Rumors, Rumors... The Brothers [Grimm?]

While having my morning coffee... I saw the above, and almost choked to death on scalding hot joe.

In the back of my head, and since WR Deon Butler's outstanding mini-camp performance, etc., [in spite of his size, this guy is something special - mark my words.] I've been wondering when WR Deon Branch would get traded, and for whom, or what...

It is a rumor... and, I think a lot of the articles in the "ESPN Insider Rumor Mill" are just that - rumors - designed to get people spending the extra money for the "Insider" service. But, with the possibility of having both Jones brothers, I found this especially intriguing in spite of the fact.

Feedback, gentlemen?

about 1 year ago Grimm Blackwood 23 comments 0 recs |

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That would be cool.

I’m fine with both our RB and WR for this year. Right now, I’d say our WR is an 8, and our RB is a 6 (I like Jones and Duckett), but if we do the trade it would be 6 and 8. Either way is fine with me. As long as we don’t give Thomas Jones a bigger deal.

2010 Seahawks Mock: 1A: Eric Berry S, 1B: Ndamukong Suh DT, 2: Charles Brown OT, 4:Zac Robinson QB, 5: Stafon Johnson RB 6: Will Tukuafu DE, 7: Kerry Meier WR
Also acceptable, trade for Patrick Chung and draft Ed Wang so everyone can Wang Chung tonight.

by LantermanC on May 15, 2009 10:55 AM PDT reply actions

"Lombardi posits that both the New York Jets and Seattle Seahawks would benefit from a Thomas Jones-Deion Branch swap"

This isn’t a trade rumor this is Lombardi playing fantasy GM. Apparently he’s decided to scrap the Seahawks and send our pieces across the league to fill out other teams.

by Nate Dogg on May 15, 2009 11:15 AM PDT reply actions

Yes, let's trade for a 30 year old running back

Who won’t be any better then what we already have. Actually, worse. uh, no.

by B.B.Finnegan on May 15, 2009 11:31 AM PDT reply actions

Good god, no.

Thomas Jones is the most mediocre back in the league. He rises and falls depending on his line and isn’t a special talent at all. I’d be fine with Julius and Branch because Branch is a terrific WR when healthy and losing him kicks our WR depth in the nads.

"Part, fools!
Put up your swords. You know not what you do."

by Fearless Frog on May 15, 2009 12:04 PM PDT reply actions

"He rises and falls depending on his line"

Which running backs does that statement not apply to?

by Nate Dogg on May 15, 2009 12:55 PM PDT up reply actions

Barry Sanders.

by LantermanC on May 15, 2009 1:58 PM PDT up reply actions

Disagree.

I think Thomas Jones is an exceptionally well-rounded back, and damned tough. In his prime I’d take him over a lot of people, including our OWN Jones (whom I do like, just not quite as much).

He’s 30? Yeah, no thanks.

by djafrot on May 15, 2009 1:11 PM PDT up reply actions

Yes, but our own Jones makes far less money than his brother, isn't significantly worse, and more importantly,

won’t cost an offense weapon on a team in dire need of one to retain.

"Part, fools!
Put up your swords. You know not what you do."

by Fearless Frog on May 15, 2009 6:19 PM PDT up reply actions

No no no.

Why would we trade for a 30-year-old running back? Yeah, Branch is injury prone, but he’s good when he’s healthy. We’d be paying a price (Branch) for the quasi-upgrade from Julius to Thomas. It’s just dumb.

by sev79 on May 15, 2009 1:40 PM PDT reply actions

No offense guys, but you guys seem to be exhibiting classic fan overvalue-your-own-players syndrome.

Fact: Branch has 130 catches for 1800 yards and 12 tds in the past 3 years.
Fact: Jones has 4200 total yards for 23 tds int the past 3 years ( on two different teams)
Fact: Branch has missed 2, 5, and 8 games the past three season (Yeah I know, he was in a trade dispute).
Fact: Jones has missed 0.
Fact: Branch has never had more than 1000 yards nor 4 tds in a season.
Fact: Jones has more than 1100 yards 25 catches each season for the past 3 seasons.
Fact: Branch will be 30 this season and can be a gamechanger as witnessed by his Superbowl performances.
Fact: Jones will be 31 and his YPC haven’t been all that awesome.

Jones is a comparable player to Branch, however WRs are more valuable than RB ( at least in my opinion). But I think as fans we tend to overvalue our own players. That’s why if you check out the 49ers fan page, they have themselves rated as having better QBs than us or the Rams. Probably also why the vast majority of their fans think they’ll win at least 8 games. Sure Branch is a great player, and he has some great plays like that long YAC against the 9ers, but he can’t seem to stay on the field, and just hasn’t been very consistent.

by LantermanC on May 15, 2009 2:08 PM PDT reply actions

You're right in a lot of ways.

