so do you think ballard will play here

[ctpatsfan77]

Well, you may never get your wish about Demps. Demps becomes pretty irrelevant if the league follows through with the proposed rule of getting rid of kick offs.

Demps looked pretty decent when he was rushing, too.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

how so?still need a punt returner.......still need 3rd down backs...... the fact that you can put him just about anywhere on offense helps him

I think the julian edelman experiment has run its course.....you just can't keep a guy who can't stay on the field

By that logic, the Pats can't keep Hernandez, either.

 

[mgcolby]

Ballard will get a chance and I think he makes it. He just seems like a Pats type player.

Demps will need to work on his recieving skills - how to be a jam etc. IMO Demps will be a guy who lines up in the backfield then goes in motion to be a wide out and vice versa depending on what Brady sees the defense if doing. i think Demps can do some of the thinks we have seen Edelman do this year.

Demps is a running back not a receiver. His best chance to make this team is as a core ST's guy. He would be a 3rd down back if he can beat out Woodhead and/or Vereen, a tough mountain to climb. And the odds of him staying healthy are slim to none based on his track record (no pun intended).

 

[ctpatsfan77]

If he's healthy and recovered, then yes. Big ifs.

It will also be interesting to see what the Pats do with Michael Hoomanamanui, who is a FA. If he continues to step up and Ballard is healthy then Fells becomes expendable, which could save a few cap $$, though I don't know how much.

If I'm not mistaken, he's an RFA. But since he was a fifth-round pick, the Pats would get at least a fifth-rounder in return if anyone signed him to an offer sheet.

 

[mgcolby]

The question is can Demps fill the Edelman Roll? will he have the hands of Edelman?...Can he take a hit like Edelman?...will he have the illusiveness of Edelman in the open field?....or is he gonna be one of those catch the ball in the flats and run like hell guys?!!!

Where is this Demps as a receiver thing coming from? For the record Edelman isn't in the same stratosphere as Demps when it comes to speed.

 

[mgcolby]

And to the OP's question. Why wouldn't he if healthy? The guy is a physical beast and Coughlin was an idiot for thinking he could sneak Ballard through waivers. Gronk and Hernandez are the best TE duo in the NFL and Ballard will be ridiculous spoils on top of that.

 

[Danger Zone]

By that logic, the Pats can't keep Hernandez, either.

Or Gronk, or Welker for that matter.

And how many times has Eldelman been out multiple weeks with an injury? Is it 3 or 4 times now.

 

[jmt57]

I would think that the Pats would probably keep four tight ends on the 2013 roster, which would mean that it would likely be a four (or more) way battle for two roster spots between Fells, Hoomanawaui, Ballard, and some other player currently not part of the organization; Brad Herman will probably get another look too. At least one of those players will likely be lost to an injury. Which ones make the roster? Who knows, way too soon to guess.

 

[BradyFTW!]

The question is can Demps fill the Edelman Roll? will he have the hands of Edelman?...Can he take a hit like Edelman?...will he have the illusiveness of Edelman in the open field?....or is he gonna be one of those catch the ball in the flats and run like hell guys?!!!

Demps and Edelman aren't even similar as players. Different positions, different strengths, different weaknesses. Dunno where that comparison is coming from.

 

[DaBruinz]

It looks like Ballard is a 2nd year guy, so at least contractually, he's here if the pats want him to be here. If he returns to form, having 2 6'6" 270lb TE's who can block AND catch poses interesting dilemmas for the defense

Ballard (nor Pryor) received a year towards their contracts because spending the entire year on the PUP. So, Ballard (and Pryor) still owe the Pats a year.

I believe that Ballard will come back and give the Pats a 3 headed monster at TE like the league has never seen...

 

[DaBruinz]

how so?still need a punt returner.......still need 3rd down backs...... the fact that you can put him just about anywhere on offense helps him

I think the julian edelman experiment has run its course.....you just can't keep a guy who can't stay on the field

If it was a matter of muscular pulls and such (things that can actually be helped with proper training) I think you'd be correct. However, Edelman's injuries have all been (what I call) catastrophic nature. They've been broken bones and such. His foot injury, I believe, is a lis franc injury. I believe he'll be re-signed for a reasonable offer with stipulations about injuries..

