Edelman & D. Thomas back at practice; Gordon in warmups

[Mack Herron]

I agree with week 1 but sooner the better. Not clear wether this report means he's removed from NFI?

Yes— JE11 practiced today in pads. Awaiting confirmation with transaction list.

 

[Sicilian]

He’s not in pads. Not sure what PUP permits, but he has attended practices before.

Missed that, lumped him in with Edelman by mistake. Thank you!

 

[signbabybrady]

I feel like I won the trifecta at the track.

I'm going to Saratoga for the Travers this weekend I could use one of those trifectas hopefully this rubs off.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

With the weak TE position,

Edelman
Gordon
Thomas
Dorsett
Harry
Meyers

is still on track, IMO, though BB will obviously have to decide whether or not to carry that many WRs. Does anyone here (other than Patsfan2, who'd insist to all of us that the 3 month old infant with no limbs was ahead of Dorsett on his depth chart) think Harris or Berrios will beat out anyone on the above list?

Thomas might not even make the team, so yes I think Harris or Berrios have a shot.

 

[Deus Irae]

If they IR Harris and kept DT on PUP they would probably still be ok if Myers keeps on playing the way he is. Harry with Gordon and Edelman, with Dorsett and Myers in the pen is still decent.

I'm not putting Harry's in as a starter just yet. He's been behind Dorsett, and he'll be behind Edelman. In 3 WR sets, we could see something like

Gordon/Edelman/Dorsett, with Edelman inside
Gordon/Edelman/Meyers, with Edelman outside

and Harry starting off as a sub for the 2 'pure' outside WRs (Gordon, Dorsett).

 

[Deus Irae]

Thomas might not even make the team, so yes I think Harris or Berrios have a shot.

Granted, there's still not too much on field stuff for us to look at, but there's been nothing reported about Thomas looking bad in his recovery. And, Thomas is here on small money, with a 2nd year on the deal. So I don't currently see any reason why Thomas wouldn't make the team.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Granted, there's still not too much on field stuff for us to look at, but there's been nothing reported about Thomas looking bad in his recovery. And, Thomas is here on small money, with a 2nd year on the deal. So I don't currently see any reason why Thomas wouldn't make the team.

It's a one-year deal with just 150K guaranteed; they didn't even guarantee him his base salary/roster bonus of about $3M. If they cut him, they are only out 150K in dead cap. The contract is structured for the team to get out easily and with virtually no loss should they cut him. He has a roster bonus of about $1.5M. It's possible the roster bonus has already kicked in (and not updated on Spoctrac), but it may well be a condition that he is on the roster in September.

Demaryius Thomas

In terms of nothing being reported about him looking bad, I'm not saying that has looked bad. I just see a guy about to turn 32, who was already declining, coming off an achilles injury, and the best deal he could get was a 150K guarantee, or basically nothing. It would not surprise me if just doesn't have it anymore. And the Patriots wide receiver situation seems a heck of a lot rosier than it did when they signed him.

 

[patchick]

I'd be shocked if DT is ready W1

Fair, but not practicing for the next 2 months also seems like a stretch. If he's coming along apace, they might well activate him just to get him on the practice field and into the rhythm of the offense.

With the weak TE position,

Edelman
Gordon
Thomas
Dorsett
Harry
Meyers

is still on track, IMO, though BB will obviously have to decide whether or not to carry that many WRs. Does anyone here (other than Patsfan2, who'd insist to all of us that the 3 month old infant with no limbs was ahead of Dorsett on his depth chart) think Harris or Berrios will beat out anyone on the above list?

I think Harris vs. Dorsett could go either way. Dorsett's advantages are speed that nobody else on the rosters offers, and intangibles as a highly valued teammate. In Harris's column is a stronger camp performance and some hope of a higher ceiling. Working against both of them is lack of special teams value.

 

[patfanken]

Right now, to me, it looks as if Harris' best chance to make the roster is to be IR'd because of his injury.

I agree IF Thomas is coming off the PUP today. I'm not sure going through warm ups with the team gets you off the PUP. You have to actually practice with the team to exit PUP. Any word on whether he left the field after warm ups?

To me the best news of that report (because I already expected Julian today) is that Lacosse was back. I was starting to worry that he'd be one the 2 IR call backs. I think the Pats will keep 6 WR's because they will keep only 2 TE's If healthy Lacosse could be a legit receiving TE for a diminished TE role.

BTW- speaking of Thomas, I've seen him next to Brady on the bench the last 2 games, and both seem to be getting along famously. Not that this means anything, but it's a start.

 

[PatsFan2]

Thomas might not even make the team, so yes I think Harris or Berrios have a shot.

M Harris have more than a shot and his real cheap Berrios is PS material. IF D Thomas has issues with being PUPed he will be cut...we still have Cameron Meredith on a cheap two year pack if Gordon backtracks. That said I hope they have a gentleman's agreement with D Thomas about sitting out the First Half of the year. WR's at times drop like flies we might need him later for the stretch run.

 

[VectorPrime]

Has anyone witnessed Thomas actually run a route yet? We know he can sprint but that’s about it.

 

[Deus Irae]

Fair, but not practicing for the next 2 months also seems like a stretch. If he's coming along apace, they might well activate him just to get him on the practice field and into the rhythm of the offense.



