Posted by GrizzlyHawk at 9/4/08 10:55 a.m.

Is a mostly healed Branch more effective than a healthy Courtney Taylor? Seems like he has more to lose by rushing it than by taking his time to get fully back in shape before playing. The Hawks' schedule isn't exactly a barnburner for the first three weeks and then they have a bye in week 4. Seems like they could hold out until week 5 and let Branch get back up to speed.

Posted by unregistered user at 9/4/08 10:56 a.m.

Does it really matter on his return? He may only be a decoy cause of his past with the Patriots. I'm still on the fence that he can ever reach that level again, I'll lay money he's going to get injured very soon upon his return and will retire this year.

Posted by unregistered user at 9/4/08 11:05 a.m.

GO BILLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by unregistered user at 9/4/08 11:24 a.m.

BILLS.....Boy I Love Losing Superbowls

Posted by The Choctaw Kid at 9/4/08 11:39 a.m.

I agree Grizz, bring him in after the bye, why take a chance. He's still a hell of a reciever. I'll be glad to have his experience back. But I think this will be like the superbowl year, we'll see more running and ball control to match up with our killer D.

Yeah! Bills! 4 straight super bowls! 4 stright crushing, soul-sucking losses and the standard bearers for mediocrity ever since! Yeeehaw!

Posted by unregistered user at 9/4/08 11:42 a.m.

Only one year in all your sad history. Keep talking....

Posted by tariqahmed at 9/4/08 11:55 a.m.

Seahawks fans, focus on the players playing next week--they are the best at this moment.

OUR GOAL: Beat Bills.

Rest of the worries,later.
Branch will be ready for November.
Seahawks have guys like USAIN BOLT.
GO SEAHAWKS.

Posted by DougW at 9/4/08 12:18 p.m.

I Wonder if New England is still laughing after flogging this injury-prone Bum off on Seattle.

Meanwhile he sucks up all the salary $$$ with his huge salary while sitting on the Injury Reserve list!!!

Seattle got rid of Shawn for wonky Knees but continue to pay this Bum???

Pay him off and get rid of the bum NOW!!

Posted by unregistered user at 9/4/08 12:19 p.m.

All that bamming and whapping up against each other. No wonder they get owies all the time.

Pat Rapp once said, "If you're gonna bam and whap, make sure you're doing the whapping and the other guy gets the brunt of the bam."

Go Bills GO!!

Posted by david puddy at 9/4/08 1:13 p.m.

Go Bills - straight out the door to Toronto. A major market of 5m that can actually adequately support you and IS currently buoying that team's attendance with Canadian fans.

That the Bills are even still in the Northern capital of the rust belt is beyond me.

Posted by IrishGreg at 9/4/08 1:44 p.m.

"Meanwhile he sucks up all the salary $$$ with his huge salary while sitting on the Injury Reserve list!!!"

Except...he's not on IR. Pay attention.

Posted by unregistered user at 9/4/08 1:49 p.m.

Paul Allen is uesed to paying players that don't play. D. Miles from The Trailblazers got way more then Deion branch.

Posted by ultimatekris at 9/4/08 2:03 p.m.

As someone who has torn an ACL and had it repaired (albiet I went the cadaver graft route) I can say that it takes a while to build that trust from your mind to your knee. It took me almost an entire year to trust it again and stop playing Ultimate Frisbee tentatively. Almost 12 months from that 9 month mark until I was totally comfortable and confident again with it. Obviously I'm no NFL pro player like Branch. he's got the best doctors, trainers, routine, and reason for coming back to play. But still, only he can tell when he's ready. So far it seems like he's doing what he can and taking it in the little steps as is necessary. I hope he is cautious and realistic. It doesn't help himself or the team if he comes back too early and is tentative. he could get hurt easily this way. And he could hurt the team. Let the young guys play. We can survive a few more weeks until Branch and Engram are back. Go Hawks!

Posted by palouse123 at 9/4/08 2:40 p.m.

Clare - any idea why the Hawks just didn't put Branch on the PUP list and use that roster spot for another receiver?

He's not going to be ready for week 1, and what's the point of rushing him back in the two weeks before the bye? So that's only two more weeks until he would have been eligible to come back from the PUP, and the Hawks could have had another roster spot.

Posted by FiveTime at 9/4/08 11:13 p.m.

Palouse,

If Branch were to start the season on the PUP list he would be required to sit out the first six games. That means he wouldn't be available until Week 8. Maybe his knee won't be ready until then anyway...

...or maybe two weeks from now, while the "youngins" are struggling against veteran press coverage, Branch finds he is feeling positively great.

We've got to account for this latter possibility.