Report: Brandon Lloyd's 'erratic behavior proved tiresome', may lead to release

[Huckleberry1]

It really is. They have several key holes to fill and a ton of money to do it, plus the draft. They could go after defense in free agency and then draft offense. They could fill offensive needs in free agency and draft defense. They could do a combination of both. Fortunately, they already have a great team, they have a lot of money, and there are a LOT of very, very good players that are going to be available in free agency and the draft, so there's plenty of different ways the Patriots could go about this.

I really hope we look back on this offseason as the launching point of another couple of Super Bowl victories before Brady retires. They are primed for that kind of scenario.

Pretty much how i see it. I really believe they are going to change their approach much the same as they did after the 2006 loss to Indy. I think they are going for it and are going to go over the top to make this a great team that dominates the competition, much like the 2007 season. They have needs but are also set at some important areas, such as RB, TE, and LB. DL is solid but not dominant and they have obvious needs on OL and in the secondary as well as WR even if they re-sign Welker and Edelman. they aren't likely to add the highest priced FA but i still see them trying to add key pieces and being aggressive about it. Brady has helped position them for a great offseason with his new deal and they have the money to really improve the team through free agency if they choose to do so. I'm really looking forward to free agency and the draft now, should be interesting and enjoyable, and I think most here will be fired up for the season by the time the draft is over. The Brady deal has turned the page on 2012 for me, now it's all about next season.

 

[Rob0729]

Would you have said the same thing after week 17?

That's the thing. The general perception of the Ravens' receiving corp was that they were nothing special going into the playoffs. One great game by the receivers as a whole and Boldin going all out knowing it might be his last chance at a ring and now they are the receiving corp the Pats should emulate.

 

[Sicilian]

That's the thing. The general perception of the Ravens' receiving corp was that they were nothing special going into the playoffs. One great game by the receivers as a whole and Boldin going all out knowing it might be his last chance at a ring and now they are the receiving corp the Pats should emulate.

It's the flavor of the month mentality. Whoever's won the last Super Bowl, suddenly that's not only the best way to win one, but also the ONLY way to win one. Nevermind that it seems the only thing recent SB champs really have in common is a good QB and some semblance of balance between offense and defense.

 

[patsfan-1982]

i would like to see him comeback but it would not be the end of the world if he is not back because throwing into tight coverage in the hopes that a receiver is going to make a circus catch is not something Brady or any QB likes to do and for that reason and he's age i did not see him have a good 2013 season anyways

 

[Kontradiction]

In Smith's defense, he blew past the Patriots secondary multiple times, but Flacco has no accuracy on his deep ball.

I haven't seen the All 22 footage, but I watched the game twice and I didn't see this happen. What I saw was Dennard completely owning him.

 

[letekro]

I disagree.

Welker is clearly the best WR of the bunch. Only Boldin had more yards than Lloyd and none of them had more catches. Again, I think Smith is one of the most overrated WRs in the NFL. He is soft and inconsistent. Put him up against a physical CB and he is usually neutralized. People talk about Llloyd not wanting to get hit.

Again, give me Gronk and Welker and the Pats' water boy, and a couple of cheerleaders and I will put them up against the Ravens' receiving corp.

You seem to be confusing better stats with better players. Go look at Percy Harvin's stats some time--not very impressive because his QB sucks. The Ravens receivers (including tight ends and backs) force the defense to cover 50 yards from the line of scrimmage, sideline to sideline. The Pats receivers only threaten 20 yards from the line of scrimmage, and generally only work the middle of the field. In the playoffs, teams bear down and stop the short stuff-- you have to be able to make them pay down the field. The Ravens were able to do that and have a SB trophy to show for it.

 

[mgteich]

Would you sign lloyd for $4.9M of new money to play this year? The team might be able to do better in free agency.

