Despite putting up All-Pro numbers at times in his career, particularly with the Denver Broncos in 2010, Brandon Lloyd hasn’t been able to stay with one team for more than three years.And despite amassing more than 900 yards and four touchdowns last season for the New England Patriots, the veteran wideout may be looking for another contract in the near future.
Greg Bedard of the Boston Globe said Tuesday that the “odds were against” the Pats picking up Lloyd’s contract, a move that would save the team nearly $5 million in cap space this year. Bedard noted Lloyd’s off-the-field attitude as one of the main reasons for wideout’s unpopularity, though his inconsistency on the field has also been an issue at times.
A particular source from the Denver Broncos said that Lloyd “wasn’t a good teammate” and that people had characterized him as “bipolar.”
On top of his apparent problematic persona, Lloyd is also set to turn 32 in July, which gives New England another reason to debate re-signing the vet. With fellow receiver Wes Welker’s contract restructuring looking more and more like a reality, the team may decide to cut Lloyd loose and use the $5 million on a free agent or two.
The free-agent market, as it stands now, looks to be ripe with unemployed wideouts, and the Patriots have always been able to spot a good deal (like we mentioned yesterday with David Nelson).
If the team does look for a replacement, the ideal candidate will most certainly need to have big-play ability on the perimeter, the one thing the offense has been lacking. There is plethora of speedsters available via the draft or the free-agent market, but the decision may come down whether the team can solidify one of those options before letting Lloyd go.
Lloyd is obviously problematic, but giving up a 1,000-yard receiver for another project or a bust would be even worse.
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