Brandon LaFell is a New England Patriot

[RedOctober3829]

Per Curran

@tomecurran: The Patriots have reached agreement with wide receiver Brandon LaFell.

 

[Dogman]

Well, that was fast.  
 
Still want a Wilfork restructure and an Allen signing. 

 

[DaughtersofDougMirabelli]

I like it. Needed more red zone targets. 

 

[Tyrone Biggums]

LaFell can't catch a cold. He reminds me of that kid from the movie "Little Giants" that needed to use "Stick Em"

 

[rodderick]

Ian Rapoport ‏@RapSheet  39s
The #Patriots are closing in on a deal with Brandon LaFell, according to a source. The deal is expected to be for 3 years and roughly $11M

 
I know it's Crapsheet, but this is about what I expected Edelman to get. Guess Minitron got paid, then.

 

[Reverend]

His Wikipedia entry already has him on the Patriots and yet his career statistics are incomplete.

That's speak volumes about something.

 

[Tyrone Biggums]

11 million? Sweet Jesus! Did Kenny Britt get arrested on his way to Gillette? 

 

[triniSox]

Let's see the guarantees before any judgements. Who knows if he makes it out of TC?

 

[Dogman]

11 million? Sweet Jesus! Did Kenny Britt get arrested on his way to Gillette? 

 
Relax, we have no idea what the guarantees are just yet. 
 
Britt still scheduled to visit tomorrow.

 

[SeoulSoxFan]

@PFF Brandon LaFell played 63% of his snaps in the slot last year
 
 
Would rather have Sanders. $11m? Really? Better hold off until the details come out.

 

[DaughtersofDougMirabelli]

8 drops on 83 targets last year. Had a drop rate of 14.04, which was 11th (worst) in the NFL (w/ receivers with at least 25% of targets). 
 
Other notable Patriot receivers:
Dobson 19.57
Amendola 12.90
Thompkins 11.11
Edelman 11.02
 
All 5 of these guys are in the bottom 30, next year will be some frustrating dropsies. 

 

[sachmoney]

49 receptions and over 12 yards (nearly 13 yards) per reception last year. Not bad at all. Money doesn't seem bad at all. I like it.

 

[Dan to Theo to Ben]

I like it. Especially given the draft success at that position vs. others.
 
Looking forward to seeing solid picks in the trenches in April.  Good complement to Jewels.
 
Looks like the 3rd receiver

 

[Stitch01]

Not a fan, he's infuriating to root for. Hope I'm wrong

 

[( . ) ( . ) and (_!_)]

Remember when Gronk and Dobson were hurt and they were throwing jump balls to Amendola in the red zone, that was a lot of fun huh? LaFell is depth that is raises our average WR height significantly. I like this signing.

Get a TE int he draft to build more red zone depth and an OL and the offense is basically ready.

 

[SeoulSoxFan]

Not a fan, he's infuriating to root for. Hope I'm wrong

 
Me neither.
 
PFF has him at 14.04% drop rate, #11th worst of all receivers w/ 25% snaps. Just for comparison, Dopson is #5. Amendola #17, and KT #22.  (See DaughtersofDougMirabelli's post above).
 
FREE NATE BURLESON!!!!

 

[Stitch01]

I wager on a lot of football and seemed like every time I bet Carolina he'd f something up. I like adding height, but think he's bad. Wouldn't surprise me if he's cut in camp.

 

[SeoulSoxFan]

I wager on a lot of football and seemed like every time I bet Carolina he'd f something up. I like adding height, but think he's bad. Wouldn't surprise me if he's cut in camp.

 
LaFell had his best game vs. Pats last year. 
 
Greg Lewis says hi.
 

 

[soxhop411]

LaFell had his best game vs. Pats last year.

Greg Lewis says hi.

I am guessing this is one part of the puzzle on offense with some more moves to come.

 

[Eck'sSneakyCheese]

I said it in the other thread but if he can hold onto the ball he's a decent signing. He's been listed between 6'2" and 6'3" so he's a big target and he's fairly quick too(6.81 3 cone.) I remember being a fan when he was at LSU. I hope BB and company can get his full potential out of him.

I'm not sure what if anything this says about JE's contract...

 

[soxhop411]

I said it in the other thread but if he can hold onto the ball he's a decent signing. He's been listed between 6'2" and 6'3" so he's a big target and he's fairly quick too(6.81 3 cone.) I remember being a fan when he was at LSU. I hope BB and company can get his full potential out of him.

