Stallworth has never even had 1000 yards recieving for a year. Guy was the 13th overall pick. This injury has been with him forever and its holding him back. He's also on his 3rd team in 6 years. Good luck.
The patriots picked up Stallworth in a one year deal for cheap money. They have the ability to extend him if they like what he does in 07 or let him walk at no loss. Stallworth turned down more money from the titans/dolphins because he really wanted to play in NE with Brady. How exactly is there risk in a one year deal? The deal is not expensive. It is beyond reasonablefor the level of talent you are getting. Stallworths contract is performance based. He has to prove himself to make his money. The pats did not pay a lot of money for him, and if he performs to there expectations, they can extend him at over a million less per year then what Branch is making. If they do not like how he plays they cut him in 08 at no loss. This pickup can only help them. They went to the afc championship game with Jabar gaffney, Troy Brown and Reche Caldwell. Stallworth turned down more guaranteed money from the titans and dolphins to play in NE. I would think that is a sign of maturity, and shows some desire to prove himeself. You are correct he has not had a 1000 yard season. His best was 950 yards. He has not played with Tom Brady either. A guy who had two scrap heap team rookies putting up numbers dwarfing the likes of Reggie Wayne and Marvin Harrison in the postseason. Pretty amazing considering they where rookies to the team who missed the preseason. Are you saying Deion Branch is not a good receiver? He has never had a 1000 yard season, and was was worth a first round draft choice and 6 million bucks a year from Seattle. A first round draft choice is a serious investment.
Donte Stallworth is better then Deion Branch. He is bigger, faster , has more natural talent and a legit deep threat. His avg is better and he has more then twice the td's Branch does.Stallworth has also been out due to injury less in the same amount of games as Branch, making him incredably more durable. The Stallworth deal was tremendous pickup for a team who needs a deep threat wr. They are paying him cheap money, and have the ability to walk away at no loss after one year. If they decide to extend him for the five years they are still going to get him for a great price. As you know, the patriots offered Deion the same contract Seattle did. The only catch was Deion had to play out the final year of his current contract. He was holding out and demanding his current contract be ripped up. Ob the pats could not just tear up his current contract or else everyone on the team would hold out and force a new deal. So they let him walk for a first rounder. Stallworth was picked up for one year with a five year option if they choose to exercise it. If they decide to give him that five year option after this season they will have gotten Donte Stallworth, a better player at 2 million less per year then Deion, plus a first round draft choice they will be using in this current draft. Dieon also contributed to the pats having close to 30 million in cap space this year. Stallworth is on the record telling Drew Rosenhouse he is "not leaving NE without a deal, get it done" sounds like he wants to play to me. Couple that with the fact he is only gauranteed one year at veryyyy reasonable money under a performance based contract and I dont see what team wouldent jump to sign that deal. Others tried to give him more actually, he turned them down. They said good luck with Rodney Harrison and Corey Dillon also. They helped us win superbowls.
Belicheck and Pioli are a some of the best at evaluating what peices fit there puzzle. He will fit right in, some of the most respected vets on the pats have been with over 4 teams in there career. With ten draft choices including two first rounders a legit deep threat with a lot of talent is welcomed on a team who needs jus that. The price was right and the need immediate. If he does not work out, he will contruibute to a team who made it to the afc championship game without him. If he pans out like I think he will playing with Brady. It will have netted us a great player under a more then reasonable contract, plus whatever player/players we get with the 24th pick in this draft.