Jaybirds

Sorry, I can see how this might have been confusing. The links I posted, Boston Globe ran with the headline that he had six in one game, against the Jets (looks like his first game back from injury). NBC and a few other stats links (google search, checked all the top links) had him down for 6 drops all last season. If both are true, then he was perfect in all the other games. It really looks like the major media is sharing a data source, and that data source has him down for six all season. I do think Boston Globe knows how to cover a local game, so I trust the six in one game. At the very least it's safe to say at least half were from one game, I think we can agree on that. But I've already posted credible sources that say it was six in one game and six for the season. This is speculation: is it possible those follies from week 13 and 17 were considered incomplete instead of drop? Just trying to figure out how they might count into NBC's seasonal statistics.

If other people have said it as well, then you should have no problem backing up your assertions with anything: stats, assessments, scouting reports, SOMETHING. You don't even have the data you're citing the most. I'm sorry, but there's no credibility to your words, and you've had hours to provide some.

Yeah, I have all the PFF subscriptions and I'm not finding the data he's citing. That's part of why I don't believe a word he's saying.

Two sources say he was perfect outside of that Jets game. So you're wrong about that. I guess PFF's counting isn't the accepted norm, sorry. I have no idea what to say about someone who doesn't trust the Boston Globe to cover a Pats game. Please show that the drops go up and the catches go down. Or if you prefer, that the drop rate goes up and the catch rate goes down. I'm not going to just take your word for it. If you're only here to talk about Boyd then please A) shut up about LaFell and B ) stop wasting my time trolling about a guy not on my team. Okay, I'll drop the Madden ratings. I've actually spent some time researching their methodology, and it's a staff not just one guy. But if that's not a common source here, then I won't use it. My point stands without it: I can't find any data that shows LaFell's hands are really that bad. Two bad years since 2011, and one of those years was one bad game. Unless you can provide a lot more actual facts, I'm fine saying the hands aren't an issue.

Those numbers came from the link I already posted. Edit: NBC confirmed six drops last year. http://scores.nbcsports.msnbc.com/fb/leaders.asp?type=Receiving&range=NFL&rank=232 As for the Jets game: https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2015/10/25/brandon-lafell-answers-for-his-six-drops/k7iZdt22hVWJryLCx87VlO/story.html But I'm sure the Boston Globe wasn't paying attention. Questions were asked about his dropped balls, so I posted stats about his dropped balls. I'm not sure why that's confusing. Yes, his annual rate is bad, especially last year. But AGAIN, if you take out that one game then he was perfect. All the data I could find regarding his Panthers years says he was a little better than his teammates. But hey, if you have better numbers then share them instead of just making assertions. That would have helped this whole time. Hands aren't the only part, they're just the only part anyone disagrees about. So that's what we're talking about. I am a little worried about his completion rate, but there's other guys with 50% on the outside that are long gone by now. I do not care about Boyd. I can't put it any plainer than that. I saw an article about Cincy considering LaFell as a slot receiver, I was intrigued by the idea and looked into him further as a slot receiver. He can play slot, he has played slot. He has played slot in an offense similar to mine with my QB. None of that has squat to do with Boyd. Stop talking about Boyd. I know it's a video game. But as far as researching players, Madden does a good job of assessing stats separate from the team situation. LaFell, 2015: Catching skills (83) Catch-in-Traffic stats (88) LaFell, 2016: Catching skills (88) Catch-in-Traffic stats (92) Hands, drops, bobbles... whatever you want to count, it doesn't seem to be an actual problem. It's probably a reputation from some memorable games. I can't find any data to support that it's a problem.

I appreciate that you're the only person who asked an honest question. I hope some of the posts provide an answer about where I was coming from, even if you disagree with my conclusions.

I was talking about LaFell. I was talking about an article that said the Bengals were considering him as slot, and that's where I got the idea, then my research confirmed it again with the Panthers and Pats using him to fill holes, which is all I need. You and Crush brought up Floyd, even when I was still talking about LaFell. The derailment started with you guys, not me. You're spouting off things that you aren't backing up at all. And you're questioning me? Laughable. Here's more of that "Research" you like to ignore: 2015: 6 drops, all in one game. 2014: 2 drops. best year 2013: 6 drops. Same as Sanu, one fewer than Green, same as SSSr. 2012: 3 drops. Half as many as SSSr, Gronk or Lloyd in NE, same as Olsen 2011: 2 drops. SSSr had 7, Naanee had 5 in Carolina, Olsen had 3. Aside from one game last year, he usually has some of the best hands on his team, or the team he was about to go to. The hands hype isn't real compared to his peers, who all went way before him in our draft.

