REISS: Thornton Already Back at Work

[Real fan 02]

You know, it's interesting, because as bad as the results have been, the most jarring thing I've noticed going through the Patriots WR draft picks in the last 20 years is just how FEW of them they've taken in first three rounds. Just finding examples in the above post was tough. So obviously the hit rate is below average, but they also just don't take that many swings at it, for whatever reason. We'll see if Groh changes that. We've only got the one draft so far to judge.

Yes, very true. We didn't take WRs high in the draft.. I believe Chad Jackson was a 2nd rounder?? In '06 we had to sign street FA if you remember Jabar Gaffney, Doug Gabriel and reche Caldwell..

Those players got signed because we got nothing from Jackson the draft pick..

Gaffney ending up playing well and becoming a play maker for us for a few seasons..

I believe that's what kinda trended towards the TE position... when we had those two great TEs Hernandez and gronk the WRs weren't tasked with having to make all the plays..

I feel Thornton is a hit.. he displayed characteristics of a premiere WR.. all he needs now is seasoning and adding weight.

I'm certain groh will get us another great draft!

 

[DaBruinz]

Yes, very true. We didn't take WRs high in the draft.. I believe Chad Jackson was a 2nd rounder?? In '06 we had to sign street FA if you remember Jabar Gaffney, Doug Gabriel and reche Caldwell..

Those players got signed because we got nothing from Jackson the draft pick..

Gaffney ending up playing well and becoming a play maker for us for a few seasons..

I believe that's what kinda trended towards the TE position... when we had those two great TEs Hernandez and gronk the WRs weren't tasked with having to make all the plays..

I feel Thornton is a hit.. he displayed characteristics of a premiere WR.. all he needs now is seasoning and adding weight.

I'm certain groh will get us another great draft!

Caldwell was a UFA. The Patriots went out and signed him during the UFA period. 2006 was FUBARED because Deion Branch decided to not follow through on his promise of playing out his contract. People forget that.

 

[Real fan 02]

Caldwell was a UFA. The Patriots went out and signed him during the UFA period. 2006 was FUBARED because Deion Branch decided to not follow through on his promise of playing out his contract. People forget that.

Correct, But I believe branches contract was up right? I know that the patriots offered him a contract, but he wanted to be paid like #1.. he later said he wished he stayed.. he got injured and never amassed more that 600 plus receiving yards in Seattle per season.. Caldwell made a huge play for us to take down the Super chargers as they called themselves that season... 07 divisional round

 

[TheRainMaker]

Correct, But I believe branches contract was up right? I know that the patriots offered him a contract, but he wanted to be paid like #1.. he later said he wished he stayed.. he got injured and never amassed more that 600 plus receiving yards in Seattle per season.. Caldwell made a huge play for us to take down the Super chargers as they called themselves that season... 07 divisional round

He was on his last year of his rookie deal. I wish both he and Givens had stayed.

 

[notex]

I feel like every time we have an underperforming player we get an article like this in the offseason: "Player XYZ hires expert trainers" Stidham, NKeal Harry, Mac Jones, I remember articles talking about Maroney putting in extra film sessions directly with BB.

 

[TheRainMaker]

I feel like every time we have an underperforming player we get an article like this in the offseason: "Player XYZ hires expert trainers" Stidham, NKeal Harry, Mac Jones, I remember articles talking about Maroney putting in extra film sessions directly with BB.

Every offensive player in 2022 gets a pass though.

 

[PatsFan2]

I feel like every time we have an underperforming player we get an article like this in the offseason: "Player XYZ hires expert trainers" Stidham, NKeal Harry, Mac Jones, I remember articles talking about Maroney putting in extra film sessions directly with BB.

Yikes hope somebody breaks the negative trend based on returns.

 

[Real fan 02]

He was on his last year of his rookie deal. I wish both he and Givens had stayed.

I wish they both stayed as well... But that's the leverage patriots had over players at that time... never wanting to pay, So alot of our home grown playmaker's had to leave to get paid..

Ty law left the year before.. imagine we still had law and branch on the team we definitely win in 06 and it's law picking off Eli not assante dropping it..

 

[PatsFan2]

I wish they both stayed as well... But that's the leverage patriots had over players at that time... never wanting to pay, So alot of our home grown playmaker's had to leave to get paid..

Ty law left the year before.. imagine we still had law and branch on the team we definitely win in 06 and it's law picking off Eli not assante dropping it..

Don't remind us please what could have been I have put those disappointing years behind us. We should have have had two more Lombardis'

 

[Real fan 02]

Don't remind us please what could have been I have put those disappointing years behind us. We should have have had two more Lombardis'

Yeah I know it sad... really sad.. getting sad thinking about what could have been.. lol actually 3 more..if Welker makes that catch..... ...

 

[Real fan 02]

Don't remind us please what could have been I have put those disappointing years behind us. We should have have had two more Lombardis'

I'll change the subject... what's your take on what needs the defense has..

