Revisiting Deion Branch
Patriots fans who tune into NFL playoff action today should have a chance to reacquaint with former New England receiver Deion Branch, who is now in his second season with the Seahawks.
The Seahawks host the Redskins today (4:30 p.m.) in the NFC wild-card round, and Branch most likely will be hobbling into the action.
Branch was recovering from a strained right calf earlier this week and had been held out of practice. It was the latest physical setback for Branch, who missed four games earlier in the season with a sprained foot. On Friday, he shared a few of his thoughts with reporters.
Branch finished the year with 49 catches for 661 yards and four touchdowns. The production was a bit disappointing considering he entered the season with a new role. He was supposed to make Seahawks fans forget about the departed Darrell Jackson.
Branch appeared to be on his way, as he was leading the Seahawks with 22 receptions before spraining his foot Oct. 7.
Looking back, it's an interesting question to debate: Who received the better value in the trade that shipped Branch to Seattle for a 2007 first-round draft choice?
Surely, the Patriots could have benefited from having Branch -- who is signed in Seattle through 2011 -- on their team in 2006.
At the same time, they turned the 2007 first-round pick into Brandon Meriweather, and it also gave them flexibility to trade their original 2007 first-round pick into 2008, where they picked up the 49ers' first-round pick (7th overall).
Patriots without a doubt got the best of the deal.....Branch is overrated and always injured.....
If I'm not mistaken, in that San Fran trade we also picked up a fourth round pick that we then traded for Moss. So we basically traded Branch for Moss and the 7th pick and the '08 draft. Not bad.
another player who thought he was bigger than he actually is....$$$ talks and he walked away from perhaps the best team fit for him...shame look where he is now.....hobbled ... definately not a # 1 receiver like he thought he was...well maybe he can get back to where he was..on the field making plays
Branch Who......Givens Who.......Woody Who......Milloy Who.......Willie Who.......Adam Who......Ty Who......Do I really need to continue ?
Remeber: Deion screwed us....He was under contract last year.....Thats right contract. We needed him in Indy versus Reche, and thought he could bully his way to a contract 1 year early. We got the better end of the deal, as usual, but a year late......
The system works.......Here are the replacements:
Moss---Offensive MVP
Stallworth/Welker---Givens always hurt
Koppen---All Pro
Harrison---Team Captain
Seau/Thomas---Team Captain
Gost.---Hasnt missed a clutch kick in career
Samuel---Franchise Tag....#1 Corner Interceptions over last 2 years.
The Pats definitely got the best of the deal going forward, However, the loss of Branch for the 2006 season may well have cost them their fourth Super Bowl title. That is a pretty heavy price regardless of what happens going forward.
Sure, the Patriots gained some flexibility in last year's draft, but the trade will always be Deion Branch for the pick used on Brandon Meriweather. So far, Seattle has gotten more out of Branch (in '06 and '07) than New England has out of Meriweather.
NE traded what turned out to be Joe Staley for Randy Moss and the 7th pick of the 2008 draft. Or, you could say that the Patriots traded Branch, Joe Staley, Samson Satele and perhaps a trip to Super Bowl 41 for Brandon Meriweather, Wes Welker, one year of a rarely motivated Randy Moss, overpaying Donte Stallworth and a veritable Snufflelufagus in 2008.
the pats didn't get a great deal out of it because they lost their first round pick due to spygate. If they didn't loose that pick and we have two now. Then I would say the pats got the best deal by far but now pats just barely.
If Branch hadn't gone, Pats may have stayed mired with average receiving talent and not hit the jackpot with Moss, Welker, and Stallworth.
definitely, the pats got the best part of the deal. branch barely played last year, he was injured so often. who knows if he would even make it the playoffs to compete against indy? meanwhile we made it to the AFC Championship game and followed it up with a perfect season. not bad.
Well let's see... in the past 2 years 25 games 102 receptions 1386 yds with 8 TDs
sounds like an average #2 receiver to me....granted we would have won the SB last year with him...but stats dont lie and we were NOT going to pay him #1 receiver money BECAUSE hes not worth that much!!!! Good Bye and good luck..ask the others how they are oh wait Grahams happy to be gone from here ..happy he's gone too and the others well if playing for 4 wins and more money makes you happy well then buhbye too....STAY and WIN leave and lose your call.................
It wasn't a lack of scoring that cost the Patriots a chance to go to the Super Bowl last year. I have to wonder if some of you even watch football.
Branch broke his contract and he was sent packing. Turns out, he wasn't really a Patriot after all but just another "me first" athlete taking full advantage of team who made him what he was. Turns out to be the best thing that ever happened to the Patriots.
Brandon Meriweather didnt impress anyone this year. I hope he improves next year but he didnt show anything this year, which is suprising for a first round Belichick pick.
Jay Bruce, the Patriots were offering Branch a salary that is consistent with a #1 WR, just not the bonus associated with one.
We would have one a SB if we had Deon last year? What are you people smoking? You better go watch the AFC Championship game again if you think the Offense lost that game.
I agree with you, TheBigOldDog......These people who keep saying the Patriots would have won the AFC Championship Game last year if the they signed Branch are ridiculous....HELLO??.....they lost that game 38-34.......offense wasn't the problem in that game
I don't see how having Branch in the 2006 AFCC game would have kept our defense from imploding in the second half.
One more first down is all they needed on that drive that ended with SG's field goal. They were forced to give the ball back to the Colts with 3:49 left.
Giving up 31 points (at that juncture) is tough to justify. However, if they had a better offense, even if only by one routine completion, they would have won that game.
The point that Branch would not have pulled a Buckner like Caldwell did is a valid one. Those 2 would-be catches would have amounted to both more points and running the clock down enough that Manning would not have had enough time move the Colts 80 yards.
Sounds like you could stand to watch the game yourself.
Yeah, I saw the game. My point is playing the "what if" game is absolutely stupid. If you can't figure out why that is then maybe you should get a clue.
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