Comments on: Patriots cut Deion Branch, call up Greg Salas

By: patsfannh

patsfannh — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 16:06:56 +0000

I guess we know who the frontrunner is for the 2012 ‘Ross Ventrone Mr. Transaction Award’….trust me you haven’t seen the last of Branch…especially with Gronk on the shelf.

By: crw37

crw37 — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 16:40:12 +0000

I’m not surprised, but as a Patriots fan, I’ll always love Deion Branch.

By: ytsejamer1

ytsejamer1 — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 13:07:52 +0000

Josh says: Nov 17, 2012 5:54 PM

The only people surprised by this are folks who never watch a Patriots game. I love Deion but I remember during the Broncos game when he finally caught a ball and pretty much the entire stadium gave him a sarcastic golf clap. He’s a good veteran to have around, but dude has lost a step. He’ll be off and on the roster rest of the year.
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I genuinely think that Foxborough fans (quiet as they may be) actually really like Deion Branch. As for the rest of the statement, I wholeheartedly agree. He HAS lost a a step or three and it’s too bad…he has been great player to have on your team. He’s always accountable, knows where to be, and is tougher than a lot of people give him credit for. I still think he knows where the soft spots of any defense are…he has an uncanny ability to find it.

Unfortunately, Brady is so locked on Gronk or Welker that he’s the fourth or fifth look at this stage. It’s tough to get a lot of balls thrown your way.

It’s also sad that he was the LAST wide receiver that New England actually identified, drafted appropriately, and developed into a very good player…yes, in 2002. (David Givens was the other project player that turned out to be good for us)

By: Patskrieg dot com

Patskrieg dot com — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 07:03:01 +0000

I’ll give Salas the benefit of the doubt, but I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised to see him play in 2 or 3 games, get almost no snaps, then get cut leaving the Patriots to tread water at yet another position of need.

By: tiggerblood

tiggerblood — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 06:53:30 +0000

Bengals. A vet would be nice on recieving corps that has rookies and first year players. Oops forgot Mile Brown was the owner also think he should’ve put a bid on Deangelo Williams maybe he could have kick started the run game. Would’ve been a great change of pace from the putrid Law Firm.

By: cannonballdookie

cannonballdookie — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 05:41:28 +0000

I’m sure he’ll still want to come back to the Pats, the poor guy is brainwashed just like the rest of them, believing the Patriots are a classy organization. Still can’t believe they were able to swindle a first round pick from Seattle for a system WR like him.

By: capesquad

capesquad — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 05:32:38 +0000

rushmatic says:
Nov 17, 2012 8:32 PM
Excited to see what Salas can do. Branch served a purpose for the first half of this season, but it’s certainly not a purpose that a younger, smarter player can’t handle.

Hold on “Rushmatic”…

“younger” yes. “smarter” ?? I don’t know Salas yet, but Branch is no dummie.

By: geniusfan

geniusfan — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 05:14:47 +0000

“All of that makes great strategic sense. Yet to look at some of these comments, it seems most fans think Belichick is off his rocker”

Unfortunately a lot of Patriots fans don’t know that much about their own team. I love Branch for what he did for the Patriots not what he is now. He can’t run at all, his separation skills have eroded so much that he needs to consider retiring after this season. He also dropped a third down pass last week on the first drive and now he’s got a hamstring injury. For a player that already can’t separate from third string corners that’s a devastating injury to have.

Branch and Brady have a special connection that’s his only value to the Patriots. No other team is going to sign him.

Salas at least has upside, do I think he’ll make a real impact? Not really, but the Patriots have the luxury to tinker with their line up seeing as the AFC East race is already over. Maybe Salas will be ready by January to make a real impact. Nevertheless the time to give him reps and start getting him involved is now.

By: lovetbrady

lovetbrady — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 03:54:57 +0000

Sighhhh, such is the Patriot Way. Thank you Deon for all your hard work.I still miss Richard Seymour, though I doubt Eli Manning does.

