Patriots work out former Bills WR David Nelson, and others

[patsfan-1982]

there has to be a reason why we rarely get a WR that clicks in this offense, especially the ones we draft.

the jury is still out on this years rookie WR's but so far they have not Drafted any good ones its that easy

 

[jmt57]

there has to be a reason why we rarely get a WR that clicks in this offense, especially the ones we draft.

A few possible reasons come to mind:

1. When you have one starting WR on your roster for six years that is catching 100+ passes every year and another in your week one starting lineup that is the league leader in TD receptions, there is little need to burn an early draft pick on a talented WR, and little opportunity for one to get any playing time.

2. When you expand the field to 'pass catchers' - i.e., players who receive a pass and not just 'wide receivers' - then you also include Gronk and AH; suddenly the theory that a new player who has the responsibility of catching a pass being unable to click in this offense becomes debatable.

3. I believe that BB for the most part places greater value on positions that are closer to the ball at the line of scrimmage, and places less value at positions that are further away, at least relative to what the rest of the league does. I'm guessing if he were to make a list his most important positions would be QB, LT, DT, DE, OLB, ILB. Notice there's no WR (or CB or RB) on that list, positions that many other teams would have in their top five. Placing less importance on those positions results in less talented players being available for the Pats at those positions, which in turn results in fewer success stories.

 

[Gwedd]

Fauria spoke on this yesterday on EEI...he stated he played in far more complex, harder to learn offenses than the Patriots scheme in his career. Perhaps fans just have no idea how easy or how hard this Patriots system is. All NFL offenses have options on routes so don't go jumping in THAT ocean...a WR makes the wrong choice on a route ,that is on HIM. Not the offense.

Concur. If it was so hard, then any number of WR's wouldn't have worked out. David Patten, for example, went from being a UPS delivery man to picking up the Patriots playbook after being out of the game for awhile. He did pretty well.

 

[JoeSixPat]

Re: Patriots worked out David Nelson

Nelson: aka the guy who everyone confused with Jones after we signed him.

I actually like Nelson - big guy, pretty decent possession receiver, and he's had a full year to recover from his knee injury. If his knee checks out, I wouldn't be shocked to see the Pats sign him.

Nor would I.

I wouldn't expect him to contribute immediately obvisouly but the sooner they bring him in the sooner he can get up to speed on the playbook and conditioning. The Patriots are just an injury or two away from being in "any warm body" mode - but must be prepared for later season depth as well.

They can cut him and sign him on an as needed basis as well.

Frankly I'm surprised we didn't see more workouts (that we know of) during this 10 day week for the Patriots.

 

[JoeSixPat]

Fauria spoke on this yesterday on EEI...he stated he played in far more complex, harder to learn offenses than the Patriots scheme in his career. Perhaps fans just have no idea how easy or how hard this Patriots system is. All NFL offenses have options on routes so don't go jumping in THAT ocean...a WR makes the wrong choice on a route ,that is on HIM. Not the offense.

Of course we don't understand it. Belichick keeps everything so close to the vest - we can only infer.

Though it does strike me that timing is everything for Brady.

Players are supposed to be in a certain position when Brady throws the ball. If Brady or the player are off the ball isn't caught.

It seems like there's some players who can fulfil this role better than others, regardless of where they were drafted or how highly paid.

 

[fnordcircle]

there has to be a reason why we rarely get a WR that clicks in this offense, especially the ones we draft.

Just because Fauria says it isn't the most complex offense doesn't make it any more difficult for some players to adjust to. Thinking on the fly is not always a given persons's strong suit. If you've ever played organized sports being out of position or making the wrong choice when your team mates are relying on you is pretty terrifying and I think some people get something similar to stage fright as a result.

So psyched out that they are going to make the wrong choice that they sabotage themselves.

 

[Aßßynormal]

This makes me wonder about Slater's health. OTOH, it could be just due diligence. You never really know which.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Still not sure which one is David Jones and which is Donald Nelson

 

[Claremonster]

Still not sure which one is David Jones and which is Donald Nelson

Jones is out of football...Nelson is still innit.

Jones is very dark...Nelson is a few shades lighter.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

You guys think they will go after Sanders again after this year since they already showed interest?

