Available free agents not drafted

[Sfpat]

"Rice had a resume."

Jerry Rice was a slow receiver from a 1-AA school who many in the Bay Area (where I lived at the time) thought was nothing more than a product of the college system he played in (run and shoot) against poor competition and was way overdrafted (1st round). There were lots of complaints about not getting Al Toon or Eddie Brown (I believe the Niners traded up for Rice) or anyone with a better resume. And he had many drops as a rookie, most of them perfectly thrown balls right that hit him in stride and smack in his hands. Rice developed and the rest is history.

Tate is a third round development pick who has potential upside as a number 1 receiver. While he may have dropped a few balls (I'm unable to watch all of the Pats games), he was no where near as bad as Rice as a rookie regarding drops. In my opinion, most of his failed catches were due more to accuracy problems on Brady's part than Tate's route running or catching ability. Brady is not the best in the world on the deep ball.

I'm not saying Tate will be Rice (far from it). But give the kid a break and look at the complete picture. If he develops, he'll be a steal. If not, not much is lost.

 

[TriplecHamp]

Good LORD.

Y'all REALLY haven't been paying attention, now, HAVE you??

Do you really Believe that Jeff Mael would be an upgrade over Brandon Tate or is my sarcasm detector broken?

 

[DW Toys]

Do you really Believe that Jeff Mael would be an upgrade over Brandon Tate or is my sarcasm detector broken?

You actually think he wouldn't? A guy like Tate who was a mediocre WR in college has not translated very well into the pros. I am not saying Maehl but he, yes to the lesser extent, but there are others as well.

Please can someone tell me the fascination in Brandon Tate? What am I missing.? He runs crap patterns and has questionable hands.

"Primarily a return specialist until flashing as a receiver as a senior. A bit raw as a route-runner. Relies on his athletic ability in this area, rather than precise footwork. Lets too many passes get into his pads."

What am I missing? This above was college. Is that better today?

I only hope Price is a WR.

Tate is a good #4 type of guy. He is not a starter.

DW Toys

 

[TriplecHamp]

You actually think he wouldn't? A guy like Tate who was a mediocre WR in college has not translated very well into the pros. I am not saying Maehl but he, yes to the lesser extent, but there are others as well.

Please can someone tell me the fascination in Brandon Tate? What am I missing.? He runs crap patterns and has questionable hands.

"Primarily a return specialist until flashing as a receiver as a senior. A bit raw as a route-runner. Relies on his athletic ability in this area, rather than precise footwork. Lets too many passes get into his pads."

What am I missing? This above was college. Is that better today?

I only hope Price is a WR.

Tate is a good #4 type of guy. He is not a starter.

DW Toys

I stopped at mediocre in college. The guy could have been a first round pick had he not gotten injured. He has one season under his belt and you honestly believe that a guy that went undrafted. You can have justin Beiber's big brother I'll take the developing deep threat all day long. Jeff Maehl is a poor mans riley cooper.

 

[Sciz]

Please can someone tell me the fascination in Brandon Tate?

We are not fascinated with him. You are just way too eager to replace him, even though we've shown you repeatedly that WRs take time to develop. The fact that you keeps asking why we like Tate shows both that you done understand our stance on him and that you don't understand why we have that stance, even though multiple people have attempted to tell you why multiple times.

:bricks:

 

[DaBruinz]

You actually think he wouldn't? A guy like Tate who was a mediocre WR in college has not translated very well into the pros. I am not saying Maehl but he, yes to the lesser extent, but there are others as well.

He was a WR who was used, specifically, on Special Teams for 2 years because he was the best there was. During his break-out senior year, he tore his ACL & MCL. How does that make him a mediocre WR?

Please can someone tell me the fascination in Brandon Tate? What am I missing.? He runs crap patterns and has questionable hands.

He actually runs good routes and his hands aren't nearly as bad as you claim them to be. This is the propensity you show. You purposely blow out of proportion what you claim to see to try and make your point. You've continually done this when evaluating Sanders.

"Primarily a return specialist until flashing as a receiver as a senior. A bit raw as a route-runner. Relies on his athletic ability in this area, rather than precise footwork. Lets too many passes get into his pads."

What am I missing? This above was college. Is that better today?

I only hope Price is a WR.

Tate is a good #4 type of guy. He is not a starter.

DW Toys

If you are going to quote NFLDraftscout, please make sure you give them credit. Yes, those were the "cons" they listed. How about listing the PROs?