 

[BradyBranch39]

Don't think Fells will be back, so that could open up the spot Ballard needs.

I care more about Edelman; I'll flip out if he goes elsewhere.

 

[fnordcircle]

Ballard and Gronk at the end of both sides of the line with Vereen or Woodhead in the backfield and Welker + Hernandez split wide.

Talk about a personnel line up with options.

 

[Stilla]

Ballard and Gronk at the end of both sides of the line with Vereen or Woodhead in the backfield and Welker + Hernandez split wide.

Talk about a personnel line up with options.

Yeah pitch it to Hernandez everyone goes out to block, AH throws to Brady in the end zone for a TD.

 

[Ive_Killed_People]

Really excited about Demps and Ballard. Both are 100% locks to make the team. Ballard is a big soft handed target who can block. Demps really impressed the seven seconds we saw him. Seriously though,the guy is a weapon. He could very well play some slot I dont think that's far fetched at all. I think we may actually run a high percentage of 1 WR formations next year if Gronk,Hernando,and Ballard stay healthy. We could be the first team to literally beat the hell out of opposing defenses with a power run game and still score prolifically. Red Zone Scenario: 1st and goal from the 5. Gronk on one side. Ballard and Hernando on the other. Ridley and Demps in the backfield. What do you do? What do you do? If you are the scorekeeper you add six points.

 

[IllegalContact]

The question is can Demps fill the Edelman Roll? will he have the hands of Edelman?...Can he take a hit like Edelman?...will he have the illusiveness of Edelman in the open field?....or is he gonna be one of those catch the ball in the flats and run like hell guys?!!!

edelman can't fill his own role.......he can't be counted on to stay healthy

 

[IllegalContact]

Umm...whose to say Demps can...

Umm ... who's to say he can't?

Umm ... who's to say he can't fill a different role

Umm ... maybe the guys who signed him? the same exact guys who sent hoyer packing and has amounted to nothing since.

 

[IllegalContact]

If it was a matter of muscular pulls and such (things that can actually be helped with proper training) I think you'd be correct. However, Edelman's injuries have all been (what I call) catastrophic nature. They've been broken bones and such. His foot injury, I believe, is a lis franc injury. I believe he'll be re-signed for a reasonable offer with stipulations about injuries..

sure.....don't get me wrong.....I like edelman, and I don't think it will be a situation where the pats will have to choose one or the other, but considering how much time demps was out of football for, he showed amazing potential before being IR'd.......the guy was too small and at the moment, physically adapted to another sport.......after a year of changing his body to fooball, we have the potential for another darren sproles. generic special teams returner as well as a gimmick back.....If he gets himself to 195/200lbs, he will be even harder to deal with than woodhead...he's a guy who can do alot of things

 

[IllegalContact]

its funny, people are kind of jumping on me for being positive about a guy

 

[RI Patriots fan]

Actually the Patriots will have control of Ballard through 2014 if they wish to do so. (2013-ERFA, 2014- Restricted Free Agent)


The team claimed injured Giants tight end Jake Ballard with an eye on 2013. Ballard suffered a knee injury during Super Bowl XLVI against the Patriots and later had ACL and microfracture surgery.

A very optimistic timetable would put the recovery at nine months. That would be November. Ballard, 24, is more likely headed to injured reserve after being on the physically unable to perform list.

If that happens, Ballard would be an exclusive rights free agent (the Patriots assume his one-year, $540,000 contract this season) again in 2013. The team would only have to tender a minimum contract and Ballard would return to the Patriots. He would be a restricted free agent in ’14. Since Ballard was undrafted, the Patriots would only need to tender a minimum contract to retain right of first refusal if another team came calling. Ballard wouldn’t become an unrestricted free agent until ’15.



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