Although it was the "cheapest" interest i have ever seen. If they wanted him they could have offered much more and easily got him but they offered what 1.2? Why waste the time? Still have no idea what they were thinking on that one

 

[supafly]

You guys think they will go after Sanders again after this year since they already showed interest?

Although it was the "cheapest" interest i have ever seen. If they wanted him they could have offered much more and easily got him but they offered what 1.2? Why waste the time? Still have no idea what they were thinking on that one

They offered Sanders 2.5 million.

Had they offered 3 million or 3.25 million, it likely would have been enough.

Unfortunately, they didn't see his value at that and kept the offer at 2.5 instead.

 

[Jackson 2]

Howzabout brother Ricky or, better yet, papa Ozzie...

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

They offered Sanders 2.5 million.

Had they offered 3 million or 3.25 million, it likely would have been enough.

Unfortunately, they didn't see his value at that and kept the offer at 2.5 instead.

That's right it was 2.5. But at that price they had to know Pitt had the $$ to keep him (as they did) so it was still a wasted effort/waste of time. Like i said i am still confused by that. They showed interest..but put in a low offer that they knew would probably be matched

 

[supafly]

That's right it was 2.5. But at that price they had to know Pitt had the $$ to keep him (as they did) so it was still a wasted effort/waste of time. Like i said i am still confused by that. They showed interest..but put in a low offer that they knew would probably be matched

Yeah, there are some questions in many minds that pertain to that subject.

My guess is that Belichick took a chance that they'd prefer to have a 3rd round pick, and simply offered what he felt was a "fair" and reasonable amount in terms of Sanders' value.

Many here in Pittsburgh are now complaining that they should have taken the 3rd round pick, so it could have gone either way.

 

[DocHoliday]

It's simple - the Pats though losing the third rounder was only worth paying what they offered.

More than that, they didn't think the Steelers would match it which I think the Pats were surprised they did. Not a particularly good decision by them honestly.

 

[supafly]

It's simple - the Pats though losing the third rounder was only worth paying what they offered.

More than that, they didn't think the Steelers would match it which I think the Pats were surprised they did. Not a particularly good decision by them honestly.

I'd agree entirely with the thought that what they offered at 2.5m was what they felt Sanders' value was, and not a penny more.

I'd disagree a bit with the thought that they "were surprised" that PIT retained him though. I think they threw what they felt was a reasonable and compelling offer out there, and were prepared to accept whatever happened. My opinion is that they viewed it as a 50/50 proposition, which is pretty much what it was.

Of course that is just my feeling on the matter, so you may be correct, and maybe they were outright shocked--but all of the media coverage here in Pittsburgh stated that the Steelers were probably going to match the offer from day one due to having just lost Wallace (plus Heath Miller's ACL injury).

I'm not sure whether it'd have been a better opportunity for PIT or not, because they wouldn't have had much of anything had they let him walk, and I think that's why they kept him. The popular opinion was that they weren't prepared to go all out into an automatic rebuilding year, which is what would have happened had they let Sanders walk. Of course that still may be the case anyway.

 

[AzorianPats]

You guys think they will go after Sanders again after this year since they already showed interest?

Although it was the "cheapest" interest i have ever seen. If they wanted him they could have offered much more and easily got him but they offered what 1.2? Why waste the time? Still have no idea what they were thinking on that one

I think that it all depends on how far the rookies progress through out the season. Its easy to say yes right now after they all have looked shaky, but there's still a lot of football left to be played.

My guess would be no. After signing Amendola, using a second and fourth round picks on Dobson and Boyce, and starting a UDFA like Tompkins, I think their priority might just to sign Edelman to a longer deal, and that will be our WR group for the next couple of years.

FWIW.. I was all in favor of bringing Sanders here and still would like it to happen, but I don't see it.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

Is the FA WR class big next year or no? Anyone have a link to a list for me?

 

[captain stone]

Here's one list:
KFFL - 2014 NFL Free Agents

Seems that there should be more than those, but it's a start.

Edit: this list looks more complete:
2014 NFL Unrestricted Wide Receiver Free Agent Tracker