The Cleveland Browns officially have announced that tight end Benjamin Watson, a six-year fixture of the Patriots’ offense, has signed a multi-year deal to join former New England defensive coordinator Eric Mangini.
“We viewed Ben as one of the top all-around tight ends in the free agent market,” G.M. Tom Heckert said in a team-issued release. “Because of his athleticism and intelligence, he has proven valuable as both a receiver and blocker during his career, and has performed well in both facets. He comes from a winning program in New England and possesses the traits that we like in a player. We feel as though he can help us in many different areas and we are excited about his addition to our team.”
The Patriots made no real effort to keep Watson, who visited Seattle before heading to Cleveland. Both teams reportedly were attempting to ink Watson.
The Pats are now very thin at the position, as our buddy Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com has pointed out. And the free-agent market is relatively bare; many of the best remaining free agents (like Bo Scaife, Owen Daniels, Anthony Fasano, and Tony Scheffler) are restricted free agents.
good pick up
Bet the Pats give the Bears a ring to see if Olsen is available…
I was one of the minority of Pats fans that liked Watson (and the majority that went nuts over his inconsistency) but the fact that McDaniels and Pioli/Patriots West didn’t snap him up, says something to me.
It was a good deal for Watson, best of luck to him – he never lacked intensity or desire that’s for sure. Hopefully the Cleveland system will fit him better.
Kind of miffed as to why the Bengals didn’t pursue Watson. Right now we have zero TEs capable of starting.
Greg Olsen will be a Patriot. He doesn’t fit in Martz’s system and New England has more than enough draft picks to get him.
i thought he retired in ’04
Watson went to IR early in 2004, making 2005 basically his rookie year. While he played well during his time here, calling him a “fixture” of the offense is overstating his overall importance.
He was a good guy and I, as I’m sure most other Patriots fans do, wish him well. But he was certainly not a huge loss to the team.
Stonehands Watson. Terrible pickup for the Browns.
Mike Reiss is a serious journalist – I doubt he’s your buddy. Besides how soon before you talk smack to some mean dude and go hide in the back seat of a car and let Reiss get pummeled? Yeah, he’s not your buddy.
Florio,
What gives? How ere the Browns able to sign the top rate FA at the tight end position?
Where are those comments from unnamed agents that wouldn’t even return the Browns phone calls.
Remember that one? Maybe not, it must be hard to keep track of which things really happened and which you made up.
CT Pats Fan:
“Hopefully the Cleveland system will fit him better.”
We have a system?
All about the BENJAMINS BABY!!!
Bengals are notoriously bad “multi-taskers”…
they must be working on other things. Like propping up Palmer and working on their draft stratagy.
# bh103 says: March 12, 2010 9:54 AM
“Stonehands Watson. Terrible pickup for the Browns.”
Did you see Robert Royal play? I’ve seen amputees catch the ball better.
“he has proven valuable as both a receiver and blocker during his career, and has performed well in both facets”
Um, are we talking about the same Ben Watson?
Upgrade for the Browns
Greg Olsen to New England for one of their 2nd rd picks, so easyyyyyyy
The Browns need effective targets in the passing game. Watson is an every down TE who can be a legit option for whoever our QB is going to be. Good pickup, definitely a big upgrade over Robert Royal.
Watson is a great pickup for the Browns. He was improperly used in New England the last few years. While he does get the dropsies now and again, statistically speaking he is the most efficient TE in the game when the ball is in his hands.
Big upgrade. And the guy can block too (unlike Evan Moore).
You can say what you want about the talent the Browns have brought in the past few years, but you can’t question the character of guys like Fujita, Watson, Pashos, Alex Mack, etc.
With 10 picks in the first 5 rounds this year, this team could be one to reckon with by 2011. I pray this is the case so we don’t have to listen to the bashing from some of the pitiful trolls these boards.
Good job filling a hole via FA.
The Browns will hopefully stick with their run-heavy offense, meaning that TE’s play a larger role here than in the more spread/pass heavy Patriots offense. Watson should have his number called pretty often.
Could be some upside with this signing.
Hopefully the Browns still pick up a TE in the mid-to-late portion of the draft.
@kenny_powers says:
March 12, 2010 11:17 AM
Watson is a great pickup for the Browns. He was improperly used in New England the last few years.
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I knew someone would make an easy fix to this. Please explain how Watson was “improperly used” the last few years, and how you and Eric will “properly use” him this year. It’s real simple, right?
