New England Patriots: Faulk stays and Watson goes

By Gayle Saunders
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Today the Cleveland Browns signed Benjamin Watson, the trusty free agent tight end from New England Patriots who he spent his first six seasons with.

Watson has appeared in 71 regular games in his career, including 47 starts. He has caught 167 passes for 2,102 yards and 20 touchdowns. He’s played in nine playoff games and started seven, and has had 19 receptions for 195 yards and threes touchdowns. His most successful season was in 2006 when he had 49 catches for 643 yards and three touchdowns. He has accounted for a career high six touchdown catches the following year, when he totaled 36 receptions for 389 yards.

The deal is reportedly for three years and $12 million, $6.35 million guaranteed. The Cleveland Browns out bid the Seattle Seahawks for Watson’s services. General manager Tom Heckert spoke highly of Benjamin Watson.

“We viewed Ben as one of the top all-around tight ends in the free agent market,” said Heckert. “Because of his athleticism and intelligence, he has proven valuable as both a receiver and blocker during his career, and has performed well in both facets. He comes from a winning program in New England and possesses the traits that we like in a player. We feel as though he can help us in many different areas and we are excited about his addition to our team.”

Cleveland is a team that is in dire need of receiving options, Watson should instantly be featured in all pass-catching schemes.

The New England Patriots while letting Watson leave, in the meantime they have decided to keep Kevin Faulk for one more year. The team did not release the terms of the deal, however the deal is for one year and will be signed today. Its most likely Faulk will receive a $1 million signing bonus and can earn an additional $2 million in salary and incentives.

Faulk’s agent Raymond Brothers said that “four or five teams” were interested in talking with Faulk, but the player wasn’t ready to get on a plane.

“It probably would have pushed his deal with the Patriots more if he had taken the visits,” Brothers said. “But he told me ‘I don’t want to be bluffing. I want to be back with the Patriots. If we can’t work something out, then we’ll do it.’”

Given the Patriots’ focus on locker-room dynamics this offseason, bringing Faulk back was a no-brainer. If you look at the team’s running back group, it definitely has some older guys in the over-30 club with Faulk (33) joining Fred Taylor (34) and Sammy Morris (32) and two younger backs in Laurence Maroney (25) and BenJarvus Green-Ellis (24).

With a solid the group returning, the Patriots have options and wont be locked into selecting a back in the draft.