I'm not sure what if anything this says about JE's contract...

It's odd we have not heard any contact details on the JE deal yet.

 

[Jungleland]

It's a completely reasonable signing although I do wait nervously for both the cap hit and guaranteed money. He strikes me as a guy that may benefit from a move to a better offense. At the very least he brings something to the table that we're short on (size). 11 sounds a little high but since he's been linked to us I've been very bullish on the idea of him as a secondary (read: in addition to JE) fit.

 

[Ed Hillel]

Well, that was fast.  
 
Still want a Wilfork restructure and an Allen signing. 

I doubt there is enough money for this. They were at just over 10 million before Edelman, Browner, and LaFell. So it's 10 million minus whatever those hits are. Allen wants about 10 million himself. They can restructure and maybe save 3 million, but I don't see how it can happen, especially if BB wants some flexibility for extensions and draft picks.

 

[Dogman]

I doubt there is enough money for this. They were at just over 10 million before Edelman, Browner, and LaFell. So it's 10 million minus whatever those hits are. Allen wants about 10 million himself. They can restructure and maybe save 3 million, but I don't see how it can happen, especially if BB wants some flexibility for extensions and draft picks.

 
Wishful thinking, I know. 

 

[TeddyBallgame'sDirtbagSon]

It's not sexy but he does bring some run blocking to the table.

 

[lexrageorge]

8 drops on 83 targets last year. Had a drop rate of 14.04, which was 11th (worst) in the NFL (w/ receivers with at least 25% of targets). 
 
Other notable Patriot receivers:
Dobson 19.57
Amendola 12.90
Thompkins 11.11
Edelman 11.02
 
All 5 of these guys are in the bottom 30, next year will be some frustrating dropsies. 

2 of those guys were rookies, of whom one was a UFDA and one was hurt halfway through the season; and one of the vets was dealing with a torn muscle in his leg after Week 1.  Don't discount the possibility of improvement in those drop stats, which  vary tremendously from year to year to begin with.

 

[86spike]

So who is going to catch passes from Cam Newton next year? Smith, LaFell and Ginn are all gone.

Sounds like Riverboat Ron will be throwing the dice on some WRs in the draft.

 

[RoyHobbs]

Edit: to check numbers against DoDM's.

 

[theapportioner]

Given his size, run blocking, and slot skills, think he'll be sometimes used as a receiving tight end type?

 

[Super Nomario]

Given his size, run blocking, and slot skills, think he'll be sometimes used as a receiving tight end type?

I'm sure they'll use him in the slot (as SSF noted, he spent 63% of his time there last year), but I doubt he'll line up in-line.

 

[RedOctober3829]

I could see LaFell and Edelman in motion and see some stack formations where both are in the slot. It would make each guy harder to cover.

 

[lambeau]

2011-2013
 
LaFell     129 rec ( 62%)   1917 yards   12 TD's   13 drops
 
Sanders 133        (60%)    1647             9             10
 
J Jones   161       (69%)     2236           24             11
 
I can live with LaFell. Let the competition with Dobson begin. And bring on crazy Kenny as a wild card. With Boyce, Thompkins, Collie we have depth and options. I like it.

 

[Jed Zeppelin]

Not going to lie, at the price we got him, I would have rather just taken a chance on Hakeem Nicks.

 
Have to wonder how much interest in Nicks there was on the Pats' end considering his physical issues. The current WR group already has its fair share of injury concerns so there's some value in getting a guy who's a better bet to stay on the field and not look gimpy while doing it.
 
That's not to say I didn't have interest in Nicks on a one year deal. Much better player and a lot of his problems in 2013 came from playing in a broken offense. Very little support from the running game, Eli was bad and the OL was one of the worst I've ever seen. I'm interested to see how he fits into Indy's deep passing game having lost a step or three. Still a good route runner.

 

[dcmissle]

He is entering his 5th season in the pros. Anyone recall anyone who cured los manos de piedra after 4 years in the pros?

 

[SeoulSoxFan]

He is entering his 5th season in the pros. Anyone recall anyone who cured los manos de piedra after 4 years in the pros?

 
Not I, although others may. I cannot expect that his catch rate will magically improve. That's my primary concern with this signing.

