Go on the record: What is your assessment of the Gordon acquisition (poll)

Where’s the option “love this trade because it pisses off 30 other nfl fan base”?

Sicilian said:

I wouldn't worry about that necessarily. Most reports I've seen from his coaches and teammates indicate he's a good guy and good teammate, he just can't help himself when it comes to the personal issues. I think the only way he becomes a distraction/cancer is if the coaching staff allows him to get away with things that other players wouldn't, and I don't anticipate that happening.

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his #1 personal issue seems to be anxiety and choosing the option to self medicate rather than seek/accept actual medical help

one of the drugs he has self medicated with is legal in MA and is actually prescribed for anxiety, but the NFL has an archaic view of medical marijuana unfortunately

low, low risk.......potential high reward, i'd be ok with a deep threat that takes coverage pressure off everyone else

hoping for the best......wouldn't be the first flyer they've taken that didn't work, wouldn't be the first 'last chance' they've pulled off the heap that led to success

How could you not like it?

The team addresses a weakness by buying very low on an extremely talented player. A Bill special.

If Gordon fails it's on him. It won't effect the locker room negatively.


Even w 11 coming back we needed help.
On the field we now a legit threat to take the top off, beat man, big body threat in the mof & off p/a.

Others have brought up the trickle down effect it'll have.

Low risk but huge reward. For a 5th w 7th coming back if he doesn't play in 10 games. You do this all day.

There is a possibility that he failed the physical today.

Palm Beach Pats Fan said:

You are now allowed to change your vote. I am new at this poll-making thing, so sorry for the issues. I should have consulted with experts, such as mosslost!

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GOD DAMN IT, why are you so compliant? And "changing your vote" is even a option? A vote for "Ray Lewis Killed two guys" should automatically be cast whenever there is a vote for anything else and should count three times when you actually pick "RLKTG".

Deus Irae said:

For a 5th rounder in a year where the team is currently expected to have plenty of draft picks, the team drafted a former first team all pro wide receiver who's 27 years old. There's failure protection in the form of a 7th round pick built into the deal. The team needed a WR and the roster spot used was that of a high potential/likely bust player who's also a wide receiver.

Other than virtue signalling, there's nothing negative to be said about this deal.

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I don't think there is a high probability he works out, but suppose just for the sake of argument (admittedly I'm pulling this out of thin air) we have the following probabilities:

50% - He completely washes out and isn't here is 2 weeks.
25% - He struggles to pick up the offense inititally but eventually get regular snaps to make a decent positive impact.
20% - He struggles to pick up the offense initially but become a major weapon once he and Brady sink up.
5% - He transforms the Patriots offense (in a positive way) and become a giant weapon from day 1 (needless to say I think it is unlikely he immediately achieves a mind-meld with Brady).

As you say Deus, to me the low cost plus low salary makes this a bit of a no-brainer throw of the dice IMHO. Almost no cost, and a giant (if low probability) upside. Why not?

And, of course, I could be completely wrong and maybe he is more likely to stick than I think.

edkk323 said:

There is a possibility that he failed the physical today.

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Are you basing this on any actual report, or just the radio hosts today claiming it's "fishy" that BB and McDaniels won't talk about him yet?

Yeah, the guys has played what, 10-11 game in 4 years. Have no idea what he has in the tank or what he can give this team. But for a 5th, it is worth the gamble.

The real question is if he will get busted again sometime this year.

My feeling is that if the Pats go on a tear and he is killing it, the NFL will "find" something on him.

Hyped said:

I think you are assuming too much when you state that we expect Gordon to become the "centerpiece" of the offense.

I am not expecting the 2013 Gordon. I am only expecting him to come in to be at MINIMUM a deep threat decoy while he learns the playbook. I am not seeing more than 4-5 balls going his way every game from here on out...assuming he plays 14 games.

The center pieces will still be Gronk and Edelman coupled with a running game I think is about to take off (Michel).

Gordon will make things easier...but Brady can pull things out of his arse if he has to like in SB52 without Cooks/Edelman, SB51 without Gronk, and etc... not to mention that in the Gronk-less years we still reached the AFC title game and were within striking distance of winning those games before faltering late.

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Then I would question why bother with him if he is only good for 4-5 targets a game?
I am under the impression that the support for this move is based upon a hope of a tremendous upside.

zydecochris said:

I don't think there is a high probability he works out, but suppose just for the sake of argument (admittedly I'm pulling this out of thin air) we have the following probabilities:

50% - He completely washes out and isn't here is 2 weeks.
25% - He struggles to pick up the offense inititally but eventually get regular snaps to make a decent positive impact.
20% - He struggles to pick up the offense initially but become a major weapon once he and Brady sink up.
5% - He transforms the Patriots offense (in a positive way) and become a giant weapon from day 1 (needless to say I think it is unlikely he immediately achieves a mind-meld with Brady).

As you say Deus, to me the low cost plus low salary makes this a bit of a no-brainer throw of the dice IMHO. Almost no cost, and a giant (if low probability) upside. Why not?

And, of course, I could be completely wrong and maybe he is more likely to stick than I think.

