OT: Chargers Extend Danny Woodhead

[mayoclinic]

From NFL.com:

Danny Woodhead and the San Diego Chargers are staying in business together. The Chargers announced Tuesday that the versatile running back has agreed on a two-year contract extension with the team. Financial terms haven't been disclosed. Woodhead had one year remaining on his previous contract and is now under team control through the 2016 season.

"Danny is an integral part of our offense," said general manager Tom Telesco. "His work ethic and on-field production were key elements last year. We look forward to having him be a part of the Chargers organization into the future."

Danny Woodhead, Chargers agree on extension - NFL.com

That's one that I bet BB wishes he hadn't let get away. Woodhead is a poor man's Darren Sproles, and not that far off.

 

[Rob0729]

For all the talk about letting Welker go, I think Woodhead was the bigger loss.

I have a feeling that Woodhead wanted to move on because he knew the Pats wanted to spotlight Vereen and his touches here were likely to go down. I think the Chargers offered him a big role and that is why he left. Just a guess, but I think this may be a case that the player saw greener pastures elsewhere even though the Pats wanted him back.

 

[FirstAndGoal]

The kid's carved out a nice little NFL career for himself...happy for him

 

[mayoclinic]

For all the talk about letting Welker go, I think Woodhead was the bigger loss.

I have a feeling that Woodhead wanted to move on because he knew the Pats wanted to spotlight Vereen and his touches here were likely to go down. I think the Chargers offered him a big role and that is why he left. Just a guess, but I think this may be a case that the player saw greener pastures elsewhere even though the Pats wanted him back.

I agree that playing time probably had a lot to do with it. It's ironic that the Pats badly needed someone with Woodhead's skill set when Vereen was out, and Woodhead probably would have had a fair amount of playing time. Hopefully James White will provide a similar skill set, though he doesn't have Woodhead's blazing speed.

 

[Rob0729]

The kid's carved out a nice little NFL career for himself...happy for him

From a guy who no one really wanted in the draft to a HBO star as the guy who had no right to win a roster spot but was turning heads in Jets camp to a valuable piece to both the Pats and Chargers. Quite a story.

 

[Mike the Brit]

Nothing I have yet seen from Vereen makes me think that he is nearly as good a player as DW. I'm very happy for him being so successful -- but sad that it should be with another team.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Miss Woody. You'd think that BB with all his intellect & help from MIT could have figured out how to extend Woodhead and make him taller before the Chargers did.

 

[PatsFan2]

Woodhead was a huge loss for our Patriots last season kid is tough as nails takes notes Fragile Vereen.

 

[Rob0729]

Nothing I have yet seen from Vereen makes me think that he is nearly as good a player as DW. I'm very happy for him being so successful -- but sad that it should be with another team.

No I have seen plenty from Vereen that shows he is a better player than Woodhead. You look at the first game last year or the playoff game against the Texans the year before. Vereen has the ability to be a game changing playmaker. His problem is staying healthy which obviously affects his consistency too.

 

[Brady6]

For all the talk about letting Welker go, I think Woodhead was the bigger loss.

I have a feeling that Woodhead wanted to move on because he knew the Pats wanted to spotlight Vereen and his touches here were likely to go down. I think the Chargers offered him a big role and that is why he left. Just a guess, but I think this may be a case that the player saw greener pastures elsewhere even though the Pats wanted him back.

They could have used Woodhead in the slot, the Chargers used him there a lot last season; this would have put Vereen and him on the field at the same time.

A ridiculous stat- Woodhead was targeted 86 times last season, he caught 76 of them. That is bonkers.

 

[Brady6]

No I have seen plenty from Vereen that shows he is a better player than Woodhead. You look at the first game last year or the playoff game against the Texans the year before. Vereen has the ability to be a game changing playmaker. His problem is staying healthy which obviously affects his consistency too.

Woodhead had more receptions and receiving yards last season than Vereen has in his career. Showing flashes of potential is great but right now Woodhead is the better player.

 

[Tunescribe]

For all the talk about letting Welker go, I think Woodhead was the bigger loss.

I liked Woodhead too, but Vereen made his skill set redundant. And I think Vereen's potential is much greater.

 

[mayoclinic]

They could have used Woodhead in the slot, the Chargers used him there a lot last season; this would have put Vereen and him on the field at the same time.

A ridiculous stat- Woodhead was targeted 86 times last season, he caught 76 of them. That is bonkers.

I love the idea of 2-RB sets using Vereen and James White, something the Pats were reportedly exploring during OTAs/minicamp. Vereen and Woodhead could have been used that way as well.

Woodhead had 106 rushing attempts for 429 yards and 2 TDs for SD last year, and was targeted 86 times resulting in 76 receptions for 605 yards and 6 more TDs. That's 1034 yards from scrimmage and 8 TDs on 192 rushes/targets. In 2010, in less than a full season, Woodhead had 97 rushes for the Pats for 547 yards and 5 TDs, plus 34 receptions for 379 yards and 1 TD on 44 targets. That's 926 yards from scrimmage and 6 TDs on 141 rushes/targets in 14 games. I think the Pats could easily have used Woodhead more as a receiving option. Kudos to San Diego for figuring out how to use him effectively along with Ryan Mathews.

 

[Rob0729]

Woodhead had more receptions and receiving yards last season than Vereen has in his career. Showing flashes of potential is great but right now Woodhead is the better player.

But that is a bit misleading. Vereen wasn't used his rookie year and he was on in season IR last year. Plus, last year was Woodhead's sixth season in the NFL. His first two seasons were non-existent. And even though Vereen missed 8 games due to a broken wrist, he had respectable numbers as the change of pace/third down back.

Vereen is clearly the better player when healthy, but health is an issue.

 

[RayClay]

Good for Woodhead.

I do think, because Vereen's been inconsistently available, people are wildly overrating Woodhead, but let's see what Vereen and White do.

 

[Brady6]

But that is a bit misleading. Vereen wasn't used his rookie year and he was on in season IR last year. Plus, last year was Woodhead's sixth season in the NFL. His first two seasons were non-existent. And even though Vereen missed 8 games due to a broken wrist, he had respectable numbers as the change of pace/third down back.

Vereen is clearly the better player when healthy, but health is an issue.

I would say Vereen is the more talented player. I would not say he is better though. He has to not only remain healthy but he has to work on his issues with drops. Woodhead dropped 1 pass in the last 2 seasons.

 

[chasa]

great player. sad that hes not a patriot, but happy hes getting some cheddar.

 

[Brady6]

Good for Woodhead.

I do think, because Vereen's been inconsistently available, people are wildly overrating Woodhead, but let's see what Vereen and White do.

Woody had 1034 total yards and 8 total touchdowns last season. He took his game to a new level.

 

[RayClay]

Woody had 1034 total yards and 8 total touchdowns last season. He took his game to a new level.

I congratulated him. He's definitely better than an injured Vereen and the opposite would also be true. As i say, I'm looking forward to seeing Vereen and White.

I like gutsy players like Woodhead too, but i think people here overrate him because they like him. I also don't condemn players that leave and play on other teams. I wish him the best except when we play San Diego.

 

[PatsFan2]

I will add Vereen is a good Not Great pass catcher and he's not a dynamic runner by any stretch of the imagination. He makes me as nervous as Riddley running the Football.