patsfanjrb 0 Posted August 9, 2006 My Webpage August 8, 2006 10:11 PM ET Patriots: Brady wants Branch to report The News With sources close to Deion Branch saying he is willing to hold out indefinitely to get a new deal, Tom Brady is getting involved. Brady told ESPN's Sal Paolantonio that he has urged Branch to report to camp to "see what happens" on the contract situation. Branch is maintaining that the team forced him to sign a five-year deal initially instead of a four-year deal, and that he should be a free agent now. The Patriots are also without their number two wide receiver, Chad Jackson, who is nursing a hamstring injury. Our View We understand why Brady is beseeching Branch to report, as Reche Caldwell has been Tom's number one target thus far in training camp. If Brach is digging his heels in, this situation will only continue to uglier. While Brady is still a very solid fantasy option, any quarterback who loses both of his starting wideouts from one year to another faces a statistical drop-off. We will continue to monitor this situation, but consider us concerned about the caliber of weapons at Brady's disposal in the passing game. Does this affect the entire drafting of Patriot players more importantly the value of Brady and Dillon? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pacman_fl 0 Posted August 9, 2006 My Webpage August 8, 2006 10:11 PM ET Patriots: Brady wants Branch to report The News With sources close to Deion Branch saying he is willing to hold out indefinitely to get a new deal, Tom Brady is getting involved. Brady told ESPN's Sal Paolantonio that he has urged Branch to report to camp to "see what happens" on the contract situation. Branch is maintaining that the team forced him to sign a five-year deal initially instead of a four-year deal, and that he should be a free agent now. The Patriots are also without their number two wide receiver, Chad Jackson, who is nursing a hamstring injury. Our View We understand why Brady is beseeching Branch to report, as Reche Caldwell has been Tom's number one target thus far in training camp. If Brach is digging his heels in, this situation will only continue to uglier. While Brady is still a very solid fantasy option, any quarterback who loses both of his starting wideouts from one year to another faces a statistical drop-off. We will continue to monitor this situation, but consider us concerned about the caliber of weapons at Brady's disposal in the passing game. Does this affect the entire drafting of Patriot players more importantly the value of Brady and Dillon? FORCED HIM? I love that statements. Anyway, I am not a Pats follower (just a distant admirer of what they have done). Unless he has a horrible agent, there are several thousand reasons he won't sit out. He could potentially lose a year of FA eligibility and he is going to be a cause for concerns for other teams (despite how nice TO worked out, Branch is not TO). Branch has missed plenty of time over the past seasons and Brady has done just fine. Heck, they can go with 4 TE's and get the job done. I wouldn't fret over this as it's just a negotiation ploy gone bad. Best case (which I think will happen), Branch will show up at halftime of the 3rd pre-seaon game (with or without a new contract) and will get right back in sync with Brady (and not having 3 games to get beat up again). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kutulu 1,676 Posted August 9, 2006 I believe he can report by week 10 and still get his year, course they can still slap the franchise on him too next year. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nos23 1 Posted August 9, 2006 two words chad jackson branch will be forgotton soon enough Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jgcrawfish 232 Posted August 9, 2006 I believe he can report by week 10 and still get his year, course they can still slap the franchise on him too next year. Bingo. As long as he's there by week 10, he keeps his year. But they won't franchise him if they fear a hold out again the next season, cause he'd do the same thing...sit until week 10, then from 10 on he would collect one of the highest WR salaries in the league because of the franny designation. Right now, Deion is holding all the cards, cause the Pats got nothing else. Reche Caldwell couldn't beat out 62 year old Keenan Mccardell in SD, and I don't care how good Chad Jackson is, rook is still rook. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dan 66 Posted August 9, 2006 two words chad jackson branch will be forgotton soon enough A nice thought. Who's his mentor? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kutulu 1,676 Posted August 9, 2006 The reports I've seen about Reche Caldwell in camp have been very positive, for what it's worth. I recently picked him up and dumped J. Porter. A nice thought. Who's his mentor? Troy Brown is still there. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shovelheadt 71 Posted August 9, 2006 two words chad jackson branch will be forgotton soon enough Two words....Rookie and Hamstring. Unless you think Jackson is Moss like, he's in for an eye opener. And Moss had Carter. