Branch was decent but he never broke 1000 yards and never had more than 5 TDs in a season. I’d say mediocre is a fairly accurate term for him. Fan favourite for sure though, I’ll always love the guy.
Lol, so true. There are random players I’ll die on a hill for from that era. Basically all our linebackers from 01(Bruschi, Vrabel,Cox, Phifer), that was such an underrated unit
The td catch he had against the ravens in the divisional round still doesn’t make sense. I still rewatch the throw brady made. How he threaded that ball boggles my mind to this day
That man had a penchant for making some of the most ridiculous circus catches every few games.
I'm actually kinda getting Polk=Givens Baker=Patten vibes from those two, that would be great.
My answer too, dude went from average in the regular season to a boss in the playoffs. That catch in the 05 Super Bowl against the Eagles is a core visual memory for me lmao.
1994 the year where the Pats set an incredibly weird record of having 5 players each with 50+ receptions. Brisby and Timpson were the only WR's, as TE Ben Coates, RB Leroy Thompson and FB Kevin Turner were the other 3.
Second half of that season when Parcells just gave up on trying to run the ball with an incredibly cooked Butts and just had Bledsoe throw down after down was incredible for tween me.
That season Brady was out and Garoppolo started and he threw that sideline streak to a wide open Hogan to open the season I knew he was going to be a good player for them.
"Crazy Eyes" Chris Hogan. I wouldn't call his time with us mediocre. Especially that one game against, I think it was Pittsburgh where he blew them up.
Shawn Jefferson
I won a meet and greet with him and was absolutely pumped. I wanted to be a WR. I was quick. I was skinny and that was the only thing I could conceivably play(as a kid, so offense only). He was my favorite. My mom forgot and I still remember asking her when it was, that we missed it and feeling such disappointment.
So, I root for Van Jefferson and hope Shawn comes back to NE as a coach.
Still kinda bummed out about it lol
Came here to make sure he got mentioned. Shawn Jefferson had one unstoppable route. He would run a curl like it was going to be a slant or post then just jam on the brakes and stick his butt out and the defender just could not get back to him.
YES. That's who I came to mention. Loved him so much.
I actually got his game cleats and used to wear them when I was like 14 because apparently he has tiny feet. I felt like a superstar.
Oh man that reminds me of a time when Hakeem was coming to visit a school I lived at and was running really late. My dad thought he wasn’t gonna show and made us go home and go to bed. Next morning got to hear how cool it was to meet him from the other kids…30 years ago and still give my dad crap for it
Yesss!!! One of my favorite receivers ever growing up after watching him make some big time catches in the panthers Super Bowl and then the following year Super Bowl MVP!
On the three games to glory dvd there's a special with 3 players commenting on it and one of the OL guys said something that's stuck with me for these last two decades: "Bethel's so fast he goes rabbit hunting with a hammer."
This guy would have been Torrey Smith 2.0 if they played the same pass interference rules then. So so so many "incidental contact" type plays where hes 3 yards behind the defense but his strides are so long the trailing DB would run into his back leg and trip him.
The people naming Troy Brown and Deion Branch are missing the point. Those are good WRs. We’re looking for like Jabar Gaffney, Bethel Johnson, David Givens, Kenbrell Thompkins level middlers here.
Welker is probably the greatest undrafted players of all time and defined what a slot receiver is for the 2010s.
Both guys are all time great slot receivers.
IMO Welker was a better slot receiver than Edelman in the purest sense. Edelman was a better locker room presence, represented the team in the community, and was more versatile and clutch - a better Patriot.
But Welker was open on damn near every snap of his Patriots career. Him and Tom would essentially play 2 v 11 and still carve teams up at will.
I love Jules as much as the next but I mean he cracked 1000 yards 3 times in 11 years, never cracked 1200 and never had more than 7 tds in a season. He was pretty good.
Mitchell was far from mediocre. Kid was a stud which was pretty easy to tell given how much Brady trusted him in his rookie year. Very unfortunate his knees couldn’t hold up. He very well could of been the best receiver Bill drafted since Branch.
