Talking NFL

Add the Philadelphia Eagles to the list of teams that have been raided and plundered in the off season by the Patriots.  Yesterday, wide receiver Donte Stallworth agreed to a back-loaded six-year contract, with a maximum value of $33.1 million.  He chose the Patriots over numerous other suitors, including the Eagles, Titans, and Dolphins.

Ironically, with the exception of the 1st year being structured with the smallest dollar value, it is a very similar deal to the six-year, $39 million dollar contract that Deion Branch signed with the Seahawks last year.  

Of course, with Donte in line to be the replacement for the former Super Bowl MVP in New England, the comparisons don’t end there.  Here’s the tale of the tape for both 5-year veterans:

Deion Branch:  27 years old, 5′ 9″
Donte Stallworth:  26 years old, 6′ 0″

Games missed due to injury/other in 5 seasons:  Deion 13, Donte 12

Total stats:

Deion Branch:  266 rec 3469 yds 13.0 avg 18 TD’s
Donte Stallworth:  233 rec 3516 yds 15.1 avg   28 TD’s

So both wide-outs are quick, reliable mid-size targets that have had some trouble staying on the field. Both are ready to hit their prime years, while making similar high-end money.  While Donte is more of a deep threat, and has had better success getting in the end zone, Deion has more catches, and does pretty well for himself in the clutch.  On a more critical note, there have been some issues made with Donte’s character, and there’s a rumor that he may be facing a drug suspension. As for Deion, he uncharacteristicly dropped several passes this year, including 4 in one game, a critical 20-17 loss to the Chargers.

So if you call this a push, then what the Patriots did was trade one year without either one of these guys in exchange for the first round pick they received this year from the Seahawks.

In the long-term, it makes for a great deal for the Patriots, as they have a formidable receiving corps again, along with 2 first round picks to play with.  However, it’s hard not to think back to the AFC Championship and wonder what might have been.  Would it have been Deion on the receiving end of that 4th quarter pass instead of Reche ‘eyes wide open’ Caldwell, who dropped a sure touchdown? And if so, would the Patriots have gone on to win Super Bowl XLI?

Who knows, but these are the things fans think of in the off-season (while banging their heads against their keyboard).  Regardless, after a crazy free agent spending spree, the Patriots are fully locked and loaded for another title run in 2007.  Meanwhile, Eagles fans are green with envy and anger…

Donte Stallworth, New England Patriots, Philadelphia Eagles, Deion Branch