Patriots Land Brandon Lloyd

The New England Patriots finally found a way to get the deal done. After what seemed like weeks of campaigning, free agent wideout Brandon Lloyd has a agreed to a new deal with the Patriots. Lloyd will rejoin Josh McDaniels, his coach in Denver and St. Louis, only with Tom Brady to throw him the ball now.

The New England Patriots have reached an agreement with free agent wide receiver Brandon Lloyd Scout.com’s  Aaron Wilson reports.  Terms of the deal were not immediately known.

The news that Lloyd has agreed to an offer from New England ends days of speculation over his courtship from the San Francisco 49ers.  According to some reports, the sides have been close for more than a day, though a conflicting report indicated otherwise. 

In agreeing to terms with the Patriots, Lloyd hopes to build upon his relationship with Patriots’ offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels who was head coach with the Denver Broncos when Lloyd last made the Pro Bowl.   The move to join New England should allow the “divisive” wideout to rehabilitate his image as a malcontent (via Boston Globe ).

In 2010 under McDaniels direction for the Broncos, Lloyd recorded 77 receptions for 1,448 yards (18.8 avg.) with 11 touchdowns.  In 2011, under Broncos coach John Fox, Lloyd appeared in just 4 games, before being traded to the St. Louis Rams where he was reunited with McDaniels again. He still managed to catch 51 passes for 683 yards and five touchdowns in just 11 games for St. Louis.

As noted by the anonymous Broncos source in the Globe’s recent article, Lloyd has an amazing ability to make catches.  

 “… He has the best body control and hands of any receiver I’ve ever seen from the standpoint of just making the craziest catch. He does it so much that he makes those crazy catches look normal for him.

“He’s either going to come down with it, or knock it away from the [defensive back]. He makes contested catches over people because he can elevate and make catches in the crowd, make catches when the [defensive backs] are right there, make one-handed catches on balls that are thrown behind him. His body control is just ridiculous.’’

Ridiculous body control was one of the attributes former Patriots wideout Randy Moss possessed while in New England.  Coincidently, Moss returned to football after a year off, joining the only other team that was seriously pursuing Lloyd – the 49ers.

With Anthony Gonzalez already in the fold ( Link ), the Patriots now have a pair of experienced veteran wideouts looking to rehab their images.  Both reportedly agreed to lower deals to join the Patriots, for the opportunity the club offers players to make it to the Super Bowl.

It is unclear what role Chad Ochocinco will play with Lloyd and Gonzalez on the roster. Whatever role it is, Ocho will have to step up his game now, or risk falling even further down the depth chart or off it altogether.


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