Patriots work out former Bills WR David Nelson, and others

[Claremonster]

Patriots worked out David Nelson

The New England Patriots worked out former Cleveland Browns and Buffalo Bills wide receiver David Nelson.

He might be a good fit...

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Re: Patriots worked out David Nelson

Maybe after Sudfeld and GRONK are back, and the Pats can ditch Mulligan.

 

[Big-T]

Re: Patriots worked out David Nelson

He looked like he could be pretty good before he got hurt but getting cut by the Browns doesn't sound good for him.

 

[jmt57]

I thought he was pretty good with Buffalo before he blew out his knee. I liked him as a receiver more than Donald Jones (and certainly more than Michael Jenkins) when looking at free agents seven months ago, but the biggest question of course is whether or not he is fully recovered from the injury; the other question is whether or not it is worthwhile to bring him on to the roster without the benefit of learning the offense all off-season.

I suspect because of the latter this is simply due diligence, in case another WR goes down with an injury.

Source: Patriots try out David Nelson, Myron Lewis, others | National Football Post

The New England Patriots worked out former Cleveland Browns and Buffalo Bills wide receiver David Nelson, according to a league source.

Nelson tore his anterior cruciate ligament last year and had a bone bruise that hampered him in training camp with the Browns prior to being released.

Nelson was sidelined all of last season after catching 61 passes for 658 yards and five touchdowns in 2011. For his career, he has 94 receptions for 1,042 yards and eight touchdowns.

The Patriots also worked out former Tampa Bay Bucccaneers third-round cornerback Myron Lewis, who last played for the Detroit Lions. Lewis played in 29 games with one start in Tampa Bay, recording 17 tackles and four pass deflections.​

 

[mgteich]

Re: Patriots worked out David Nelson

I agree with jmt that Belichick is doing diligence.

In any case, if there is an interest it won't be difficult to find a roster spot. BTW, I think that Mulligan's situation is not relevant. Either Mulligan is useful and needed as a backup blocking TE, or he is not.

Maybe after Sudfeld and GRONK are back, and the Pats can ditch Mulligan.

 

[patsfan-1982]

he is a big WR almost TE size maybe he can play a lil TE if he can still play at all

 

[fnordcircle]

I think Belichick is just doing due diligence here, to see if Nelson's kidneys are a match for Donald Jones.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Re: Patriots worked out David Nelson

Nelson: aka the guy who everyone confused with Jones after we signed him.

I actually like Nelson - big guy, pretty decent possession receiver, and he's had a full year to recover from his knee injury. If his knee checks out, I wouldn't be shocked to see the Pats sign him.

 

[tombonneau]

Re: Patriots worked out David Nelson

Nelson: aka the guy who everyone confused with Jones after we signed him.

I actually like Nelson - big guy, pretty decent possession receiver, and he's had a full year to recover from his knee injury. If his knee checks out, I wouldn't be shocked to see the Pats sign him.

Agreed. Like others he was the Bills WR I wanted them to sign in the offseason. Getting cut by the Browns is a bad sign but probably more indicative of his surgery recovery than football skills. He's actually big enough to fill a little of the AH role in this offense.

Probably just due diligence/tire kicking with potential to sign later in the year as his recovery progresses.

 

[captain stone]

Greg Salas, who has actual knowledge/experience in the Pats offense, is on the Eagles' PS,
ripe for the picking. He is the only available WR, outside of Branch/Stallworth, who has a
decent chance of coming here without a 2013 TC and contributing. I've also filed a Missing
Player's Report on Jabar Gaffney.

 

[Snake Eyes]

Greg Salas, who has actual knowledge/experience in the Pats offense, is on the Eagles' PS,
ripe for the picking. He is the only available WR, outside of Branch/Stallworth, who has a
decent chance of coming here without a 2013 TC and contributing. I've also filed a Missing
Player's Report on Jabar Gaffney.

I love the idea of bringing in Salas, he knows the system, changes directions very nicely, and has good hands, so why haven’t they moved on him? He was on the team for a bit and they released him, I have to think that if he was any good that he’d be on the roster.

