“A Clear Unwillingness To Deal With Young, Unproven Receivers”

July 8th, 2020

Think Bucs rookie receiver Tyler Johnson will catch a lot of passes?

Not so fast.

That’s the word form Ken Laird, a very entertaining Patriots columnist who is known for a more objective, negative-leaning view of Tom Brady than most from the greater Boston area.

Laird penned a piece recently, “12 reasons why Cam Newton will be better than Tom Brady.”

Joe certainly didn’t buy all of it, but there were interesting nuggets, such as Brady having little patience and tolerance for young receivers.

One of the more bizarre Brady developments of the last few years was a clear unwillingness to deal with young, unproven receivers. On one hand, he demanded excellence, an admirable desire to be sure. But in a year where a true unicorn appeared – a Pats wide receiver who was a first-round draft pick – Brady seemed incapable of showing patience to N’Keal Harry, let alone Jakobi Meyers and other young targets.

Newton can’t possibly be worse at handling the young weapons, which now includes two rookie tight ends in Devin Asiasi and Dalton Keene. Plus, by all accounts, Newton is not a sideline screamer, which should make for a tighter-knit unit.

Laird rolled into Brady’s quick trigger with young receivers as a reason he was leading the charge for guys like Josh Gordon and Antonio Brown to join the Patriots.

And Laird explained that Brady pouted in recent years because he had no say in personnel. “We get it Tom, you wanted roster control,” he wrote.

Joe continues to wonder whether rookies Johnson and Ke’Shawn Vaughn will have a significant impact in the passing game during this wacky season, especially Johnson. It seems he’ll have to be very special to earn Brady’s trust in a hurry with limited practice time — and guys like Justin Watson and Scotty Miller with a little experience ahead of him.

37 Responses to ““A Clear Unwillingness To Deal With Young, Unproven Receivers””

  1. SOEbuc Says:

    3 million cases and still rising every day. Just cancel the season already.
    Did anyone really think the virus would disappear? Joe sure didn’t. Joe’s confident it’ll be around in 2021, too. Do we cancel sports forever? Armed robbery? Per FOX sports internal studies, 90 percent of hardcore NFL fans have never attended a game. –Joe

    It’s done. This season will suck all around with these procsigers. Armed robbery to teams and fans.

  2. SOEbuc Says:

    I’m waiting to see Johnson around year three like Godwin. Godwin high celing working with this offense.

  3. Joe in Michigan Says:

    It might not be Tyler Johnson’s year. Ke’Shawn Vaughn might be good running the ball, RB is one of the easiest positions to transition in the NFL for rookies. Ronald Jones was not an example of that, though, so who knows.

  4. gp Says:

    TB12 is an ‘opportunist’ type of quarterback and knows how to read the defense to know where his ‘opportunities’ will be.
    He will get the ball to the best opportunity *if* that opportunity has proven to be able to catch. If they can’t prove themselves and Tom doesn’t trust them, he shouldn’t be throwing to them.
    Yet another disadvantage of a short camp and reduced or eliminated preseason.

    *Newton is not a sideline screamer, *
    ROFLMAO No, Newton is a sideline pouter, with his towel over his head!
    Good luck NE, you’re going to need it!

  5. DrunkInYbor Says:

    If that guy thinks Mr. pouty Newton who is s front runner is going make it a tighter knit group hes a idiot. I’d rather have players respect then be their buddy when they screw up over and over. Newton is the king of in your face cocky flashy boy but when he’s losing he looks like his grandma just died. Who could ever forget his jumping away from the loose ball in the Super Bowl what a coward. I’ll take Brady all day everyday.

  6. Rob In Land O Lakes Says:

    “ Newton can’t possibly be worse at handling the young weapons, which now includes two rookie tight ends in Devin Asiasi and Dalton Keene. Plus, by all accounts, Newton is not a sideline screamer, which should make for a tighter-knit unit.”

    No, He’ll just pout like a seven year old the first time he has to take a hit… And then mope up and down your side lines. Yeah, I’m sure Boston fan is going to be really tolerant of Cam Newton. Get over it and pahk your cah… Brady is gone, Boston.

  7. Mort Says:

    “ Sour grapes – you leave such a bad taste
    Sour grapes – I don’t need you anyways
    Sour grapes – feeding, feeding my rage”

  8. Alvin Scissors Harper Says:

    Cam is great…..as long as things are going his way. At the first sign of trouble, he mentally checks out.

  9. Cobraboy Says:

    More Pats butthurt: “We don’t need Tom, we have Cam, a huge upgrade.”

    Those people are hilarious.

  10. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    Pardon me, but at 43 aren’t all receivers young compared to Brady?

  11. Jerry Jones Says:

    Cam is a horrible thrower of the football and not as mobile as he used to be. This whole conversation is laughable.

  12. mark2001 Says:

    Joe…yes…you are much smarter than those that thought the virus would be here one day, and disappear the next.

  13. LUVMYBUCS Says:

    Joe,

    That’s Why I Inclined To Believe Somehow Someway – Julian Edelman or Antonio Brown Ends Up On This Roster.

  14. Dewey Selmon Says:

    He has no choice, if Evans or Godwin have to be quarantined for 14 days for whatever reason Brady will have no choice but to coach up the younger WR’s

  15. Clw JB Says:

    Hahahahahahaha – give it 4 games and watch the Pat fan turn on Cam Cam quick as a NY minute!

    Can’t wait to see BB give him the stank eye as he comes pouting to the sideline, puts the Gatorade towel over his head and throws a tantrum….

    TB yelling at paid professionals not doing their job, what a jerk….

