Patriots hosting WR Kenny Britt on free agent visit
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| Wade Payne/ AP Photo |
While development from Dobson, Thompkins and Boyce could turn that from a position of weakness to a strength, it still would be a big gamble to send Tom Brady out there with the same group of guys that let him down in 2013. Many have speculated that, even after re-signing Edelman, the Patriots would look to add another receiver via free agency.
WR Kenny Britt, who visited the #Rams today, is heading to New England to visit the #Patriots tomorrow, source says.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 15, 2014
Signing Britt would be a big gamble, but he's also the most talented receiver left on the market. For starters, he's 6'3" and 223 pounds, with legit 4.5 speed and a 37 inch vertical leap. That tantalizing skill set made him a first round draft pick (after excelling at Rutgers under Belichick buddy Greg Schiano) in 2009 by Tennessee.
Britt has flashed the ability to dominate in the NFL, and seemed poised to breakout as a legitimate superstar after a 2010 season that saw him catch 42 balls for 775 yards (18.5 per catch) and 9 touchdowns. As those numbers indicate, Britt did a ton of damage both as a deep threat and as a red zone target, utilizing his rare combination of speed, size and power. However, after starting the 2011 season with back to back 130 yard games, a torn ACL and MCL ended his 2011 season after just three games.
Since then, a deadly combination of trouble off the field and lack of focus on it have derailed his career. Britt has had a whopping 9 incidents involving the police in his five year NFL career, including an arrest for suspicion of DUI that landed him a one game suspension back in 2012 (the Titan's season opening loss against the Patriots). When on the field, he's seemed somewhat disengaged and unfocused, something that's manifested itself in costly drops. By the end of last season, Britt was a healthy scratch in Tennessee, and he wound up with only 11 catches for 96 yards all season.
All of this is concerning, but Britt is still very talented, only 25 years old and seems like he could really benefit from a change of scenery. He also seems more like a case of a guy who's lost his way than a bad apple, with respected Nashville Tennessean beat writer Jim Wyatt recently claiming that Britt isn't the bad seed "some thing he is". No organization is fail-proof when it comes to turnaround projects, but the Patriots locker room leadership and professionalism has helped troubled players in the past. Lets remember that the red flags surrounding Britt aren't all that different from those of Aqib Talib, whose career appeared to be in a free fall before arriving in New England.
Also like Talib, Britt will come in knowing that he's playing for his career. Britt knows that flaming out of a second organization could end his time in the NFL. However, playing up to his capability, especially on a highly visible team with a Hall of Fame quarterback is be the best way for Britt to rehab his image and get his career back on track. All he has to do is look at Aqib Talib, who went from an unwanted pariah to a guy with a $26 million guaranteed after only a year and a half in New England.
Finally, like Talib in 2012, Britt would fill a big position of need. Not only would bringing in Britt on a one year, "prove it" type of deal be inexpensive, but it also looks like the only way left in free agency to significantly upgrade the team's WR talent. Instead of adding another underwhelming #2 or 3 type (Jason Avant, Brandon LeFell), why not roll the dice on a guy with the talent to be a legit #1?
Do you want Britt on the Patriots, or does his considerable baggage make him too much of a risk? Let us know on social media and the comments below.
