Donte Stallworth had his best game against Dallas in 2007 | Courtesy Patriots.com
In an expected move, the Cleveland Browns released wide receiver Donte’ Stallworth today. Pro Football Talk has the scoop:
The Cleveland Browns wasted no time today in releasing wide receiver Donte’ Stallworth, who was reinstated to the NFL upon the completion of the Super Bowl.
The team announced that they had terminated Stallworth’s contract in an understated item on the official web site headlined, “Browns make roster move.”
Stallworth was suspended for the entire 2009 season as a result of his DUI manslaughter conviction. He played the 2008 season for the Browns, the 2007 season for the Patriots, the 2006 season for the Eagles and the 2002 through 2005 seasons for the Eagles.
Today’s transaction makes Stallworth an unrestricted free agent. It’s unknown whether any team has any interest in signing him.
With this news, I bring up the obligatory question, should the Patriots look into re-signing Donte’ Stallworth?
I say yes. While what Stallworth did was awful, he served his time, was reinstated by the league, and if he can still play, deserves another chance. In 2007, Stallworth had a decent season for the Patriots, bringing in 697 yards on a 15.2 yard per catch average. However, he was moved to fourth on the depth chart in favor of Jabar Gaffney late in the year.
While Stallworth wouldn’t solve all of the woes for the Patriots’ offense, he could help. The Patriots lack an outside burner opposite Randy Moss, and Stallworth could certainly provide assistance there. He would seemingly be a big upgrade over Sam Aiken. The question is, what does he have left in the tank?
If he’s still got something, I don’t see why signing him to a low-cost, one year deal (essentially a camp invite) would hurt. Although, if I had to choose between Stallworth and former Patriots Deion Branch (who will likely be released by the Seahawks), I would take Branch in a heartbeat.
At least not if Tom Brady has anything to say about it. In the hype leading up to Super Bowl XLIV, the media has decided to unanimously crown Peyton Manning not only the best quarterback of this era, but the best quarterback of all-time.
Brady Could Still Be the Best Ever | Courtesy Patriots.com
It’s simply not true. The door has not been closed on this debate, because the last time I checked, Tom Brady is still playing in the NFL, and he’s still playing at a very high level. Consider what Michael Silver of Yahoo! Sports had to say on the subject:
And here I was all this time, believing that there’s still a legitimate debate as to who is the best quarterback of this era.
So I tracked down the man who, in my not-so-humble opinion, is the greatest of all time and asked him if he agreed that New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady(notes) was being prematurely run over and kicked to the side of the road by the Short Attention Span Overstatement Society.
“Yeah, I think it’s too early,” former San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Joe Montana said Thursday. “This is [Manning’s] second Super Bowl, and now they’re saying if he wins he’s the greatest. Tom’s sitting there with three [rings] and he’s been in four. I think it’s hard to pick one person.”
To add to what Montana said, Tom Brady also has the head-to-head advantage, 7-4. Tom Brady has also knocked Peyton out of the playoffs twice, while Peyton has knocked Tom out just once (although that knockout made the Peyton/Tom debate legitimate, as Peyton would go on to beat the Bears in the Super Bowl).
But I think Silver hit the point really well when he mentioned our “Short Attention Span Overstatement Society.” Tom Brady missed a season. Before that, he “was” the greatest quarterback of all-time. Now he comes back and has, although not record breaking like 2007, a great year all-around, especially considering that he was coming back from injury.
I’ll close this out with a few more quotes from Silver’s article, which is a great read, I might add:
I understand the hyperbole when it comes to assessing Manning’s greatness. At 33, he is a master at the top of his game. He just won his second consecutive and record fourth overall league MVP award. He already ranks insanely high on the career lists in most significant passing categories, and given his Favresque durability, it’s likely he will own most of the important records by the time he retires.
He also adds:
I understand the hyperbole when it comes to assessing Manning’s greatness. At 33, he is a master at the top of his game. He just won his second consecutive and record fourth overall league MVP award. He already ranks insanely high on the career lists in most significant passing categories, and given his Favresque durability, it’s likely he will own most of the important records by the time he retires.
And finally:
No matter how awesome Manning is on Sunday, I won’t even be ready to declare that he’s unequivocally the best of his time. I still think it’s a two-man discussion, and it won’t be settled until Manning and Brady are retired and getting asked about the great quarterbacks of the next era and beyond.
Look, Peyton Manning is a great quarterback, and he very well may be the best of all-time. However, Tom Brady deserves to be respected, and this debate certainly isn’t settled quite yet. The Patriots and the Colts will meet again in 2010 (once, but hopefully twice), and there’s no question that the greatest player-to-player rivalry will continue, as the two greatest quarterbacks of this era will meet once again.
