Pats sign Donte Stallworth

Re: Patriots sign Donte Stallworth

DonBlackmon55 said:

Camp fodder to push Stinko and Branch. At least he knows our Offense, can't be any worse than Stinko

So, that makes entire WR corps look like 30+ old corpses
1. Welker
2. Lloyd
3. Branch
4. Stinko
5. Stallworth

Time to get younger at WR

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Dude.....really? 30 year old corpses? 30 is probably the prime for guys like Welker, Lloyd, and hopefully Stallworth!!!! They have at least 3 good years left!!!! Think positive....LETS GO PATS!

Re: Patriots sign Donte Stallworth

Bostonian1962 said:

I was at the game against the Skins, when he caught 4 catches for 96 yards, and thought to myself, "this dude can still play". This is an under the radar move that could pay dividends, and oh by the way, he knows the system.

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I was going to say something on one thread where Deus and I were going back and forth about the value of multiple deep threat receivers about taking a flyer and signing Donte, but I didn't want to jinx it or goad Deus, as he's easy to "get" when talk about Stallworth comes up.

Stallworth interestingly is only 31 but has had trouble staying healthy even before his incarceration.

While that's not a good thing, he also doesn't have quite as much tread on the tires because of that.

I hope he's got the skills to make the team. While Lloyd is currently the better proven deep threat, having two guys on the field to give Brady multiple deep options when that's called for would be helpful on many levels.

I just hope McDaniels adapts to the opportunity. Whether it was McDaniels or Brady's play calling we'll never know, but whereas Stallworth was well utilized at the beginning of 2007, by the end of the season he was barely being looked to.

Still his 46 catches wasn't bad that season - it's just that with a $6 million contract and Moss the preferred receiver due for an extension, there was no way we were going to keep him for that price.

Re: Patriots sign Donte Stallworth

Hercules Rockefeller said:

Adios, Ocho.

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Wrong. He's going to be a Patriot next season no matter who they sign. Branch however, is gone.

Re: Patriots sign Donte Stallworth

stcjones said:

Dude.....really? 30 year old corpses? 30 is probably the prime for guys like Welker, Lloyd, and hopefully Stallworth!!!! They have at least 3 good years left!!!! Think positive....LETS GO PATS!

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I'm with you... 31 is not over the hill. It does mean that you shouldn't count on more than 2 seasons - but for the present, this should be fine.

And while I was in the camp of wanting the young, improving Wallace to tear it up deep, from a cap standpoint it's pretty simple...

Wallace + one tagged year of Welker, and a draftee or two or...

Lloyd + Stallworth + Welker to what will hopefully be a multi-year contract, plus some young developmental receivers.

The Ocho experiment affirmed that there's no sense in putting all your eggs in one deep WR basket.

Re: Patriots sign Donte Stallworth

JonVaughnTD said:

Wrong. He's going to be a Patriot next season no matter who they sign. Branch however, is gone.

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Even with his restructured contract he's still a pretty expensive #6 WR. In one full season last year he wasn't much higher than that... Belichick isn't going to sacrifice a roster spot for a young up and coming WR or special teamer for a 33 year old deep threat WR who has no speed and can't run routes.

The only reason he remained last year was due to his contract and the fact that there was no other WR who even had a passing resemblance to a deep WR (Hernandez was the closest)

This year with Lloyd he no longer has that status. Belichick will treat him kindly and cut him loose early if it looks like he can latch on somewhere else - but I'm not thinking there will be much interest. As such I'd expect him to be given every opportunity to produce, but would probably be cut at the end of camp.

ausbacker said:

I must admit, I was pretty happy with the news in 2007 that the Patriots had signed Stallworth. Thought he could be a hell of a receiver here, that was until Randy Moss showed up and put together one of the most impressive runs in recent history.

Hopefully Stallworth still has something in the tank. He could be a contributor.

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He was the first deep WR we signed, even as many fans felt we were fine with Caldwell running those "deep" 10 yard routes - and was in the fold well before we brought Moss in (for next to nothing.)

At that time Stallworth probably thought he'd be getting the majority of looks and had a good shot at earning his 2008 $6 million salary.

I can't help but wonder if Stallworth's attitude changed when he saw how many balls were going Randy's way that season, knowing that there was little to no chance he'd be brought back with that large a salary and upset that his numbers wouldn't be good enough to earn the same big payday in free agency.

Since that time he's battled injury and personal demons. At age 30 (31 in November) he probably knows this is his last best shot to make an impact (and possibly extend his career and earn a few million more).

Before going out to sign Gonzalez and Lloyd, I thought Donte would be one of the first guys McDaniel would want to bring back into the mix.... but at this point, it is a bit of a surprise.

Clearly this team can't develop young wide receivers and having a guy like Donte sitting on the free agency bench seemed like a no-brainer. He is familiar with the scheme and the QB. He got "it" back in 07, while Ocho couldn't get it all year.

obviously, nobody can read Bills mind, but after the failures of developing a young wr, has Bb basically said "oh screw it lets just sign vets who can get the offense" and then go all out on defense in the draft?? i dont see how a rookie wr could get any playing time with this depth chart


obviously your #1 and #2 guys are going to be Welker, Lloyd

then after that you have stallworth, Ochocinco, Gonzalez, Branch(maybe) and if gaffney is cut by the redskins I wouldnt be surprised to see him get a visit...I expect the pats to keep 2 of those vets..it eliminates the need for us to entertain playing Underwood, slater at receiver. and is solid depth if there is an injury

theres going to be some stiff competition in camp between these guys in order to make the roster next year. Ocho better be prepared to bring his A-game

rookBoston said:

Got to assume Branch, Chad, Stallworth and Gonzalez are competing for two spots.

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Potentially three. Edelman could go to defense and the Pats could otherwise do w/o young WRs.

JoeSixPat said:

He was the first deep WR we signed, even as many fans felt we were fine with Caldwell running those "deep" 10 yard routes - and was in the fold well before we brought Moss in (for next to nothing.)

At that time Stallworth probably thought he'd be getting the majority of looks and had a good shot at earning his 2008 $6 million salary.

I can't help but wonder if Stallworth's attitude changed when he saw how many balls were going Randy's way that season, knowing that there was little to no chance he'd be brought back with that large a salary and upset that his numbers wouldn't be good enough to earn the same big payday in free agency.

Since that time he's battled injury and personal demons. At age 30 (31 in November) he probably knows this is his last best shot to make an impact (and possibly extend his career and earn a few million more).

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it's 31, - 32 in November. Still young though, it seems like he should be 90.

Re: Patriots sign Donte Stallworth

PATRIOTSFANINPA said:

This is your Patten,Galloway,Holt type of Camp Fodder I would be inclined to believe.

Stallworth doesn't have it anymore

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Galloway made the team out of camp and probably lasted a quarter to a third of the season before being let go. That ain't "camp fodder." Holt may have made the team, but got hurt and took an injury settlement. Patten retired after a couple of days or so.

J D Sal

Re: Patriots sign Donte Stallworth

PATRIOTSFANINPA said:

This is your Patten,Galloway,Holt type of Camp Fodder I would be inclined to believe.

Stallworth doesn't have it anymore

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He can still be effective as a #4 receiver. Wouldn't count on him for much more than that.