The Silver Lining of Deion's Cloud...

[patsox23]

While nobody wanted this hold-out, and we all wish he'd just been signed long-term a while ago, one benefit is the injection of excitement/momentum a signing would give the team as it heads into the regular season. There's already going to be a bit of a jolt/lift when Tedy comes back - week 2? 3? - but if we get through most of pre-season pretty well, and the Branch situation DOES get resolved, that will be a huge injection, not just for the fans, but ESPECIALLY for Tom and the offense, and the team as a whole. If the O continues to look as PRODUCTIVE as it has thus far, the boost will be even more pronounded - "NOW look what we're adding," that kind of thing

The flip side of that is how much of a drag it will be (and HAS been) that Deion and management are in a dispute and that he's NOT here. However, the bulk of the adjustment to that...atmosphere, I guess is the word, has already occurred. We're IN that place and the team has, on some level, moved on from it.

Now if/when he does sign, it may be a positive BEYOND the simple fact that the team improves when he's in the fold and on the field. So there's that.

 

[flutie2phelan]

Gotta agree.

You're a shrink, aincha?

 

[patsox23]

I will be especially pumped if he's back and has signed a long-term deal. Getting these young players tied up for awhile would be great, and we'll still have $$$ left over to approach Koppen and Samuel - though I think Graham is gone, no matter what.

 

[Pats726]

Gotta agree a BIg shot in the arm...and a deflation if it's NOT...and if it's the latter, the Pats will make a move that WILL inflate..no way they are keeping the team hostage.

 

[shakadave]

With Branch out, normally that should mean that our other WRs get more work, a better chance to learn the offense, which then pays dividends when/if Branch returns. However, this year hasn't felt that way, with Jackson missing so much of camp. It's felt more like we're giving a lot of minutes to guys that we'll cut anyway. Drat that hamstring of Chad's!