Superbowl spreads have an interesting history, and the game has come a long way from back in the old days when the NFL champion played the champion from the upstart AFL. The first two Super bowl odds were both 14 points, and the third one produced an 18-point underdog that won the game outright – Joe Namath and the New York Jets.
There is truly no place on earth like the internet to bet the Superbowl spread when the “big game” comes back to Miami on February 7. Whether you’re one of those folks who like to play favorites, or who loads up on the underdog plus the points, you will find a line you can wager on with confidence.
You will especially like one of our features that offers an adjusted Superbowl spread, which involves taking more points by laying more of a price, or laying more points while taking more of a price. If you have a strong opinion on the game, this may be the way to go! No matter what the line is, this is an ideal way to find a Superbowl spread to your liking. Heck, you might even be a way you can turn a favorite into an underdog. The big winner on Super Bowl Sunday could be YOU.
Posted Under:
2010
This post was written by Greg on February 4, 2010
Comments (1)
With the Senior Bowl and other college football all-star games in the books, I thought it would be appropriate to take another look at how I think the Patriots draft might turn out. Remember, we still have over two and a half months until the draft, and a lot will change between now and then as we have the combine, pro days, player visits, etc.
Round 1, Pick 22: Brandon Graham, DE/OLB, Michigan
Round 1, Pick 22: Brandon Graham
Brandon Graham had a terrific week of practices at the Senior Bowl, culminating with his five tackle, two sack, MVP performance on Saturday. While Graham is undersized for a 3-4 outside linebacker, at just over 6′1″, he has the skill-set to be a great fit at the position. At over 260 pounds, Graham has shown he can more than hold his own against the run, but he has also established himself as a prolific pass rusher. While he doesn’t always uses a great variety of moves, he has a good amount of moves that he uses on occasion, moves that could be developed in the pros. He also is relentless in his rush, getting under lineman’s pads and using great leverage. He has also flashed the fluidity to drop back into coverage. Bottom line: Brandon Graham is one of the best pass rushers in this years draft, but his athleticism and ability to step up against the run make him a great fit as a Patriots 3-4 outside linebacker, even if he is shorter than they would like.
Round 2, Pick 42: Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma
Jermaine Gresham
Jermaine Gresham is without a doubt, the top tight end in this April’s draft. He is in the mold of Brandon Pettigrew: a massive target who excels both as an inline blocker and as a receiver. He has soft hands and is a lethal red zone target. With Ben Watson likely on his way out of town, I would be really happy if the Patriots took Gresham in the 1st round. However, because of a knee injury that cost him his senior season, Gresham might just be around in the second round. If he is, I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised to see the Patriots pounce on him.
Round 2, Pick 47: Jahvid Best, RB, California
If injuries and durability push Jahvid Best down to this spot, the Patriots will have found a steal. One of the needs many people have said the Patriots have is that of a playmaker. Well, Jahvid Best is just that: a home run hitter. He’s fast, explosive, has excellent break away speed, has superior vision, and can make the quick cuts inside. He also has good hands out of the backfield, but will need to work on his pass protection to become the next Kevin Faulk.
Round 2, Pick 47: Jahvid Best
Round 2, Pick 53: Brandon Ghee, CB, Wake Forest
Brandon Ghee
If the Patriots secondary proved one thing this year, it is that it can succeed using a more physical brand of cornerbacks, and that’s what Brandon Ghee is. While Brandon Ghee has some work to be done before he succeeds in advanced NFL coverage schemes, he certainly has what it takes to be a big time player. He has excellent speed and athleticism, is great in run support, and has the fluidity to mirror receivers in coverage. With some work, he could definitely become a Leigh Bodden type for the Patriots.
Round 4: Arthur Jones, DE/DT, Syracuse
If Arthur Jones has a great combine, you can forget about him at this spot. But right now, he’s looking like he could land in the 3rd to 4th round. That’s pretty remarkable for a guy who was at one time considered a 1st round talent. When I look at Jones, I see a guy who is big, strong, and athletic. While he played mostly inside at Syracuse, he certainly has the skill set to move to end in the 3-4. He reminds me a lot of Jarvis Green, in that he can hold up two gaps, but at the same time, flash some pass rush ability.
