Patriots have released WR Malcolm Mitchell. Really flashed as a rookie but has battled injury problems
This is a great idea. Surprised I never thought about that as a middle-ground solution.Yet another example of how cruel the NFL is to not have guaranteed contracts be the default. It really hits the NFL's lower-classes the hardest. Even just guaranteeing the first million or two of every year's salary (leaving the huge expenditures on stars more malleable) would leave far fewer players wondering how an injury that was "part of the game" could have cost them all their projected career earnings.
I was listening to Beetle and Zo on the radio when this broke. They talked about it for a minute then beetle said "can i say what we saw? I probably can now, right?" Zo sort of grumbled and then they agreed not to talk about it in detail. Beetle finished that bit off by saying "let's just say, based on what we saw this is not a surprise and i would be surprised if he's on the field anywhere this year." I can only imagine how hobbled he was trying to participate in drills, etc.He will catch on somewhere, too much talent to not. However, the NFL really needs to look into guaranteed deals, or even just something like an cap relief injury designation that would allow someone to get paid, but allow the money to come off the books. At some point the Steelers are going to have to release Ryan Shazier, and that’s going to be a shame.
They don't win a championship without him. He should never pay for a drink in Boston. I hope he gets better and has a career. Really this is too bad.
You said it. Disappointed in the situation. Loved him when he was healthy and thanks for 2016. Fuck injuries.A binky of mine, thought he was great. It's hard to become attached to NFL players since their shelf life is so short. Wish him well and maybe one day he'll be healthy again.
How does he write that without even a mention about past and present knee problems that have been widely reported. He did write:Yet despite the fact this team is dying for receiver depth and Mitchell was the most competent rookie receiver the team had since Deion Branch in 2002, shrugs will outnumber sneers when we try and figure out why he was released.
But "on the outs" suggests something more than "unable to play." Is there something more?We've known for more than a week he was on the outs and he hasn't been able to get on the field since the preseason last year when he collided with tight end Jacob Hollister during a game against the Texans.
It is a borderline fraudulent piece without an acknowledgement of this injury history, as you note.How does he write that without even a mention about past and present knee problems that have been widely reported. He did write:
But "on the outs" suggests something more than "unable to play." Is there something more?
Well, Mitchell was outright waived and not waived with an injury designation. That means he passed his final physical before they released him.How does he write that without even a mention about past and present knee problems that have been widely reported. He did write:
But "on the outs" suggests something more than "unable to play." Is there something more?
That was also absent from Curran's note. The fact -- aside from the official NFL designation -- is that he's been unable to play, apparently for all to see, due to knee issues. Is Curran suggesting he wasn't really hurt? That he wasn't rehabbing with appropriate vigor? That there's some "reason," beyond his ability to play, why he's "on the outs."Well, Mitchell was outright waived and not waived with an injury designation. That means he passed his final physical before they released him.
Kyed“We like to say that dependability is more important than ability,” Belichick said.
EdelmanThis WR group is kinda terrible on paper, at least until Edelman gets back.
"New England, thank you! My heart hurts, but I smile when thinking about all the love, support and patience you have given me. To the community this is not goodbye, it’s I’ll see you later. Go Pats!"
Ahh, so that's what Curran meant by "on the outs."
Bill Belichick at the podium, touches on Malcolm Mitchell: “He did everything he could...I don’t know how much more he could’ve put into it than he did."
This is the worst receiver corps the Pats have had since the 2006 squad, where Reche Caldwell was the only player with 50+ catches (and Troy Brown was the only WR besides Caldwell with more than 25).Edelman
Hogan
Dorsett
Britt
Decker
Patterson
Even adding Edelman doesn’t make it much better since we have no idea what he’ll be like upon his return. Given that Patterson is going to be a gadget player, somebody in the Dorsett/Britt/Decker group really needs to pop. And I’m not exactly holding my breath.
Berrios?Edelman
Hogan
Dorsett
Britt
Decker
Patterson
Even adding Edelman doesn’t make it much better since we have no idea what he’ll be like upon his return. Given that Patterson is going to be a gadget player, somebody in the Dorsett/Britt/Decker group really needs to pop. And I’m not exactly holding my breath.
Sometimes 11 personnel is dictated by game situation. In the two-minute drill, they can't really play Develin or Dwayne Allen. If they're losing in the second half and need to throw, they need more receivers out there. And even in those heavier lineups, they need someone to step up. Allen was awful as a receiver last year, and Hollister did little. Maybe we see some White / Burkhead lineups? I dunno.Cooks/Dola/Gronk/White total 65% of the completions. So I think we really need one WR to step up until Edelman is back, and then I think that receiver plus Hogan and Edelman will get the majority of catches through the season. I know the WR group looks weak, but 3-4 of those guys are just depth, we need Dorsett possibly to be the man breaking out. Early reviews have been positive. I don't think we'll see as much 11 personnel in the first 4 weeks. I bet we're a bit heavier until Edelman is back. Hoping Edelman is right when he's back (obviously).