Ugh please let this not be true. Lloyd is good value for what he provides.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

It's the flavor of the month mentality. Whoever's won the last Super Bowl, suddenly that's not only the best way to win one, but also the ONLY way to win one. Nevermind that it seems the only thing recent SB champs really have in common is a good QB and some semblance of balance between offense and defense.

Not really.

2008 steelers - roethlisburger + ward + holmes

2009 saints - brees + colston + moore + henderson

2010 packers - rodgers + jennings + jones + driver + nelson

2011 giants - manning + nicks + cruz + manningham

2012 ravens - flacco + boldin + jones + smith

It seems to be a trend you need skilled WRs. Not saying welker is worse than any of them, but clearly you got to be stacked at the WR position. All of these receivers seem to force defenses to cover more field. None of these teams had spectacular defenses.

 

[patsinthesnow]

I think a WR the caliber of Keenan Allen or Deandre Hopkins at 29 (if they fall) could start day 1 and be successful. The rookie would benefit of what 2010-2011 Branch had, one of the best trio of weapons in the league across from him. (Lloyd never got to benefit from this) The rookie would be seeing single coverage with #2/3 CBs with Welker, Gronk, and Hernandez drawing the attention. I can understand the Lloyd cut if we draft a WR in round 1.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Not really.

2008 steelers - roethlisburger + ward + holmes

2009 saints - brees + colston + moore + henderson

2010 packers - rodgers + jennings + jones + driver

2011 giants - manning + nicks + cruz + nelson

2012 ravens - flacco + boldin + jones + smith

It seems to be a trend you need skilled WRs. Not saying welker is worse than any of them, but clearly you got to be stacked at the WR position. All of these receivers seem to force defenses to cover more field. None of these teams had spectacular defenses.

I think you meant Manningham on the Giants.

 

[JackBauer]

Not really.

2008 steelers - roethlisburger + ward + holmes

2009 saints - brees + colston + moore + henderson

2010 packers - rodgers + jennings + jones + driver

2011 giants - manning + nicks + cruz + nelson

2012 ravens - flacco + boldin + jones + smith

It seems to be a trend you need skilled WRs. Not saying welker is worse than any of them, but clearly you got to be stacked at the WR position. All of these receivers seem to force defenses to cover more field. None of these teams had spectacular defenses.

That's great and all, but the Ravens are NOT stacked at the WR position. In fact, they're probably around the middle of the pack in that respect, though they did play out of their minds when it counted.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

I think you meant Manningham on the Giants.

Thank you! Jordy nelson plays on GB and manningham on the giants (or used to).

I honestly am not that impressed with the welker/lloyd and branch combo when compared to the overall depth and skill of the wide receiving corps of teams that have won super bowls in the past 5 years.

 

[MoneyFX]

Not really.

2008 steelers - roethlisburger + ward + holmes

2009 saints - brees + colston + moore + henderson

2010 packers - rodgers + jennings + jones + driver + nelson

2011 giants - manning + nicks + cruz + manningham

2012 ravens - flacco + boldin + jones + smith

It seems to be a trend you need skilled WRs. Not saying welker is worse than any of them, but clearly you got to be stacked at the WR position. All of these receivers seem to force defenses to cover more field. None of these teams had spectacular defenses.

You left out Nate Washington from the Steelers and Robert Meachem from the Saints But I do get your point though.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

if he goes and all we have is lloyd..who do you think we will get for the #1 spot? A big time guy?

 

[Jimke]

Not really.

2008 steelers - roethlisburger + ward + holmes

2009 saints - brees + colston + moore + henderson

2010 packers - rodgers + jennings + jones + driver + nelson

2011 giants - manning + nicks + cruz + manningham

2012 ravens - flacco + boldin + jones + smith

It seems to be a trend you need skilled WRs. Not saying welker is worse than any of them, but clearly you got to be stacked at the WR position. All of these receivers seem to force defenses to cover more field. None of these teams had spectacular defenses.

