Will We Get Any Production From Branch, Allen or Harris?

[RobertWeathers]

Dude, don’t disrespect the Burkmeister like that.

No disrespect intended and aknowledge he's hurt but pro football is a cruel world.

If paid $3m and not play, then the player is not providing value or producing.

 

[RobertWeathers]

I thought they could only come back after 8 weeks??

No one mentioned that slacker Edelman.. why can't he "walk it off"??

JE looked just fine carrying the Lombardi opening night.

Plus he just had surgery so he's all patched up.

If his boo-boo still hurts, rub some dirt or butter on it . He's fine

 

[Uptown]

No disrespect intended and aknowledge he's hurt but pro football is a cruel world.

If paid $3m and not play, then the player is not providing value or producing.

Lol just kidding dude. Your logic is perfectly logical.

 

[RayClay]

Regarding Branch, I don't hold 350 [? ] pound linemen to the same standard as a 180 lb slot receiver as far as being in shape/motivation. We are spoiled by the amazing Vince Wilfork in that regard. I think all 350-400 pound athletes struggle at times. Imagine, if you feel good or bad, you still have to lug that amount of weight, or even stand on it with your feet and legs. Branch was a decent tackle his first year or so just because of his size, a great one due to health/motivation the last couple.

If we don't use Branch, we'll need to find something like him and good luck with that. BB actually has said that athletic big men are the most valuable because they are so had to find. Without Branch, the dropoff to Brown is tremendous, the dropoff after that is basically keeping an extra player in and distorting the defense. They don't have two giants without Branch and Valentine and probably not one.

 

[captain stone]

...If we don't use Branch, we'll need to find something like him and good luck with that. BB actually has said that athletic big men are the most valuable because they are so had to find. Without Branch, the dropoff to Brown is tremendous, the dropoff after that is basically keeping an extra player in and distorting the defense. They don't have two giants without Branch and Valentine and probably not one.

I agree, and for that reason I was disappointed, though not especially surprised,
that Ahtyba Rubin wasn't signed here after Seattle released him at the beginning
of the season.

 

[mgteich]

Unless you are talking about next offseason then all 3 are most probably too expensive to be cut.

Let us consider Harris.

Please tell me why he is too expensive to cut, and that we are better off keeping him inactive for the rest of the year and then dumping him.

Obviously, this isn't relevant if Belichick thinks that Harris will contribute later in the season.

 

[mgteich]

If we don't use Branch, we'll need to find something like him and good luck with that.

If Branch is done, there is no advantage in having him on the team. It is as simple as that.

On the other hand, if he is injured, or just having a bad spell, then he should stay even as an emergency backup.

 

[aluminum seats]

No,

No,

And No.

Yes,

Yes,

And Yes.

I'd say the answer is in between:

Yes

Not much

No

 

[aluminum seats]

Regarding Branch, I don't hold 350 [? ] pound linemen to the same standard as a 180 lb slot receiver as far as being in shape/motivation. We are spoiled by the amazing Vince Wilfork in that regard. I think all 350-400 pound athletes struggle at times. Imagine, if you feel good or bad, you still have to lug that amount of weight, or even stand on it with your feet and legs.

You may be right in terms of how things shake out in the real world, but I wouldn't begin to excuse it. He's getting paid an absolute fortune to get his ass in gear.

 

[Ring 6]

Will We Get Any Production From

Branch
Allan
Harris

Three players seem to be nonproductive. Obviously, these are expensive drags on the cap. On the other hand, other players like Wise and Butler are great bargains. Three players doesn't seem to be a very large number.

The rest may be doing less or more than we might expect. But, there is certainly strong possibilities of improvement as the season continues. BTW, I don't include Richards or Grissom on the list because they contribute as special teamers.

I suppose, if Allan is indeed a quality blocker, then he is of great use for 2017, although very expensive for that role. It would seem that Branch and Harris might be simply cut, unless they are injured.