  16. Darin Says:

    Soebuc
    Alot more than 3 million. Most of us will never get tested for the Flu. Most also Never have symptoms. So you’re scared of something that wont affect most people? N yes i know about the elderly and susceptible. Stay home and alone if you’re scared. Football will be played and we will go. When it’s your time to die it’s your time.

  17. SB Says:

    Put this guy in Concussion protocol. Newton may not even beat out Stidham for the starting gig

  18. SB Says:

    Raheem Mostert wants a trade.
    Now THAT is a cat we should go after WAY before Devonte Freeman

  19. AwShbucs Says:

    If Laird didnt like the way Brady treated his young receivers, he certainly wont like the way Cam Newton throws errant throws to them regularly.

  20. Buccaneer Bonzai Says:

    “a more objective, negative-leaning view

    LOL

    Did anyone really think the virus would disappear? Joe sure didn’t. Joe’s confident it’ll be around in 2021, too. Do we cancel sports forever?

    Actually, they’ll have a vaccine by the end of 2020, though I won’t use it until I know its safe.

    But I vote to have the season too.

  21. Buccaneer Bonzai Says:

    Darin Says
    “I know about the elderly and susceptible.”

    Actually, the median age is now lower. You are going by outdated news. Ages 30 and higher are more likely than befpre, probably because there is more testing than back then and they have discovered assumptions were not accurate because of it.

    The death risks are different now too.

  22. grammarian Says:

    Newton. Since avoiding the scrum for the loose ball in the SB, it’s been lost weight, veganism, injuries and babushkas and onesies… and damn little decent football. He is Washed. Up.

  23. LUVMYBUCS Says:

    SB

    Yup Yup

  24. SOEbuc Says:

    Joe

    Armed Robbery?

    I don’t like talking any politics on JBF, but all these billionaire owners of BFF with psycho Trump and his governors like Desantis, including the Glazer Kids throwing Trump a party in Beverly Hills, to be able to sale the most contact sport during this epidemic that is so f’d up if you didn’t notice. Armed robbery using a virus pulling teams and fans out.

    But hey…”It’s just something were going to have to live with.”

  25. Joe Says:

    SOE:

    The Glazers are just 1/32 of NFL owners. And Joe isn’t aware folks in a free society cannot host a fundraiser for a political candidate they like.

    Joe can explain fully why the league wants to play games. Actually, $5 billion reasons why.

  26. Ship Thief Says:

    Mort,
    Nice one !

    🤓

  27. David Says:

    And let’s not forget, for all the talk about the so-called racist south, Boston might just be the most racist city in America

  28. gp Says:

    David
    Boston *is* the birthplace of ‘Jim Crow’ laws
    Good catch!

  29. JimbobBucsFan Says:

    Even if there were to be a vaccine by the end of this year, how long will it take to get enough to inoculate some 7.5 billion people?

    Next question, who gets the first shots? I would suggest doctors, nurses and medical support staff. Then we can got to first responders and then maybe waste workers, bus drivers, postal workers, grocery store clerks and the like.

    Where should professional athletes fall in this line? I might also suggest we put all professional politicians of any stripe near the end of the line. LOL

  30. BucEmUp Says:

    Watson is going on year what….year 3? I havent been overly impressed with him despite his measurables.

  31. SOEbuc Says:

    Joe

    Don’t be an ass saying 1/32 support this guy’s party. Trump put together his “bring back economy” team, head slimebucket NFL Trump Goodell and Vince McMan and the owner of the Dallas Mavs/Stars (I forget which). I don’t care if you’re a republican by political standards (I sure as hell am not if you couldn’t tell), but these ppl are doing evil. I would be sad for no season and not so many great JBF articles, but these people are crazy.

    “THERE’S A F-ING HORSE LOOSE IN THE HOSPITAL!”-Post 2016

    Like the annoying kid at a sleep over.
    “Man that pizza was good tonight.”-kid
    “Technically it was past mid night so it was today.”- psycho supporter.

  32. Buccan8 Says:

    This guy maintained a career in New England with the schtick of being negative-leaning about Tom Brady? By the 6th title, I think I’d look to throw in the towel and reinvent myself.

  33. SOEbuc Says:

    Also Joe

    “$5 billion dollars why.” People are getting sick and dying like a brush fire across this country and very much not looking any better and actually pushing away health services like CDC and WHO for help. THE F-ING MAN DOESN’T EVEN WEAR A MASK!!! Really sounding like one of those annoying kids at the sleep over Joe.

  34. SOEbuc Says:

    Joe

    I can never tell if something will get posted after moderation. If no, I’m sowwy. Go get you a Chicago style supreme and a Mott’s box hmkay big fella.

  35. Bradinator Says:

    Most WRs aren’t “good to go” until year 3 or so. More reads and a full route tree are required. It’s a lot for a young guy to take in. Add in no real off season camps and that stacks up poorly for him.

  36. Buccfan37 Says:

    Newton is a better QB than Brady just based on age.The Bucs hosting the SB in Tampa will never happen under Brady. Even a moron with a wild stab guess in the dark has that figured out correctly. Can’t wait to see the laughs mount for the laughingstock team in Tampa with their geriatric old codger scrambled eggs wimpy moves contending.

  37. geno711 Says:

    Boy I am hoping for a season and a season with Tom Brady.

    How beautiful that will be.

    Whether we have one of not is up in the air.

    There certainly appear to be prognosticators both ways.

    Love the potential of this Buc’s team.

    Back to the article. Read something a few months ago that it was not the receivers age that bothered Brady these last few years – it was their inconsistency. Maybe some people want Brady to change and not hold his players to consistent performance. I root that he still requires all the guys he throws to be consistent in their performance. Not only in the 1st half, but in the 4th quarter, in the late part of the season and into the playoffs!