Brady's Bedtime Buddies

[gabe1984]

All I hear about on ESPN is how great the Patriots offseason has been thus far. It seems like evey commentator is on this team's nuts and it's blasphemy to say something negative about them. Well here is what I think of the Patriots' new and improved receivers. We'll go in order from crappiest to least crappy.

1) Kelley Washington - Who is Kelley Washington? This guy was a stud at Tennesse, but since then, what has he done in the NFL? Wait, I know, NOTHING! This guy played four season for the Bengals, and the most yards he ever had was 378, and doesn't even have 1,000 career yards. But hey, he does have 9 touchdowns, which is good if you want to be better than Wes Welker (see #2). Laron Landry is going to steal this guy's lunch money.

2) Wes Welker - My man Wes has had 2 touchdowns in the NFL, with low receiving yards. He may be a decent return guy, but he's no Devin Hester. Nothing to be scared of. Plus, he's 5'9 185lbs. So unless he can run like Santanna Moss, which I doubt, this guy better get ready to take a beating come October 28th.

3) Donte Stallworth - Donte Stallworth has a cool name, but guess what, he doesn't have a cool game. He does, however, have an attitude problem, and mediocre numbers. He's not bad a player, he's nothing great either. He's a deep threat guy like Moss, he doesn't want to get hit. Taylor hits this guy once and he's not gonna want to play anymore. To me, he's a speed demon, but doesn't bring much else to the table.

4) Randy Moss - This guy is a wild card. He has had great seasons in the past, but nobody can say for sure if this guy can still play. I do know that's he's getting old, and probably cannot do the same things that he used to. I also know that him and Taylor battled it out in 2004 when we beat the Vikings the last game of the season. Taylor has gained more experience since then, while Moss is entering the second half of his career where a drop in the level of production normally occurs. I see Taylor winning the deep ball matchup here. Plus, we all know he doesn't like to get hit.

Bottom line, ESPN predicts the Patriots to dominate next year, kinda like they predcited the Buckeyes to win the BCS championship, and the Mavericks and Heat to dominate the NBA playoffs this year. Oh wait, and kinda like most of the ESPN analysts picked the Chiefs to upset the Colts to win in the first round of the playoffs this past season.

[12thMan]

I don't buy it. I think the Pats will be good, no doubt. But they are a team that typically thrives with role players, overachievers and great chemistry. All of the recent additions will take time to assemble, and make impact.

This is huge departure from their normal way of 'winning'. But if anyone can pull it off, BB can.

[jdlea]

I don't really disagree with your assessment too much, but Tom Brady was ripping it up with Jabar Gaffney and Reche Caldwell, both of whom are about as good as Kelley Washington. So, I think they'll be much improved by adding Stallworth and Moss.

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by jdlea

I don't really disagree with your assessment too much, but Tom Brady was ripping it up with Jabar Gaffney and Reche Caldwell, both of whom are about as good as Kelley Washington. So, I think they'll be much improved by adding Stallworth and Moss.

Seemingly so, but in the NFL it just doesn't work that way. I mean, they're bringing in two new wideouts.

Think about it, what Moss/Stallworth are excellent at, may not be the same thing the other two receivers were excellent at. Does that make sense?

[jdlea]

Originally Posted by 12thMan

Seemingly so, but in the NFL it just doesn't work that way. I mean, they're bringing in two new wideouts.

Think about it, what Moss/Stallworth are excellent at, may not be the same thing the other two receivers were excellent at. Does that make sense?

Yeah, but both Gaffney and Caldwell were new and they were both brought in after the season started. I think with most of the offseason to work, these guys are gonna be very good. Brady can throw it deep, so that'll keep those two busy. Also, both of them are pretty good close to the line, but if they're not, that's actually something they can use Washington for. I think it's gonna work out for these guys.

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by jdlea

I don't really disagree with your assessment too much, but Tom Brady was ripping it up with Jabar Gaffney and Reche Caldwell, both of whom are about as good as Kelley Washington. So, I think they'll be much improved by adding Stallworth and Moss.

Ripping it up? I'd give you adequate with what he was given.

[jdlea]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

Ripping it up? I'd give you adequate with what he was given.

Yeah, 7th in the NFL in passing yards isn't very good considering his targets...yes, I'd say he was ripping it up.

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by jdlea

Yeah, 7th in the NFL in passing yards isn't very good considering his targets...yes, I'd say he was ripping it up.