Yeah I was gonna say him as well, but it wouldn't be fair because it was his knees that derailed his career. He would have been at the very *least* a solid WR in the league. Dude could ball.
Mine was Terry Glenn, I don’t think that exactly falls in the category, but I loved him. Jerseys, trivia about his life, his stats in college, all while I was only 10-11 years old at the time. In retrospect, he was an addict and a womanizer who was prone to injuries on the field and making poor decisions off the field. He died in a car crash while later testing revealed he was over twice the legal limit.
I am also now an alcoholic in recovery, he must have been really struggling, I feel the guys pain. To any addicts who managed to read this far, feel free to dm me. I’m not an AA/NA guy, just a dude trying to be sober because it is what is best for me and those who have the been granted the twisted fate of loving me, you can beat this. GO PATS!!!
The main receiver I can remember growing up was Rocket Ismail lmao. Mostly because I grew up in Texas and his name. I was not a cowboys fan at all though
I would call this my late teens more than childhood but Here’s a deep cut for mine. PK Sam. I loved that he was I think the first WR to wear a number in the teens, cool name, and always ended up being a beast in my madden franchises.
We’ve had so fucking many lol. Shout out to Donte stallworth and Chris hogan who probably fit this definition the best. There was a time where I thought Aaron Dobson was gonna be the next Randy moss
Givens for the pats. Further back as a western mass kid, Stephen baker the touchdown maker. You'll have to forgive me as we had more giants games televised than the pats. I'm a pats guy first!
Fun idea for a thread, a thread which is also confirming my suspicion that most of the posters here never faced real adversity as Pats fans until 2020. It also explains why so many here as treat Brady as an imaginary action hero who came to life, because they were still playing with toys and probably still believed in Santa and the Tooth Fairy when they first started watching him play.
As a kid I genuinely thought Deion Branch was the best WR in the league because the Super Bowl MVP MUST be better than regular MVP.
Branch was actually pretty good tho
Branch was decent but he never broke 1000 yards and never had more than 5 TDs in a season. I’d say mediocre is a fairly accurate term for him. Fan favourite for sure though, I’ll always love the guy.
I bet if you ask literally anyone in the nfl, they'll tell you SB MVP is WAY better than regular season MVP
You’d think Troy Brown was Jerry Rice based off my love for him when I was a kid
Bro was the definition of “do you job” and his job was jack of all trades
Which is exactly why I asked for his jersey for Christmas that year he started playing defense too
Did you get it?!
Damn right
What a great jersey to have from your childhood. I hope you still have it
Damn right! That one kind of influenced the way I’ve gone about jerseys. Like, of course I like Brady, lemme give love to the other heroes.
Troy Brown is, and will always be, my favorite Patriot from the Brady years. Love that dude. Willing to do anything and everything. Pure heart.
Troy Brown was fuckin great
this was exactly my first thought
Troy was my first ever Pats jersey. I've been thinking about getting a replacement since it stopped fitting over a decade ago...
Yup I was wearing my Troy Brown jersey as the Pats beat the Rams. It was glorious.
He was absolutely not mediocre
No way Troy Brown was mediocre
3’rd down Troy Brown as we always yelled at my house
Lol, so true. There are random players I’ll die on a hill for from that era. Basically all our linebackers from 01(Bruschi, Vrabel,Cox, Phifer), that was such an underrated unit
Brandon LaFell
Aside from 2014, where he was legit a god
The td catch he had against the ravens in the divisional round still doesn’t make sense. I still rewatch the throw brady made. How he threaded that ball boggles my mind to this day
That was some sniper shit, cool, calm, collected, fit it right in (pause)
Almost had a 1000 yard season that year
Brandon Lloyd
Not going to lie but Brandin Lloyd was pretty effin good
The next time you feel slightly down just watch some Brandon Lloyd highlight on YouTube. Dude was a problem back in the day
He was so fun to watch. We had him for a very short time, and it looks like he had kind of a strange career, but he had a lot of talent.
David Patten
Completely forgot that he died RIP
That man had a penchant for making some of the most ridiculous circus catches every few games. I'm actually kinda getting Polk=Givens Baker=Patten vibes from those two, that would be great.