Convenient for the Pats that this is an exceptionally good year for drafting a tight end.
Damn.
I always thought Ben got a bad rap with the Pats. Yes he had a few more drops than he should have, but he was reliable overall. Did you see the catches at the end of the Bills game to open the season? Those were spectacular, and I think if he got thrown to more often, he would have gotten more consistent. He is a good blocker, and he has the speed to pressure up the seam. He was always the 3rd or 4th option with the Pats. I wish him the best of luck, he was a good soldier and never complained.
I’m glad the Bengals didn’t pursue Watson. He’s only productive in contract years, and now that he got paid, watch him disappear.
The bengals already resigned their pass-dropping tight end. No need for another one. They’ll pick up a quality TE in the middle rounds of the draft.
That practice squad TE will start for the browns.
Cool. So now the Browns will have *two* TEs that can’t catch, and one that can outplay the living snot out of both of them (Evan Moore), who will sit on the bench solely because he’s not as big of a “name” as the other two. Lovely.
Here’s an idea: How about utilizing the legit talent on the team instead of the new regime trying to look busy in the FA market picking up “meh” players?
Good luck Ben. It has to be said you were disappointing in terms of production, , but you were a hard-worker and did any task without complaining. The Browns will get a stand up guy on and off the field.
Ben Watson wasn’t a bad player, overall. He was simply hugely inconsistent. There were times (like in 06) when he was relied upon heavily as a pass catcher and led the team, albeit a team of Caldwells, Gaffneys and Gabriels.
But of late, they chose not to send him out to catch passes very often. Either that, or Brady didn’t see him where he was supposed to be most of the time.
Watson is an excellent economical pick-up at the TE position. Watson, Evan Moore and and maybe Gaines (if he is still there) is plenty of beef for extra blocking and They all have decent hands at TE, far better than Robert Royal. I believe Heiden’s back problems will consume him this year and he maybe out! I like the move. Still doesn’t rule out grabbing a TE in the Draft with 11 total picks.
If they wanted a good tight end, why didn’t they keep Kellen Winslow? Watson is decent but has stone hands and can’t run a good route to save his life.
They obviously signed Watson to run down defensive backs after Delhomme picks.
Is it time to redefine the tight-end position?
Back in the day, the Patriots had excellent fullbacks from Jim Nance, to Mosi Tatupu, to Sam Gash, to Marc Edwards and finally Heath Evans. Then position evolved from a key part of the offense to one only used in certain sets, mostly as a blocker.
Have the Patriots decided to use offensive linemen in the role of tight-end on a regular basis to protect Brady and improve the running game? Their investment would only be a low-cost player picked up in the late rounds or as a free agent versus the high-cost first round pedigree of Graham and Watson who cost even higher in free agency. These players would be versatile becasue they can also fill in at tackle or guard.
If the tight-end blocks 95% of the time, doesn’t the redefinition make sense? Who better than Belicheck to initiate the redefinition? Find an offensive linemen with hands and throw to him 2 to 3 times a game. No one will cover him and he’ll punish the poor safety that has to tackle him.
Florio is getting buddy buddy with the establishment.
Florio used to be the anti-establishment and the rouge blogger – but now the man is paying the bills so Florio is paying homage to the man
This marks an improvement for the Browns – and Watson is a high caliber locker room guy too.
But seeing as he could never be a dependable receiver for Tom Brady, Browns fans are kidding themselves if he’s going to suddenly improve his consistency with a lesser QB.
I’m glad the Bengals didn’t pursue Watson. He’s only productive in contract years, and now that he got paid, watch him disappear.
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ummm, he just finished his first and only contract (FWIW his ONE contract year was not particularly productive).
fullbacks from Jim Nance, to Mosi Tatupu, to Sam Gash, to Marc Edwards and finally Heath Evans. Then position evolved from a key part of the offense to one only used in certain sets
I, for one, would like to see them go back to a true fullback. I thought it was great and entertaining watching Hochstein and Vrabel line up in the backfield on limited plays, but the spread offense in the red zone ain’t working right now.
A good pickup for the Browns, Watson is a class guy , a professional.
TheWizard says:
I like the idea because it protects the Patriots best player (Brady), gives him more time to throw, and should make them more balanced by helping the running game.
The Pats were too predictable on offesne in 2009. I love Welker but Brady stopped sharing the rock with 10+ players a game. Imagine Brady with the linebackers holding the line of scimmage while Moss stretches the field.