By: spetznaz777

spetznaz777 — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 03:17:55 +0000

salas is a good possession/slot guy. dunno why the rams gave him up and kept austin pettis.

By: dudeicle

dudeicle — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 03:03:21 +0000

Is the new guy fast? Welker and Branch have some good moves to get open, but the Pats really need a deep threat speedster to really open things up.

By: ne4789

ne4789 — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 02:42:08 +0000

Branch will be back by playoff time. Unless maybe the Giants will try to grab him in spite of Jake Ballard haha!

By: elmaxoh

elmaxoh — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 02:40:49 +0000

Maybe the Dolphins could give him a chance

By: finhead

finhead — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 01:49:02 +0000

It’s OK, If they go to the superbowl and lose they will re-sign him the next day.

By: rushmatic

rushmatic — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 01:32:54 +0000

Branch won’t sign with the Jets. haha silly thought.

By: rushmatic

rushmatic — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 01:32:22 +0000

Excited to see what Salas can do. Branch served a purpose for the first half of this season, but it’s certainly not a purpose that a younger, smarter player can’t handle.

By: j0esixpack

j0esixpack — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 01:13:03 +0000

Apparently Jets fans are drooling over Branch, knowing that even with a hurt hamstring he’d still be the fastest and best WR on the team

Amazing

By: tigerlilac

tigerlilac — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 00:57:19 +0000

He’s hurt and can’t play. This is just Bill expanding his roster. He is risking Branch getting picked up by another team but it is a calculated risk. Salad has had time to learn the office. If there is another injury to a receiver or Bill drops a tight-end from the roster Branch will likely be back.

By: ppc50

ppc50 — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 00:51:07 +0000

I would rather see Branch in Dallas than Olgetree.

By: birdmantd

birdmantd — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 00:29:26 +0000

I’d be surprised if he doesn’t end up in a Jets uniform in time for the Thanksgiving showdown vs. the Pats.

By: liiiithium

liiiithium — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 00:03:39 +0000

I think Branch had better get used to flitting between the active roster and the practice squad from now on.

By: nflsucker

nflsucker — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 23:43:37 +0000

Even though he’s not the best receiver in the world, he’d instantly be at the top of the food chain for the Jets.

By: ndnut

ndnut — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 23:22:33 +0000

The mention was for the Vikings to pick him up on wavers because my team is obsessed with signing guys at the end of their career and having a legit deep threat is something fans have been calling for for a while now.

By: j0esixpack

j0esixpack — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 23:01:02 +0000

Geeze, what’s wrong with fans second guessing this move.

Branch was healthy at the beginning of the year and no one claimed him – and now he has a hamstring injury.

This is a “shadow roster” move for the Patriots to provide some actual depth and protect a younger player from being claimed by someone else.

With Branch being injured the probability that few teams would want to add an injured guy to the 53 man roster is low. He can stay off the roster, heal and if needed be available for late in the season or for playoff depth.

All of that makes great strategic sense. Yet to look at some of these comments, it seems most fans think Belichick is off his rocker

By: Josh

Josh — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 22:54:32 +0000

By: jrfrom508

jrfrom508 — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 22:45:07 +0000

Nothing but respect for Mr. Branch. Stay close bro, I’ve got a feeling he hasn’t played his last snap for NE this season.

By: confusedfinfan

confusedfinfan — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 22:43:05 +0000

Reunite Branch and Gafney in Miami. Give Tannehill a nice tandem to hit and bring their season out of the toilet…maybe.

By: daknight93

daknight93 — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 22:26:20 +0000

yep, business as usual for patriots…NFL is a production business…don’t play well, a team will release that poor product..ask Ray Edwards about being cut also.

By: Patriot42

Patriot42 — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 22:22:31 +0000

No one should feel relaxed on the Pats squad.

By: bh83

bh83 — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 22:19:36 +0000

This makes me sad, are they really going to use Greg Salas at all this year? I bet he doesn’t make one catch. Branch is a very smart veteran who can still make a few catches a game. He is a very valuable asset come playoff time (fingers crossed). I don’t like this move.