Comments on: Deion Branch is staying in New England

By: patriotera

patriotera — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 06:08:43 +0000

So are you ready for the Giants to go another couple yrs without making the playoffs again?

By: baroneski29

baroneski29 — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 04:47:09 +0000

No matter what they do, they just can’t beat the Giants.

By: bigbamboom1

bigbamboom1 — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 04:11:09 +0000

My bad on Gonzalez. I thought they meant the HOF TE. Never mind the 2Te scenario. The Gonzalez they got can’t beat a dead man on a route. He is nothing but camp fodder. Ocho has a little breathing room now. But not very much. I believe it will basically come down to Ocho or Branch. Because I think they will draft a burner receiver and another TE in the early rounds. Because both Hernandez and Gronk are injured. At least one of them may go down next year. And the Pats would be screwed. The Pats have 2 number 1′s and 2 number 2′s. They’ll draft mostly offense early and try to sign serviceable free agent defenders & undrafted rookies to blend with the youngsters already on the roster.

By: laxcoach37

laxcoach37 — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 01:46:27 +0000

Jeez… This is like an old age home for cast-off WR’s. The difference is Brady. He can make any group of these average dudes look good. Welker ( when he holds on to the Ball) and Llyod is their first Big-Man will have success. Gonzales will be out for the Season in 5 minutes, but who needs him with their TE tandem. 4 of those guys won’t even make the Roster and Ochostinko might as well call TO and have him make some room on his Couch. Hey, Branch… You want to be in my Fantasy League, no, not ON it; IN it. You’ll have plenty of time on your hands.

By: tybrew

tybrew — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 20:52:54 +0000

Dion is a classy Guy…love his interviews cause he’s kinda funny…glad he’s back

By: dd10er

dd10er — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 20:34:03 +0000

Its going to be interesting to see who emerges on the team after training camp.

Welker
Llyod
Branch
Stallworth
Gonzalez
Edleman
Ochocinco
And potentially a draft choice at WR

I don’t see Ocho making the team, and then for me I believe it is a toss up between Stallworth or Gonzalez, maybe even both. Personally I would like to see Stallworth make the team though, but we’ll see how it turns out, should be exciting.

By: unbreakable02215

unbreakable02215 — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 20:32:12 +0000

Love the guy. Did a TON for the franchise. But
this cat is cooked. Done. No legs left.

By: ttommytom

ttommytom — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 20:28:23 +0000

Who is going to play Special Teams?

At least 3 of them won’t make the team.

You need a gunner from the wideouts.

By: cdins

cdins — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 20:20:43 +0000

@bigbamboom, uh, you do know that anthony gonzalez is not HOF tony gonzalez????? Wow

By: patsfiend

patsfiend — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 20:19:53 +0000

@bigbamboom1 … That’s about the most positive / homerific Pats post I’ve seen here in a while!

Gonzalez a huge grab! Faulk reliable! Pats actually drafting a receiver worth a darn!

I hope all your dreams come true, I really do.

By: faulkana

faulkana — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 20:17:17 +0000

As much as I like Branch, I am not thrilled to have him around anymore. He never even attempts to pick up a yard after a catch. Catch=Fall down.
He is decent at 3rd down conversions because he is tight with Brady, but I’d love to see someone at least try to get some YACs.
Ocho must go. Seeing his face on the sideline is simply a reminder that we made a big mistake.
Gonzalez I can’t stand simply because he was a Colt and Buckeye. I never thought he was too good either.
So there is my 2 cents on the 3 receivers to get rid of.

By: homelanddefense

homelanddefense — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 20:11:03 +0000

you do know that Kevin Faulk is basically done right?

By: nfl1818

nfl1818 — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 20:07:11 +0000

I think Branch might be much more effcetive next year with Lloyd stretching the field and Gronk, Hern, and Welker working shorter routes. That will leave Branch as very reliable 5th option finding the open midrange space.

Basically you are putting Lloyd in Branch’s role and Branch in Ocho’s role, a big 2x improvement.

Thats to say nothing of how Ocho might react with afull camp or Gonzalez or Stallworth. If any of these 3 do something, it will be all upside beyond the huge dynamic offered by Lloyd.

Draft a WR in 2 rounds ? I highly doubt it – maybe an OL, but otherwise S, OLB, DE, DL.

By: bigbamboom1

bigbamboom1 — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 19:55:04 +0000

Unlike some here, I think Gonzales is a huge grab for the Patriots. That will allow the Pats to go with a Super 3 TE set at times, with Hernandez lining up at Fullback. It will insure Hernandez or Welker has a slow middle linebacker or safety covering them on intermediate routes. HUGE advantage Pats! Guaranteed mismatches all over the field. Especially if Stallworth and LLoyd can burn it on Go-Routes. But I also think the Pats will grab a swift wide receiver in the draft with 1 of their 2 number 1 picks. Maybe Floyd from Notre Dame?

They are even better than last year at RB with the more versatile Steve Ridley, the speedy Ben Vereen, the shifty D. Woodhead, the reliable K. Faulk and the wildcard A. Hernandez. The big 2nd yr O tackle Nate Solder also lined up at Fullback in Heavy up goal line blocking packages last year. He was a huge tight end at Colorado.

Looks like McDaniel and Belicheck are all in on creating matchup nightmares for everyone on D next year. I think the odd man out in this rotation is Ochocinco. He better set the world on fire in the preseason. Or he is 1 and done in NE. If they draft a speed burner in rounds 1-3 it is a moot point for Ocho anyway IMO.

By: skolvikesskol

skolvikesskol — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 19:36:21 +0000

Like there was another team who wanted him.

By: govtminion

govtminion — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 19:17:13 +0000

We’re assuming that Ochocinco is going to be in New England again next season? I thought he was done there for sure.

By: tombradyallday

tombradyallday — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 19:16:11 +0000

thats the best thing bout new england. coaches let players compete in camp never just give out jobs. ocho knows that now and i like chad

By: patsfiend

patsfiend — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 19:13:58 +0000

What about Kid n’ Play Underwood?

I don’t see how Gonzalez is making this team. Or Ocho, Plus their TE’s… and now they’ll start a RB who can hopefully catch a pass… plenty of pass-catchers.

By: homelanddefense

homelanddefense — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 19:13:23 +0000

I dont think Stallworth will make the team. And Ocho isnt too far behind him…if they draft a WR then you can kiss Branch or Gonzalez goodbye too.

This signing better be for small dollars.

By: giantseahawk

giantseahawk — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 19:10:24 +0000

Branch is a bum. He signed with the Seahawks and did nothing but rehab for four years. As soon as he gets back to the Pats you couldn’t keep the guy off the field.

Randy Moss thinks this guy takes seasons off

By: sschmiggles

sschmiggles — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 19:10:17 +0000

Solid #3 behind Welker and Lloyd. Really a #5 when you count Hernandez and Gronk

By: ampats

ampats — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 19:08:40 +0000

Good signing. Deion Branch understands the exact spot that Brady wants him in, unfortunately Ocho could not figure that out all season.

By: 6ball

6ball — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 19:08:27 +0000

Both Lloyd and Stallworth are familiar with the Patriots offense. Gonzales ….not so much.

By: benh999

benh999 — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 19:08:02 +0000

How special.

By: tomeffnbrady

tomeffnbrady — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 19:03:39 +0000

In other words if your a WR on the Patriots roster be prepared to earn your spot on the roster *cough* hear that ochocinco? *cough*