Does anyone else have a feeling that Donte's not fitting in?

[Rob0729]

Re: Does Anyone Else Have Feeling that Donte's Not Fitting In

Question for you. Do you think that every player that practiced on Day 1 of their respective team's camp was fully, completely, 100% healthy? Not a single player in this league had anything wrong with him that would have allowed him to miss a couple days?

It's not impossible to believe a player is ready to practice even though he might only be 90%. For Stallworth to have missed just one week of practice, it's not impossibe to believe that he was ready and willing to go Day 1 and the trainers and coaches decided not to risk it.

As for him saying he spent extra time with his head in the playbook, it's because of what he said, it's not the same as being out there running the plays. You're going to learn a whole lot more running routes in practice for 30 minutes than looking at routes on paper for 30 minutes. I think he simply spent extra time with the playbook as to not be too far behind when he did return to practice.

That is a possibility that he was held out as a precaution and that I am reading too much into this, but with our history of WRs not being able to pick up the basics of our playbook like Gabriel and Hayes they could have be extra precautious.

But there are plenty of players who are not ready to go physically who have been active from day one many of years and just did limited things on the field so they could still participate. This year, Maroney is playing with a non-contact jersey. Last year, Harrison practiced although being limited (although he did start the training camp on the PUP). If actually being out there running the plays is so important and Stallworth was close to returning, why not activate him and just let him participate in certain activities like they have been doing with Moss after he tweaked his hamstring?

 

[Crazy Patriot Guy]

Re: Does Anyone Else Have Feeling that Donte's Not Fitting In

That is a possibility that he was held out as a precaution and that I am reading too much into this, but with our history of WRs not being able to pick up the basics of our playbook like Gabriel and Hayes they could have be extra precautious.

But there are plenty of players who are not ready to go physically who have been active from day one many of years and just did limited things on the field so they could still participate. This year, Maroney is playing with a non-contact jersey. Last year, Harrison practiced although being limited. If actually being out there running the plays is so important and Stallworth was close to returning, why not activate him and just let him participate in certain activities like they have been doing with Moss after he tweaked his hamstring?

Well Moss did miss a day. (or two?) As for Stallworth, he would need to pass the conditioning test before participating. If the Patriots are being cautious with a leg injury, they aren't going to let you run sprints.

 

[Rob0729]

Re: Does Anyone Else Have Feeling that Donte's Not Fitting In

Well Moss did miss a day. (or two?) As for Stallworth, he would need to pass the conditioning test before participating. If the Patriots are being cautious with a leg injury, they aren't going to let you run sprints.

That could be true about the conditioning run. But that means he would have already had the physical and usually the conditioning run comes pretty soon after the physical. Wouldn't he have probably known that he was not going to be allowed to run the conditioning run which is a mandatory to be activated?

Moss missed on day of practice. He was back the second day doing walk throughs and some light work out stuff from what I could see from all the blogs.

 

[HEY BRO! WHAT UP?]

With Stallworth being held out throughout camp so far, I wouldn't be surprised if he gets cut. I don't know what is going on behind the scenes or what the coaches are telling him, but so far, it doesn't look good. I hope I'm wrong because I would love to see Stalloworth and Moss on opposite sides of the field. However, there is hope because Stallworth was traded during training camp to the Eagles and had a pretty good year with McNabb.

 

[rabthepat]

I had many "feelings" today but none about Stallworth. I just say don't count Reche Caldwell out just yet.

 

[sebman2112]

I've always heard Stallworth was very good at learning playbooks, and that was part of what made him successful on Philly...

I just have a gut feeling that most of your gut feelings are wrong, and mine have worked out pretty well for me so far...

 

[reflexblue]

I think with his past hamstring problems they aren't takeing any chances with him,like they used to do with Branch. I you remember after a couple of seasons of hammys he didn't play much until the season started. Stallworth may have twicked a hamstring before TC and there just being coutious.

 

[DisgruntledTunaFan]

I think with his past hamstring problems they aren't takeing any chances with him,like they used to do with Branch. I you remember after a couple of seasons of hammys he didn't play much until the season started. Stallworth may have twicked a hamstring before TC and there just being coutious.

Having lived in the Big Easy for a number of years, I wasn't the world's biggest fan of Stallworth. He was outstanding in stretching the field, but he was just the opposite in running those underneath routes(something Joe Horn excelled at).

They had 2 #1's that year b/c of the Ricky trade w/ Miami, but didn't think he was worth the #11 or so pick overall in the draft(Charles Grant was their other #1 pick that year).

With that being said-with Walker and Brady running the underneaths, BB and McDaniels should be able to nicely utilize Donte's talents in stretching the field.

 

[Armen Da Pats Fan]

Re: Does Anyone Else Have Feeling that Donte's Not Fitting In

Call it a gut feeling. I stand by my concern. But please prove me wrong.

QB12

This is about as close to "proof" as I can get...

http://patriots.bostonherald.com/patriots/view.bg?articleid=1015438

 

[Isaac]

Re: Does Anyone Else Have Feeling that Donte's Not Fitting In

How do you prove a "feeling" wrong? I have a feeling the moon will explode tomorrow and kill us all.

Please prove me wrong.

So for so good... phew!

 

[Patti37]

Re: Does Anyone Else Have Feeling that Donte's Not Fitting In

Call it a gut feeling. I stand by my concern. But please prove me wrong.

QB12

He looked very much like part of the team and the receiver corp in praticular during last night's practice. He was even having an animated conversation with Randy Moss before practice started.