My only conclusion is that he’s not a fit, and I hate it

 

[strngplyr]

I love the idea of bringing in Salas, he knows the system, changes directions very nicely, and has good hands, so why haven’t they moved on him? He was on the team for a bit and they released him, I have to think that if he was any good that he’d be on the roster.

My only conclusion is that he’s not a fit, and I hate it

He was claimed off waivers when we tried moving him to our PS, after trading for him.

That said, I don't really want him.

 

[Snake Eyes]

He was claimed off waivers when we tried moving him to our PS, after trading for him.

That said, I don't really want him.

Why not? He seems like he's got potential.

 

[strngplyr]

Why not? He seems like he's got potential.

Maybe, but Philly isn't using him and neither are the other 31 teams who have access to him. I'm sure he'd jump at the opportunity to be elevated to anyones 53 man roster, which hasn't happened yet.

We've also dedicated the last 5 months, 4 preseason games, and 2 regular season games to breaking in 4 rookie pass catchers, Salas was here for only a short time and has been away for much longer. I'm not giving up on Dobson and Thompkins especially at this point, they've shown too much potential and have not yet been given a proper chance.

Assuming he "has knowledge of the system" is a silly point for someone who never played a snap with the team and has been elsewhere for a year. He could have never understood it in the first place, leading to his attempted demotion to the PS, or completely forgotten whatever he did learn after learning an entirely new system with his current team.

 

[PATRlOT]

I'd really like to see us sign Nelson

 

[TruthSeeker]

I'd really like to see us sign Nelson

Always liked David Nelson, but realistically, how many guys come in after 3 games and learn a difficult system like the Pat's and contribute right away ? Not many. Hence, the Greg Salas idea makes more sense. After we traded for him, I watched some of his highlights on Youtube, and the first thing that came to my mind was a smaller (in bulk not height) Hernandez (the football player, not the murderer). IF he knows the system, I'd love for the Pats to grab him, hell, he torched us in practice and in the game, you'd think BB would still be intrigued.

 

[FalconHeavy]

I love the idea of bringing in Salas, he knows the system, changes directions very nicely, and has good hands, so why haven’t they moved on him? He was on the team for a bit and they released him, I have to think that if he was any good that he’d be on the roster.

My only conclusion is that he’s not a fit, and I hate it

If no one can pick up our offensive play book may be the system we have is the problem and not the WRs it appears. OTOH, why do we have such a complex system if it is so difficult to find WRs in draft or FA? really beats me

 

[Joker]

If no one can pick up our offensive play book may be the system we have is the problem and not the WRs it appears. OTOH, why do we have such a complex system if it is so difficult to find WRs in draft or FA? really beats me

Fauria spoke on this yesterday on EEI...he stated he played in far more complex, harder to learn offenses than the Patriots scheme in his career. Perhaps fans just have no idea how easy or how hard this Patriots system is. All NFL offenses have options on routes so don't go jumping in THAT ocean...a WR makes the wrong choice on a route ,that is on HIM. Not the offense.

 

[FalconHeavy]

Fauria spoke on this yesterday on EEI...he stated he played in far more complex, harder to learn offenses than the Patriots scheme in his career. Perhaps fans just have no idea how easy or how hard this Patriots system is. All NFL offenses have options on routes so don't go jumping in THAT ocean...a WR makes the wrong choice on a route ,that is on HIM. Not the offense.

there has to be a reason why we rarely get a WR that clicks in this offense, especially the ones we draft.

 

[cmasspatsfan]

Fauria spoke on this yesterday on EEI...he stated he played in far more complex, harder to learn offenses than the Patriots scheme in his career. Perhaps fans just have no idea how easy or how hard this Patriots system is. All NFL offenses have options on routes so don't go jumping in THAT ocean...a WR makes the wrong choice on a route ,that is on HIM. Not the offense.

Good point Joker, I heard him talk bout that. They could also give someone new a limited role until he's up to speed, I don't think they expect someone to learn the whole playbook in a week.