Really, it was only a matter of time before whispers of a reunion of Deion Branch and Tom Brady began to surface in the wake of the Randy Moss trade.
It turned out to take less than 24 hours, as CSNNE.com’s Tom E. Curran reported Thursday morning that the Patriots may be interested in acquiring their former star wideout.
Curran stressed the “may” part of that report quite strongly, citing his own hesitance to believe the Moss rumors from Tuesday night.
“The Patriots may be working a deal to get Deion Branch back in town,” he wrote. “It’s early. Nothing is imminent. But you need to be looped, and I screwed up Tuesday.”
Curran’s not the only reporter to mention Branch. Seattle Times reporter Danny O’Neil said on Twitter that there was a “possibility” of a trade. The Boston Herald’s Ian Rapoport said on Twitter that a deal is “not even close to ‘in the works'” and that it’s simply a discussion at this point.
It’s not the first time that talks of the Pats reuniting with Branch have surfaced, but now it may make the most sense. With a gaping hole on the depth chart, and with the proven history between Brady and Branch, a deal could be necessary to keeping the Patriots’ playoff chances alive.
Add in the fact that Pete Carroll‘s Seahawks traded away their 2011 picks in the third round (Charlie Whitehurst trade), fourth round (Marshawn Lynch), sixth round and seventh round. The Patriots, equipped with two picks in each of the first four rounds, have the ammunition to get a deal done.
In four seasons with the Patriots, Branch caught 213 passes for 2,744 yards and 14 touchdowns. He’s been less effective with the Seahawks — a 2-2 team that may not be far away from starting to think long term. A trade for some picks would be a step in that direction.
This season, Branch has 13 catches for 112 yards and a touchdown. He’s second on the team in receptions and fourth in receiving yards. By comparison, Moss had nine catches for 139 yards and three touchdowns this season.
