ANALYSIS
On the sixth day of free agency, here is one prevalent theme that stands out: Playing receiver for the Patriots pays off.
Consider this:
Randy Moss just signed a three-year, $27 million contract with a $12 million signing bonus. Last year, he was playing under a one-year contract that, with incentives, ended up being worth $5 million.
Donte' Stallworth just signed a reported seven-year, $35 million contract with $10 million in bonuses/guarantees to play in Cleveland. Last year, he was playing under what was essentially a one-year, $3.6 million deal.
Jabar Gaffney just re-signed, landing a reported one-year, $2 million contract. Last year, he was playing for $595,000.
Kelley Washington just re-signed, inking a two-year deal that included a $450,000 signing bonus and base salaries of $605,000 and $800,000. Last year, he earned a $300,000 signing bonus and base salary of $600,000.
In the cases of Moss, Stallworth, Gaffney (2006) and Washington, each receiver came to New England looking to improve their status.
As their new contracts show, the benefits of playing with quarterback Tom Brady -- and in the case of Washington becoming a valuable asset on special teams -- resulted in a positive financial windfall.
The list goes on...
Branch
Givens
Patten
We can talk about this all day
Ahem, Donte Stallworth did better with Philadelphia than here because he was there number one option. And there were many times last year where he was open, and Brady was just looking at Moss (remember the last Dolphins game), so sorry to disagree Mike, but your wrong on the Stallworth front, he's worth what he got.
And the common denominator is...the man throwing the ball. If Big Ben is worth $102 million, then Brady is worth....???
While Brady is here, we should be able to get receivers. Their stats go up, their money goes up, and there is the chance for a ring. Not a bad position for a team to be in. Now how do we get good linebackers and cornerbacks?
Hi Max. I hear what you are saying. My counter-argument would be that if Stallworth was better in Philly than New England, why didn't he get that Cleveland-like deal last year.
--Mike
Clearly there is more value to a wide receiver than the numbers they negotiate with during contract volleying. Why else would Gaffney have been preferred by Brady and the coaches (number of plays per game, thank you Mike--great stat) when Stallworth has the superior physical talent? Route running, blocking, reads are concepts that we cannot view and appreciate from the television screen. Stallworth must be a better performer than Gaffney given the money each signed for, but who fits better in the system? Makes me wonder about the defensive backs that go elsewhere and command the salaries that they get. Maybe Coach is a genius rather than the next great film critic of our tiime.
Mike,
Are you saying that the Patriots have now become a launching pad for financially challenged players to come here for less money, play 1 or 2 seasons, improve their stats, and go elsewhere for more money? If that's becoming a pattern, then the Patriots better stop the trend. The churn will kill the franchise without much stability and Brady constantly having to adjust to new players. Shouldn't they be trying hard to retain good players for longer than 2-3 seasons? Look at Bruschi, Troy Brown, just to name a couple.
Stallworth is a good signing for Browns, they needed an option other then Edwards and K2. Pats won't miss him much, Gaffney jumped him on the depth chart. Chad Jackson needs to step it up, year 3 its now or never.
Stallworth is an average receiver at best, and was surpassed by Gaffney last year. While I see Gaffney as Stallworth's replacement, don't count out Chad Jackson to push him for that spot either. I look for Jackson to put it all together this year and make some plays for us.
Jonny C (#3): No argument about the Brady Effect on wide receivers. But, let's not forget the importance of the offensive line. They and Brady go hand-in-hand (just look at the Visa commercial!) For proof of the O-line's effect, I refer you to the debacle in the Super Bowl. When Brady doesn't get enough time, he looks a lot less Brady-like.
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