Alan Branch: Patriots Football Journey

[Mike the Brit]

Mike Reiss doesn't mind doing the kind of "feel good" stories that reporters who think their job is just to get the dirt on whoever it is they're investigating turn their noses up at. The Patriots Football Journey series has revealed a lot about the challenging backgrounds of some of the players on the team (Justin Francis, Kenbrell Thompkins, James Ihedigbo) and made me root for them all the more.

This one on Alan Branch is a bit different, since it has little about his early life but quite a lot about his career in the NFL. And it makes me see Branch differently -- not just through the events that led to him being released by Buffalo. I hope he makes a success of his time in New England!

http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/new-...2119/patriots-football-journey-dt-alan-branch

 

[oldrover]

I'm hoping for more of a Ted Washington type journey, as opposed to, say, an Albert Haynesworth type journey.

 

[RayClay]

He was a wide receiver and punt returner, like Vince.

 

[patsfaninpa]

If we can get a DL rotation going down the stretch it would be a big help. Hope we can get him going and Silver Slugger back. DT could be solid. Might allow us to use Easley at DE on run downs to give Ninko and Chandler Jones(When he comes back) some rest.

 

[Mike the Brit]

PWP liked to call Deion "Twig". This guy should be "Trunk".

Oh, and if you're wondering whether he and Deion are related, the answer is "no" and "yes" -- it's a different Branch.

 

[Fencer]

Maybe he should play in the goal-line offense.

 

[captain stone]

Interesting responses. He doesn't read as a dummy, so he must realize that this is his last best chance
to finish his career as a contributor on a perennial contender. Considering some of the DTs we could've
had here as part of the rotation, I hope he takes advantage of the opportunity.

 

[RayClay]

Interesting responses. He doesn't read as a dummy, so he must realize that this is his last best chance
to finish his career as a contributor on a perennial contender. Considering some of the DTs we could've
had here as part of the rotation, I hope he takes advantage of the opportunity.

I get a kind of "free spirit" nonchalant kind of attitude from him. If he buys in, of course (and you need to here) he is huge and athletic and has years of starting as a dependable pro before whatever went down in Buffalo.

Missed one game in the last six years and started every game but four in the last three.