Why don't Pats make a play for big time receiver?

[stcjones]

In all honesty.....He will NEVER be completely healthy again. His back is in very bad shape, and now he is going to be coming back from one of the most devestating injuries a football player can come back from (never mind the forearm issue).....AND he plays balls to the wall and takes a ton of devestating hits when he IS OUT THERE. Jimmy Graham came on the scene the same year Gronk did....and has rarely if ever missed a game. Gronk is OUT a good part of EVERY year and will do so for the rest of his career. He is obviously a different player than Graham and much more diverse and explosive...but his STYLE of play puts him at risk....he is now injury prone....and will not make it through an entire season again...and most likely is not going to be the same player again. Sad story and unreal how much GREATER he COULD have been if he stayed healthy. I will give you this....he was one of the most exciting and talented TE to ever play the game.....unfortuneatly alot of times he has played more like a WR Hybrid and taken alot of brutal, season ending hits.....Hope the best for him....

Because they're already paying the best tight end in the league - arguably one of the best to ever play the game, if he would just stop getting injured - a substantial sum of money to be Brady's #1 target, and the rest of the complementary pieces are very good or young and promising to be good.

I'm not sure why Gronkowski has ceased to exist in Patriots' fans minds in the last two weeks, with the complaints about lacking an elite receiver arising again. If Calvin Johnson was lost for the year, I can't imagine Lions fans asking why the Lions don't make a play for an elite wideout.

 

[juny]

In all honesty.....He will NEVER be completely healthy again. His back is in very bad shape, and now he is going to be coming back from one of the most devestating injuries a football player can come back from (never mind the forearm issue).....AND he plays balls to the wall and takes a ton of devestating hits when he IS OUT THERE. Jimmy Graham came on the scene the same year Gronk did....and has rarely if ever missed a game. Gronk is OUT a good part of EVERY year and will do so for the rest of his career. He is obviously a different player than Graham and much more diverse and explosive...but his STYLE of play puts him at risk....he is now injury prone....and will not make it through an entire season again...and most likely is not going to be the same player again. Sad story and unreal how much GREATER he COULD have been if he stayed healthy. I will give you this....he was one of the most exciting and talented TE to ever play the game.....unfortuneatly alot of times he has played more like a WR Hybrid and taken alot of brutal, season ending hits.....Hope the best for him....

EVERY year? Really? He didn't miss a game all of 2010 and 2011. Although he did get injured in the 2nd half of the 2011 AFCCG and played in the SB under 100%.

His NFL injury history so far is the twice broken forearm and the recent knee injury on a semi-dirty play.

 

[reflexblue]

I'm sorry but for me the formula is very simple, healthy D we saw at the start of the year and a big time wideout that Brady can just say here you go instead of having to be literally 100% accurate on every throw for it to be a completion with his current crop.

With Megatron at his disposal Tom could throw Manziel type floaters and it'd be easy pickings with a receiver like that.

Please tell me you were around when Moss was here? Brady really hasn't changed much since then, he's still plays at that level consistently when he isn't throwing to no names.

I was around when Moss was here and they ended up relying to much on Randy. Whenever they got in a big jam EVERYONE including the other team knew Randy was getting the ball. In the playoffs and particularly the SB good teams could shut him down. I'd rather have a well rounded group of WR's TE's and RB's than ONE target that the other team can focus on.

 

[patsfaninpa]

Well, teams that spend an inordinate amount on one receiver that can be game planned around often suck.

Not to mention many of them are total a-holes. Like Dez Bryant or Josh Gordon. Or, top 5 picks where you have to suck to get them. Like Calvin Johnson, AJ Green or Fitzy. Or, you can trade for a guy like Julio Jones like Atlanta did. And, Dimitroff left himself with a thin roster and too much riding on one player. We're 10-4. The Falcons are 4-10. I'd rather do it our way.

 

[Kontradiction]

Unless your QB is Joe Flacco, you do not need a top-5 WR to get deep into the playoffs in this league.

You either need one or you need one of your guys to play like one during that stretch. Boldin, Nicks, Jordy Nelson/Greg Jennings. I would love to have Megatron. I'm also realistic and would not expect the team to hamstring that much of it's salary cap between three guys on offense. One of our new WR's, be it Dobson, Boyce, or Thompkins (ideally all of them, though) is going to have to really step it up during the playoffs. Dobson is going to have to be the red zone threat we need or else the Pats will be exiting this January the same way they exited last January: by driving down the field and being unable to punch it in.