Arthur Jones | Courtesy SU Athletics
Round 6: Freddie Barnes, WR, Bowling Green
Freddie Barnes
Freddie Barnes had a great week at the East-West Shrine Game. He consistently showed an ability to catch the ball outside his frame, run really crisp routes to create separation, and make smart plays. At 6′ and over 210 lbs, Barnes doesn’t have good speed. Nonetheless, he has shown a consistent ability to separate and produce, and will almost definitely be drafted, even though he didn’t receive a combine invite.
Round 7: Marcus Easley, WR, Connecticut
Marcus Easley would be a very interesting prospect for the Patriots to develop at wide receiver for the future. He is big (6-3, 215 lbs), fast (4.4), and strong. He exploded onto the scene his senior season for UConn, displaying big hands and an ability to make the big play and score in the redzone. With the addition of Easley and Barnes, the Patriots will have a nice duo of young receivers to join Brandon Tate and Julian Edelman.
Round 7: Cord Howard, OG, Georgia Tech
The Patriots need offensive guards, with Stephen Neal possibly on the verge of retirement. Howard, at 6-4 and over 300 pounds, seems to be a good fit for the Patriots mold of lighter guards. He could very well be around at this pick.
Foley was the CFL's Sack Leader in 2009
Mike Reiss of ESPN Boston reports:
Ricky Foley, who has totaled 20 sacks over the last three years in the Canadian Football League, is scheduled to visit the Patriots on Thursday, according to his agent Paul Sheehy of ProStar Sports Agency.
Foley, 27, is a hybrid defensive end/outside linebacker. He visited with the Jets on Tuesday and is en route to St. Louis for a visit with the Rams. Over the last three years in the CFL, he has totaled 40 special teams tackles. In 2009, he had 12 sacks and 51 tackles for the British Columbia Lions.
“I’m not going to say he’ll be like Cameron Wake, who we took down [from the CFL to the Miami Dolphins] last year,” said Sheehy. “Guys like that are few and far between, but I think he can make a roster.”
Foley (6-3, 250) had signed with Baltimore Ravens in 2006 after playing at York University; after a brief stint in Baltimore he ultimately landed in the CFL.
I think it would be foolish to say that Foley could solve the Patriots pass rush issues, but he certainly seems like an intriguing option, and it wouldn’t hurt to give him a shot, especially considering Cameron Wake’s success with the Dolphins last year.
According to multiple reports, the New England Patriots have hired former Notre Dame defensive co-coordinator and associate head coach as their defensive backs coach. Interestingly, Brown has a background playing under coach Bill Belichick, as he played for the Patriots from 1993 to 1996, and with the Jets from 1997 to 1998. A little background on Brown from Albert Breer of the Boston Globe:
Corwin Brown at Practice
When Bill Belichick arrived to coach the Patriots defensive backs in 1996, Brown was in his fourth NFL season and already knew that, after he was done playing, he wanted to coach. He made this clear to Belichick, and the coach found ways to help tutor him, staying late to watch extra film and such to show Brown how to see the game from a coach’s eyes. Brown followed Belichick, and Bill Parcells, to the Jets in 1997 and spent two seasons there, so those two are pretty tight.
Brown got his start in coaching with Al Groh — his defensive coordinator in his four seasons as a Patriot — at Virginia from 2001-03, and was one of the few held over from Herm Edwards’ Jets staff by Eric Mangini. He’s been at Notre Dame the last three years, where he was co-defensive coordinator and associate head coach.
From the looks of it, Corwin Brown is unique in mold of Pepper Johnson in that he has experience both playing and coaching in the Patriots’ system, having played under the likes of Parcells, Belichick, Groh, and Weis. He also seems like a bright mind who wants to learn more about the game, and looks like he could develop even further down the road here in New England.
This seems like it will be a solid move for the Patriots.
On day two of the position reviews for 2009, we look at running back:
Maroney and Morris Celebrate a TD | Courtesy Patriots.com
Laurence Maroney
Laurence Maroney had a year marred by inconsistency. For the first time in his career, he was healthy for all 16 games, which is certainly a positive considering his past. He also revamped his running style by midseason, cutting out the dancing and making quicker decisions, while pounding the ball and defenders time and time again. It seemed that for a while, at least once or twice a game, he would lower his shoulder and completely level a defender. He also turned in a career high nine touchdowns in 2009, and he could still hit the home run. However, by the end of the season, Maroney seemed to be in Belichick’s doghouse. It started after a 1st quarter goal line fumble against Jacksonville, his second goal line fumble, and fourth lost fumble of the year. Maroney didn’t play another snap in the regular season, and while he started the Patriots’ playoff game against Baltimore, he only saw one carry.
