Possible Amendoler Replacement: Griff Whalen

[TheoShmeo]

Ian Rapoport ‏@RapSheet 16s16 seconds ago
The #Patriots are signing FA WR Griff Whalen, source said. They think he can fill Danny Amendola’s role until the playoffs.

Griff, among other things, played a starring role in Chuck Pagano's brain lock fake punt against the Pats last year.

On October 18, 2015 against the New England Patriots, Indianapolis coach Chuck Pagano called for a fake punt on 4th and 3 late in the third quarter with the Colts trailng 27-21. The play left Whalen snapping the ball to Colt Anderson with no Colts teammates blocking and two Patriots players standing over the ball. The play was stopped for a loss, the Patriots took over on downs and scored a touchdown en route to a 34-27 victory. The play was questioned by numerous NFL experts and players from around the league.[7]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Griff_Whalen

They must have some reservations about 7th round pick and practice squad member Devin Lucien.

 

[Reggie's Racquet]

Just put this news in the game thread...thanks for starting the thread.

 

[Thetoddwalker]

I hope BB runs some gimmick play with him and then cuts him the next week.

 

[ifmanis5]

Huge advantage learning those Colts plays, though.

 

[Super Nomario]

They must have some reservations about 7th round pick and practice squad member Devin Lucien.

This could be roster control, too. They get to kick the tires on Whalen and they still can cut him and promote Lucien if they want.

 

[C4CRVT]

Knowing nothing about him until today here's what we've got:
5'-11"/ 190#
UDFA out of Stanford (where he made the team as a walk on his freshman year).
2012- On the Colts but placed on IR.
2013 Had a decent year with the Colts as a receiver with 24 receptions for 259 yards and 2tds.
2014- Colts- mostly used as a Kickoff and Punt returner
2015- Colts- up and down from practice squad- mostly used as a Kickoff and Punt returner- 4 fumbles!!
2016- San Diego- 4 Kick returns, no punt returns 2 catches for 22 yards then cut.

 

[Mugsy's Jock]

If he's the official fair catcher on punts for a couple weeks and doesn't drop anything, that'll be fine by me.

 

[Granite Sox]

Having been forced to watch him after living in Indy for 13 years:

He puts the ball on the ground as a punt returner.

He's not an effective center.

I can also tell you he was good for 1-2 brain farts (would run the wrong route) per game. Brady will freeze him out and shoot him in under two weeks.

Other than pigmentation, this signing is a huge WTF? He's AWFUL.

 

[Mugsy's Walk-Off Bunt]

That's the spirit! #psyched

 

[sodenj5]

Having been forced to watch him after living in Indy for 13 years:

He puts the ball on the ground as a punt returner.

He's not an effective center.

I can also tell you he was good for 1-2 brain farts (would run the wrong route) per game. Brady will freeze him out and shoot him in under two weeks.

Other than pigmentation, this signing is a huge WTF? He's AWFUL.

Having tracked him during Dolphins training camp this year, he's also a vegan. That's all I got.

 

[TomTerrific]

Given the reports of DJ Foster working out with the WRs and taking punts, I'll bet Whalen is DJ Foster insurance, nothing more. So not a lot to see here.

EDIT: meaning Foster is the real Amendola replacement

 

[joe dokes]

Other than pigmentation, this signing is a huge WTF? He's AWFUL.

WR= white receiver?

 

[TheoShmeo]

Given the reports of DJ Foster working out with the WRs and taking punts, I'll bet Whalen is DJ Foster insurance, nothing more. So not a lot to see here.

EDIT: meaning Foster is the real Amendola replacement

That might be the end result. But my guess is that BB acquired Whalen not exactly knowing which of Foster, Whalen and possibly even Lucien (or the other WR on the practice squad) will be the person taking Amendola's spot. Whalen gives him one more option. And the fact that Foster is getting reps in practice at WR doesn't, in my view, tell us that he's fixed on that solution. It also may change week to week.

 

[Mugsy's Walk-Off Bunt]

Gotta say, I'm surprised they didn't bring in Keyshawn Martin - he played solidly for the team recently, clearly knows the system, steady... Is it just Whalen has more experience or better results as a PR?

 

[tims4wins]

Michael Floyd was cut today..

 

[tims4wins]

Gotta say, I'm surprised they didn't bring in Keyshawn Martin - he played solidly for the team recently, clearly knows the system, steady... Is it just Whalen has more experience or better results as a PR?

I read that Martin wasn't an option due to an injury settlement

 

[Stitch01]

Yeah Mike Reiss said there was an injury grievance filed after Martin's release earlier this year so he's no longer an option. The way he wrote it didnt sound like a settlement as much as the relationship ending on bad terms.

 

[tims4wins]

Yeah Mike Reiss said there was an injury grievance filed after Martin's release earlier this year so he's no longer an option. The way he wrote it didnt sound like a settlement as much as the relationship ending on bad terms.

Yeah that was a bit confusing but I had the same reaction

 

[NickEsasky]

Michael Floyd was cut today..

I assume he's also about to be suspended for his DUI.

 

[Granite Sox]

Floyd had alcohol problems at Notre Dame as well. Not an option. Waste of talent. Hope he gets his life together first.

If we're looking for a PR only, can we take a shot at Devin Hester for a month? I know he just got cut by the Ravens, but he can at least catch the ball...

 

[Ferm Sheller]

Floyd had alcohol problems at Notre Dame as well. Not an option. Waste of talent. Hope he gets his life together first.

If we're looking for a PR only, can we take a shot at Devin Hester for a month? I know he just got cut by the Ravens, but he can at least catch the ball...

I read that Hester has five fumbles on returns this year. That's a lot.

 

[TomTerrific]

If we're looking for a PR only, can we take a shot at Devin Hester for a month? I know he just got cut by the Ravens, but he can at least catch the ball...

According to the Baltimore Sun, Hester fumbled 5 times on punts this year, losing 1. (NFL.com has it at 4 fumbles.) 25 attempts, 10 fair catches, 7.2 yd avg which puts Baltimore at 26th in the league.

Certainly this is slightly better than Jones' 10 attempts, 3 fair catches, 4 fumbles, 1 lost, 4.2 yd avg. But not much better, and when you add in the rumbles from Baltimore that he had, for the most part, stopped trying to field any punts, I'd say we're better off looking elsewhere.

 

[Granite Sox]

Didn't realize Hester was that awful this year. Bad suggestion.