 

[reflexblue]

EVERY year? Really? He didn't miss a game all of 2010 and 2011. Although he did get injured in the 2nd half of the 2011 AFCCG and played in the SB under 100%.

His NFL injury history so far is the twice broken forearm and the recent knee injury on a semi-dirty play.

I read a couple of weeks ago that gronk only played one full season going back to his high school days. That was his first season here, I don't know if thats true or not. It would be a damn shame if his career is cut short, because he could be the GOATat his position.

 

[chasa]

I'll probably get lambasted here, and i have not read this whole thread yet, but prior to aaron dobson getting hurt he was only a fraction of a yard off Johnsons rookie year per game numbers.

Why go after some other teams big elite reciever, when we could wait a year and see if we already have him on the team.

The reason those teams Suck is because they have so much money invested in one dude thats not the QB, in the lions case megatron and stafford take up almost have the salary cap

 

[Froob]

I know right? Why does BB refuse to trade for Fitzgerald and Megatron year after year? Especially considering those teams are just dying to get rid of their only offensive threats.

 

[Froob]

While it's a fair question to ponder, tell us how many NFL teams see continued consistent success by having to pay a franchise QB + a high priced franchise WR?

The answer to this question comes in 2 parts:

1. Bill Belichick doesn't deem it as a value area to spend 10+ million dollars per year, while still having to pay Tom Brady 13-14 million+. That would equate to almost 25 million dollars, or approximately 20%+ of our salary cap. It's virtually impossible to build a strong, competitive team year in and year out by having to pay 20% of your cap to only two players. Add in guys like Mankins, Amendola, Gronkowski, Vollmer, Wilfork, Mayo, Talib, Ninkovich, and you can see why this is difficult.

That isn't even taking into account the situations that will need to be addressed with players such as Solder, Ridley, Vereen, Edelman, Wendell, Connelly, Blount, Talib (again), Spikes, Fletcher, McCourty, etc. There are also the 5th yr bonus decisions that will need to be made with Solder (expected to be more than 7.5 million cap hit) this offseason, and then Chandler Jones and Dont'a Hightower soon after the next year (both more than 8.5 million cap hits).

2. Bill Belichick feels that we have one of the NFL's greatest weapons with Tom Brady. That kind of weapon can help you to overcome weaknesses in other areas such as WR, which was addressed cheaper via other methods such as middle tier FA + draft picks in the 2nd and 4th rounds.

You'd also have to take our offensive scheme into account. A WR like C.Johnson sounds great, but would his talents be somewhat wasted in a system like ours? I think it may be at this point in Brady's career. I'd much rather have had a physical possession receiver like Anquan Boldin come here for 6 million dollars than a deep threat guy like C.Johnson at 2.5x that amount.

I don't think that 1st part is true tbh. He was willing to spend big money on Moss and Welker. He also tried to make a move for Anquan Boldin who would have been big money. Spent big money on Ocho as well. Don't forget Larry Fitzgerald piggybacked the cardinals to a superbowl and very nearly a win.

 

[patsfan-1982]

the playoffs have not even started yet, for all we know Dobson and KT could come back and catch fire in a few playoffs games and they could win the SB.

but if they don't win and the pats lose in the playoffs because the offense could not score 20 points im sure it wont because the pats don't have a super star WR but because the OL could not protect Brady, the pats have gone into the playoffs the last 3 years with a offense that scored more then 32 per game yet were knocked out ever time because the OL could not protect Brady and the defense could not get a big stop...BOTTOM LINE is the pats have to play better up front on both sides of the ball and win or lose in the playoffs the pats need to upgrade the OL and DL in the offseason not WR

 

[Sicilian]

I was around when Moss was here and they ended up relying to much on Randy. Whenever they got in a big jam EVERYONE including the other team knew Randy was getting the ball. In the playoffs and particularly the SB good teams could shut him down. I'd rather have a well rounded group of WR's TE's and RB's than ONE target that the other team can focus on.

Not only that, but I'd rather have a reinforced offensive line at this point than add another weapon on offense. If Brady has time (and maybe more importantly, FEELS like he has time), he can go through progressions and find an open guy. It's when he feels he needs to get the ball out quickly that he seems to focus in on one player, IMO.

Beef up the O-Line, see what you've got with the collection of solid weapons you have, THEN think about making a splash with a monster talent if it becomes available. Until then, you're trying to put aluminum siding on a house with a crumbling foundation.

 

[patsinthesnow]

In hindsight, the Patriots could of taken a MASSIVE gamble (one I wouldn't of approved at the time) and traded their 1st round pick (pick 28-32) for Josh Gordon, already the 2nd best WR in the league and also has two more years on a rookie contract.

