14 replies to this topic

[bsj]

Interesting. Doesn't exactly seem a position of need. But if his workouts allude to an upgrade over Stallworth or another deep depth chart WR, I say why not.

[Wilco's Last Fan]

Gronk and Plax in the Red Zone would be pretty tough to stop.

[Tyrone Biggums]

This is starting to remind me of the 2007 FTW Patriots, they have a huge chip on their shoulders from last year. This is a good thing

[GBrushTWood]

This is starting to remind me of the 2007 FTW Patriots, they have a huge chip on their shoulders from last year. This is a good thing

If they can get the personnel they want on the OL, then yes. That 2007 OL gave Brady all the time in the world to operate. Hopefully, they can start 2012 with Mankins, Waters, and Vollmer ready to play. Then we might see some special things from this group of receivers, with or without Plaxico.

[Lack_of_Imagination]

If they can get the personnel they want on the OL, then yes. That 2007 OL gave Brady all the time in the world to operate. Hopefully, they can start 2012 with Mankins, Waters, and Vollmer ready to play. Then we might see some special things from this group of receivers, with or without Plaxico.

well of course not including the SB but yes a solid OL all in all

[Tony C]

I may be the only one, but I kind of like the idea of Burress. Maybe he's only good for conversions on 3rd and short and at the goal line, but I don't mind at all the idea of a speciality receiver for those situations. Would certainly make it tougher to converge on Gronk (and Hernandez) in those situations.

[TheoShmeo]

I may be the only one, but I kind of like the idea of Burress. Maybe he's only good for conversions on 3rd and short and at the goal line, but I don't mind at all the idea of a speciality receiver for those situations. Would certainly make it tougher to converge on Gronk (and Hernandez) in those situations.

I like the idea in concept, too.

But the Pats are pretty loaded at WR.

Do you like Burress enough that you'd sacrifice one more out of the Gaffney, Stallworth, Edelman, Ebert and Branch group?

If you assume that Welker, Lloyd and Slater are locks (and I know Slater is kind of a red herring), you're probably only going to be able to keep three of those five. Ebert is not a big concern, but adding a luxury item like Burress -- when Gronk and Hernandez are both excellent in the end zone -- means cutting two of Gaffney, Stallworth, Edelman and Branch.

Maybe that's OK and what Burress brings is worth it.

[Tony C]

Yep, that's the conundrum.

In an ideal world I would keep Plax over whichever one among those 5 would have to be cut if he's kept. The argument would be that someone like Edelman, say, basically replicates Welker's skills, while Plax gives the Pats something they don't have from their WRs -- and having more than one big target at the goal line (or on a key 3rd and short) is something that is key.

The flip side is that in the real world there are injuries and that guys like Edelman (or Gaffney, or whomever) will end up being more useful when those inevitable injuries occur. And that's not to mention the ST utility of a guy like Edelman.

Can see it either way, really.

[Saints Rest]

I think it's safe to assume that Welker and Lloyd are locks at the top two, and Edelman and Slater are near locks at 5/6 due to their ST skills (if either were to get cut, it would be due to some DB being able to replace their ST contributions and I don't see that happening).

That means Gaffnrey, Branch, and Stallworth are already fighting it out over two spots. Bedard feels pretty certain that Gaffney is a lock, meaning that Branch and Stallworth are actually fighting for one spot. Throw Plax in and you've got 4 for 2 or 3 for 1.

I think Ebert is fighting for a practice squad spot.

EDIT: stupid math. (thx phragle), that will teach me to try to post while feeding a 6-month old with one hand

Edited by Saints Rest, 12 August 2012 - 10:05 PM.

[CaptainLaddie]

I think Stallworth is out. Brady loves Branch and he loves Gaffney.

[phragle]

Throw Plax in and you've got 4 for 3 or 3 for 2.

Nah, it'd be 4 for 2 or 3 for 1 if Gaffney is a lock, and I think he is.

I'm apathetic to Plaxico because I don't think he'd make the cut.

[BigSoxFan]

I could support Plaxico over Branch/Stallworth, if he looked good. No way would I prefer him to Gaffney.

[TheoShmeo]

Tom E. Curren suggested last night on CSNNE that the Pats had Burress in as a favor to his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, as there has been little buzz about Plax and the Pats giving him a look will create that. In short, Curren didn't think this is a real possibility for the Pats. Take it FWIW.

PS: Globe article this morning suggests the same thing:

The Patriots brought in free agent wide receiver Plaxico Burress for a workout Sunday, league sources confirmed.

Belichick played down the significance, calling such occurrences routine.

“No, we work out a lot of players,” Belichick said. “We just try to know who’s available out there, we work and talk with a lot of guys, give physicals and all that, so I’m not going to comment on any of them individually.”

Burress, who turned 35 Sunday, spent the 2011 season with the Jets, recording 45 catches for 612 yards and eight touchdowns after a two-year hiatus. He shot himself in the leg at a nightclub in November 2008 and subsequently spent 22 months in prison on weapons charges.

Despite Belichick’s insistence on the workout as due diligence, working out Burress could have occurred as a favor to agent Drew Rosenhaus to promote interest in the receiver.

http://www.bostonglo...ncYJ/story.html

Edited by TheoShmeo, 13 August 2012 - 06:34 AM.

[sleepyjose03]

Yeah - I see this more as the prototypical Pats workout where they check a guy out more so they know what he has in the tank if he a) signs with another team or b) they require mid-season injury replacements. Throwing a bone to a veteran player/agent also helps garner more good-will among free-agents.

Plus, who knows - maybe he does bring more to the table overall than Stallworth?

[mt8thsw9th]

This is starting to remind me of the 2007 FTW Patriots, they have a huge chip on their shoulders from last year. This is a good thing

Yes, Plaxico reminds me of 2007 as well.