Season Grade: B-
Future: Laurence Maroney will enter the final year of his contract in 2010. While he hasn’t lived up to the hype that surrounded him during his rookie campaign, Maroney was very effective at times in 2009. While the Patriots could look to pick up a veteran bruiser or a young weapon at the position in the draft, I would expect Maroney to be the Pats’ opening day running back in 2010. Beyond that, nothing is clear.
Fred Taylor
Fred Taylor, when he was healthy, was productive for the Patriots in 2009. At age 33, Taylor started off his Patriots career nicely, including a 105 yard performance against Atlanta in week 3. However, the following week, Taylor went down with an ankle injury, and was sidelined until week 16. When he returned, Taylor picked up where he left off, scoring two touchdowns in the season finale.
Season Grade: B-
Future: Today is Taylor’s 34th birthday, and while Taylor hasn’t publicly said anything about retirement, it can’t be very far off for the veteran. Assuming Taylor does return, he could be a solid weapon for the Patriots in 2010. He still has good quickness, makes good decisions, and has some elusiveness and power left in him. I would expect him to be the Patriots primary backup in 2010.
Sammy Morris
Sammy Morris can do a lot of things for the Patriots. In 2009, Morris lined up at both halfback and fullback, often the team’s lead blocker. He ran the ball effectively, at 4.4 yards per carry, including a 95 yard performance against Jacksonville. He was also a weapon as a pass catcher, hauling in 19 catches, all while missing four games with injury. There’s no question that when Sammy Morris is healthy, he’s one of the better backs in this league.
Season Grade: B
Future: Sammy Morris, like Maroney and Taylor, will be entering the final year of his contract in 2010. Even though he will be 33, he hasn’t really slowed down much at all, and should be a part of the Patriots running back corps in 2010.
Kevin Faulk
Remember those jerseys? | Courtesy Patriots.com
Will this guy ever slow down? In 2009, Kevin Faulk took back his usual role as third down/passing back, and had another great season. It seems that the older he gets, the more effective he gets running the ball, as he rushed for 5.4 yards per carry this year, and had the second highest yardage total on the team, behind Maroney. Faulk was also tied for 3rd in receptions, behind just Moss and Welker. You could definitely argue that Faulk was the Patriots starting back, considering he started more games and played more downs than any other Patriots’ back.
Season Grade: A-
Future: Faulk is an unrestricted free agent this offseason, but chances are Faulk, the only player left on the roster to have donned those royal blue uniforms of the 1990’s, will be back for another run in 2010. Faulk has a defined role, and he has yet to slow down. He is a great team player, and a leader, and one of the team’s most reliable players.
BenJarvus Green-Ellis
Green-Ellis in '08
In 2009, BenJarvus Green-Ellis once again found his way onto the field. While Green-Ellis managed to carry the ball only 26 times in 2009, he got some short yardage work in, and even found his way onto the field as a lead blocker, paving the way for two Fred Taylor touchdowns in the season finale. Green-Ellis isn’t the most patient runner, as he lower his shoulder and hits the hole quickly. He is the youngest back on the Patriots roster, and therefore provides some needed youth at the position. He also improved a lot in pass protection in 2009, and was very effective running the ball in a blowout against Tennessee.
Season Grade: C+
Future: Green-Ellis, like virtually every back on the Pats’ roster, is signed through 2010. While he will have his work cut out for him again to make the roster, Green-Ellis brings some solid north-south running, youth, and new-found versatility to the Pats’ running backs.
Overview
Statistically speaking, the Patriots’ running back group had a good year in 2009, as the Patriots ranked 12th in the NFL in rushing. However, this group, throughout the year, was inconsistent with no true every down back. Maroney never truly became the feature #1 back, and Taylor and Morris missed a lot of time due to injury. While the Pats may continue with the back-by-committee approach, there seems to be a need for some young legs at the position, probably in the form of an explosive young back. Some game breaker types in the draft include C.J. Spiller, Jahvid Best, and Dexter McCluster; all of whom could be targets for the Patriots. The Patriots could also look towards a power back such as Jonathan Dwyer of Georgia Tech, or a Michael Bush type in LeGarrette Blount of Oregon.
Season Grade: B
The Patriots season has been over for more than two weeks now, and I’ve had time to look back and digest the Patriots season. That said, I will take one more look at how each player fared in 2009, and what the future projects for each player. Today, we start with the quarterback position.