That would of set up Tom with a stud WR for the rest of his career. I understand why the trade wasn't made (a low 1st/a high second is a valuable pick, and the whole marijuana year ban thing), but I think we win the SB if Gordon is on this team. We would not get a player of his caliber in the late 1st either. We could of sent a 2nd and Dobson or something like that. Oh well, water under the bridge at this point.

 

[reflexblue]

Not only that, but I'd rather have a reinforced offensive line at this point than add another weapon on offense. If Brady has time (and maybe more importantly, FEELS like he has time), he can go through progressions and find an open guy. It's when he feels he needs to get the ball out quickly that he seems to focus in on one player, IMO.

Beef up the O-Line, see what you've got with the collection of solid weapons you have, THEN think about making a splash with a monster talent if it becomes available. Until then, you're trying to put aluminum siding on a house with a crumbling foundation.

I remember when parcells was here. He made a comment about receivers and the o-line because he had wide outs like mike tipson. He said he thought it was better to have a great o-line than to put a lot of money into big time (and expensive) wideouts. If you have a good o-line it will give the qb enough time to find the open receiver of average talent like tipson. But if the o-line is average the qb won't have time to find those big time wideouts.... Plus its cheaper. I think the same goes for the D-line and CBs. If you have an excellent front seven that can put pressure on the opposing qb than your CB's don't have to be as good.

Parcells gave great post game inteviews, not only was he entertaining, you could learn a lot.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

When was the last time this team grabed a great receiver in the draft? since Moss there hasn't been anyone that scares opposite defense.

 

[Nordberg]

In hindsight, the Patriots could of taken a MASSIVE gamble (one I wouldn't of approved at the time) and traded their 1st round pick (pick 28-32) for Josh Gordon, already the 2nd best WR in the league and also has two more years on a rookie contract.

That would of set up Tom with a stud WR for the rest of his career. I understand why the trade wasn't made (a low 1st/a high second is a valuable pick, and the whole marijuana year ban thing), but I think we win the SB if Gordon is on this team. We would not get a player of his caliber in the late 1st either. We could of sent a 2nd and Dobson or something like that. Oh well, water under the bridge at this point.

Not sure if I would have given up a 1st for Gordon (just because of the off field stuff)

Definitely a 2nd and another pick though.

I find it criminal for what BB has given Brady for WR's though out his career.

 

[Joker]

you build inside out...wideouts are frosting on the finished cake. Josh Gordon is one incident from "barred from the league" IIRC. Alshon Jeffery was taken 45th in the 2012 draft, Tavon Wilson was taken three slots later by the Pats. Hindsight but...what if...

 

[Sicilian]

I remember when parcells was here. He made a comment about receivers and the o-line because he had wide outs like mike tipson. He said he thought it was better to have a great o-line than to put a lot of money into big time (and expensive) wideouts. If you have a good o-line it will give the qb enough time to find the open receiver of average talent like tipson. But if the o-line is average the qb won't have time to find those big time wideouts.... Plus its cheaper. I think the same goes for the D-line and CBs. If you have an excellent front seven that can put pressure on the opposing qb than your CB's don't have to be as good.

Parcells gave great post game inteviews, not only was he entertaining, you could learn a lot.

you build inside out...wideouts are frosting on the finished cake.

These have always been my personal philosophies too when it comes to team building. Basically, you start from the ball and move outwards, with a few exceptions. On offense, my priority is:

QB
Interior OL
Exterior OL
TE
WR
RB

On defense, it's

DT
MLB
DE
OLB/S (I consider these dead even)
CB

Now, this isn't the ONLY way to have success, but I feel like if you assume you're going to have below average talent in one or two areas, that's the order you'd prefer it to go.

 

[Froob]

When was the last time this team grabed a great receiver in the draft? since Moss there hasn't been anyone that scares opposite defense.

 

[Tunescribe]

you build inside out...wideouts are frosting on the finished cake. Josh Gordon is one incident from "barred from the league" IIRC. Alshon Jeffery was taken 45th in the 2012 draft, Tavon Wilson was taken three slots later by the Pats. Hindsight but...what if...

That Alshon Jeffery sure is fun to watch. There's no reason our own Thompkins and Dobson can't develop into something similar.

 

[chasa]

When was the last time this team grabed a great receiver in the draft? since Moss there hasn't been anyone that scares opposite defense.

of the top receivers in the league how many have been to the superbowl?