When he was running routes, he was having some conversation with Hobbs.

So I guess a gut reaction is better than actually seeing what is happening on the field.

 

[Patti37]

Re: Does Anyone Else Have Feeling that Donte's Not Fitting In

This is about as close to "proof" as I can get...

http://patriots.bostonherald.com/patriots/view.bg?articleid=1015438

Great article...the article said he didn't know he had been placed on PUP...not that he did not know why. He went on to say this is how the Patriots do things and that the training staff "has a hold on that stuff."

 

[patchick]

I don't know why people are getting so defensive about the possibility that Stallworth landed on the PUP because he had difficulties with the playbook.

Maybe because there's not a shred of evidence? (If talking about the need to immerse yourself in the playbook were evidence of a problem, virtually every FA in the league would be in hot water.) And maybe because it would be a flagrant abuse of the PUP designation for no real purpose?

You've claimed that a player was behind in the mental portion of the game, conjured up a specific written exam that he failed, and accused the team of using the PUP list as a disciplinary tool for healthy players...all, as far as I can see, based on nothing at all.

FWIW, I was fine with the original post of this thread: "Does anyone else have a feeling that Donte's not fitting in?" With a team that's so tight with information, sometimes you have to read tea leaves to get a sense of who's up and down. But inventing details like a failed written exam is bad news. If nothing else, it will stick vaguely in some readers' minds so a year or two years down the line, we'll be getting posts like "How many of the PUP guys do you think are injured vs. just failing that written exam they require?"

 

[danny88]

Re: Does Anyone Else Have Feeling that Donte's Not Fitting In

Call it a gut feeling. I stand by my concern. But please prove me wrong.

QB12

Troll.........

 

[Rob0729]

Maybe because there's not a shred of evidence? (If talking about the need to immerse yourself in the playbook were evidence of a problem, virtually every FA in the league would be in hot water.) And maybe because it would be a flagrant abuse of the PUP designation for no real purpose?

You've claimed that a player was behind in the mental portion of the game, conjured up a specific written exam that he failed, and accused the team of using the PUP list as a disciplinary tool for healthy players...all, as far as I can see, based on nothing at all.

FWIW, I was fine with the original post of this thread: "Does anyone else have a feeling that Donte's not fitting in?" With a team that's so tight with information, sometimes you have to read tea leaves to get a sense of who's up and down. But inventing details like a failed written exam is bad news. If nothing else, it will stick vaguely in some readers' minds so a year or two years down the line, we'll be getting posts like "How many of the PUP guys do you think are injured vs. just failing that written exam they require?"

I speculated because of his comments. People do it all the time on this board. Some people do it all the time on this board with even less evidence that I had.

The team does use the PUP as a disciplnary tool. Ask Kelley Washington who was on the PUP for one day. Same with Johnathan Sullivan.

I didn't make up written exams. It is a known fact that the Pats consistently give players written exams on the game plans and plays. It is also a known fact that players are harshly punished if they failed these exams. It is also a fact that that the Pats are very cut and dry with their rules. The Pats benched Seymour for a quarter in a pretty important game for missing a practice to attend his grandfather's funeral. It isn't that much of a stretch to think there is a pre-training camp written test.

By the way, it wouldn't be the first time the Pats fragrantly abused the PUP or IR. They consistently over the years IR rookies with mysterious injuries who are behind and wouldn't contribute all that much in the season to protect them for the next year. That is a fragrant violation of the injury policy.

 

[Pats726]

Much ado about nothing...more like nothing else to talk about sooooo

 

[Rob0729]

Much ado about nothing...more like nothing else to talk about sooooo

I agree. No matter the reason he was out, he only missed a week of training camp. Being new it does hurt a bit, but he still has plenty of time to get up to speed.

 

[patchick]

II didn't make up written exams.
...
The Pats benched Seymour for a quarter in a pretty important game for missing a practice to attend his grandfather's funeral. It isn't that much of a stretch to think there is a pre-training camp written test.

As far as I can see, you are the first person to ever suggest that there is a written test given on the playbook prior to the start of TC, and that players who fail it are placed on PUP. This is what I felt was excessive conjucture. IMO there is no relationship whatsoever to the Seymour situation.

They consistently over the years IR rookies with mysterious injuries who are behind and would contribute all that much in the season to protect them for the next year.

This is oft repeated, and IMO a myth. As far as I can tell it all comes down to a single comment from Kliff Kingsbury. If I'm wrong, no problem -- feel free to list the many rookies who have been treated this way "consistently over the years."

 

[Rob0729]

As far as I can see, you are the first person to ever suggest that there is a written test given on the playbook prior to the start of TC, and that players who fail it are placed on PUP. This is what I felt was excessive conjucture. IMO there is no relationship whatsoever to the Seymour situation.

The Seymour situation was only used to show that they will take harsh measures for discipline even to a star player in a fairly important game.

This is oft repeated, and IMO a myth. As far as I can tell it all comes down to a single comment from Kliff Kingsbury. If I'm wrong, no problem -- feel free to list the many rookies who have been treated this way "consistently over the years."

I don't remember them all, but Ryan Claridge was IRed for some mysterious injury. There is some mystery around the signing and IRing of Justise Hairston this year. Jabari Holloway was placed on IR eventhough I thought he practiced all preseason and training camp.

 

[Flying Fungi]

There is some mystery around the signing and IRing of Justise Hairston this year.

no there isn't