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kutulu 1,676 Posted August 9, 2006 With Deion Branch holding out, Chad Jackson sidelined at various times with a hamstring injury and Troy Brown given a well-deserved lighter practice schedule, there have been plenty of reps to go around for the new faces competing at wide receiver. Free agent addition Reche Caldwell has taken full advantage with a strong camp effort, but the rest of the little-known targets such as John Stone, Rich Musinski, Keron Henry, Bam Childress and others have done little to stand out. PLAYER OF THE WEEK: WR Reche Caldwell — The fifth-year free agent addition has been the only experienced wideout to practice every day and already appears to be building a comfortable relationship with Tom Brady. He's caught just about everything thrown his way and remained healthy, good signs for a guy who'll be expected to carry a significant part of the receiving load from Day 1 this season. usatoday.com Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nos23 1 Posted August 9, 2006 2002 San Diego Chargers 16 2 22 208 9.5 26 3 1 0 14 2003 San Diego Chargers 9 4 8 80 10.0 15 0 0 0 4 2004 San Diego Chargers 6 6 18 310 17.2 58 3 4 2 8 2005 San Diego Chargers 16 2 28 352 12.6 43 1 5 1 16 TOTAL 47 14 76 950 12.5 58 7 10 3 42 yeah great numbers the guy is a bum Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RicemanX 20 Posted August 9, 2006 I'm stoked, I got Branch in the 7th round. TO, Chambers, Branch. If Branch comes back, it's going to be a SICK WR core baby! IF Branch comes back. ...will he come back? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kutulu 1,676 Posted August 9, 2006 2004 San Diego Chargers 6 6 18 310 17.2 58 3 4 2 8 yeah great numbers the guy is a bum Thing though, in 2004 he played six games before getting hurt for the year. Had three TDs, 310 yards, and he was at least the 3rd or 4th option (LT, Gates, #1WR?) Now he's getting #1 reps with Brady and a year + removed from the injury. Course it's NE and they spread it around, but I'm looking at him as a number 4 maybe a number 3 behind Wayne, Fitz and poss. Reggie Brown. Maybe he'll be a bum, but he was a FA pickup anyway. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
z00g 0 Posted August 10, 2006 I thought Caldwell was going to be the No.2 guy - I believe he's been doing great in camp, and with Jackson still sitting on that hamstring... Well, suppose Branch misses a few games, or maybe a season. It's unlikely, but supposing he does: how does Chad Jackson factor in then? And supposing he doesn't? Caldwell/Jackson would then be non-factors, I presume? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kutulu 1,676 Posted August 10, 2006 Also, Kevin Faulk may catch more passes than usual this year....very underrated pass catching back. Depends on how the rook does with his blitz/ and blocking assignments. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
t.j 35 Posted August 10, 2006 two words chad jackson branch will be forgotton soon enough Branch will be remembered 1-2 weeks from now, because that's when he is coming back to camp. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Polamalu43 0 Posted August 10, 2006 I really admire the Pats organization. The Pats made Branch a solid WR. Look at their track record for making good receivers out of guys not highly touted. Givens was solid, Brown was good, Branch has been solid. The Pats will take Caldwell, Jackson, and whoever else is on that roster at WR and find a way to get by. Branch isn't irreplaceable. He needs to report to camp, allow the Pats to make him look like a better WR then he actually is, and reap the rewards as a free agent like another Pat made WR, David Givens. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fantasy master 0 Posted August 10, 2006 With Tom Brady at Quarterback does is matter who the WR's are? He's won 3 Super Bowls without a true #1 WR. He is a God! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
uubeee 0 Posted August 10, 2006 Tom Brady is getting involved. Brady told ESPN's Sal Paolantonio that he has urged Branch to report to camp to "see what happens" on the contract situation. Correct me if I am wrong, but didnt Favre get roasted here at FFToday for making comments to the media about another players contract? So is the gang here at FFToday all giving Brady a pass, or is the gang here at FFToday just a bunch of hypocrites? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kutulu 1,676 Posted August 10, 2006 Correct me if I am wrong, but didnt Favre get roasted here at FFToday for making comments to the media about another players contract? So is the gang here at FFToday all giving Brady a pass, or is the gang here at FFToday just a bunch of hypocrites? I thought Farve came across as "Honor your contract" and Brady is more like "come in and talk...see what happens." JMO. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Polamalu43 0 Posted August 10, 2006 I thought Farve came across as "Honor your contract" and Brady is more like "come in and talk...see what happens." JMO. Regardless of how they approached the situation, I am backing or have backed both Brady and Favre for speaking out. They have both earned that right as leaders of their teams who have proved themselves. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sho Nuff 720 Posted August 10, 2006 Regardless of how they approached the situation, I am backing or have backed both Brady and Favre for speaking out. They have both earned that right as leaders of their teams who have proved themselves. Agreed...that is what leaders do. What I disagreed with Favre on was when he said "I hope they do not pay him". Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
