Just A Normal Tuesday In Foxborough: Stallworth Put On IR, Shiancoe Released & Branch Returns?

If you are going to play in one game in an NFL regular season and literally make one play, it's hard to top the way Patriots wide receiver Donte' Stallworth went out in 2012. He caught a 63-yard touchdown from Tom Brady (with one hand!) on Monday night which made it 28-0 New England and today, he went to IR with an ankle injury.

I guess it got lost in the shuffle of the 42-14 blowout victory over the Texans but apparently he sat out the last 25 minutes of the game. I don't remember one mention of that fact, I guess the Pats beat writers were too busy getting their stories done early. With Julian Edelman already on IR, the Patriots are very thin at wide receiver. That means that Deion Branch should be back as soon as tomorrow for the third time this season. His locker was kept just how he left it for him since he was waived on November 17-to deal with a hamstring injury.

In other Pats roster moves, they released tight end Visanthe Shiancoe from the 53-man roster and offensive lineman Tommie Draheim from the practice squad. To say that Shiancoe was a complete non-factor would be a big understatement. Hell even Kellen Winslow caught a pass the one week he was here. Haha bet you forgot about that. After going on IR (with the designation to return), Shiancoe "played" in the last four games but had zero impact-no catches.

All you have to know is that he was beaten out by Daniel Fells and Michael Hoomanawanui while Rob Gronkowski is out with his broken forearm. I doubt that New England would sign another tight end since they also have Aaron Hernandez and Gronk can't be that far away from getting back on the field. However, you never know with this team. Perhaps Ben Coates or Kyle Brady will return. Haha just kidding.

UPDATE 12/12: Today, New England signed wide receiver Tony Logan to the practice squad.

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There Goes Kellen Winslow Jr.'s Shot At The Patriots Hall Of Fame

Blink and you missed the entire extent of Kellen Winslow's time with the Patriots in 2012. Today, the high-strung tight end asked for and promptly received his release from the team a mere nine days after signing with New England in the first place. So in other words, his tenure here was about as long as your typical relationship in middle school.

We'll never really know what Winslow has left since he got on the field for a total of four plays on Sunday against the Ravens (which earned him $48,529, really). He had a 12-yard catch and dropped another pass that was right in his hands (not all that difficult) on the sideline. The good news for Patriots fans is that Winslow probably saw the writing on the wall at his position. Aaron Hernandez reportedly was seen in the locker room today without crutches or a protective boot which makes you think he'll be back in a few weeks and maybe he won't be out as long as we all thought after getting injured against the Cardinals.

With Rob Gronkowski, Hernandez (whenever he returns), Daniel Fells and Michael Hoomanawanui, New England is more than set for tight ends this season. In a couple weeks, we probably won't even remember that Winslow was ever here to begin with. He'll be one of those million transactions that happen during every NFL season that never end up meaning anything.

Don't forget that the Pats also have Visanthe Shiancoe stashed away on the new IR/designated to return list, which means he should finally see the practice field in a few weeks.

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Patriots Cap A Busy Day At Gillette By Bringing Back Deion Branch

When wide receiver Deion Branch was cut on August 31 as the Patriots trimmed their preseason roster down to 53 players, it was a pretty surprising development. However, I think most smart fans realized there was a good chance that he would be back soon enough this season in Foxborough.

It only took a little more than two weeks (and two games) and I'm happy to report that Branch has reached an agreement to return to New England. Apparently it was such a foregone conclusion that the team left his locker in place at Gillette Stadium. Aaron Hernandez's injury likely was the main catalyst for Branch's return since they'll need to find a way to duplicate Hernandez's production with multiple guys.

At 33, Branch is pretty long in the tooth for an NFL receiver but he put up decent numbers last season: 51 catches for 702 yards and five touchdowns in 15 games. Most importantly, he knows Tom Brady better than probably anyone that has ever played with him. Plus he's an outstanding leader and great teammate so you can always use a guy like that, especially in a time like this with the uncertainty surrounding the Wes Welker/Julian Edelman situation.

To make room for Branch and Kellen Winslow, the Pats released wide receiver Greg Salas, linebacker Mike Rivera and fullback Lex Hilliard. It's not hyperbole to say that those were probably the last three guys on the roster anyway. Salas never played since coming over from St. Louis a few weeks back, Rivera was only on special teams and Hilliard occupies a forgotten position.

It'll be interesting to see how much Branch and Winslow play on Sunday against the Ravens. It's shaping up to be a huge game since both teams are 1-1 and each are coming off a disappointing loss last Sunday. Baltimore has won 20 of its last 21 games at home so it is going to take a special effort from New England to beat them. If I had to put money on it, I would guess that Branch is more likely to see the field since he knows the playbook from last season and this preseason. One would think Winslow will need more time to get up to speed.

UPDATE 9/19: Filling that last roster spot, the Patriots also brought back linebacker Niko Koutouvides. He played in the last 11 regular season games and three playoff games last season. He was a staple of all four special teams units, which were a disaster on Sunday against the Cardinals.

Salas will return to the practice squad according to ESPNBoston.com's Mike Reiss.

UPDATE 9/20: With Salas back, wide receiver Kerry Taylor was released from the practice squad.

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Every NFL Team Can Always Use More Soliders: Patriots Sign Kellen Winslow

All it took was a serious ankle injury to Aaron Hernandez in Sunday's loss to the Cardinals for the Patriots to swoop in and sign free agent tight end Kellen Winslow to a one-year deal this morning.

He worked out in New England a few weeks ago but reports surfaced that his knee was a mess and they didn't end up signing him at the time. That should tell something about his physical condition since the Pats were more content with Daniel Fells and Michael Hoomanawanui at the time along with the fact that the Seahawks cut him in training camp.

Still, if he's healthy, Winslow is an above average tight end in the NFL. He was a Pro Bowler in 2007 with the Browns (82 catches, 1106 yards, 5 touchdowns). The sixth overall pick by Cleveland in the 2004 NFL Draft, Winslow was a star at the University of Miami and the son of legendary NFL Hall of Famer and fellow tight end Kellen Winslow (Chargers).

After spending four seasons in Cleveland (two productive, two injury-plagued), Winslow played the last three years in Tampa Bay. He was durable-appearing in all 16 games each season-and put up numbers so it's curious that the Bucs would let him go without anyone really coming up behind him or them bringing in a better guy (sorry washed up Dallas Clark). In 2011, he had 75 catches for 763 yards and two touchdowns. He's averaged 73 receptions for 792.3 yards the past three seasons.

It is silly to expect him to jump right into a new system with a new quarterback and team without any type of growing pains. Plus, unlike with the Buccaneers or Browns where he was the No. 1 or 1A target most of the time, now he'll be at best Tom Brady's fourth option behind Rob Gronkowski, Brandon Lloyd and Wes Welker (if he gets off the bench).

By signing him now, the ever cost-conscious Patriots don't have to foot the bill for his entire $3.3 million salary. Also, by agreeing on a one-year deal, that means that if things don't gel properly, they can let him go quickly (think Albert Haynesworth or Chad Johnson) without many repercussions. For everyone's sake, let's hope that Winslow has more of an impact than those stiffs. Basically it's a no-lose for the Patriots since Hernandez is not expected back until at least October. We all saw how out of whack the offense was against Arizona after he departed so perhaps Winslow will allow offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and Brady to get into a better rhythm starting this Sunday against the Ravens.

In honor of the newest Patriot, you know I had to look up one of my all-time favorite YouTube clips: Kellen Winslow calling himself a solider when he was at the U.


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