I had heard whispers he might hang em up but that'd been a few weeks ago and that's all they were is rumors. I was curious if say NE might want to snatch him up with all that's going on up there. Seems like a good fit to me from the outside looking in. Just curious if anyone had heard anything new.
Any word on Dallas Clark?
- Thread starter Hawkfnntn
- Start date
theboat
Well-Known Member
DC said in May that if the situation isn't right, he will call it a career. Hope he gets a call though.
Is Dallas Clark Done? | Sports - KCCI Home
Is Dallas Clark Done? | Sports - KCCI Home
Thanks for posting that I hadn't heard that... Wasn't Hernandez in NE kinda being used in the slot and put in motion alot similar to Clark? I would think he could fit that role well enough. Clark isn't going to block or play like Gronk at all but when a team like them has 1 opening at te and another one that's a big fat question mark due to injuries I would think a versitile vet that wouldn't be expensive would be just what they'd need. I think him and Brady could get on the same page quickly. I thought for what they asked Clark to do in Tampa last yr he showed he has something left in the tank.
theboat
Well-Known Member
It would make perfect sense on paper, and off the field Clark is the exact opposite of their troubled TEs, but NE always likes to go against the grain.
Yea and NE has the luxury of knowing they aren't in a bidding war for him if they do decide to go that route. They can wait and see if any other good younger guys get cut in training camp that they could snatch up. I'd like to see Clark get a shot to play another year and with a qb like Brady. Guess we'll see what ends up happening.
DP5555
Well-Known Member
NE has a knack for developing strategies that play to their strengths. I don't see any reason why two veterans like Tom Brady and Dallas Clark couldn't figure out a way to get on the same page. His maturity and demeanor would certainly be an upgrade over Hernandez!
I must admit I've been wondering what in the hell happened to Dallas since he was tearing things up in Indy. I know he played in Tampa last year, but I never really heard much about him. I also know he had a pretty serious wrist injury that set him back, but if that has healed then why does it seem like teams have abandoned him? Is it just that he's getting old and injury prone? I remember thinking Peyton Manning was going to take Dallas with him to Denver, but he ended up taking Jacob Tamme instead... I found that pretty odd considering the success Peyton and Dallas had together. Denver must have been looking for a younger and more prototypical TE. That's the only explanation I can come up with.
Yes, it was striking how that seemed to happen. I suspect it is not so much a gradual decline in speed, etc. and a gradual increase in pain, stiffness, etc. in the NFL.But rather, almost overnight for these things. Have no idea. But Dallas went from Pro Bowl/All Pro to cast off very, very quickly without a major knee injury or something like that (clearly he had a bunch of minor stuff). He must really have slowed down quickly, bc he speed was always one of his best features.
hawkinn3
Well-Known Member
I imagine he has plenty of training camp invites but no contract offers. He's a 34 year old TE with a history of injury problems. Why pay him when you can get a younger, faster, cheaper option quite easily? Best bet is a mid season injury replacment, but that aside I think we have seen his last game.
DP5555
Well-Known Member
If you know something we don't know then please share it with the rest of us. You make it sound like it's pretty obvious. As far as the bolded part goes...
1. Well younger also means more inexperienced. 34 is not that old, and it isn't like he has had a serious knee injury.
2. Faster doesn't mean anything if you can't consistently catch the ball. Besides the fact speed was never really the reason he became one of the best tight ends in the game. He had or possibly still has solid speed, but it was more about his ability to read defenses, find open gaps on the field, and then make tremendous plays with his hands and body positioning. He was never what I would call elite in terms of speed for a TE. He was always pretty good at running after the catch, and shedding arm tackles as well.
3. I don't have any idea where you're going with the cheaper comment because as far as I know you don't know how much Dallas is asking for or expecting. Considering the type of guy he is I wouldn't be surprised if he's willing to take a significant pay cut in order to have a chance to play on a Super Bowl contending team.
Now, like I said maybe there is something else going on no one knows about regarding the injuries he's suffered. Or maybe his skills have just evaporated pretty quickly as someone stated above. It just seems strange why he hasn't had any offers or why more info. hasn't come out.
DP5555
Well-Known Member
I found this link from a couple weeks ago that mentions the Patriots might be interested in him:
NFL Rumors - New England Patriots Interested in Dallas Clark & David Thomas | Sportige
Here's the important parts:
But the Patriots have a bigger problem, as their wide receivers core isn’t the most talented in the world, and for a team that relies on its aerial attack so heavily (despite having a 1200-yard rusher), facing such a squad shortage of talent at both WR and TE means that it’s either back to the drawing board or trying to fill in the gaps as best as possible with players still available.
Dallas Clark is probably the first name that comes up. The 34-year old, 10-year veteran spent most of his career with the Indianapolis Colts, playing for the Bucs last year, catching 47 passes for 435 yards. He still has very good hands, but possibly just as important, he’s a very positive locker room figure, and fits quite well in the ‘moving’ tight end role Hernandez usually fills.
David Thomas is a similar kind of tight end, just with a lot less credentials and impressive numbers to his career. Thomas began his life in the NFL with the Patriots (2006-2008), playing the last four seasons with the New Orleans Saints, catching 11 passes for 86 yards last season, eventually getting released
Here's another one that kind of rules out hawkinn's comment regarding the amount of money it would cost:
http://bostontitletown.sportsblog.com/post/91366/should_the_patriots_go_after.html
Remember that annoying guy named Dallas Clark that tore the Patriots up with Peyton Manning? Yeah, he's a free agent and his stats rival Hernandez's and are even better than Ballard's. With years of 45, 79 and 51 receptions for Hernandez over the past three years, Clark reeled in 47 receptions last season with the freaking Bucs and in 2009 he caught 100 passes from Manning.
