Sometimes things are not as they seem.
Two of my favorite repeat signings are those of the "underachieving elsewhere but amazing third WR in New England" and the "veteran CB/S who can play a lot of nickel/bring leadership." In 2001 it was guys like David Patten and Terrell Buckley. In 2007 it was Jabar Gaffney and Chad Scott. Now, thanks to a trade with the Eagles and a signing, it's Greg Lewis and Shawn Springs. And while the names and faces seem similar, I think that these signings don't fill the role quite as well as the predecesors did. It sounds good, but it sure don't look good, much like the tattoo picture above.
Lewis I have mixed feelings on. First of all, the Pats acquired him and a 2010 seventh rounder for a fifth rounder this year, so they didn't lose much. But I can't decide if I'm sold on him since he never blossomed like he was supposed to and Philly and doesn't have any one tremendous skill like Patten's speed or Gaffney's pass catching. But he was super hyped and put into a starting role pretty early in Philly, so maybe moving to a third WR role will let his true potential shine through. Not much of a loss there due to the picks, but I don't see producing at the level Gaffney was capable of with Brady, and so he's a step down in the WR3 department.
As for Springs, my initial reaction was that he's way better of a signing than Scott and Buckley and Tyrone Poole and Otis Smith and all those old Patriots were. But thinking logically, that's not really true. I'm a Pats/Browns fan now, but was originally a Pats/Seahawks fan before I moved to Ohio/when I was like 13 thanks to Warren Moon, Joey Galloway, and Shawn Springs. And when I think of that Shawn Springs I think this is a great move for the Pats. But when I realize that Moon is already enshrined in Canton and that Galloway was terrible on my fantasy team this past year and that Springs was just cut from the Redskins, I'm less impressed. Still happy to see him on a team I love, but questionable how much of an impact he'll have in New England, especially with his speed waning. So once again, not quite the piece the Patriots need/want, but not too shabby.
Again, I hope these moves work out for the best. I'm just not convinced that what you see (vast potential Lewis and Springs 10 years ago) is what you get.
