New England Patriots: Tom Brady Doesn't Need a Deep Threat

NOTE: This article was first seen at PatriotsPlus.net.

Chad Ochocinco to the New England Patriots? Larry Fitzgerald and Tom Brady together? What if Randy Moss played?

Can it all stop?

Enough will all the talk of these big-name receivers. More specifically, enough with the talk about New England lacking a deep threat. 

Since when do you need a deep threat at wide receiver to win a Super Bowl?

The Patriots had a deep threat with Randy Moss, and what happened there? The Patriots lost against the New York Giants in the Super Bowl, and Moss rolled up in the fetal position most of the postseason. 

From 2001-2005, the Patriots had smart, quality receivers: Deion Branch, Troy Brown, David Givens, and David Patten. None were big targets, and none were exactly considered deep threats. 

Many critics are making the assumption that the Patriots would have won their playoff game against the Jets if they had Randall Moss. 

First, if head coach Bill Belichick didn't ship Randall out of New England, the Patriots would have never been 14-2.

Not a chance. 

Does anyone remember the first matchup between these two teams in Week 2? 

I do. Brady was awful, and Moss had a serious cause of alligator arms.

Brady was 20-of-36 and threw two touchdowns, as well as two interceptions. One interception was the product of a poor decision—a blatantly forced pass to Randall Moss. 

When you ask me, "What did the Patriots lack the most offensively against the Jets?" I say, "A receiver who knows how to physically get open."

Don't get me wrong, Welker and Branch are both amazing receivers. They're smart and crisp route-runners.

But, they're small. 

If Welker and Branch are physically challenged at the line of scrimmage, they will struggle getting open. And that's what happened in the playoffs. 

New England needs a receiver that can physically force his way beyond the cornerbacks, even when they're being pressed at the snap. 

Belichick doesn't need to go out and acquire Ochocinco or Fitzgerald. He needs to draft smart, selecting players that present the greatest value and fit the "Patriot" mold. 

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