BSJ Daily Briefing 12.13.17: Is The Kenny Britt Experience worth it?

Good morning! A few thoughts while we wait for Mike Tomlin to talk more about the kitchen, elephants or whatever else...

• A couple thoughts on the Patriots signing Kenny Britt, starting with this Twitter poll I posted last night to gauge the feelings of Pariots Nation:

Curious ... How do Patriots fans feel about the Kenny Britt signing?

— Greg A. Bedard (@GregABedard) December 13, 2017

• Watched some film this morning on Britt and, despite his dropoff in stats this season, I have to say I was pretty impressed. He still runs well for a player with his frame and unlike others (Josh Gordon), he doesn't dog it on routes.


• Britt obviously has a big frame, which is helpful. Good hands catcher. Surprisingly adept after the catch for his size.


• The last two offenses Britt was in — Browns with Hue Jackson and Rams with Rob Boras — appear to be the type of schemes where the receivers run what's on the playbook page. Obviously, just about every Patriots route can and usually is changed on the fly (choice routes, option routes, route conversions, sight adjustments). I think Britt is going to have a difficult time with this, but he has one thing going for him: despite his lengthy history of knucklehead-ism, he's actually pretty bright; Britt scored a 21 on his Wonderlic entering the league. That's high for a Patriots receiver, and gives him a better chance than most. Obviously Britt's ability to pick up the offense is a huge factor.


• That's why, in my mind, this move is more about next season than it is this one. I could see Britt contributing in red-zone situations, a few shot plays and possibly making the postseason roster (unlike Michael Floyd last year).


• If this is more about 2018, that makes me feel a little better about this move. At least in that case, Britt has to earn his way to the roster in September by doing everything right through the offseason workout program, OTAs and training camp.


• Why? Because Britt, to this point in his career, has been a Grade A Knucklehead. There is obviously the lengthy arrest record, but people will point out that he's been relatively (for him) problem-free since 2014. Yeah, if you ignore that Britt was benched not once but twice this season by player-friendly coach Hue Jackson.


• If Robert Kraft said three years ago that the Patriots wouldn't be signing Britt, has that much really changed?


• Just like with Floyd last year, I just don't understand why the Patriots invite this onto their team during the most important time of the year. Last year, the Patriots welcomed with open arms this guy:

• Now it's this guy, who is near the top of the charts at NFLarrest.com.

• If the Patriots stash Britt on the 53 for next season, then I'm totally fine with it (and it's actually pretty smart). Like I said, make him earn his Patriots uniform just like you do everybody else. But if this move is about this season, I'm not a fan. I just don't understand why the Patriots feel the need to make moves like these. They're the Patriots and a class franchise. They have won titles without people like Britt, and they can certainly do it again this year.


• Here's a thought: how about they draft and/or sign their own 6-foot-3 prospects and develop them instead of taking on everyone else's problem children? They are certainly capable of that, and it's much cheaper. Who's next, Josh Gordon?

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