I think Harris vs. Dorsett could go either way. Dorsett's advantages are speed that nobody else on the rosters offers, and intangibles as a highly valued teammate. In Harris's column is a stronger camp performance and some hope of a higher ceiling. Working against both of them is lack of special teams value.

I didn't see Harris as having a stronger camp performance than Dorsett.

 

[Deus Irae]

It's a one-year deal with just 150K guaranteed; they didn't even guarantee him his base salary/roster bonus of about $3M. If they cut him, they are only out 150K in dead cap. The contract is structured for the team to get out easily and with virtually no loss should they cut him. He has a roster bonus of about $1.5M. It's possible the roster bonus has already kicked in (and not updated on Spoctrac), but it may well be a condition that he is on the roster in September.

Demaryius Thomas

In terms of nothing being reported about him looking bad, I'm not saying that has looked bad. I just see a guy about to turn 32, who was already declining, coming off an achilles injury, and the best deal he could get was a 150K guarantee, or basically nothing. It would not surprise me if just doesn't have it anymore. And the Patriots wide receiver situation seems a heck of a lot rosier than it did when they signed him.

You're right about the one year part. I could explain how I made that mistake, but I'll just say the word "total".

Demaryius Thomas Contract Details, Salary Cap Charges, Bonus Money, and Contract History | Over The Cap

But you've still given absolutely nothing that would indicate Thomas would get cut.

 

[BobDigital]

Right now my WR depth chart looks like this.

Edelman Gordon Harry Meyers DT Dorsett Berrios (in large part due to STs)

I see no chance Harris makes it. Even if DT isn't ready for week 1 I think Berrios has the inside track. The 6th WR needs to be able to help with a core STs job.

Also while Dorsett or DT may be ahead of Meyers right now I consider Meyers more valuable. Guys like DT or Dorsett can be had every year. Meyers offers you a cheap 3 year contract on a potential #3 type WR. You can't walk away from that for an asset you can get any year.

DT clearly wants to start on the 53 to get his contract bonuses so assuming he will be okay being on the PUP is questionable. If he absolutely can't go week 1 and he knows it that's one thing. But if he isn't on board for being sat this could be an issue.

 

[venecol]

He was on NFI and I guarantee you he will be off for week 1.

I think he needs to be off by August 31or ends up in NFI reserve list.

 

[PatsFan2]

Right now my WR depth chart looks like this.

Edelman Gordon Harry Meyers DT Dorsett Berrios (in large part due to STs)

I see no chance Harris makes it. Even if DT isn't ready for week 1 I think Berrios has the inside track. The 6th WR needs to be able to help with a core STs job.

Also while Dorsett or DT may be ahead of Meyers right now I consider Meyers more valuable. Guys like DT or Dorsett can be had every year. Meyers offers you a cheap 3 year contract on a potential #3 type WR. You can't walk away from that for an asset you can get any year.

DT clearly wants to start on the 53 to get his contract bonuses so assuming he will be okay being on the PUP is questionable. If he absolutely can't go week 1 and he knows it that's one thing. But if he isn't on board for being sat this could be an issue.

Maurice Harris say hi.

 

[patchick]

I didn't see Harris as having a stronger camp performance than Dorsett.

Well that would account for the difference of opinion. I thought that newcomer Harris took much better opportunity of the veteran receiver vacuum in camp than Dorsett did.

 

[Deus Irae]

Well that would account for the difference of opinion. I thought that newcomer Harris took much better opportunity of the veteran receiver vacuum in camp than Dorsett did.

People can disagree, of course, but I think the fact that Dorsett was running with the ones for the entire time he was active is a pretty good indication that he was above Harris, especially since Harris faded quite a bit after a hot start.

 

[patfanken]

I didn't see Harris as having a stronger camp performance than Dorsett.

I agree. Of course until he comes back, any talk about Harris is really moot. But that being said, I feel bad about Harris' situation here. From what I've seen, he's a legit NFL receiver who seems to be caught by a tidal wave of receivers coming back from injury and suspension on one side, and the surprise competition of a UDFA on the other.

I STILL think Thomas is going to stay on PUP to start the season, though I am a lot less confident than I was yesterday. Edelman, Harry, Gordon and Dorsett are the locks, And given the many other tough roster choices the Pats are going to have to make, as of this minute and of course subject to change at any time of my choosing, , I think they are only going with 5 WR's and 2 TE's. That leaves one spot open for Harris and Meyers. While Harris obviously has experience on his side and is certainly as good as Meyers at this point. But to make the team he'd have to show he was materially BETTER than Meyers and he hasn't. Plus there is the upside and cost equation as well As for Berrios, I wish him well in the XFL.

At TE, they'll only keep 2. Ironically Izzo gets the lock nod because he can replace Allen's role with much of a drop off, if any. The other spot is open for grabs between Lacosse, Kendricks, and Shaubert. Unless shaubert WOWs them in the next 2 weeks, he's a PS possibility. So its up to Lacosse and Kendricks to decide who gets the job, which might only last 4 weeks anyways.

 

[patchick]

People can disagree, of course, but I think the fact that Dorsett was running with the ones for the entire time he was active is a pretty good indication that he was above Harris, especially since Harris faded quite a bit after a hot start.

Also fair--as I said, I can see it going either way. I'm just thrilled that we're talking about cutting actual NFL-caliber receivers at all. The rebuilding of the receiver corps is pointing in a very positive direction.

In related news, does anybody see a KR on this roster?