It's not just those two, Phil Perry and Curran, as well as Reiss, mention his name on a near-daily basis it seems.Bedard and Price at BSJ have been raving about Patterson. Catch of the day has been a repeated term for him. They also praised his willingness to get his nose dirty in WR blocking drills.
I think Patterson will surprise this year in the same way that Hogan did 2 years ago.
Seriously, the receivers this year may not be as good as the past few years, but IMO they do not deserve that comparison.This is the worst receiver corps the Pats have had since the 2006 squad, where Reche Caldwell was the only player with 50+ catches (and Troy Brown was the only WR besides Caldwell with more than 25).
A lot rides on Gronk’s health. If defenses have to key on him, that will open opportunities for everyone else, but if he’s not playing, the league’s better defenses will absolutely smother this crew.
Someone in the Dorsett/Britt/Patterson/Decker group really needs to emerge. If Gronk goes down with an injury, then we need 2 of those guys to emerge. I think we have a good sense as to what Hogan/Edelman should bring but I have no idea what to expect from this group. I personally don't think Decker has much left so not expecting much there. Britt was putrid last year in Cleveland (obviously have to discount that some) and turns 30 in September so not sure what he'll add, especially since we've never seen him in a game with Brady. Dorsett and Patterson are younger and athletic so if someone emerges, I think it's going to be one of these guys.Seriously, the receivers this year may not be as good as the past few years, but IMO they do not deserve that comparison.
My concern re: the bolded is: is Patterson actually playing well, or just making a couple highlight-reel catches each practice? It's easy to notice a one-handed grab; it's harder to pick up on whether a guy is consistently running routes at the proper depth, making the correct sight adjustments, and getting separation with consistency (I believe Mike Lombardi made a similar point on a recent pod, in the abstract, not about Patterson in particular). This article suggests it's not all sunshine and roses with Patterson:Bedard and Price at BSJ have been raving about Patterson. Catch of the day has been a repeated term for him. They also praised his willingness to get his nose dirty in WR blocking drills.
I think Patterson will surprise this year in the same way that Hogan did 2 years ago.
There are reasons for optimism with Patterson that don't exist with a number of the other WR in camp, and lord knows he should have opportunity, but we'll have to see. These glowing camp reports don't move the needle very far for me.Patterson was quick to admit he’d made a number of mental mistakes so far during the first five days of training camp. He has had trouble getting lined up before the snap. He drew the ire of coaches for making a mistake.
I asked a buddy of mine about this and he believed that this back and forth was alluding to some tension between Mitchell and the team about him training with Guerrero (which I hadn’t realized he was but Google confirms). Has anyone heard anything to this effect?I was listening to Beetle and Zo on the radio when this broke. They talked about it for a minute then beetle said "can i say what we saw? I probably can now, right?" Zo sort of grumbled and then they agreed not to talk about it in detail. Beetle finished that bit off by saying "let's just say, based on what we saw this is not a surprise and i would be surprised if he's on the field anywhere this year." I can only imagine how hobbled he was trying to participate in drills, etc.
Not blaming you (the messenger), but I guess this is how its gonna be. Every time any player possibly associated with Guerrero gets released it'll be because BB favors diminishing the team and sticking it to Guerrero and Brady.I asked a buddy of mine about this and he believed that this back and forth was alluding to some tension between Mitchell and the team about him training with Guerrero (which I hadn’t realized he was but Google confirms). Has anyone heard anything to this effect?
On paper that actually looks pretty good to me. We know what Edelman and Hogan are. Edelman may be rusty but I'd be shocked if he’s not still one of the quickest WRs in the league. Hogan is a damned good receiver he just needs to be healthy. Dorsett and Patterson are 1st round talents with game changing playmaking ability. They haven’t lived up to their hype but they haven’t had Brady throwing it to them either. Dorsett flashed some good things last year and Patterson has been the talk of TC as others have mentioned. Decker is one of those guys that consistently killed us as a Bronco and a Jet. I'm not sure he’s completely cooked but I’ll admit that the lack of interest from the rest of the league is a little troublesome. I honestly have no idea with Britt but I do know he’s not exactly a nobody. He’s only 2 years removed from a 1000 yard season. There’s actually a ton of talent in that crew. It just needs to translate.Edelman
Hogan
Dorsett
Britt
Decker
Patterson
Even adding Edelman doesn’t make it much better since we have no idea what he’ll be like upon his return. Given that Patterson is going to be a gadget player, somebody in the Dorsett/Britt/Decker group really needs to pop. And I’m not exactly holding my breath.
Because running an NFL team to have a shot at the SuperBowl every single year requires balancing the present and the future, in terms of both talent AND salaries.Why did they let Cooks and Amendola go again?