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Geesh you could have save the key strokes.

robertweathers said:

"We are at the same place as we were yesterday"

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Huh! I expressed my "more nuanced position" in nearly the same exact words just two minutes before you posted what BB said. Coincidence?

This trade still has a lot of fog surrounding it

KontradictioN said:

He has/had a substance abuse issue. I'm citing general rates of relapse. Nobody is rooting for Gordon more than I am but, if I were a betting man, I'd bet on a relapse.

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With any given addict, where talking at least 50-50% odds of a relapse. It remains to be seen whether the situation in NE turns out to be the positive redemption story we're all hoping for or if the situation overwhelms him and he flames out.

Or maybe it will be like the Michael Floyd situation where he comes in, makes a few nice plays, and we cuts ties with him at the end of the season.

PATRIOTSFANINPA said:

How could the answer be ANYTHING but the second selection???.... this was a low priced gamble that puts Gordon on a leash and if he doesn't pan out then only a 5th rounder was lost - how the hell could it be anything else?? - one player has never derailed this team the past 20 years without being sent away and its not going to change now.

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This is the correct answer. There's virtually no risk. If Gordon plays 10 games, first off it means he's stayed clean, and second, it probably means he's productive. And if he's productive, it's going to make this offense unreal, especially when Edelman returns. Gordon, Edelman, Gronk, White/Michel, and Hogan/Dorsett is an unbelievably dynamic group of skill players.

If he doesn't play 10 games, the Pats get back Cleveland's 7th round pick. Given that the Pats' 5th rounder will likely be at the end of the round, and Cleveland's 7th rounder will likely be at the beginning of the round, at worst the total risk is moving down about 35-40 slots in the draft. At that point in the draft, that's hardly anything at all.

bbobbo said:

adalius thomas came close in 2009. but that was unexpected since he seemed to buy into the patriot way in the beginning (remember his "humble pie" t-shirts?).

everyone knows about gordon's issues so he'll be on a short leash. he may not end up being a big difference maker, but i can't see his presence really damaging the team.

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I actually still have that sweatshirt from that year

AndyJohnson said:

Then I would question why bother with him if he is only good for 4-5 targets a game?
I am under the impression that the support for this move is based upon a hope of a tremendous upside.

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Then why did we bother with Corey Coleman and the others? At minimum, we need a bridge gap until Edelman returns...and until Britt/Matthews' hammies possibly heal.

The team did the right thing here...they looked under all rocks and decided to try Gordon. I have complete confidence that the Pats coaching staff and locker room would be able to put through a decent game plan vs. a superior opponent in the play-offs even if Gordon goes off the reservation the night before the game.

If he is even better than expected, then we will worry about him being too much of a "center piece". Let's take it week by week for now..

IMO, this is either going to implode right off the bat...or Gordon will stick with the team rest of the year (with the possibility of going off the reservation later on as per your concerns).

Still well worth it either way...it's up to Gordon.

We are NOT GETTING ANY WORSE than we are now without Gordon, IMO. Sure, our #3-#5 WR's might not get enough reps and build rapport with Brady and Gronk/Edelman will see more coverage...but we still have a puncher's chance at winning it all without Gordon.

I’m happy with the trade. There is a huge need at outside WR. Cooks last year opened up a lot of the field with his speed. Safety’s had to account for him, which opened up the middle of the field for others. If Gordon can keep his head on straight he can have the same type of effect, opening up the middle for Edelman, Gronk, and the RBs. Gordon gets 1 on 1 coverage he’ll eat it up.

That being said I think we got about a 50% chance he keeps his head on straight this season and about 40% long term. Still worth the risk as we didn’t give up much. To keep straight will be an ongoing challenge he’ll have to face the rest of his life. I wish him well.

And on top of everything, he needs to watch out for Ray Lewis...

Hyped said:

Then why did we bother with Corey Coleman and the others? At minimum, we need a bridge gap until Edelman returns...and until Britt/Matthews' hammies possibly heal.

The team did the right thing here...they looked under all rocks and decided to try Gordon. I have complete confidence that the Pats coaching staff and locker room would be able to put through a decent game plan vs. a superior opponent in the play-offs even if Gordon goes off the reservation the night before the game.

If he is even better than expected, then we will worry about him being too much of a "center piece". Let's take it week by week for now..

IMO, this is either going to implode right off the bat...or Gordon will stick with the team rest of the year (with the possibility of going off the reservation later on as per your concerns).

Still well worth it either way...it's up to Gordon.

We are NOT GETTING ANY WORSE than we are now without Gordon, IMO. Sure, our #3-#5 WR's might not get enough reps and build rapport with Brady and Gronk/Edelman will see more coverage...but we still have a puncher's chance at winning it all without Gordon.

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The point is if you see him as mediocre why bother?

AndyJohnson said:

The point is if you see him as mediocre why bother?

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He offers more upside than Corey Coleman, but for now we still could use a mediocre receiver.

Hyped said:

He offers more upside than Corey Coleman, but for now we still could use a mediocre receiver.

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And more downside.

I mean, he's literally got Tom Brady's number tattooed on his back... if that isn't commitment, I don't know what is!