If the Patriots cut LLoyd and lose Welker, they would start free agency
with the following:

2013 patriots - brady, aiken, ebert, holmes, slater

 

[mgteich]

IMHO, that's where we are now. We haven't paid Lloyd's option bonus. Welker, Edelman and Branch are free agents. The team is starting from scratch with money to spend.

If the Patriots cut LLoyd and lose Welker, they would start free agency
with the following:

2013 patriots - brady, aiken, ebert, holmes, slater

 

[Rob0729]

Not really.

2008 steelers - roethlisburger + ward + holmes

2009 saints - brees + colston + moore + henderson

2010 packers - rodgers + jennings + jones + driver + nelson

2011 giants - manning + nicks + cruz + manningham

2012 ravens - flacco + boldin + jones + smith

It seems to be a trend you need skilled WRs. Not saying welker is worse than any of them, but clearly you got to be stacked at the WR position. All of these receivers seem to force defenses to cover more field. None of these teams had spectacular defenses.

You are kinda disproving your own point with some of these examples.

2012 - Ravens won with average skill players at receiver. Not a star in the bunch. Boldin played over his head in the playoffs. Not one of the receivers were in the top 20 in yards or receptions last year and only Smith was in the top 20 in TDs (tied with 8 other receivers for 15th).

2009 - The Saints receiver were more like the Pats. A bunch of good short yardage guys who could make play after the catch with none of them really standing out with Brees spreading the ball around a lot (Brees had 7 receivers catching 39 or ore balls with two of them being RBs). No true deep threat. Only one receiver with over 1,000 yards. The Saints in 2009 was more about quantity of receivers over quality.

Also to say none of these teams had spectacular defenses is a lie or a glaring mistake.

• In 2008, the Steelers' defense were first in points allowed (13.9 PPG) and yards allowed. They were clearly the best defense in football that year. In fact, without James Harrison's 100 yard interception return for a TD at the end of the first half of the Super Bowl, that game was trending in the Cards favor with the momentum shifting towards Arizona. It was the Steelers' defense that changed the outcome of the Super Bowl.
• In 2010, Green Bay were second in the league in points allowed (15.0 PPG) and 5th in yards allowed.
• Both the Giants and Ravens didn't have great regular season defenses, but they brought it to the next level in the playoffs. The Giants in particular were special on defense in the 2011 playoffs including shutting out the Falcons (Atlanta's only points in that game were on a safety) and shutting down Aaron Rodgers and the Packers' offense (turned them over 4 times).

 

[Jimke]

Who needs Lloyd and Welker when we have Aiken, Ebert, Holmes,
and Slater? The reason Lloyd is on the team is that he signed a cut rate contract. Don't expect the Patriots to sign a wide receiver (including Welker) to a top notch contract. They'll beat the bushes for another Ochocinco or
Galloway.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

If the Patriots cut LLoyd and lose Welker, they would start free agency
with the following:

2013 patriots - brady, aiken, ebert, holmes, slater

well, i didn't say they should be content with scrubs at WR. THey should cut Lloyd. I suppose they have to keep welker being that he's tommy's best friend. However, I would put two skilled guys at WR alongside Wes....either through free agency or the draft. they are not going to win with welker and lloyd as the top receivers. welker is not a number 1 receiver.

 

[upstater1]

Twice now we've heard reports about behavioral problems for players soon to be on the market. Brandon Lloyd and Aqib Talib.

Whoever is squealing, I have to believe that Belichick doesn't like it. This sort of thing depresses the player's value on the open market, and while it may make their number easier for the Patriots to meet, you have to know the players don't like this, and it's not good for the team either to become known as a place where insiders shiv you in the back.

On the other hand, if Bedard is basing it off one quote where Lloyd said to a player, "I don't want to have this conversation anymore," that's fair game and has nothing to do with the team. Nor is it even a big deal. Maybe he should have said, "Sorry, I'm so out of it, I need to chill!"