It’s not that one player is necessarily better than the other. We’re talking about how they would fit with the team’s long-term plans.

WR’s of Branch’s style of play can usually stay in the league until their mid 30’s and contribute. Running backs? VERY rarely maintain a level of production past 30.

I’m sure that the Hawks would entertain offers for Branch, given his injury history and contract, and our newfound depth at WR. But an older RB, when we already have two on the roster that are starters? Maybe a younger guy, like that Bush kid from Oakland.

by djafrot on May 15, 2009 3:05 PM PDT up reply actions

This seems to be pretty much what everyone else said.

by Nate Dogg on May 15, 2009 3:19 PM PDT up reply actions

I just mean Fearless Frog and BB Finnegan.

by LantermanC on May 15, 2009 3:26 PM PDT up reply actions

Let's review the top 2 painful lessons we've learned...

…as Seahawks fans the past couple of seasons:

1.) Trying to run a passing offense with practice squad players, retreads and cast-offs at WR doesn’t work so well. Quality depth at WR is a really good thing.
2.) A running offense featuring a 30+ year old running back doesn’t work very well, either.

So then, why the hell would any of us be in favor of trading perhaps our best receiver for a 30-year-old running back who had a pretty mediocre career, even in his prime?
I think (hope) Ruskell is smarter than that.

by Furious Blue on May 15, 2009 4:44 PM PDT reply actions

Excellent comments, guys.

While I’m all for trading Branch, [and, I like Deon Branch as much as the next guy when he’s healthy… but that caveat seems to be a fleeting proposition at best.] the idea of trading him for a running back just doesn’t do it for me. Besides, who wants to incorporate family drama / sibling rivalry into the battle for playing time? We all saw Julius’ little temper tantrum last year on the sidelines. I’d be twice as pissed if I was getting benched for my older brother.

Since we’re entertaining the idea of trading Branch anyway in this discussion, let’s take it a bit further, shall we? Who WOULD you trade Branch for?

Personally, I’d go for an impact player on the other side of the ball… maybe a top notch safety to replace Brian Russell.

"And the life of man, solitary, poore, nasty, brutish, and short." Thomas Hobbes' "Leviathan"

"But, in spite of these things, it was a gay and magnificent revel." Edgar Allen Poe "The Masque of the Red Death"

by Grimm Blackwood on May 15, 2009 5:01 PM PDT reply actions

I'd trade him for Adrian Wilson.

Maybe Troy Polomalu, but I despise his hair.

"Part, fools!
Put up your swords. You know not what you do."

by Fearless Frog on May 15, 2009 6:21 PM PDT up reply actions

People actually...

use it to tackle him with!! There’s a good clip on youtube with a offensive player slinging him to the ground with his hair after a pick or a fumble recovery, I just can’t remember who it was. Polomalu gets right back up like no big deal. Doesn’t even look at the guy. And, so far as I know… it appears to be within the rules of the game, too. If it hangs out of the NFL uniform, it’s fair game, lol.

[I don’t care for the hair either. It’s just… too much.]

"And the life of man, solitary, poore, nasty, brutish, and short." Thomas Hobbes' "Leviathan"

"But, in spite of these things, it was a gay and magnificent revel." Edgar Allen Poe "The Masque of the Red Death"

by Grimm Blackwood on May 15, 2009 6:27 PM PDT up reply actions

Here's a decent write-up...

from Lars Hanson over at Bleacher Report on the subject which I thought was worth looking at as well.

HERE

"And the life of man, solitary, poore, nasty, brutish, and short." Thomas Hobbes' "Leviathan"

"But, in spite of these things, it was a gay and magnificent revel." Edgar Allen Poe "The Masque of the Red Death"

by Grimm Blackwood on May 15, 2009 6:22 PM PDT reply actions

Good argument against

Unless the Hawks reach the point where they feel they are flush with WR talent, I’d oppose trading Branch, period. He might be a key component to a playoff run. Also, any team that might be the slightest bit interested would have to wrestle with the same injury issues AND Branch’s contract, which is rich. I was a big proponent of drafting a RB (Jennings) and am very surprised we didn’t, only picking up Moore after the draft. I wish we’d taken Jennings with our last pick, but can only assume that when he visited he didn’t impress. I really think the thought process is on winning this year. Hass isn’t getting any younger. Neither are numerous other key players (Kerney, Walt, Trufant, Housh). As far as the elder Jones, he wants too much money. I wish him well, but can’t imagine us paying him what he wants. As far as another player on either side of the ball, given Branch’s injuries and production, his stock is at a low. Perhaps during the season, IF we reach the point where he adds little value to our roster, AND he’s healthy and performing well, OR the season goes to crap, I could see us trading him for a draft pick.

by diehard82 on May 15, 2009 7:40 PM PDT up reply actions