Deion Branch?....!!*

[Dirty Water]

Would be a nice guy to line up across from Tate with Welker in the slot. There are rumours floating around they may make a deal for him.

I really don't understand this whole fiasco of trading Moss in the first place.

EDIT: we got em!

[Celtics_Champs]

I've been hearing branch for 3 fricken years now. Tell me when it's done then I'll get excited.

He'd be a great option if he can stay on the field.

[ZedgetRedd]

He would make Brady a happy man, so why not.

[sunshinekids99]

Well it's Brady's orginal binky. I don't know how much Branch has left to help this team. I'm not really sure he can beat out many of the recievers on the Pats.

[sunshinekids99]

Well Branch is back for a 4th rounder. So there is a round difference between Moss and Branch....okay.

[Dirty Water]

I think Branch will be fine back here. Just real puzzling the whole situation. I

[Dirty Water]

My friend just posted this as his status

"Brady to Moss the Unstoppable Toss gives way to Brady to Branch Give it Another Chance cause he's got a Super Bowl Ring in the back of his Pants...."

Was unaware I was friends with Dr. Suess.

[Celtics_Champs]

So basically we traded Laurence Maroney for Deion Branch. I'm cool with that, and very excited we got branch back.

Welcome back. Please stay healthy

[ZedgetRedd]

Welcome back Deon. For the sake of our team, please do something productive.

[GuyClinch]

Good deal. Branch was getting some seperation this year - his knees are as healed as they are going to get. I was puzzled by the Moss trade too..at first.

But here is why:

1) Pats want to use a dink and dunk offense - to protect the defense. This keeps the offense on the field longer even if it doesn't result in more points. Randy wasn't that good at running short and intermediate routes. Not only that but our offense would be very predictable with him out there. It's said that Randy only ran a small percentage of the playbook. Look for that to change with Branch and Tate.

2) Though this is related - Randy presence led to Brady taking more 'shots' down the field at an often double covered Moss. Brady doesn't throw a great deep ball (he can throw it) but when you miss a whole down is wasted. Moss percentages this year (balls thrown to/caught) was less then 50%. You miss these you can throw interceptions AND stall drives.

3) Moss was pissed that he didn't have an extension. he wanted a big contract extension and he wasn't going to get it with us. The Pats thought he would act out - and may have been already (if you believe the Jets).

4) Moss is slipping - some. Moss is still potent against single coverage but he wasn't effortlessly killing even double teams like he was back in 2007.

5) The Pats think Tate is pretty good - and having invested a pick in him want to see what he can do as the deep threat. The Pats generally only run two wideouts out there as it opens up the running game (the offense was becoming predictable with the five wideout sets) and with Moss there this guy wasn't going to get reps.

6) The Pats want to get something back for Moss since they aren't keeping him anyway..

This 'combination of factors' is what made him gone. Personally I expect our offense to be pretty darn good with Brady and our current recievers. Brady excels at the timing routes and short and intermediate passes. We only need Tate to keep defenses honest..

Its our defense that's the issue - and that's why this change is so critical. We have to keep our offense out there all the time - never punt and proctect those guys. Our front 3 of the 3 - 4 is the worst its ever been under BB. Only Wilfork is decent.

[Celtics_Champs]

Branch re-worked his contract.

Well it took a couple years, but Branch finally realized, taking less to be on a good team with a great QB, aint so bad.

[sully00]

I like having Branch for two years in exchange for a 4th rounder. That is a great deal for SEA who hardly used him and was going to cut him next year, but the Pats get a guy that fills a need and really puts them in a position to address other issues with the draft and FA (if there is actually football).

The biggest change that should result, at least in a positive way, is time of possession. We were 3rd last season and that hid a lot of the defenses weaknesses, presently we are 22nd. So even though we lead the league in scoring we don't chew up clock and I don't care if you are the 85 Bears if you are on the field all game long you are going to get worked in the NFL.

One would think that building a good run game would be a priority but it is difficult to be a great run and pass blocking team in the NFL, when you try to do both you end up looking like the Packers, not blocking anyone.

The next best thing is a possession passing game. Welker and Branch can move the sticks, send Tate on the fly and look for the big gains from the tight ends and hope all these little guys get lost in the blocking on the screens and hopefully we can find a way to hold on to the football for more than half of the game.