For me very simple.. go back and look at our superbowl teams.. we've always had a lockdown corner.. BB enheritted law..

Get Ramsey!!!!!!!!

 

[captain stone]

Hope to see Thornton get a little stronger this offseason and I think O'Brien will get him into more favorable match-ups and plays next season to utilize him better also. Guy clearly understands it's a big year. Would love to see him take a step forward, although I think the Patriots will add one piece that will hopefully make it tougher for teams to defend this group as a whole.

"A little stronger"?

That's like saying I wish Judge Joey were a little better QBC...

 

[Real fan 02]

"A little stronger"?

That's like saying I wish Judge Joey were a little better QBC...

Herald mentioned cooks as a possible trade target... I like cooks.. nice player.. played well when he was here.. but undersized.. we need a bigger, physical WR that actually FIGHTS for the ball .

Boy... chase Claypool would have been perfect here!!!!

 

[farn]

Great minds think alike Rob my feelings exactly. I think the Patriots let him walk which I'm ok with.

Sadly : you could make a case for ‘no one is safe and everyone is expendable’. There are plenty of players that I think can help you win - but let’s keep it real. There aren’t many game changers on NE atm.

 

[mgteich]

I thought Thornton's biggest problems last year were things that are definitely coachable. He just didn't have a feel for the sidelines at all. And he let up on some runs that would have been big gains if he didn't.

Everyone talks about how much Patricia and Judge screwed over Mac Jones in year two, but I wonder if they didn't screw over Thornton even more. He should have been coached up and I am not sure they used him in the best way.

not having an OC is certainly coachable.

 

[DaBruinz]

Correct, But I believe branches contract was up right? I know that the patriots offered him a contract, but he wanted to be paid like #1.. he later said he wished he stayed.. he got injured and never amassed more that 600 plus receiving yards in Seattle per season.. Caldwell made a huge play for us to take down the Super chargers as they called themselves that season... 07 divisional round

That was the period of time where 2nd rounders were still getting signed to 5 year deals. Branch had the 2006 year remaining on his contract. Prior to the 2006 draft, Branch and his agent ASSURED the Patriots that he'd play out the contract claiming he was a man of his word.. The Patriots signed Caldwell and added Chad Jackson in the draft. Then, right around May 1st, Branch tells the team he's NOT going to play out the contract and that he'd going to hold out for a new deal, thus leaving the Pats without any true Veteran in the WR room. I'm fairly certain that the Jets started tampering with Branch at that point, though it's just a hunch. We do know that they were tampering with him during camp. That's when the Pats finally turned around and made the deal with Seattle.

 

[Real fan 02]

That was the period of time where 2nd rounders were still getting signed to 5 year deals. Branch had the 2006 year remaining on his contract. Prior to the 2006 draft, Branch and his agent ASSURED the Patriots that he'd play out the contract claiming he was a man of his word.. The Patriots signed Caldwell and added Chad Jackson in the draft. Then, right around May 1st, Branch tells the team he's NOT going to play out the contract and that he'd going to hold out for a new deal, thus leaving the Pats without any true Veteran in the WR room. I'm fairly certain that the Jets started tampering with Branch at that point, though it's just a hunch. We do know that they were tampering with him during camp. That's when the Pats finally turned around and made the deal with Seattle.

Spot on!! That's great information especially for some of the younger posters who probably were in grade school when that happened ..

Caldwell, Doug Gabriel, Gaffney... those guys got signed becuase of branch and Jackson not working out.. didn't Jackson have an ankle injury that season or something where he missed time?

I know that was also the season we got promising rookie Maroney!!

Gaffney actually ended up in the Brady circle of trust.. he ended up being a pretty reliable WR for us..

 

[Real fan 02]

Don't remind us please what could have been I have put those disappointing years behind us. We should have have had two more Lombardis'

Well nowadays I think I'd like to be reminded of how good it was...

 

[Wozzy]

You know, it's interesting, because as bad as the results have been, the most jarring thing I've noticed going through the Patriots WR draft picks in the last 20 years is just how FEW of them they've taken in first three rounds. Just finding examples in the above post was tough. So obviously the hit rate is below average, but they also just don't take that many swings at it, for whatever reason. We'll see if Groh changes that. We've only got the one draft so far to judge.

Because WR has one of the lowest success rates in the NFL draft... they fail at a really high rate.

It's smarter to sign value vet free agent WR's that give you a baseline of production, rather than spend valuable high round draft capital on a roll of the dice.

Draft linemen and positions that have a better chance of success instead.

 

[Wozzy]

People seem to forget Givens was an outside WR and a gamer. Made many key sideline grabs in big games.

There's no way Thornton weighs 183 pounds. He's around the 160 range.

He weighed 183 pounds as a rookie... scouts literally weigh these guys at the combine and pro days... it's not an opinion.

He probably put on a few pounds from then to now. He's also 6'2" tall, he's not some shrimp.