Long, lean build. Good quickness, size and hand strength to get off the line of scrimmage against press coverage. Emerging route-runner with the quick feet and balance to ultimately be quite good in this area. More quick than fast, though he has good acceleration. Elusive in the open field and has the vision to set up his blocks and break into the open field. Soft hands. Good body control and flexibility to contort his body for the poorly thrown pass. Can extend to make the diving grab. Good height and long arms and uses the combination well to high-point passes over smaller cornerbacks. Excellent returner with NFL ability for punt and kickoff returns.

I bolded the sections that are pertinent. This is what people see. His potential. This was his 1st season healthy. He did well for getting 3rd WR (5th receiver) reps.. Instead of acting like the guy has been in the league for 4 years and has been a complete malcontent, how about you just recognize reality. He's got 1 complete healthy season under his belt. He was behind 2 damn good WRs and 2 damn good TEs when it came to where he was on the receiving depth chart. He also did pretty well considering that he was in his first complete season after the ACL/MCL issue.

What we see in Tate is the potential to be a deep threat on the field who also provides very good return ability. This is his make or break year. He should be 100% again and should have been working out to improve his hands. He should also have full confidence in his knee so we should see his quickness come into play more often.

Maehl, on the other hand, would be behind, Welker, Branch, Edelman, Hernandez, and Gronkowski for time in the slot. Plus, Maehl brings nothing to the return game.

 

[Off The Grid]

Do you really Believe that Jeff Mael would be an upgrade over Brandon Tate or is my sarcasm detector broken?

It was the sarcasm detection thing, Bro!!

I guess it's my fault, though: Everybody seems to think I'm serious!!

But to get you up to speed ~ and spare you 10 pages of mind-numbing idiocy:

1 ~ Toys suggested that Maehl would be an upgrade over Tate.

2 ~ Toys supported that idea with the suggestion that Tate is garbage.

3 ~ Maine + Bruinz attempted to educate Toys on some of the fundamentals of this sport, reminding Toys that Tate is effectively a second year man and that Wide Outs usually need a couple years to work their way in.

4 ~ Toys ~ unfathomably ~ drew the conclusion that Maine + Bruinz were ready to enshrine Tate in the Hall of Fame.

5 ~ His rather insane notion was CORRECTED.

6 ~ The correction, spelled out at a 4th Grade level, was utterly LOST on Toys.

7 ~ Steps #4, 5, and 6 were repeated SEVERAL TIMES, with Maine + Bruinz expressing increasing levels of astonishment and utter disbelief that it wasn't sinking in.

8 ~ Finally, being a sick bastard with unspeakable emotional problems, I jumped in to mock Toys ~ sorry, Toys, but you gotta READ people's posts, man!! ~ cackling with GLEE.

....And there we are.

 

[DW Toys]

It was the sarcasm detection thing, Bro!!

I guess it's my fault, though: Everybody seems to think I'm serious!!

But to get you up to speed ~ and spare you 10 pages of mind-numbing idiocy:

1 ~ Toys suggested that Maehl would be an upgrade over Tate.

2 ~ Toys supported that idea with the suggestion that Tate is garbage.

3 ~ Maine + Bruinz attempted to educate Toys on some of the fundamentals of this sport, reminding Toys that Tate is effectively a second year man and that Wide Outs usually need a couple years to work their way in.

4 ~ Toys ~ unfathomably ~ drew the conclusion that Maine + Bruinz were ready to enshrine Tate in the Hall of Fame.

5 ~ His rather insane notion was CORRECTED.

6 ~ The correction, spelled out at a 4th Grade level, was utterly LOST on Toys.

7 ~ Steps #4, 5, and 6 were repeated SEVERAL TIMES, with Maine + Bruinz expressing increasing levels of astonishment and utter disbelief that it wasn't sinking in.

8 ~ Finally, being a sick bastard with unspeakable emotional problems, I jumped in to mock Toys ~ sorry, Toys, but you gotta READ people's posts, man!! ~ cackling with GLEE.

....And there we are.

OK, You and debrunz and the maine guy win. The kid is a stud but not quite yellow jacket material. I get it. I guess if one has an opinion and others shout him down, I guess those are the ones who prevail. So if it makes you happy, "I hereby pledge on the Pats Forum with liberty and justice for all, that DW Toys is wrong and my Cousins, Grid and maine guy and dabrunz are declared winners in the great Tate debate". The key word was I "suggested" that in my humble opinion (I did say that more than a few times. Is that a fair statement?). I also said there were a few more I thought would be better than Tate.

Were you also a Maroney loyalist? That dabrunz guy was for sure. My ancestry was question for my anti-Moroney attitude, So there.

