December 7th 2024.
Let me be completely honest with you: the guys here at Grading The Week were big fans of Tim Patrick. We enjoyed talking to him, watching him play, and were happy to see him back in top form after his injury. However, we have to admit that the Broncos may have made the right decision by letting him go. And not just for the team's sake, but also for Patrick's own good. It's bittersweet for us to say this, but it's the truth.
As we sit here on our bye weekend, with Thanksgiving behind us and the Broncos enjoying a well-deserved break, it's easy to look back and say "what if" about the decision to keep or let go of certain players. But we're not going to argue about the choice between Devaughn Vele and Patrick on the Broncos' roster anymore. Sean Payton has proven that he can get the same, if not better, production from Vele, who is not only the same size as Patrick but also five years younger and much cheaper. Vele has been a pleasant surprise for Broncos Country in the last couple of months. In the team's last eight games, the former Utah star has been averaging four catches for 43 yards, with only two drops and 19 first downs. He has developed a great chemistry with fellow rookie Bo Nix, which has made him a reliable WR2 on the team.
Vele has been producing at a bargain rate for the Broncos, which is exactly what they need. After the messy breakup with Russell Wilson and the dead cap money left behind, the team needs to hit on a few bargain players like Vele. And they have been lucky enough to hit on five or six of them. Former Broncos receivers, such as Jerry Jeudy and Tim Patrick, have been thriving on other teams. It's always nice to see Patrick doing well on the big stage in Detroit. The Lions were already a fun, fast, and fierce team, but Patrick's size and reliable hands have been the missing pieces to their puzzle. In his last three games with the Lions, he has made 12 catches for 146 yards, 10 first downs, and two touchdowns against the Packers on Thursday, helping the Lions secure a 34-31 win.
Sure, the Broncos could use that kind of help, especially in the red zone. But it's not an urgent need. One of the most exciting things about the last few weeks has been watching Nix and the other young Broncos build their relationships and grow in confidence on the field. The wide receiver room at Dove Valley is quite young, but it's no longer painful to watch. So, if we have to choose between Patrick and Vele, we have to give it to the Broncos for their smart and cost-effective decision, which has also contributed to their success this season. While Patrick is looking at a potential home-field advantage in the NFC playoffs and a spot on a Super Bowl contender, we'll happily concede to George Paton and Sean Payton.
However, if we have to choose between Lil'Jordan Humphrey and Patrick, we'll take the latter any day of the week. Now, switching gears to a different sport, let's talk about CSU volleyball's journey. The Rams' first NCAA tournament appearance in five years may have come to an end on Friday against Texas A&M, but that doesn't take away from their incredible journey. We want to give a belated shoutout to coach Emily Kohan for leading the team to its first Mountain West championship sweep since 2011. Fort Collins is even more fun when the trophy case needs to make room for more trophies.
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