JD10367 said:
With Branch's situation, it's not an impossibility. The Pats certainly wouldn't guarantee Lelie the #1 WR status, but I'm sure he's smart enough to know that the Pats prefer to operate with a "#1A" and a "#1B" WR (i.e. Lelie would get as many balls thrown his way as Branch, or anyone else, as long as he gets open and hangs onto the balls he's thrown).
While I like the drafting of Chad Jackson, Reche Caldwell is an unknown commodity and we don't know if Troy's got enough in his legs to be a prime WR again. So, even if they picked up Lelie and made Deion happy, there's plenty of room for Branch, Lelie, Jackson, and Caldwell...
We need Ashley Lelie like we need a hole in the head. This guy is NOT Patriot material.
On a team that's better noted for it's running game than it's passing attack (note they're trying to fix that, too, with the drafting of Cutler to replace Plummer no later than next year), this guy, who fancies himeself #1 material and thus deems this fantasy worthy of #1 money, would be extremely hard pressed on that team staking claim to the #3 WR spot, if that.
On this Patriots' team, even with it's hanging-by-a-thread receiving corps, he'd be hard-pressed to be #4. He is simply not that good. Has only one real bullet in his gun - fly patterns. Color him a number 1 bust.
The Denver Post today had a brief article about this, stating that "7 teams" were interested in Lelie. In the next sentence it stated that the Broncos had
talked to these teams, including the Patriots. Just because they "
talked" is not indicative of interest.
I believe it was the Broncos who contacted the Pats with a preposterously proposed trade of Lelie for Daniel Graham
and a high draft pick! New England's almost instantaneous response was a diplomatic "No, thanks!".
Shanahan would like to rob the candy store in a trade like this,
if he could, but the simple fact of the matter is, there's simply not much interest around the league for this make-believe #1 wide receiver.
The only way I can see this guy coming to New England under any circumstances is a trade involving an autographed picture of Bill Belichik and a 13th round draft pick.