Little big man

Bill Belichick has done a lot of things right during his time as head coach/GM of the Patriots. Except draft good wide receivers. That's been a tough one for him to get right. Except in the second round of the 2002 draft.

That's when he took Deion Branch. A 5-9 wideout out of the University of Louisville. Not exactly a college football powerhouse. I'm not sure I even knew Louisville had a football team until that moment. And I sure had never heard of Deion Branch.

But he's been a Patriot favorite ever since. Reports are that the Pats cut the veteran today. Unless something unexpected happens, Branch will sign with another team (Miami?) and his Patriot career, which got a second life two years ago, will be over ..this time for good. It was a heck of a career.

Branch contributed as a receiver and kick returner in his rookie year. The highlight of that year was a 13-catch game against the Chargers. He finished the season with nearly 500 yards receiving and more than 900 yards in kick returns. He and Brady had an instant chemistry.

In 2003 Branch became an even bigger part of the offense, giving Brady a deep threat that he didn't have before. Of Branch's 57 catches that year, an incredible 40 were for first downs. Branch was a key factor in the Pats getting back to the Super Bowl and on that Super Sunday against Carolina he had 10 catches and a touchdown. It was his final catch of that season that is one of the greatest catches in Pats' history. Brady was trying to get the team in position for Adam Vinatieri to once again kick them to a championship. With just 14 seconds remaining and the ball at the Panther 40, Brady needed one more play to get in field goal range. He took the shotgun snap and stood in the pocket, looking to his right. He fired a rocket to the right that Branch caught in the air inside the 25. As Branch caught the ball he was cracked in the back by the safety about as hard as you can get hit. Branch took the hit and held onto the ball. As tough a catch as I've seen. A few seconds later the Pats were covered in confetti for the second time in three years.

The next year Branch was hurt in Week 2 and missed nine games. Being a small guy, injuries were always a problem for Branch. But toughness wasn't. He returned late in the season and by the time the defending champs hit the playoffs Brady and Branch were on fire. In the AFC title game in Pittsburgh against the rival Steelers, Brady and Branch connected for a 60-yard bomb that set the tone as the Pats raced out to 24-3 halftime lead and never looked back. Branch sealed the win on a reverse late in the game for a 23-yard touchdown run. As he crossed the goal line he gave a little wave and a big smile to the Steeler defenders chasing him. I'm sure that highlight is hated ball all Pittsburgh fans. It's one of my favorites.

Branch followed that up with an MVP performance in the Super Bowl against the Eagles as the Pats won back-to-back Super Bowls. (I still can't believe that happened.) He caught a record-tying eleven passes. He and Brady were the best quarterback-receiver combo at that moment.

Branch played in all 16 games in 2005 and had a career high 78 catches. He seemed poised for a big payday. But for the Pats, a wide receiver who was prone to injury, was not worth that big of a pay day. The Pats made Branch a reasonable three-year offer that would have paid him more than $10 million over three years. Branch wanted more and held out. The two sides reached a stalemate, the Pats entertained trade offers but rejected them, and Branch filed grievances against the team. It was messy. The Pats finally traded Branch to Seattle for a first-round pick and the Seahawks gave him the big contract he wanted. Unfortunately for Branch and Seattle, the little guy battled foot injuries and was never able to become the No. 1 receiver he was in New England.

In 2010 the Seahawks and Pats agreed to another trade, sending Branch back where he belonged... catching passes from Tom Brady. Branch seemed rejuvenated and had two solid years as the Pats third receiver, smiling his gold-tooth grin the whole time.

From our seats in Section 109 at Gillette we get a pretty good view of the Pats bench. It's one of the best parts of going to the games. Of all the players in a Pats uniform that I've rooted for, I don't think any of them had more fun than Deion Branch.

Get his jacket ready for the Pats' Hall of Fame.