I'm done dwelling on how dumb Hernandez is and I want to move on and talk about people that aren't murderers. Dallas Clark is 34 years old and wouldn't require a big commitment in money, but he knows how to go out for passes and block as a veteran in this league for 11 years. Bring this guy in just in case Ballard doesn't do well.
NFL Rumors - New England Patriots Interested in Dallas Clark & David Thomas | Sportige
Here's the important parts:
But the Patriots have a bigger problem, as their wide receivers core isn’t the most talented in the world, and for a team that relies on its aerial attack so heavily (despite having a 1200-yard rusher), facing such a squad shortage of talent at both WR and TE means that it’s either back to the drawing board or trying to fill in the gaps as best as possible with players still available.
Dallas Clark is probably the first name that comes up. The 34-year old, 10-year veteran spent most of his career with the Indianapolis Colts, playing for the Bucs last year, catching 47 passes for 435 yards. He still has very good hands, but possibly just as important, he’s a very positive locker room figure, and fits quite well in the ‘moving’ tight end role Hernandez usually fills.
David Thomas is a similar kind of tight end, just with a lot less credentials and impressive numbers to his career. Thomas began his life in the NFL with the Patriots (2006-2008), playing the last four seasons with the New Orleans Saints, catching 11 passes for 86 yards last season, eventually getting released
Here's another one that kind of rules out hawkinn's comment regarding the amount of money it would cost:
http://bostontitletown.sportsblog.com/post/91366/should_the_patriots_go_after.html
Remember that annoying guy named Dallas Clark that tore the Patriots up with Peyton Manning? Yeah, he's a free agent and his stats rival Hernandez's and are even better than Ballard's. With years of 45, 79 and 51 receptions for Hernandez over the past three years, Clark reeled in 47 receptions last season with the freaking Bucs and in 2009 he caught 100 passes from Manning.
I'm done dwelling on how dumb Hernandez is and I want to move on and talk about people that aren't murderers. Dallas Clark is 34 years old and wouldn't require a big commitment in money, but he knows how to go out for passes and block as a veteran in this league for 11 years. Bring this guy in just in case Ballard doesn't do well.
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hawkinn3
Well-Known Member
1. In the NFL 34 is very old, the NFL has trended younger in recent years. I have no doubt 10 years a go a guy like Dallas would be sorting through offers but its not the way it works now. You pay several key guys a ton of money and fill our the rest with cheap finds and guys on rookie deals.
2. You dont think having pro bowl and possibly HOF caliber WR's keeping double teams off him and having Manning as a QB had something to do with his success?
3. Minimum for vets with 9+ years is $940,000 a rookie is $405,000. That is a huge difference for teams trying to navigate the cap even if he is willing to take the minimum.
I loved Dallas at Iowa so don't take this as me bashing him but you need to look at him objectively. Besides his one monster year in 2009 he has not been a top tier TE
DP5555
Well-Known Member
Lol did you read the articles I quoted? My opinion has very little to do with my bias for Dallas Clark. It has much more to do with common sense.
In 2009, Clark had 100 receptions. The only HOF caliber receiver on the roster that year was Reggie Wayne. The rest were Austin Collie, Hank Baskett, Pierre Garcon (rookie year I think), and Sam Giguere.
Just last year Clark had 47 receptions. Aaron Hernandez, whom would fit into your younger elite player category, had reception totals in the last three years of 45, 79, and 51. 47 receptions is a pretty solid year for a TE.
The only point you make that makes much sense is that Peyton Manning was throwing to him. Of course that helped. I think he could put up very good numbers if he went to a team with a solid QB. He caught 47 passes from an average QB in Josh Freeman.
So you are saying if you were an NFL GM you'd rather take an unproven rookie at $405,000 than pay an extra $500,000 for a proven TE like Dallas Clark? A guy who you know is going to work hard and be a good leader in the locker room. A guy you know will get at least 40+ catches as long as he stays healthy. A guy who knows how to play and succeed at the NFL level, and would have a very small learning curve in almost any offense. $500,000 is not a lot of money for an NFL team. There are plenty of teams who have that kind of cap space. That choice would be a no brainer in my opinion.
hawkinn3
Well-Known Member
First of all you have know idea any of that is true about Clark, nobody can know how many catches he will get. If you have followed the NFL in the last 20 years you would realize going with a cheaper younger option you can develop is the better option and the most likely option. $500,000 is not a lot of money compared to the owner's net worth BUT it is in regards to the CAP....NFL teams have a salary cap they have to stay under.
DP5555
Well-Known Member
The NFL has a Salary Cap? Really? You don't say... man I'm learning something new every day.
Geez louise man I'm only 27, but I've been watching football closely since I was 10. I know damn well the NFL has a salary cap. I know exactly how it works too. There are plenty of teams in the league who have 500,000 in cap space. Even if they don't it isn't hard to make room for.
The bolded part is YOUR opinion. It isn't anymore correct than me stating Dallas would get 40+ catches as long as he doesn't get injured. What's funny is that when I did a simple search for news on Dallas Clark I found 3 different articles from sports writers who all thought Clark was the best option available compared to your "expert" analysis. You have no idea what you're getting with a "younger cheaper option". The only question mark you have with Dallas is his age and whether or not you believe he's injury prone. He's suffered some injuries during his career, but nothing that serious. He's played in a hell of a lot more games than he's missed.
