Deion Branch: Who Replaces Him If He Gets Cut, Courtney Taylor?

That rumor mill has been swirling again with a lot bloggers from other teams hoping the Seattle Seahawks cut WR Deion Branch.

Sure, he has not been that great here, he has a 44 catch, four TD average in his three seasons with the Seahawks. His best season was sadly the one he was not even here at the start of in 2006, hauling in 53 catches for 725 yards, and four TD's.

Sure, he has missed 15 regular season games since he has been here, five a season average.

Sure, at $5 million this season, he is overpaid for what amounts to being a third option with marquee Free Agent addition WR TJ Houshmandzadeh looking fabulous in Seahawks blue and Nate Burleson ahead of him on the depth chart.

The question I pose is, if he gets cut, which, could happen, who the f*** do we get to replace him on our roster?

The other Deon has been looking good in the preseason, but asking him to step up as a primary receiving option could prove disastrous in a rookie season, the little guy is better suited as our "secret weapon" anyways.

While teams are busy doubling Houshmandzadeh, and trying to cover John Carlson, Nate Burleson/and or Deion Branch, he can just slip out and blaze downfield as the fourth WR.

I like having that option.

As injuries proved last year, the guys below the aforementioned bunch, plain and simple, suck.

If they were any good, we would not have been 4-12. 

Out of the bunch of Ben Obamanu, Courtney Taylor, Logan Payne, Jordan Kent, Mike Hass, Michael Bumpus, their NFL totals amount to 17 receptions, 186 yards, and one TD.

Seahawks fans, I do not know about you, but choosing between a group of WR's who average 2.4 receptions, 26.5 yards, and 0.14 TD's over their careers is not exactly an ideal situation when trying to get back to the playoffs.

Branch may be overpaid, but at this point it is better to keep him, let him try and show he can stay healthy, and produce (which when he is on the field, he has been a quality WR).

If it is the same old show again, and he misses half the year, catches 35 passes, then cut him next offseason, don't disrupt what is looking like a very good passing game with a No. 3 WR who on most teams is still a solid No. 2 option. 

Throwing Courtney Taylor, the best of the rest of the bunch with nine grabs, and 98 yards, into a role where he has to produce (which he has not proved he can do), is not going to help lead this team to the playoffs.

Cutting Branch would only save the Seahawks so much, and watch, he will get signed the day after we cut him, and he will go onto have a 1,000 yard season for someone, and we will be here kicking ourselves in the face over it.

If they were to let him go with the Motus Operandi of getting some Offensive Line help, then that makes more sense, but if they can get additional help (why isn't Levi Jones in Seahawks blue?), without cutting him, then I see no reason to do so. 

I would not even mind trading him, but letting him go for nothing when we coughed up a first round pick and ultimately let go of Darrell Jackson because of him is not acceptable (think about it, we really did swap a first round pick AND Darrell Jackson for a fourth round pick and Deion Branch). 

It's not like this team is broke, we have one of the richest men in the world as our owner in Paul Allen, so money is no factor here.

I say keep him, or trade him for some OL help if they really do not want him there, but do not cut him, we do not need to save money.

Don't eliminate a solid target for Matt Hasselbeck who is throwing like his 2005 self again.