Patten thrust back into veteran leader’s role

[MTK]

Originally Posted by Daseal

Matty, it's not fair to evaluate Patten in NE and Jacobs in his first couple years. Most WRs are fairly slow to develop, and I really didn't see where Jacobs got a huge chance last year. It seems like Brunell makes about 2-3 reads and then runs, falls down, or throws the ball out of bounds. THe only ball I can remember him tossing towards Jacobs was a very poorly thrown pass that Jacobs went to try to knock down but the Bucs DB made an amazing one handed pick.

As I've said before, when I was at the second Dallas game, I saw Jacobs with good seperation nearly every play I watched him. Plus, Jacobs had the best ST hit ever last year =p

I bet we keep both and if we can a WR it's Thrash.

Why is it not fair to compare what they've done in their careers so far?

You asked why all the hate for TJ, like I said Patten is a proven veteran in this league, bottom line. That's why he gets the benefit of the doubt, he has produced, where TJ has done nothing but been injured and been non-existent even when he's on the field. Even if you just want to compare last year Patten outproduced him with spending half the season on IR. TJ had a chance to step up last year with Patten out, and we saw nothing from him at all.

TJ is going into his 4th year now, the time for excuses and second chances are over.

[offiss]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

Why is it not fair to compare what they've done in their careers so far?

You asked why all the hate for TJ, like I said Patten is a proven veteran in this league, bottom line. That's why he gets the benefit of the doubt, he has produced, where TJ has done nothing but been injured and been non-existent even when he's on the field. Even if you just want to compare last year Patten outproduced him with spending half the season on IR. TJ had a chance to step up last year with Patten out, and we saw nothing from him at all.

TJ is going into his 4th year now, the time for excuses and second chances are over.

Matty if you really want to compare thier career's fairly, then start at the beginning, Patten wasen't alway's catching TD's from Brady, he originally floundered with the Giants and was eventually cut before he found success in New England. So we can ask what happened to Patten between the Giants and New England? Did he become faster? I doubt it, so what made him a productive reciever on an elite team, compared to a lowsey reciever on a mediocre team? As I stated earlier as well as in the past systems more often than not are responsible for players success, and we have yet to have any kind of legitamate offense in the past 3 years, theres no way to judge TJ until now, is he going to be injury prone the rest of his career? Or has his injuries thus far just been bad luck? You could very well be right and this guy will never be healthy enough to be worth the effort, but I do believe he needs an opportunity under Saunders who seems to be able to utilize all the talent and then some that a WR may have, yes I do agree this is a show or go year, but considering the time we have put into TJ it would be foolish to dump him now before we have a chance to see how he produces for a coach like Saunders. There has to be something special about him if players like Portis are saying he's the best player in the NFL to never have seen the field, I am not a big champ fan but it has to mean something when he said Jacobs may be the toughest WR in the NFC for him to cover.

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by offiss

Matty if you really want to compare thier career's fairly, then start at the beginning, Patten wasen't alway's catching TD's from Brady, he originally floundered with the Giants and was eventually cut before he found success in New England. So we can ask what happened to Patten between the Giants and New England? Did he become faster? I doubt it, so what made him a productive reciever on an elite team, compared to a lowsey reciever on a mediocre team? As I stated earlier as well as in the past systems more often than not are responsible for players success, and we have yet to have any kind of legitamate offense in the past 3 years, theres no way to judge TJ until now, is he going to be injury prone the rest of his career? Or has his injuries thus far just been bad luck? You could very well be right and this guy will never be healthy enough to be worth the effort, but I do believe he needs an opportunity under Saunders who seems to be able to utilize all the talent and then some that a WR may have, yes I do agree this is a show or go year, but considering the time we have put into TJ it would be foolish to dump him now before we have a chance to see how he produces for a coach like Saunders. There has to be something special about him if players like Portis are saying he's the best player in the NFL to never have seen the field, I am not a big champ fan but it has to mean something when he said Jacobs may be the toughest WR in the NFC for him to cover.

Last year our offense was top half. So with all the playing time Jacobs got, he should have shown something. I'm all for keeping the guy on the 53 man roster as the 5th WR (ahead of Thrash who also makes the team), but even if he makes it, I have a hard time seeing a situation where he is activated exception to injury. Thrash would be active every week on special teams, and the other 4 on offense. Taylor Jacobs just isn't one of the 46 most valuable players on this team, pure and simple.