Watson surgery helps explain struggles
No one covers up an injury quite like the Patriots. We learned this week that Ben Watson played the last ten weeks and playoffs during last season with cartilage damage and scar tissue in his ankle. The injury was caused by yet another Roy Williams horse collar tackle.
The surgery helps explain Watson's drastic decrease in run-after-catch ability; he was held under ten yards-per-catch after the injury. It doesn't totally explain his struggle with drops, and I think the addition of Wes Welker was nearly as big a factor in his disappointing year.
Now that Watson is iffy to be ready for training camp, I think it's safe to slot him as a TE2 in fantasy leagues next year. The position is so deep, and I just don't think Watson will ever be a consistent weekly performer playing in New England's spread-the-wealth offense. He'll always be a third or fourth option in the passing game.
Watson still looks draftable, but he's getting passed at the position by some of the young guns at the position.
Comments
Even as a Cowboy fan I say Roy needs to stop the horse collaring. I cringed when he did it to McNabb on the one that drew a suspension. I dislike the Eagles but I was glad McNabb didn't get hurt.
Posted by: b roo | March 29, 2008 03:22 AM
I think 3rd or 4th offensive option is being generous. Watson's never been consistently healthy enough to be a factor, and thats after the ball gets spread around to all the offensive playmakers plus Vrabel. Probably worth a flier as a red-zone threat, but nothing more.
Posted by: Chad Ferguson | March 30, 2008 12:02 AM