What are you gaining by cutting your backup LB and your starting DT who for some reason is struggling and getting limited PT?
Harris for example is behind the players in front of him. What would it accomplish to cut him and replace him with another guy who sits in his role?
Ultimately if mcclellin is coming back AND we stay healthy Harris is probably losing his job then to a guy who will see the field. Until then Harris will play if and when there are injuries.

 

[luuked]

Let us consider Harris.

Please tell me why he is too expensive to cut, and that we are better off keeping him inactive for the rest of the year and then dumping him.

Obviously, this isn't relevant if Belichick thinks that Harris will contribute later in the season.

Whats the point in cutting him unless you have someone specific to acquire in mind ?

He has been with the team through camp so the team most probably knew by the cut deadline pretty well what they had in him but decided to keep him around anyway. So it is not a surprise of where he is in terms of depth chart position.

 

[aluminum seats]

Harris for example is behind the players in front of him. What would it accomplish to cut him and replace him with another guy

Well, it certainly isn't an unreasonable question to ask whether a guy who plays a snap or two a game might be replaced by someone who would contribute more than that.

 

[luuked]

If Branch is done, there is no advantage in having him on the team. It is as simple as that.

On the other hand, if he is injured, or just having a bad spell, then he should stay even as an emergency backup.

Except its not true. What you will get off the street at his position now is most likely considerably worse than what the current Branch brings to the table.

 

[Jackson 2]

BTW, why do people think getting rid of every player that has a down game or has trade value, will help us? If posters had there way we would only have three players left at year's end.

One-#12.

 

[Jackson 2]

He needs to stay on the field

Not if he's legitimately injured, and I have no reason to believe he's not.

 

[Ring 6]

Well, it certainly isn't an unreasonable question to ask whether a guy who plays a snap or two a game might be replaced by someone who would contribute more than that.

Ok then who would?
Langi isn't even active should he be cut?
53 man rosters have guys that are 44-53 and don't see much field.
Cutting a guy off the 53 because he is 49 (or 50,51,52,53) just means you replace him with a different 49.
If you know someone better let's look. At this point BB doesn't think there is.
If Harris role was the 4th LB in a defense that plays 2 and once in a while a 3rd the fact that we haven't needed the 4th yet doesn't mean he isn't filling the role he made the team for effectively.

It's like saying cut your backup infielder when you start the season with all your infielders healthy and playing every inning.

 

[aluminum seats]

It's like saying cut your backup infielder when you start the season with all your infielders healthy and playing every inning.

No, it's really not like saying that. They are different sports with different expectations.

 

[maineman209]

Regarding Branch, I don't hold 350 [? ] pound linemen to the same standard as a 180 lb slot receiver as far as being in shape/motivation. We are spoiled by the amazing Vince Wilfork in that regard. I think all 350-400 pound athletes struggle at times. Imagine, if you feel good or bad, you still have to lug that amount of weight, or even stand on it with your feet and legs. Branch was a decent tackle his first year or so just because of his size, a great one due to health/motivation the last couple.

If we don't use Branch, we'll need to find something like him and good luck with that. BB actually has said that athletic big men are the most valuable because they are so had to find. Without Branch, the dropoff to Brown is tremendous, the dropoff after that is basically keeping an extra player in and distorting the defense. They don't have two giants without Branch and Valentine and probably not one.

Branch - 6060/350
Brown - 6020/320
Valentine - 6020/320
(Blackson - 6043/318, ps)
Guy - 6041/305

Augusta - 6035/345
... released from IR with 3-week settlement on 9/7; eligible to be re-signed by the Pats in two more weeks.

 

[RayClay]

You may be right in terms of how things shake out in the real world, but I wouldn't begin to excuse it. He's getting paid an absolute fortune to get his ass in gear.

He can't pay to make 370 lbs feel like 180. If he could he could quit football and market that potion for millions.

 

[RayClay]

Since it comes up so often, a business deal is a business deal, it's separate from performance on the field. A big contract doesn't make you faster, smarter or more focused.

It's like yelling at the stock market because a company flops. Make another deal, or stay out.

Every player should give their best regardless of salary.