The leading receiver last year on a Patriots team that was one minute away from playing in the Super Bowl, Caldwell can't even get on the field for the Redskins. He's been relegated to inactive status for four of five games since signing with Washington Sept. 11. He doesn't expect to be in uniform today when his new team meets his former one at Gillette Stadium.
"If I would sit here and tell you it's not frustrating, I would be lying," said Caldwell, who was released by New England Sept. 3. "It's definitely frustrating when I started [14] games last year there, and I come to another team and don't dress. It is.
"Every competitor wants to go out and compete. I'm used to competing on Sundays and that's been taken away. That's the part that is frustrating for me, not being out there on Sunday being able to play. That's the toughest part for me."
The demise of Caldwell, who led New England in receptions (61), receiving yards (760), and touchdown receptions (4, tied with Troy Brown), illustrates just how far the Patriots' passing attack has come from last season. His absence hasn't even registered a ripple.
Fans have already forgotten about him, enthralled by the exploits of new men Randy Moss, Wes Welker, and Stallworth. Moss leads the NFL in receiving yards with 732, just 28 fewer than Caldwell had all of last season, and touchdowns with 10. Welker has replaced Caldwell as a possession receiver and is third in the NFL in catches with 47. Stallworth is averaging 8.6 yards after the catch and has scored in each of the last three games.
Caldwell is willing to say what Brady and Bill Belichick haven't - that better receivers have allowed No. 12 to light up defenses to the tune of 2,125 yards passing, 27 touchdown passes, a 73.8 percent completion rate, and a 137.9 passer rating through seven games.
"I don't take no offense. It's true," said Caldwell. "He has a Hall of Fame receiver in Randy Moss. It's not like people say that and it's not true.
