Bookmaker odds list the New England Patriots as one of the favorites to win the Super Bowl. The Patriots made a move on Tuesday that may help their offshore betting chances in 2010 as they signed veteran wide receiver Torry Holt. Bookmaker numbers on the Patriots have them just behind the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC entering the 2010 season. The addition of Holt could help them as he gives quarterback Tom Brady another receiving option.
The deal for Holt is for one year and could be worth as much as $1.7 million. Last season Holt played for Jacksonville and had 51 receptions for 722 yards but no touchdowns. He spent the first ten years of his career with the St. Louis Rams and he has averaged 77.4 yards per game in his 11-year career. Those numbers are the third-best in NFL history. Offshore betting statistics put his overall numbers at 10th all time with 13,382 yards.
New England needs the receiving help as they will be without top wide out Wes Welker for the first part of the season. The Patriots still have Randy Moss and Julian Edelman but they needed a veteran receiver who can make the big catches. The Patriots were really disappointed with the Joey Galloway and Greg Lewis. Whether they can get anything out of Holt remains to be seen. He is a seven-time Pro Bowl selection but he did not have a good year last season with Jacksonville.
The question is whether that was a result of a run-oriented offense that virtually ignored the receivers or whether Holt is done. He will definitely get a chance to make an impact with New England, especially with Welker being out with an injury. Holt definitely seems like a good fit for New England as he gives them a veteran presence at the wide receiver position. He is also expected to help young receivers like Edelman, Brandon Tate and Isaiah Stanback. If Holt has anything left the Patriots and head coach Bill Belichick will get it out of him.
Sportsbook information indicated that Holt was the sixth pick in 1999 out of North Carolina State by the Rams. He set a Super Bowl rookie record with seven receptions for 109 yards in the Rams’ 1999 win over Tennessee. He has played in 10 postseason games and two Super Bowls.