The Patriots quarterback, who was yearning to be reacquainted with old target Deion Branch in New England, received his wish this week as the Patriots shipped a fourth-round pick to Seattle in exchange for the nine-year veteran.
Branch spent his first four seasons in New England, where he caught 213 passes for 2,744 yards and 14 touchdowns in 53 games played. The 5-foot-9, 193-pounder won back-to-back Super Bowl rings and a Super Bowl MVP trophy as Brady’s big-play target from 2002-2005.
It was in 2005 when Branch put up career numbers: 78 catches for 998 yards and five touchdowns. Since then, he’s realized how life is without Brady dropping back to pass. With quarterback Matt Hasselbeck in Seattle, Branch has just 190 receptions for 2,347 yards in 51 games.
Now Branch is back where it all started — but this certainly isn’t the same locker room he left five years ago. In fact, besides Brady, the only other offensive starter on today’s team that started in 2005 is Dan Koppen (Matt Light was injured for the majority of that season).
Despite the loss of Randy Moss, this offense remains lethal as Brady has relied on two-time NFL receiving leader Wes Welker, speedster Brandon Tate and rookie phenom Aaron Hernandez thus far. Adding in Branch will only enhance this unit as the scrappy receiver averaged just a shade under five receptions per start with Brady.
After four weeks in 2010, Branch has 13 catches for 112 yards and a touchdown, which he snared in Week 1. Moss, who caught Brett Favre’s 500th TD pass on Monday night in New York, now has nine receptions for 139 yards and four TDs.
How many touchdowns will Branch have with the Patriots this year?
How many touchdowns will Deion Branch score with the Patriots in 2010?Market Research