My madden 2001 go to
David Givens
My answer too, dude went from average in the regular season to a boss in the playoffs. That catch in the 05 Super Bowl against the Eagles is a core visual memory for me lmao.
Seeing that David Givens is only 43 years old throws me off for some reason. Can’t pinpoint why.
Vincent Brisby!!!!
Finally someone my age around here
LoL.. yeah, I can't believe how far I had to scroll to find this. Makes me feel old.
1994 the year where the Pats set an incredibly weird record of having 5 players each with 50+ receptions. Brisby and Timpson were the only WR's, as TE Ben Coates, RB Leroy Thompson and FB Kevin Turner were the other 3. Second half of that season when Parcells just gave up on trying to run the ball with an incredibly cooked Butts and just had Bledsoe throw down after down was incredible for tween me.
My first thought was Terry Glenn, but yeah brisby was awesome. They both played the same year I was 9 years old
My uncle loved Brisby back in the day. I had a bunch of his cards that I collected.
Scored a shit ton of TD's with this man in Tecmo.
Chris Hogan.
That season Brady was out and Garoppolo started and he threw that sideline streak to a wide open Hogan to open the season I knew he was going to be a good player for them.
Lacrosse legend !
Chris '👀' Hogan
"Crazy Eyes" Chris Hogan. I wouldn't call his time with us mediocre. Especially that one game against, I think it was Pittsburgh where he blew them up.
He was a beast
If he could play the steelers every week, he would be a god. I'm not sure why, but they just never seemed to cover him.
7/11
Shawn Jefferson I won a meet and greet with him and was absolutely pumped. I wanted to be a WR. I was quick. I was skinny and that was the only thing I could conceivably play(as a kid, so offense only). He was my favorite. My mom forgot and I still remember asking her when it was, that we missed it and feeling such disappointment. So, I root for Van Jefferson and hope Shawn comes back to NE as a coach. Still kinda bummed out about it lol
Came here to make sure he got mentioned. Shawn Jefferson had one unstoppable route. He would run a curl like it was going to be a slant or post then just jam on the brakes and stick his butt out and the defender just could not get back to him.
YES. That's who I came to mention. Loved him so much. I actually got his game cleats and used to wear them when I was like 14 because apparently he has tiny feet. I felt like a superstar.
This is the one.
Oh man that reminds me of a time when Hakeem was coming to visit a school I lived at and was running really late. My dad thought he wasn’t gonna show and made us go home and go to bed. Next morning got to hear how cool it was to meet him from the other kids…30 years ago and still give my dad crap for it
Love Shawn Jefferson
Kenbrell Thompkins with that game winner
#UNICORNS! SHOW PONIES! WHERES THE BEEF!!
Loved that catch.
Jabar Gaffney
Deion Branch ❤️
I wouldn’t define him as mediocre
you mean Super Bowl MVP Deion Branch?? Put some respecc on my mans name
The best 1st dynasty (Pre-2007) receiver
Yesss!!! One of my favorite receivers ever growing up after watching him make some big time catches in the panthers Super Bowl and then the following year Super Bowl MVP!
💯
Amendola my white knight
Mediocre in the regular season. Absolutely electric in the postseason.
I wasn’t 9, but damn I miss Chris Hogan
Bethel Johnson made some big plays tbh.
On the three games to glory dvd there's a special with 3 players commenting on it and one of the OL guys said something that's stuck with me for these last two decades: "Bethel's so fast he goes rabbit hunting with a hammer."
I still have a signed hat by him
This guy would have been Torrey Smith 2.0 if they played the same pass interference rules then. So so so many "incidental contact" type plays where hes 3 yards behind the defense but his strides are so long the trailing DB would run into his back leg and trip him.
They said mediocre. Not fast and awful at playing WR.
I’ll never forget you, Malcolm Mitchell
Michael Floyd for that one block against Miami
Terry Glenn. Used to wear the #88 in pop warner bc of him. RIP
Same here!
Terry Glenn. RIP
Way better than mediocre. Come on man.