Brady and Hoyer Before the Bucs Game | Courtesy Patriots.com
Tom Brady:
After missing nearly the entire 2008 season with a knee injury, Tom Brady made his much anticipated return in 2009, with some mixed results. Brady started the season with a magical comeback against Buffalo, but then struggled against the Jets, and parts of games against the Falcons, Broncos, and Ravens. It seemed that he was struggling stepping into his throws and making the big plays that New England fans were accustomed to seeing. However, around week six, Tom Brady returned to form. After throwing six touchdowns in a 59-0 rout over Tennessee, Brady seemed to grow more comfortable in the pocket, showing that pocket mobility that he is famous for, eluding defenders, creating time, stepping up, and making throws downfield. Brady also continued to connect on the deep ball, finishing the year with 28 touchdowns and 13 interceptions, including a 96.2 passer rating, good for second best in his career. Brady also led the Patriots to yet another 10 win season and AFC East Championship, while nursing broken ribs and a broken index finger on his throwing hand.
Season Grade: A-
Future: Brady is entering the final year of his contract in 2010. While there is no question Brady will be back, it will be very interesting to keep an eye on Brady’s situation. From the sound of things, I think that Brady will take another hometown discount, and he should be the Patriots’ starting quarterback for the next five years.
Brian Hoyer
Brian Hoyer, a rookie free agent out of Michigan State, was the only other quarterback on the roster behind Tom Brady. That is certainly saying something about Bill Belichick’s confidence in the rookie. In training camp, Hoyer beat out the likes of Matt Gutierrez, Andrew Walter, and Kevin O’Connell for the #2 quarterback job. In limited action this season, Hoyer completed 19 of 27 passes (70.2%) for 142 yards and had a rushing touchdown. Hoyer showed excellent poise, he stepped into his throws, knew when to run, and had it not been for a holding call, may have led the Patriots on a game tying drive against Houston. Against Tennessee, Hoyer showed he could play the dink and dump passing game. In performances against New Orleans and Houston, he showed he could air the ball out well.
Grade: B+
Future: Hoyer is under contract with the Patriots through 2011, and should be the Patriots primary backup for the next two years, at least. And who knows, sometime, down the line, there might just be a chance that Hoyer could be the Patriots starting quarterback.
FINAL POSITION GRADE FOR 2009: A-
A Vrabel Return to Pats? Maybe. | Courtesy Patriots.com
Just a quick thought to pass along. With all of this talk of the Patriots lacking leadership, why not bring back veteran Mike Vrabel? He is an unrestricted free agent, and at 34, would provide the leadership the Patriots have been lacking.
While he may not be able to rush the passer very effectively anymore, he could certainly still set the edge on running downs, as well as play strong inside linebacker. If you remember, Vrabel played very well at inside linebacker in 2005 after the Monty Beisel experiment crashed and burned, and while Tedy Bruschi was recovering from his stroke. Vrabel also played inside in 2006, after Junior Seau went down with a broken arm against the Bears.
If the Patriots signed Vrabel, he could play inside on the strong side, taking up blockers and allowing Jerod Mayo to move back to his more natural position of a weak inside linebacker. On passing downs, the Patriots could feature Gary Guyton. He could also occasionally be used as an outside linebacker to set the edge, and of course on the goal line as a tight end.
Look, I cannot tell you whether the Vrabel-Patriots bridge has been burned. But what I can tell you is that by signing Vrabel and moving him to inside linebacker, he could fill two needs, one of a SILB and one of a veteran leader.
Dean Pees will no longer be the Patriots defensive coordinator. In a statement released by the Patriots, Pees stated:
Dean Pees Out | Photo Courtesy Boston Herald
“My contract with the New England Patriots will expire in a couple of weeks and I have informed Mr. Kraft and CoachBelichick that I will not seek to renew it. I enjoyed my time in New England, but feel this is the right time to pursue other opportunities. I had the privilege of working with some great coaches and great players over the past six seasons and leave the Patriots with some wonderful memories that will last a lifetime. In addition to the players and coaching staff, I want to thank the Kraft family, the media and the fans for all of their support.”
I liked Pees in his time with the Patriots. He was a good guy who the players liked, but unfortunately for him, he was trying to fill the shoes of Romeo Crennel, and he simply couldn’t coach up to Romeo’s level. I’m sure Pees stepping down was more of a mutual thing, and it gives the Patriots a chance to re-mold a little bit more on defense.
With Pees out, the Patriots will obviously be on the market for a new defensive coordinator. While former Virginia coach Al Groh seemed like a candidate, Groh signed on with Georgia Tech as their d-coordinator. With that said, all indications are that the Patriots will be promoting from within for the position, with defensive line coach Pepper Johnson and linebackers coach Matt Patricia the two top options.
I’ll break down the candidates further later.