Let me look up suggested-To offer for consideration or action
Just so we are clear.

I didn't say Tate was garbage. I said he was not a NFL starting WR. I don't recall "garbage" being termed.

I read it that those that you mentioned have very high marks for the Tate lad.

And I must thank you for pointing out that dabrunz and maine guy tried to educate me on the fundamentals of the sport. This is actually comical that there is a urinating contest about a WR who may actually be a JAG and everyone here wants to have me committed? It's time for agonizing reappraisal.

I see no other conclusion on Tate by some on this site, et.al you mentioned, that Tate is a pretty superb shoe-in as the next "IT" WR for TB to have and to hold. I said to you , knock yourself out. I hope I am wrong with my observations of a JAG and wasted positive plays. I hope I am very wrong. In fact you are welcome to chastise me all you would like when BB presents him in Canton.

I would ask the same of you in all fairness. Please tread my posts.

Astonishment from dabrunz? You have got to be kidding. He amuses me with his pseudo-intellectual act. Let me give you that meaning:

Pseudo-intellectuals are people of average intelligence who are enchanted with highly intellectual topics and discussions such as philosophy, socioeconomics, destiny of humanity, etc.

Unlike a genuine academic, a pseudo-intellectual’s main reason for being interested in these topics is because it makes him feel intellectually superior to his peers. He usually despises main stream culture, accuses those who disagree with him as being ignorant, and when his ideas are challenged, he often retaliates.
I think I have bingo there.

Once in a while maine guy and myself actually agree. You and I have not jousted all that much.

Mr. dabrunz is just plain fun to get going because he tries to torture everybody and have them do his work. Wait until you see his response on this!.....

Here is another couple of pages of B.S. on the way.
I hope I am wrong about Tate. I have no problem of saying he is replaceable though. It is not blasphemy.

But so everyone can rest easy. You guys win.
DW Toys

 

[Off The Grid]

I didn't say Tate was garbage.

I said he was not a NFL starting WR.

I don't recall "garbage" being termed.

Did I just read you objecting to a misrepresentation of your words???

If there IS such a thing as an Irony Detector, it just SHATTERED.

 

[Sciz]

You didn't call Tate garbage, you just planned on replacing him with an undrafted rookie. Pretty synonymous in my opinion.

 

[Sfpat]

IIRC, every NFL talent assessor determined that Maehl (whom I like, but I like gutty little white guys who play WR) wasn't worthy of being drafted. If someone thought he was sure NFL starting caliber someone would have drafted him. I guess time will tell if Toys or professional NFL talent assessors, you know guys like BB, are correct.

 

[DaBruinz]

OK, You and debrunz and the maine guy win. The kid is a stud but not quite yellow jacket material. I get it. I guess if one has an opinion and others shout him down, I guess those are the ones who prevail. So if it makes you happy, "I hereby pledge on the Pats Forum with liberty and justice for all, that DW Toys is wrong and my Cousins, Grid and maine guy and dabrunz are declared winners in the great Tate debate". The key word was I "suggested" that in my humble opinion (I did say that more than a few times. Is that a fair statement?). I also said there were a few more I thought would be better than Tate.

Were you also a Maroney loyalist? That dabrunz guy was for sure. My ancestry was question for my anti-Moroney attitude, So there.

Let me look up suggested-To offer for consideration or action
Just so we are clear.

I didn't say Tate was garbage. I said he was not a NFL starting WR. I don't recall "garbage" being termed.

I read it that those that you mentioned have very high marks for the Tate lad.

And I must thank you for pointing out that dabrunz and maine guy tried to educate me on the fundamentals of the sport. This is actually comical that there is a urinating contest about a WR who may actually be a JAG and everyone here wants to have me committed? It's time for agonizing reappraisal.

I see no other conclusion on Tate by some on this site, et.al you mentioned, that Tate is a pretty superb shoe-in as the next "IT" WR for TB to have and to hold. I said to you , knock yourself out. I hope I am wrong with my observations of a JAG and wasted positive plays. I hope I am very wrong. In fact you are welcome to chastise me all you would like when BB presents him in Canton.

I would ask the same of you in all fairness. Please tread my posts.

Astonishment from dabrunz? You have got to be kidding. He amuses me with his pseudo-intellectual act. Let me give you that meaning:

Pseudo-intellectuals are people of average intelligence who are enchanted with highly intellectual topics and discussions such as philosophy, socioeconomics, destiny of humanity, etc.

Unlike a genuine academic, a pseudo-intellectual’s main reason for being interested in these topics is because it makes him feel intellectually superior to his peers. He usually despises main stream culture, accuses those who disagree with him as being ignorant, and when his ideas are challenged, he often retaliates.
I think I have bingo there.