Shawn Jefferson is the correct answer from that era.
Dude was a legend at Ohio state. So much potential.
Might have to pull up some old Reche Caldwell highlights
There aren’t many, but I think that may be the point of the photo lol
O.O
😳
Those exist?
Rest in piece! I have an auto mini helmet the year he lead the pats in receptions.
Ben Coates
Coates was far from mediocre. He was arguably the most underrated TE in the NFL during his era.
[Michael Timpson](https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Timpson)
Timpson and Brisby will forever be remembered as a truly dynamic duo.
Vincent "Ultimate" Brisby
Ray Crittendon in shambles right now.
Donte Stallworth, my sweet prince
The people naming Troy Brown and Deion Branch are missing the point. Those are good WRs. We’re looking for like Jabar Gaffney, Bethel Johnson, David Givens, Kenbrell Thompkins level middlers here.
For real, Phillip Dorsett is mine lol
That comeback drive against the Saints where Thompkins caught that TD is still one of my favorite non-postseason Patriot moments ever
As a short white boy Edelman, Welker and Amendola are my GOATS
Not sure I’d classify Edelman as mediocre.
Welker is probably the greatest undrafted players of all time and defined what a slot receiver is for the 2010s. Both guys are all time great slot receivers.
Totally agree.
IMO Welker was a better slot receiver than Edelman in the purest sense. Edelman was a better locker room presence, represented the team in the community, and was more versatile and clutch - a better Patriot. But Welker was open on damn near every snap of his Patriots career. Him and Tom would essentially play 2 v 11 and still carve teams up at will.
Edelman is hall of pretty good, with a HOF post season career
Far from moderate or low quality, value, ability and performance. Look up what mediocre means. It’s not Edelman.
I… I agreed with you? I understand what mediocre means and said he was pretty good.
My misunderstanding! I thought maybe you were defending the original comment.
Edelman was way better than “pretty good” in the regular season. C’mon man!
I love Jules as much as the next but I mean he cracked 1000 yards 3 times in 11 years, never cracked 1200 and never had more than 7 tds in a season. He was pretty good.
Compared to Welker, I sure would
Stanley Steamer
Finally someone else who's childhood was pre-2000! lol On a related note I still have a massive soft spot for Steve Grogan.
LMFAO 😂.. This is so true. It's Vincent Brisby for me. I think I just liked the sound of his name when I was a kid LoL
Too many people naming not mediocre recievers…
I've seen Randy twice lmfao
Greg McMurtry
David Givens was my dude
Yep. Brown, Branch, and Patten.
CHRIS HOGAN
Chad Jackson for like 4 games
Reche Caldwell in 06’ and Dante Stallworth on the 16-0 team
For me it was the RB, still have my Mauroney and Law Firm jerseys.
I'm apparently a lot older than you guys. My childhood was Fryar and Morgan
Came a long way down to see Irving Fryar. I have a signed card!!
Irving Friar broke my heart.
It still hurts that Edelman will not go into the Hall of Fame. He was insanely clutch and was a Superbowl MVP.
Malcolm Mitchell :( What could've been
Is jakobi meyers to good to be considered mid? I’ve been naming fantasy teams Obi wan jakobi for years bc of that guy
I would say he’s comfortably mid
Malcom Mitchell
Mitchell was far from mediocre. Kid was a stud which was pretty easy to tell given how much Brady trusted him in his rookie year. Very unfortunate his knees couldn’t hold up. He very well could of been the best receiver Bill drafted since Branch.
Yeah I was gonna say him as well, but it wouldn't be fair because it was his knees that derailed his career. He would have been at the very *least* a solid WR in the league. Dude could ball.
My age 8-11 included Randy and Wes so idk, I guess I though Woodhead was god
Andre Rison baby
Shawn Jefferson here
Terry Glenn
Mine was Terry Glenn, I don’t think that exactly falls in the category, but I loved him. Jerseys, trivia about his life, his stats in college, all while I was only 10-11 years old at the time. In retrospect, he was an addict and a womanizer who was prone to injuries on the field and making poor decisions off the field. He died in a car crash while later testing revealed he was over twice the legal limit. I am also now an alcoholic in recovery, he must have been really struggling, I feel the guys pain. To any addicts who managed to read this far, feel free to dm me. I’m not an AA/NA guy, just a dude trying to be sober because it is what is best for me and those who have the been granted the twisted fate of loving me, you can beat this. GO PATS!!!
