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Agree.2006 was the worst receiving corp we ever had. Not even close.
Troy Brown was 35 years old and done in 2006. He never played again after that season unless you count the one game he appeared in 2007 where he didn't get a single catch and only returned punts (he retired in 2008). Same with Corey Dillon who also retired after the 2006 season because he was a shell of himself.
And Gaffney did nothing in 2006 until the playoffs. He was signed in early October of 2006. And he had 11 catches for 142 yards and one TD during the 2006 regular season.
You are just looking at a bunch of names and looking at them for what they were at their peak and not how awful they were in 2006. Brown and Dillon and probably would have been cut if the Pats had any talent behind them. Gaffney didn't even really learn the offense until late December.
Reche Caldwell was the #1 WR for the Patriots in 2006. He was a low ranked #2 at best for most teams and most likely a #3 or #4 WR on most teams the way he was playing.
And Maroney had a good, not great rookie season. He had 794 rushing yards and two TDs on the ground and 194 receiving yards and one TD from the air.
Dorsett, White, and Harry could have easily started in 2006. Our receiving corp was garbage that year. I might have been able to start that year.
And I don't care about stats. You can twist them any way you like. But you have to remember in 2014, Brady had to rededicate himself to the offseason to get better. He stayed in Foxboro all offseason and even won the parking spot for the first time since the early 2000s. So even with your point, Brady recognized he was declining in skills because he wasn't working hard enough. But that time it wasn't because of age. This time, it might be.
I'd take the TEs from 06
That's it