Should the Patriots bring back Brandon Lloyd?
This time last year the Patriots had one of, if not the, most dynamic and unpredictable offenses in football. Tom Brady, an elite quarterback, was surrounded on all sides by top-notch offensive weapons: The Hernandez/Gronk tandem, Welker/Edelman in the slot, Ridley/Vereen/Bolden in the backfield, and Brandon Lloyd on the outside. Paired with a tremendous O-line, it is no surprise the team had the best offense in the league last year.
But things have changed. Drastically. Going into Week 2 this year, the team is looking at an almost unfathomable scenario on the offensive side of the ball. Brady's best weapon, arguably by far, is Julian Edelman. Not to knock Edelman, who is a good player when healthy, but it indicates just how far the offense has fallen due to injuries, free agency, and a murder.
But one player who was a key piece in last year's offense who the Patriots simply let go was Brandon Lloyd. Despite a somewhat productive season, Lloyd had apparently been a disruptive force in the Patriots locker room, disruptive enough that the team had no problem parting ways with him. The problem then, and the problem now (based on Kenbrell Thompkins' Week 1 performance), is that the Patriots haven't found someone to fill the void that was created when Lloyd left.
Their failed attempt to sign Emmanuel Sanders in the off-season was an attempt to do so. So was drafting talented rookie receivers in Aaron Dobson and Josh Boyce. Then there is Thompkins, an undrafted free agent who has showed some promise, but in week one simply looked like a player not ready to play in the NFL yet.
Now, Shane Vereen is heading to IR. Gronk's return is still unknown. And Danny Amendola, who along with Tom Brady willed the Patriots to victory over the Bills, is dealing with a groin injury. Tom Brady's three best offensive weapons in the passing game heading into the regular season will all be on the sideline Thursday night.
Which brings me to my original question: Is it time for the team to give some serious thought to bringing back Brandon Lloyd. Eric Anderson of PatriotsLife recently wrote a great piece raising the question on if the Pats should bring in old receivers like Deion Branch, Jabar Gaffney, or Terrell Owens. All are interesting ideas, but I think the return of Brandon Lloyd makes more sense. Mainly because he has much more left in the tank than any of those guys. Adam Schefter said yesterday on WEEI he could see Lloyd back in New England.
Firstly, it is unknown if that is even a realistic possibility, as recent reports suggested Lloyd had "no interest" in playing football, and was leaning towards retirement. Now the question is if Lloyd is heading in that direction by choice, or if it is simply due to the fact that no one wants him on their team.
There is no doubt Lloyd was an abrasive personality in almost every locker room he spent time in. Lloyd played for six teams in ten seasons, and clashed with teammates and coaches along the way. After he was released from the Patriots, it became known that he was regarded as a bizarre guy who was confrontational and unfriendly to teammates and the media. His behavior in the locker room is believed to have largely led to his ticket out of New England.
I didn't spend any time in a locker room with Lloyd. I don't know just how difficult of a teammate and person he was to deal with. But has there ever been a case in the history of the NFL of a guy who had as productive a season as Lloyd did last year, and couldn't find a job the next?
He didn't live up to the Randy Moss-esque expectations that were set for him heading into last season. He did flop to the ground seconds after every ball he caught. And apparently, he just wasn't that nice of a dude. But you can't argue with the facts: he caught 74 balls for over 900 yards and 4 touchdowns on the year. And even more important: he, like Wes Welker, played in every single game. You may not have known what type of production you would get from Lloyd game to game. But you could at least rely on the fact he would be out there.
Staying on the field and playing productively in the complex Patriot's offensive system is something that looks like it is going to be a major problem for this young and inexperienced 2013 squad. Lloyd is a guy who is clearly not at the end of his rope and knows the system, and would require little integration back into his former role.
But maybe he really doesn't want to play football anymore. And with the number of teams that have a need at the receiver position, for Lloyd to not get a call from anyone is shocking. Maybe he's not the type of guy you want to have around young wide receivers like Thompkins, Boyce, and Dobson, who are each trying to develop and learn.
