

 

[Ring 6]

Actually, in most states, drinking establishments and even individual bartenders are held partially liable for any injury or damage caused by someone they continued to serve after they were visibly intoxicated. It's not a matter of taking someone's rights away, it's a matter of holding everyone involved accountable for the consequences of their negligent behavior.

Not really my point. I don't remember saying anything about serving visibly intoxicated drivers. In fact I was not even talking about drivers, but about a government decision that people cannot be allowed to drink beyond the legal limit.

You mention a player being cleared by doctors -- that, itself, is a major issue of conflicted interests in the NFL. The NFL does not require team-employed doctors to be board certified, and, unlike in any hospital or licensed medical practice, there is zero oversight over the treatment the players receive by their team medical staff.

Austin Collie is not required to rely on team doctors to decide if he should continue his career. The comments in this thread urged Collie to quit because of the risk. That is clearly Collie's choice, based upon whatever advice, medical or otherwise he chooses to get.

A team doctor is held accountable only to the team that employs him, and are under a lot of pressure to players back on the field, even if there's risk of long-term damage. This coming season, for the first time, there will be independent neurologists present at games to examine players for signs of concussions.

A team doctor is also accountable to his own professional integrity, moral standards, professional oath, and standards, not to mention malpractice and legal consequences.
If our society revolved around never obtaining care or services from someone with conflicting interests at stake, no one could be trusted.

As a first step, it's modestly better than nothing. The majority of a player's medical treatment will still be administered by a "doctor" whose interests often conflict with the players', and players will continue to be strongly discouraged from demanding second opinions from third parties. Until there is honest and effective oversight of the day-to-day medical treatment and counsel that teams provide for their players, any discussion of a player's right to go against said counsel is a farce.

That is quite a political statement, but really holds no water. Players have every right to seek whatever medical treatment and opinions they choose. Because their career is short, many chose to search for the most optimistic opinion they can get. That ultimately is at the center of the discussion. No one but the player has the right to decide for him whether to quit or play. Players can choose to play despite medical advise to the contrary. That is there choice and there's alone.
The issues you bring up here are really just subterfuge to the point I was making.

 

[Rob0729]

You two were probably saying the same things about Gaffney prior to 2006 too. Then he broke out. The fact of the matter is that Gaffney has always been a better fit in our system than elsewhere. He was solid in Denver during his time there under McDaniels as well. He had just come off a solid 2011 season and is more athletic and able to gain better separation than Branch at this point in his career. Gaffney would have been the better alternative of the two, and it was a mistake letting him go and then bringing back Branch, who was clearly on his last leg toward the end of the 2011 season.

Gaffney was a decent #3 receiver prior to 2006. Nothing special, but nothing horrible. Besides, his numbers with the Pats weren't significantly better than they were when he was with the Texans. It wasn't until he went to Denver until he had his first 500 plus yard season.

The guy had four catches in 3 games last year. He is also 32 years old.

Bringing back Branch was a waste , but I am not convinced keeping Gaffney would have produced any better results. By most reports, he was cut because he wasn't performing on the field as much as his injury.

Also, people forget Branch only really came back because Edelman got injured. He was mostly being a shadow roster guy. If Edelman didn't get injured, probably neither Branch nor Gaffney would have played with the Pats last year.

Bottomline, Gaffney did absolutely nothing last year to prove Belichick made a mistake letting him walk. In fact, because of his lack of any real playing ability (which could have been injury related) and his suspension, he proved Belichick right.

 

[Joker]

so...what I gather from all these posts back and forth is that Gaffney is OUR version of Braylon Edwards???

 

[robbomango]

I heard on PFW today that Gaffney wasn't at tryouts it was a mistake, someone looked like him not sure who...

 

[Joker]

that must be the Chaz Schillens sighting....

 

[BPF]

It was confirmed by multiple reporters that #84 out there was indeed Schillens. As far as Collie is concerned I heard Polian discussing his situation on Sirius and he was saying this situation is clearly a case of the media not understanding it and rather focusing on the violent hit. He's had 3 concussions during his career and on one of them when Polian was with Colts he was cleared before the game was over but they held him out as a precaution. He said the violent nature of the hits made it look worse then they were, he was interviewing Collie at the time and Collie agreed. Collie said the worse injury he's ever suffered is the one that happened last yr 3rd game v Jaguars where he ruptured his patellar tendon in his right knee, that's what he's currently rehabbing and he has no effects from concussions.

 

[primetime]

So you want to tell a football player he isn't allowed to play football even when Doctors have cleared him?
Perhaps bars should install breathalizers and not serve anyone who is at the legal driving limit since they can't be trusted to act in their own best interest.
Maybe we should go for sterilization of people with low incomes, IQs, or medical and psychological issues.
Not really busting your b@lls just pointing out that you can extend taking someones rights away from them because you consider it better for them a long way.

You took someone suggesting a person with almost certain brain damage may not be of sound mind to make judgments about their own health and extrapolated it out to eugenics. I'm sort of shocked you didn't just bring Hitler and the Holocaust into play.

I disagree with the person you quoted, however. Rather than taking choice out of the player's hands, though, the sensible solution is to make the choice to retire when the body and mind are done more attractive than squeezing whatever money can come out of the football bank while doing irreparable damage to a player's quality of life over their (often shortened) lifespan. In other words, we need to see much improved retirement pensions for players - especially those making the choice due to concussion problems or other quality-of-life-affecting injuries.

 

[tonyto3690]

Collie isn't really fragile.

Peyton just kept leading him into getting obliterated by linebackers/safeties.

Brady wouldn't do that, but I fear it's already too late. Guy is fearless though.

Gaffney might be alright in a 2012 Branch/Stallworth type role.

Lloyd must have REALLY been a giant a-hole.

 

[Ive_Killed_People]

You took someone suggesting a person with almost certain brain damage may not be of sound mind to make judgments about their own health and extrapolated it out to eugenics. I'm sort of shocked you didn't just bring Hitler and the Holocaust into play.

I disagree with the person you quoted, however. Rather than taking choice out of the player's hands, though, the sensible solution is to make the choice to retire when the body and mind are done more attractive than squeezing whatever money can come out of the football bank while doing irreparable damage to a player's quality of life over their (often shortened) lifespan. In other words, we need to see much improved retirement pensions for players - especially those making the choice due to concussion problems or other quality-of-life-affecting injuries.

*knock knock* Hey Doc,I hate to interrupt you but your 2:00 Appointment is here.