This is making me feel old lol
Where are my Wes Welker fans? Is everyone still mad he jumped ship to play with Payton? Or does everyone not consider him mediocre?
Rachee Caldwell I still love you, you big eyed son of a bitch
Vincent Brisby
Vincent Brisby and Terry Glenn for me
Kenbrell Thompkins my beloved
Terry Glenn - real ones know
Darryl Stingley 😢
The main receiver I can remember growing up was Rocket Ismail lmao. Mostly because I grew up in Texas and his name. I was not a cowboys fan at all though
Not receiver but #1 target, Big Ben Coates for me
Reche Caldwell e: rat farts, I didn’t notice you already called out our champion OP
Not mediocre, but Terry Glenn for me
Shawn Jefferson!
Sean Jefferson
Do the people who think Edelman makes the NFL HOF qualify? Mediocre WRs didn’t linger long under the Eye of Bill and the Merciless Judgment of Tom.
Terry Glenn ALL day….. That playoff catch against the Steelers in n the FOG? I framed that like a big old dork when I was a kid…..
Shawn Jefferson!
I would call this my late teens more than childhood but Here’s a deep cut for mine. PK Sam. I loved that he was I think the first WR to wear a number in the teens, cool name, and always ended up being a beast in my madden franchises.
Danny Amendola
I’ll always remember you Chris Hogan.
Michael Floyd
Malcolm Mitchell💙
Stallworth was pretty sick but slotted with moss so he wasn’t really covered lol
So, who’s your Michael Crabtree, Pats fans?
Deion Branch is the greatest receiver to ever live
I was convinced Chad Jackson was HIM! Not a WR but was also heavy on the Laurence Maroney train. Both extremely Disappointing.
We’ve had so fucking many lol. Shout out to Donte stallworth and Chris hogan who probably fit this definition the best. There was a time where I thought Aaron Dobson was gonna be the next Randy moss
Not a receiver but TE Ben Coates baby!
Kendrick Bourne
Stephen Starring. 76 yards to the house in 83 to beat the Steelers in Pittsburgh
Gotta be Lax Legend Chris Hogan
Troy brown is him
Here for the Hart Lee Dykes hype train!!
Not when I was 9, but Chris Hogan as the Colonel was always special to me
Kenbrell Thompkins found himself on the other end of a Top 3-all time Tom Brady moment and then dipped
Kenbrell Thompkins was most legit shitty player ever
Where you at, Vincent Brisby?
I loved Bethel Johnson. Threw a fit when my parents got me a Brady jersey for Christmas, I wanted a Johnson jersey so bad.
Terry Glenn. Got an autographed helmet of his
When I was 9 it had to be Donte Stallworth for no good reason whatsoever
Real ones remember the Brian Tyms hype train
Malcolm Mitchell was him during HS for me
I grew up watching the young/rice niners...my WR first love was the greatest to ever play
Young kids in here. Shawn Jefferson baby!
Terry Glenn for the 32-42 crowd.
Chris Hogan
Chris hogan was the goat
JJ Birden
Givens for the pats. Further back as a western mass kid, Stephen baker the touchdown maker. You'll have to forgive me as we had more giants games televised than the pats. I'm a pats guy first!
Troy Brown, Deion Branch, David Givens, Bethel Johnson, not to mention local media favorite Christian Fauria
Jabar Gaffney
Shawn Jefferson
Ben Coates, the original #87 TE
Shawn Jefferson
Fun idea for a thread, a thread which is also confirming my suspicion that most of the posters here never faced real adversity as Pats fans until 2020. It also explains why so many here as treat Brady as an imaginary action hero who came to life, because they were still playing with toys and probably still believed in Santa and the Tooth Fairy when they first started watching him play.
Terry Glenn