Bringing Lloyd back seems to make a lot of sense on paper. But the fact that he was released in the first place, and hasn't gotten a call back yet speaks to how unlikeable he must have been.
I just really don't know who Tom Brady is going to throw the ball to this year.
@LiamPCunningham
@PatriotsLife
But things have changed. Drastically. Going into Week 2 this year, the team is looking at an almost unfathomable scenario on the offensive side of the ball. Brady's best weapon, arguably by far, is Julian Edelman. Not to knock Edelman, who is a good player when healthy, but it indicates just how far the offense has fallen due to injuries, free agency, and a murder.
But one player who was a key piece in last year's offense who the Patriots simply let go was Brandon Lloyd. Despite a somewhat productive season, Lloyd had apparently been a disruptive force in the Patriots locker room, disruptive enough that the team had no problem parting ways with him. The problem then, and the problem now (based on Kenbrell Thompkins' Week 1 performance), is that the Patriots haven't found someone to fill the void that was created when Lloyd left.
Their failed attempt to sign Emmanuel Sanders in the off-season was an attempt to do so. So was drafting talented rookie receivers in Aaron Dobson and Josh Boyce. Then there is Thompkins, an undrafted free agent who has showed some promise, but in week one simply looked like a player not ready to play in the NFL yet.
Now, Shane Vereen is heading to IR. Gronk's return is still unknown. And Danny Amendola, who along with Tom Brady willed the Patriots to victory over the Bills, is dealing with a groin injury. Tom Brady's three best offensive weapons in the passing game heading into the regular season will all be on the sideline Thursday night.
Which brings me to my original question: Is it time for the team to give some serious thought to bringing back Brandon Lloyd. Eric Anderson of PatriotsLife recently wrote a great piece raising the question on if the Pats should bring in old receivers like Deion Branch, Jabar Gaffney, or Terrell Owens. All are interesting ideas, but I think the return of Brandon Lloyd makes more sense. Mainly because he has much more left in the tank than any of those guys. Adam Schefter said yesterday on WEEI he could see Lloyd back in New England.
Firstly, it is unknown if that is even a realistic possibility, as recent reports suggested Lloyd had "no interest" in playing football, and was leaning towards retirement. Now the question is if Lloyd is heading in that direction by choice, or if it is simply due to the fact that no one wants him on their team.
There is no doubt Lloyd was an abrasive personality in almost every locker room he spent time in. Lloyd played for six teams in ten seasons, and clashed with teammates and coaches along the way. After he was released from the Patriots, it became known that he was regarded as a bizarre guy who was confrontational and unfriendly to teammates and the media. His behavior in the locker room is believed to have largely led to his ticket out of New England.
I didn't spend any time in a locker room with Lloyd. I don't know just how difficult of a teammate and person he was to deal with. But has there ever been a case in the history of the NFL of a guy who had as productive a season as Lloyd did last year, and couldn't find a job the next?
He didn't live up to the Randy Moss-esque expectations that were set for him heading into last season. He did flop to the ground seconds after every ball he caught. And apparently, he just wasn't that nice of a dude. But you can't argue with the facts: he caught 74 balls for over 900 yards and 4 touchdowns on the year. And even more important: he, like Wes Welker, played in every single game. You may not have known what type of production you would get from Lloyd game to game. But you could at least rely on the fact he would be out there.
Staying on the field and playing productively in the complex Patriot's offensive system is something that looks like it is going to be a major problem for this young and inexperienced 2013 squad. Lloyd is a guy who is clearly not at the end of his rope and knows the system, and would require little integration back into his former role.
But maybe he really doesn't want to play football anymore. And with the number of teams that have a need at the receiver position, for Lloyd to not get a call from anyone is shocking. Maybe he's not the type of guy you want to have around young wide receivers like Thompkins, Boyce, and Dobson, who are each trying to develop and learn.
Bringing Lloyd back seems to make a lot of sense on paper. But the fact that he was released in the first place, and hasn't gotten a call back yet speaks to how unlikeable he must have been.
I just really don't know who Tom Brady is going to throw the ball to this year.
@LiamPCunningham
@PatriotsLife