7th=ripping it up?

I thought you were in the "Brunell isn't getting it done" corner because top 10-12 wasn't good enough. Brady was better than 10-12 (at least by pass yardage), but if 7th is ripping it up, and 9th or 12th or whatever Brunell was when he got benched isn't, where's the line?

I thought Brady had a sub par year by his own standards. I don't think Caldwell and Gaffney are world beaters of course, but Brady had done much better with mediocre-to-good guys like Branch and Troy Brown, so I don't think having slightly different mediocre receivers changed very much.

[jdlea]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

7th=ripping it up?

I thought you were in the "Brunell isn't getting it done" corner because top 10-12 wasn't good enough. Brady was better than 10-12 (at least by pass yardage), but if 7th is ripping it up, and 9th or 12th or whatever Brunell was when he got benched isn't, where's the line?

I thought Brady had a sub par year by his ohttp://www.thewarpath.net/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=305525
Redskins Warpath - Reply to Topicwn standards. I don't think Caldwell and Gaffney are world beaters of course, but Brady had done much better with mediocre-to-good guys like Branch and Troy Brown, so I don't think having slightly different mediocre receivers changed very much.

Caldwell and Gaffney suck. They're not good football players, that's why they were available. Given his targets, 7th in the league is ripping it up. And the difference wasn't the passing yardage, it was wins and losses with Brunell. Last time I checked, that wasn't much of a problem for the New England Patriots last season. And 1789 in 9 games with 8 td's isn't in the same realm as 2052 with 15 touchdowns. Especially not when Mark Brunell had a top 5 wide out and a top 10 TE and that doesn't even mention Randle El or Lloyd (both of whom were better than everyone on the Pats last season).

So yeah, Brunell wasn't playing well enough, but Tom was. I'd agree he had a down year, but I'm saying that all things considered, Tom had a pretty good season. Take away anybody's top 4 targets and then have him go out and have a good season, show me someone who could.

[skinsfan69]

Originally Posted by jdlea

Yeah, 7th in the NFL in passing yards isn't very good considering his targets...yes, I'd say he was ripping it up.

What Brady did last year was simply amazing if you ask me. Who is more valuable to their team other than Manning? NE takes away his two starting wr's and brings in cast offs. Plus Chad Jackson didn't do anything. So all the guy does is throw for 24td's 12ints and 3500yards. I remember the Mon, night game where he just put on a passing clinic against Minnesota's defense. The guy is simply a great quarterback.

[jdlea]

Originally Posted by skinsfan69

What Brady did last year was simply amazing if you ask me. Who is more valuable to their team other than Manning? NE takes away his two starting wr's and brings in cast offs. Plus Chad Jackson didn't do anything. So all the guy does is throw for 24td's 12ints and 3500yards. I remember the Mon, night game where he just put on a passing clinic against Minnesota's defense. The guy is simply a great quarterback.

That's the point I'm trying to make. And I think he's more valuable than Peyton. Take away Manning's 4 favorite targets over one offseason and then show me how successful he is.

[sandtrapjack]

Originally Posted by gabe1984

Bottom line, ESPN predicts the Patriots to dominate next year, kinda like they predcited the Buckeyes to win the BCS championship, and the Mavericks and Heat to dominate the NBA playoffs this year. Oh wait, and kinda like most of the ESPN analysts picked the Chiefs to upset the Colts to win in the first round of the playoffs this past season.

They are also considering the addition of Adailus Thomas from the Ravens. That was a very good off-season addition.

Let's not forget that the Patriots were only a Brady mis-read in the fourth quarter of the AFC Championship game away from another Super Bowl trip.

On paper, yeah they have gotten a lot more talented than last season.

[gabe1984]

Originally Posted by sandtrapjack

They are also considering the addition of Adailus Thomas from the Ravens. That was a very good off-season addition.

Let's not forget that the Patriots were only a Brady mis-read in the fourth quarter of the AFC Championship game away from another Super Bowl trip.

On paper, yeah they have gotten a lot more talented than last season.

Or you could say they were one Charger fumble away from not even playing in the AFC championship.

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by gabe1984

Or you could say they were one Charger fumble away from not even playing in the AFC championship.

Great point.

[MTK]

They sure have upgraded from last year.

I think Moss is going to be huge for them. A motivated Moss is a very dangerous player.