Patriots Continue WR Overhaul

EMQB is turning into a New England Patriots blog. That’s because the Pats seems to be wheeling and dealing above and beyond all the other NFL teams thus far in free agency. And for a team that competed in the AFC Championship game, the amount of quality players they have added is impressive.

A day after signing high-profile free agent WR Donte Stallworth away from the Philadelphia Eagles, the New England has signed another free agent wide receiver, this time former Cincinnati Bengal Kelley Washington, a former teammate of Stallworth’s in college at Tennessee. The Patriots gave Washington a five-year deal worth up to $22 million, including a $300,000 signing bonus. This deal is similar to the one that Stallworth signed. It contains a $4 million roster bonus payment that the Patriots will have to decide whether they want to pay in 2008. Like Stallworth, the financial incentive is there for Kelley Washington. I’ve always been intrigued by him since he was so highly touted coming out of Tennessee. I still remember his 2001 game against LSU when he had 11 catches for 256 yards. Yow. He was an underachiever and injury-prone in Cincinnati, hobbled by a bad hamstring much of last season. But he produced some decent numbers in 44 games — 72 receptions, 12.4 yards per catch, nine TDs. As with any other player that brings a team-first attitude to New England, the sky is the limit. Kelley Washington could finally realize his true potential here. If he can stay healthy. I’ll reiterate yesterday’s prediction. The Patriots are my early choice to win Super Bowl XLII.