Gaffney Signed!!

[Huckleberry1]

If Welker or Lloyd go down he'll be on the fieldas a starter in most formations, hell, he would've been a help starting in SB46.

Why so grouchy

It's not one of his clients?

 

[condon84]

In one post, you accuse me of having my homer glasses on, then in the next you don't recognize that Gaffney is better than Branch? This is as much an indictment of Branch as an endorsement of Gaffney. I'm 50/50 on Branch making the roster, and TBH I kinda hope that he doesn't, because he doesn't look like he has much of anything left.

I'll make it clearer then. Branch was our 4th option last year. With the addition of Lloyd, Branch becomes our 5th option. Is Gaffney going to be that much better than Branch as our 5th option? Even if he is slightly better than Branch, he will still only be our 5th option. Some people are overselling this signing which can be seen by some of the funny posts in this thread.

 

[patsinthesnow]

Am I the only one who doesn't feel that way? Ridley was a junior with just 1 year as a college starter, then didn't get an offseason because of the lockout, yet still put up 5.1 ypc as a rookie.

Oh, sorry, OT, back to Gaffney and the wide receivers...

This all reminds me of last season when the Pats seemed to sign every veteran d-lineman on the market, then sorted the wheat from the chaff. I'm very optimistic that Lloyd can be the Andre Carter of the bunch and Gaffney the Mark Anderson. It only takes one out of the group of Branch, Stallworth, Gonzalez and Ochocinco to rise to, say, Gerard Warren level.

This, and a draft loaded with pass rushers. Couldn't ask for a livelier offseason!

The best offense of all time had Maroney as the #1 back, and the two other best pat offenses (10+11) featured BJGE as the #1 back.

As long as Ridley can be just as good we're fine, I think he'll be better than both though.

 

[robbomango]

So we are all getting excited for our 5th option on offense?

Yes, I'm definitely excited to have depth and potential starters at WR that are more than capable.

 

[condon84]

Why so grouchy

I apologize. I didn't mean to be a wet blanket. The wife is watching American Idol and it's pissing me off

 

[Gronkandez]

Am I the only one who doesn't feel that way? Ridley was a junior with just 1 year as a college starter, then didn't get an offseason because of the lockout, yet still put up 5.1 ypc as a rookie.

I completely agree, not to mention most of us were thrilled when Vereen was drafted....yet many people here want to trade for, and give a huge extension to Matt Forte.

 

[supafly]

Is Gaffney going to be that much better than Branch as our 5th option? Even if he is slightly better than Branch, he will still only be our 5th option. Some people are overselling this signing which can be seen by some of the funny posts in this thread.

Absolutely.

I realize what you're saying with the 'top 4 targets,' but as we saw in the SB and at times throughout the past 2 seasons with Hernandez, the TE's can go down at times for a few games etc.

Looking at it just from a WR depth perspective, yes...absolutely Gaffney easily becomes the WR3--which as we know is also quite important for depth issues. If one of Welker or Llyod goes down, that makes Gaffney the starter on the other side. He is certainly an upgrade from Branch, and the posters who say that we could've used him in February are VERY right in saying so.

The signing brings a player who has produced at a pretty high level for catching passes from a bunch of nobodies lately, already knows the system inside and out, can start in a pinch if needed, and already has proven that he has a great rapport/chemistry with Tom Brady.

It improves the depth and competition for the entire WR core, at a fairly cheap option.

 

[robbomango]

I'll make it clearer then. Branch was our 4th option last year. With the addition of Lloyd, Branch becomes our 5th option. Is Gaffney going to be that much better than Branch as our 5th option? Even if he is slightly better than Branch, he will still only be our 5th option. Some people are overselling this signing which can be seen by some of the funny posts in this thread.

Our 5th option caught 15 passes last year, we were sorely lacking in depth. This area has been addressed in spades this offseason, I'm so excited I'm doing virtual backflips.

 

[supafly]

I apologize. I didn't mean to be a wet blanket. The wife is watching American Idol and it's pissing me off

I feel your pain, my friend.

Your excuse is a very credible one.

 

[Frezo]

I apologize. I didn't mean to be a wet blanket. The wife is watching American Idol and it's pissing me off

Tell her to switch to Fantasy Island.

 

[Avenger]

If we get him to the practice squad without a waiver claim, can't we pay his full rookie salary as an incentive to stick with the team on the PS?

 

[Triumph]

The best offense of all time had Maroney as the #1 back, and the two other best pat offenses (10+11) featured BJGE as the #1 back.

Yes, they did. And, when the ***** hit the fan they were MIA.

The Pats knew what they had in A Smith and Dillon.

Dillon was money in the bank.
04 - 1635 yds - 12 tds 2004 New England Patriots Statistics & Players - Pro-Football-Reference.com

Smith was money in the bank.
01 - 1157 yds - 12 tds 2001 New England Patriots Statistics & Players - Pro-Football-Reference.com

In 03 NE had the best defense in the NFL.

As long as Ridley can be just as good we're fine, I think he'll be better than both though.

When the Pats find out that Ridley and Vereen are not as good, then youve gambled away another season of having Tom Brady.

 

[RelocatedPatFan]

Tell her to switch to Fantasy Island.

Better yet, tell her you are her host, Mr O'Rourke...you can cover it from there

 

[brdmaverick]

Franchising Welker, Signing Stallworth, Signing Gaffney

And to think we could've gotten Randy Moss, too!

This is 2007 all over again.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

If we get him to the practice squad without a waiver claim, can't we pay his full rookie salary as an incentive to stick with the team on the PS?

Absolutely. And this year with 90 man camp rosters and lots of teams cutting 45+ players including vets at the wire it's not going to be too hard to get a 7th rounder to the PS.

 

[shmessy]

I'm glad he's back. His 07 was very good, but his 06 year was what impressed me...he came off the street after the Eagles released him (because he got a DUI, IIRC) and played outstanding football.

If I had to take a stab at it:

Lloyd
Welker
Gaffney
Gonzalez
Stallworth

I think Ocho and Edleman are gone and I hope Branch ends up on the shadow roster.

Why Gonzalez over Edelman? Any substantive reason?

 

[JFK]

Moss would feel like **** if we win the SB

 

[IllegalContact]

Why Gonzalez over Edelman? Any substantive reason?

Gonzalez is 10x the WR if he is healthy........a big if

 

[Patriot Missile]

Great signing. His familiarity gives him an instant advantage over just about everyone not named Welker or Lloyd.

Hard to assess where all the other receivers fall. Training camp will be a battle like none we've seen at the Wr position.

 

[strngplyr]

Moss would feel like **** if we win the SB

don't really care, would have loved to see him get a ring but he talked his way off of this train.