Mike Dussault

If you think about it, two factors point to Ochocinco actually being given the chance to make the team out of training camp…

– Ochocinco has been asked to restructure his contract, and it sounds like he’s amenable. If that happens, the Patriots have the possibility of being able to pay Ochocinco the same amount whether he’s on the team or not. The cap hit could be identical either way. If that’s the case, then why not give him a shot to make the team? It will be an uphill battle, but who knows?

– There is no harm in giving him the entire offseason to learn and re-focus and potentially come back with a better understanding of the offense. I thought his problem was physical last year, and that he’s not able to be an NFL receiver anymore, but perhaps a better knowledge of the offense will help. If not, they can just cut him. No harm, no foul. He wasn’t a distraction last year, and he was well-behaved. It sounds like that will continue.

https://www.patspropaganda.com/if-you-think-about-it-two-factors-point-to/

The conclusion drawn from here is that the team must want to turn the position over to its two young backs from the 2011 draft – Shane Vereen (2nd round) and Stevan Ridley (3rd round) – because $3 million per year for Green-Ellis seems reasonable.

https://www.patspropaganda.com/the-conclusion-drawn-from-here-is-that-the-team/

The three-year deal recently signed by Bengals running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis has a base value, according to a league source, of $9 million. Making it worth $3 million per year. And matching the annual average of the contracts signed last year by Panthers kicker Olindo Mare and Vikings kicker Ryan Longwell. It doesn’t make it a bad deal for GreenEllis. It’s arguably the best deal of any of the veteran running back contracts signed since free agency opened. He’ll get $4 million in the first year, he can make another $1.6 million via mostly reasonable triggers, and (unlike Michael Bush and his $3.5 million annual average) GreenEllis won’t be backing up Matt Forte.

https://www.patspropaganda.com/the-three-year-deal-recently-signed-by-bengals/

Ochocinco will be back in New England next year,” Schefter says. “They believe that he’ll spend this offseason immersing himself in the playbook, familiarizing himself with the Patriots’ offense. They’re going to bring all these wide receivers in and let them compete in training camp and the best receivers will play.

https://www.patspropaganda.com/ochocinco-will-be-back-in-new-england-next-year/

“At that time of my career, I was still learning,” Stallworth said. “I actually thought I knew what it meant to be the best, but once I left there is when I really understood how to take care of your body and how to eat right -– just the way they prepare in the Patriots organization. “I was in my [sixth] year that season, but I was one of the younger guys. That’s pretty rare in this league. You don’t get that much. Usually the sixth-year guys are one of your top veterans, so I was able to learn and just watch all those guys and learn from them. That was huge for me.”

https://www.patspropaganda.com/at-that-time-of-my-career-i-was-still-learning/