 

[( . ) ( . ) and (_!_)]

I'm surprised at all te consternation about laFell. Gronk, Amendola, Edelman, Dobson and Vereen. Are the teams too receiving options and they all have an injury history that isn't too good (Dobson gets a pass here it was just one year)

He is reasonably priced, young depth. That is exactly what they needed. He is a 5th or 6th option with some potential upside. They didn't need to invest dollars into another target. They needed mid level depth. And that's what they got.

 

[ragnarok725]

Is there any research correlating catch rate with QBs? If Cam is less accurate in putting the ball on the hands, leading the receiver or just throws a more difficult to catch ball, we could see a difference in catch rate from that alone.

 

[dcmissle]

I can't either. And although he does not fit the prototype, this is a common reason why people end up in the defensive backfield.

 

[Devizier]

Problem is that we're talking about a handful of drops every season. One or two drops means a chunk of percentage points in drop rate.
 
The way to look at it would be in aggregate. I'd be more interested in seeing how a change in QB affects a receiver's drop rate. Also, the scoring crew probably matters a lot, too.
 
Jimmy Graham is a nice example of why I'd be leery of reading too much into drop rate.

 

[Stitch01]

I'm surprised at all te consternation about laFell. Gronk, Amendola, Edelman, Dobson and Vereen. Are the teams too receiving options and they all have an injury history that isn't too good (Dobson gets a pass here it was just one year)
He is reasonably priced, young depth. That is exactly what they needed. He is a 5th or 6th option with some potential upside. They didn't need to invest dollars into another target. They needed mid level depth. And that's what they got.

I probably would rather just have Austin Collie back.

Have to contract dets though, if he's cuttable in camp then whatever.

 

[dcmissle]

Problem is that if people are right about how he will be utilized, a good chunk of those drops could occur in the end zone.

 

[Ed Hillel]

I probably would rather just have Austin Collie back.

Have to contract dets though, if he's cuttable in camp then whatever.

 
LaFell is 3 inches taller and has a 2 inch advantage in the vertical jump. So you're looking at a fairly significant difference in that regard, especially in the Red Zone.
 
 
 

Problem is that if people are right about how he will be utilized, a good chunk of those drops could occur in the end zone.

 
As Dev said, we're talking about a handful of drops here, and a number of things, such as QB/scorekeepers can make a difference. If his problem is getting open and dropping the ball in the Red Zone, I will gladly trade the 2-3 drops in the endzone for the 8 TDs.

 

[Stitch01]

13 TD catches in four years doesn't scream gets open in the red zone to me.

I hope he's useful, I don't think he beats out Thompkins if both are healthy.

 

[Mugsy's Walk-Off Bunt]

Thompkins has trouble catching the ball, even (especially) on the gimmes he successfully hauls in.

 

[dcmissle]

There is something to be said for pushing the sophomores. Really pushing them. I hope Britt is signed too.

 

[lambeau]

Britt is worth a shot. He was great in 2009,2010,and started 2011 great until he blew out his knee.He had a hard time coming back in 2012 and played through a cracked rib.Still--600 yards.
I don't know what happened last year, but he was a pending free agent, dropped some balls and got benched.But the coaches and main beat writer say he's a good, hard-working guy.
Just don't run a background check. But it says something Jeff Fisher is in on him. And I'm sure they've checked with McCourty, Schiano, etc.

 

[Ed Hillel]

13 TD catches in four years doesn't scream gets open in the red zone to me.
 

 
Possibly, but it's tough to say when he's had Cam Newton and Jimmy Clausen throwing him passes. Newton may be a good QB overall, but that's mostly because of his ability to extend plays and use his feet. He's not an accurate NFL quarterback.

 

[Stitch01]

Cam is way better than decent overall, although obviously this is a QB accuracy upgrade. I'd rather have gone with Britt, who has upside.

 

[Dan to Theo to Ben]

Cam is way better than decent overall, although obviously this is a QB accuracy upgrade. I'd rather have gone with Britt, who has upside.

Britt has off the field issues. I mean, he has NINE police "incidents" since joing the NFL.
 
Plus, I think the Rutgers quota is used up . . .

 

[Ed Hillel]

Cam is way better than decent overall, although obviously this is a QB accuracy upgrade. I'd rather have gone with Britt, who has upside.

 
I'd prefer Britt myself, but his signing still seems possible to me at this point, though I can't see them giving Britt much guaranteed money, if any, so we'll see. He has issues.
 
Though, if Pacman Jones can do it...