I didn't draft Boyd, so I'm not trying to talk about him at all. I am trying to talk about LaFell, the guy I actually drafted. But that seems difficult for you to do. But if you insist, I already quoted an article explaining how Boyd might not be the guy for the job, it's linked in LaFell's Rotoworld page. Sometimes you have to read more than one headline. YOU seem to be disregarding the New England years, especially his best season. The quote you posted about him being a back-up caliber player was when he was a free agent, right? So that quote is from right before the 900 yards, 7 touchdowns and only 2 drops. So which is it? Do you want me to regard his best season, or the article that was dead wrong about his ability? Yes, Carolina used him in the slot when they had outside guys. And yes, New England used him on the outside when they had a slot receiver. Two teams with more Super Bowls under their belt than me both moved him to where they needed help. So I did the same thing: I put him where I needed help. Apparently, the professionals think he has that kind of adaptability. Which is probably why the Bengals were going to try him everywhere when they first signed him, even if they don't need to now. "Research" Boyd's hands were absolutely dreadful in one game last season and perfect in all the rest. I'm okay calling that a fluke, either on his part or Brady's. And you're saying a guy with zero NFL snaps has better hands? I'll believe it when I see it. I haven't yet, at least not on this level. Panthers were a run-first offense with Cam as their QB, and they had LaFell in the slot. I'm a run-first offense with Cam as my QB. I don't really owe anyone an explanation for something that's already happened in real life.

"Research" LaFell wasn't even the worst on the Pats last year for dropped balls, Edelman was. Ironically, their slot receiver. LaFell had 6 drops for the season. He also had six drops Week 7 against the Jets. So he was fine every other game but that one. And look at the other names around him: they're all long gone at this point in the draft. He's one year removed from 900+ yards, 7 TDs, and only 2 drops. http://www.sportingcharts.com/nfl/stats/drops/2015/

Again, I'll repeat the part that you insist on ignoring: ONE article says Boyd is locked in for the Bengals. EVERYTHING ELSE says the whole unit is a work in progress. ONE article says that Boyd works in the slot, and ONE article says run and catch isn't really his thing. But you're ignoring that, too. The article was wrong: they did keep Edelman, their slot receiver. That changes the depth chart. And I've already stated why I'm not putting too much weight on the New England years. But you're ignoring that too. I don't need you watch Boyd's college games to talk about Brandon LaFell. But I do need you to read what I type. It doesn't look like you are. You're ranting that I'm using a "back-up caliber" player in a back-up role. I.... sigh.

The articles Rotoworld posted about Eifert actually missing games next season are all dated after the Boyd article you're relying on so much. The most recent one describes the receiving corps as "in flux". "Research". They didn't lose their top two targets. Green was first, then Jones, Eifert, Bernard, and Sanu fifth. Which is why the Eifert injury could really shake things up further. "Research". The Pats didn't use him in the slot because they already have a slot receiver their QB is comfortable with. My QB has experience with this guy in the slot. I realize that health and age are a factor here, perhaps even more than the drops. But my offense is much closer to Carolina's than New England's so I'm weighing those years a little bit more. "Research" Boyd is penciled in based on one article. All the rest say things are kinda up in the air. Considering preseason hasn't even started yet, I'm not taking it as gospel truth that he's starting 16 games in the slot. I do think he's going to see a lot of catches this year, no doubt about it. But I'm cool with my decision. Shockingly, that's why I made it.

You're quoting an article written before Eifert's surgery was announced, before a rookie started his first preseason, and you're angry I'm not giving enough credence to article dates. Ooooookay. There's no question both guys are going to see a lot of snaps. But if Boyd falters, or someone else emerges for the outside, LaFell is ahead of Boyd on the depth chart. I have no idea how you think that translates into Never Playing Slot This Year. And again: this was my second-to-last pick on a guy who won't even be starting for me. I was right the first time, you're just wasting my time.

* I built a run-first team * My second-to-last pick was a veteran receiver with slot experience. In the few instances I'd use a slot receiver, I said it would be him. * You're ranting about a rookie with no experience who I didn't even draft. * I actually dug deeper into my research. But you're just ignoring that. Like the fact my quarterback used this receiver in the slot already. I can't help it if you're having a bad day. Your nonsense isn't worth my time.

You're skipping the part where they say they're going to play LaFell all over, including slot, that he's above Boyd in the depth chart, and that Boyd is going to have to impress because " Boyd is a finesse receiver with limited run-after-catch skills whose fit in the slot is questionable." There's more than one article on the page, I considered them all.

http://www.rotoworld.com/recent/nfl/5188/brandon-lafell Except for the parts I'm right about.