"The News
The Patriots have signed free agent wide receiver Donte' Stallworth to a six-year, $30 million deal with $12 million in guaranteed money, according to ESPN.com. Stallworth had 38 catches for 725 yards and five touchdowns for the Eagles in 2006, but he missed time due to injury and is currently a part of the NFL's substance-abuse program, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer."
--via Fanball's Newsbreakers
Now this is how you go about getting yourself a WR. Sure, he's going to take up more cap space than Welker, but you didn't give up any draft picks to get him. I have to say I like this move a lot. I think Stallworth will be a receiver who can make 8-12 catches a game, and has enough skill to keep corners from pinching and safeties from walking up on the run game. This could have a huge impact on the entire Patriots offense. I am also glad that they went this route instead of giving up another draft pick or two to pick up Randy Moss. Sure Moss was one of the most talented WRs in his prime (and possibly one of the most talented WRs ever). However, he's over 30 and has been injured the last couple of years. Plus, he doesn't play hard on every play (self-admitted). Frankly, that may be fine for a mediocre team like the Vikings when he played for them, or a horrible team like the Raiders, but on a great team like the Patriots, you can't have a guy not giving his all on every play to rely upon in the playoffs. That's how you lose playoff games. Finally, as my co-worker said, which is going to be more helpful? A guy you tell go deep 4-5 times a game, and chuck it up to him hoping for the homerun? Or a guy who can catch those 8-12 passes a game and pick up 1st downs? My vote is for the younger, harder playing Stallworth, over the possibly more talented, malcontent Randy Moss. I am glad that the Patriots seem to share those thoughts.
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Donte Stallworth
Posted by Chremdacasi at 1:49 PM
Labels: Commish, Player News WR
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9 comments:
I like the Stallworth signing too. My only concern is why did the Eagles let Stallworth go? Do they know something about his hamstring injury or substance abuse problem? It's always a question when good organization let's a player go when they have money to spend. (Similar concerns were brought up last year when New England let Vinatieri go).
But all in all it looks like a very good off-season for New England. I think they have to be the front runners in the AFC heading into the season.
My understanding was that he was a Free Agent, which is a lot different than a team cutting a guy. The Eagles with Reggie Brown on board, who showed a lot of skills last year might not have had the money to spend on another WR with that skill set, with Brown already on board.
Vinatieri was a free agent too. It just gives me pause, when a quality organization like the Eagles lets a good player at a position of need leave their team. But like I said, I like the move for New England. The filled a big need for their team and didn't have to give up anything in return. Now they can focus their 2 first round picks on solidifying their secondary.
" have to say I like this move a lot. I think Stallworth will be a receiver who can make 8-12 catches a game"
This may be a little optimistic on your part. Stallworth played in a 11 games last year for Philadelphia. The most catches he had in any single game was 6, and he had a total of 38 in those 11 games for an average of just under 3.5 per game.
So, while 8-12 from Stallworth might be nice, 5-7 seems more realistic based on his 2006 performance.
Not sure what Vinateri has to do with Stallworth? Seems like you are trying to make some loose connection, in an attempt to anger the New England fans by bringing up Vinateri. The Patriots know that Stallworth has hamstring injuries every year (has since he was in NO)...and it was public knowledge about the substance abuse program, so their eyes were wide open there. They just weren't concerned enough about those things to not sign the guy. And I'm not sure why you think WR is a an area of need for the Eagles. I think with Reggie Brown they are just fine. You pointed out that Stallworth missed games with injury last year, and Brown stepped in perfectly well in that situation. Oh and nice catch on the 8-12 prediction on my part. That was definitely a long reach on my part, 5-7 sounds much more reasonable.
In the NFL most teams 2 or 3 quality WRs to compete. The Eagles now just have one with Brown.
And the point I am making about Stallworth is the same one you made with Vinatieri last year. Your reasoned that the Pats let him go because they must know that he is no longer the kicker he used to be. Maybe the Eagles have similar knowledge that you thought the Patriots had last year.
About the catches thing, I started looking at it closely. At first 8-12 a game seemed reasonable. But if he average 8 catches over a 16 game season then he would have amassed and amazing 128 catches, however that is dwarfed by the 192 catches he would amass if he average 12 catches a game. I think Marvin Harrison has the season record with something like 140 catches.
Yeah, I definitely reached on the 8-12 number. I had heard someone else throw that number around, and kind of adopted it without thinking about it. Its amazing how few catches per game it takes to be a "great" WR. I mean, think about it. If a WR were to make 8 catches a game the entire season, they would be elite. If you were a RB getting 8 touches a game, you would be a backup. Amazing that WRs are perceived as such stars, and paid so much, considering how few plays they actually move the ball forward.
More fuel was added to the fire of our discussion on Stallworth this week. The Eagles signed Kevin Curtis to a very similar deal to the one Stallworth received. Now why were the Eagles willing to offer Curtis a deal like this but not Stallworth? What do the Eagles know that the rest of us do not?
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