Once in a while maine guy and myself actually agree. You and I have not jousted all that much.

Mr. dabrunz is just plain fun to get going because he tries to torture everybody and have them do his work. Wait until you see his response on this!.....

Here is another couple of pages of B.S. on the way.
I hope I am wrong about Tate. I have no problem of saying he is replaceable though. It is not blasphemy.

But so everyone can rest easy. You guys win.
DW Toys

DW -
Again, you misrepresent everything that was said, basically lying to try and make yourself look good.

No where can you find in my posts or in the posts by Maine Man that we said that Tate would be a stud. We said he is developing. We point out that his injury cut into that development. We point out that Maehl has almost no special teams experience.

Instead of lying and making things up, why not just deal with what was said? Or can't you be bothered?

 

[DaBruinz]

IIRC, every NFL talent assessor determined that Maehl (whom I like, but I like gutty little white guys who play WR) wasn't worthy of being drafted. If someone thought he was sure NFL starting caliber someone would have drafted him. I guess time will tell if Toys or professional NFL talent assessors, you know guys like BB, are correct.

At 6'0 and 3/8, he's not Little as in 5'9..

But, considering that all 32 NFL teams passed on him 7 times and all the UFL teams passed on him until the very last pick, something tells me that the professionals are going to be right.

 

[convertedpatsfan]

DW, we just think you're rushing to judgment is all.

Recently, ESPN had a complimentary write-up on Jacoby Ford, citing his ability to contribute multiple ways to help his team win. He had 3 return TDs, caught 25 passes for 470 yards and 2 TDs. He was a raw speedster who was a very unpolished WR (he finished with similar production to Taylor Price, despite Price playing in a very run-oriented offense), but he's improved steadily and become a key part of that team.

Meanwhile, in Tate's first full year, he had 2 return TDs, caught 24 passes for 432 yards and 3 TDs. He caught 53% of his targets compared to 46% for Ford. Yet we're ready to run him out of town.

I'm not suggesting Tate will be a #1 WR. But in terms of production, he's not that bad for the 5th target in the passing game. Yes, he could be upgraded. I'm not convinced any UDFA could take his job though.

 

[MaineMan]

Wait!

Arguing about the NFL Draft and that Pats roster is an "intellectual pursuit" on a par with socioeconomics or "the destiny of humanity"??!!

WOW!! I can't wait to tell the grandkids! Of course, they'll probably want to increase my Aricept dosage, but what the hell.

 

[convertedpatsfan]

Wait!

Arguing about the NFL Draft and that Pats roster is an "intellectual pursuit" on a par with socioeconomics or "the destiny of humanity"??!!

WOW!! I can't wait to tell the grandkids! Of course, they'll probably want to increase my Aricept dosage, but what the hell.

That reminds me of a part of "Moneyball" when Michael Lewis was asking Paul DePodesta if they were ever troubled about dedicating their lives and expensive educations to a trivial game like baseball. DePodesta laughed and responded, "Oh, you mean as opposed to working in some deeply meaningful job on Wall Street?"

 

[MaineMan]

That reminds me of a part of "Moneyball" when Michael Lewis was asking Paul DePodesta if they were ever troubled about dedicating their lives and expensive educations to a trivial game like baseball. DePodesta laughed and responded, "Oh, you mean as opposed to working in some deeply meaningful job on Wall Street?"

I hear ya.

OTOH - the men/women working on Wall Street, collectively DO have significantly impactful, if not deeply meaningful, jobs to do. Perhaps the recent/current world financial crisis derives in part from THEM not truly realizing this.

 

[captain stone]

That reminds me of a part of "Moneyball" when Michael Lewis was asking Paul DePodesta if they were ever troubled about dedicating their lives and expensive educations to a trivial game like baseball. DePodesta laughed and responded, "Oh, you mean as opposed to working in some deeply meaningful job on Wall Street?"

DePodesta would've been more accurate if he replaced Wall Street with Government.

 

[MaineMan]

DePodesta would've been more accurate if he replaced Wall Street with Government.

Specifically Congress.

Or the White House, for that matter.

 

[DW Toys]

Wait!

Arguing about the NFL Draft and that Pats roster is an "intellectual pursuit" on a par with socioeconomics or "the destiny of humanity"??!!

WOW!! I can't wait to tell the grandkids! Of course, they'll probably want to increase my Aricept dosage, but what the hell.

O.K. Ya got a smile out of me on that. That was a good. Well played sir.
DW Toys