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Patriots: 3 offensive weapons who disappeared too quickly

By Adam Weinrib

PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 6: Running back Robert Edwards #47 of the New England Patriots runs with the football as tight end Ben Coates #87 blocks cornerback Carnell Lake #37 of the Pittsburgh Steelers during a game at Three Rivers Stadium on December 6, 1998 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Patriots defeated the Steelers 23-9. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Robert Edwards;Ben Coates;Carnell Lake
PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 6: Running back Robert Edwards #47 of the New England Patriots runs with the football as tight end Ben Coates #87 blocks cornerback Carnell Lake #37 of the Pittsburgh Steelers during a game at Three Rivers Stadium on December 6, 1998 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Patriots defeated the Steelers 23-9. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Robert Edwards;Ben Coates;Carnell Lake /
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The New England Patriots’ illustrious history includes some bright lights who burned out too fast.

Over the past two decades, the New England Patriots have been the epitome of ruthless offensive efficiency.

Get ’em ready, get ’em in, get ’em out before they get old. But that doesn’t mean Pats fans don’t yearn for the offensive performers who could’ve been stars, but were lost too soon.

Due to either freak injury or disciplinary circumstances, these three Patriots never really got a second chance after the first stumbling block they hit.

Patriots
Tom Brady #12 talks to teammate Aaron Dobson #17 of the New England Patriots (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

3. WR Aaron Dobson

Aaron Dobson was a one-year wonder for the New England Patriots.

We picked Aaron Dobson over Kenbrell Thompkins here because of just how sour his relationship with New England got, and how avoidable the whole thing seemed. After all, they should’ve been two weapons, developing side-by-side.

Instead, we got a strange deemphasis in year two.

Dobson arrived as a second-round pick in 2013, catching 37 balls for 519 yards as a 22-year-old in one of Tom Brady’s resurgent seasons. Possibly the most exciting non-championship year of his career, Brady led stunning comebacks against the Broncos, Saints, and Browns, notably captaining a non-superstar core to victory.

However, Dobson’s tenure ended up being remarkably short-lived. He was inactive for eight of the first 12 games of his sophomore season, and injured his hamstring in Week 13 against the Packers after actually receiving a chance. He was placed on IR, missing the dramatic Super Bowl win over the Seahawks.

The next season, he played sparingly yet again, and hit IR with a high ankle sprain in Week 11, getting jettisoned in final roster cuts in summer 2016. What might have been.

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