New England trying to move into Top 10 (2 Viewers)

[-baller]

haha...ok, I see what you mean.

that asante thing might've been a little bit of an exaggeration, though.

 

[jurb26]

I'd be very surprised if it was Jenkins.

Don't see it.I still think Tyson Jackson is the answer if they move up.Clay Matthews if they stay at 23.

Jackson looks like a strong bet to be taken in the top 5 and I don't think NE is entertaining a move up into the top 5.

 

[jurb26]

I have a hard time believing the Pats would move up to take Jenkins and give an unproven rookie essentially the same deal they wouldn't give Asante.

??you lost me on that one.

I have heard talk of the Pats moving up to the Top 6-8. They didn't want to give Asante, a multi-time Pro Bowler, $6-8M a year. While the rookie deal would not be quite that high, by the time you consider a decent signing bonus that's still a fair amount of money for a guy that has not played a down in the NFL. I know you can say that specifically about any player at any position, but the Pats historically have not really paid much for secondary help and with the exception of the last year of Law's contract and the last season Samuel was in town have for the most part paid very little for DBs. Giving a newbie $13-15M in guarantees FOR A DB sort of goes againt the Patriots mantra. At Pick 23, IMO the numbers become more palatable but I still think they look at other positions first.

Patriots mantra? Their mantra is to win games. We've heard a lot about the Patriots mantra over the years only to find out that they adapt to win and blow everyone's perception out the window. If they see Jackson or a DB as that ingredient (or a special player) this year that is what they will do. The bottom line is that if NE trades up it is because they see a guy who is available that they think is a special player and wont be there at 23.

 

[lexus]

If they see Jackson or a DB as that ingredient (or a special player) this year that is what they will do. The bottom line is that if NE trades up it is because they see a guy who is available that they think is a special player and wont be there at 23.

Whatever worked well for them last year - G. Mayo - is what the're doing again this year. I believe you can count on them getting a comparable Def stud who would not be there at 23. If the stud(s) is gone by the 9th spot +/- a slot, then the swap will almost definitely not happen. Who that targeted DEF player(s) turn out to be is not as important as it acually happening within the bounds that BB has set for himself. I think that he might even have his eye on more than one specific player/position which gives him a further option if the #1 target is gone before 1.09 +/- a slot. Remember that he also has plenty of draft slots to play with this year.

Ask yourself, how many impact players do you want to come away with from this draft, what side of the ball, and how much monies do you have available to pay these many slots?

Go Pats, show the world what a championship franchise is all about. And I deliberately avoid having Pats on my fanatsy team so I can root for the team to win without focusing on a single player or two. I hate for a single injury to a key player to wipe both them and me out for the season. Last year's valiant effort was an abberation of sorts, and attributted to their SOS being the most favorable of all 32 teams in the league - but they couldn't beat the team(s) that had to in their own division.

 

[-baller]

Last year's valiant effort was an abberation of sorts, and attributted to their SOS being the most favorable of all 32 teams in the league - but they couldn't beat the team(s) that had to in their own division.

lolthey played san diego, indy, and pittsburgh, and their division was one of the toughest in football.I'd hate to see the schedules of the other 31 teams if that's the easiest.

 

[Buffaloes]

Last year's valiant effort was an abberation of sorts, and attributted to their SOS being the most favorable of all 32 teams in the league - but they couldn't beat the team(s) that had to in their own division.

lolthey played san diego, indy, and pittsburgh, and their division was one of the toughest in football.I'd hate to see the schedules of the other 31 teams if that's the easiest.

San Diego went 8-8 last year so I'm not sure why you would include them in your argument. The AFCE in general had a favorable advantage in that they played the AFCW and the NFCW last year. So, yes, the Pats had a fairly easy schedule. I cannot find a link to their opponents' W/L record for 2008 but I know entering 2008, it was considered the easiest schedule entering the season by a wide margin.

 

[SeniorVBDStudent]

Pats schedule was average to easy last year. Should have won 13 games. That's why Cassel is gone. Fortunately, Pioli has to deal with that albatross now.

 

[PatsWillWin]

Can we not?

 

[Adebisi]

Seems like almost every year or so there rumors of Pats trying to move up to the top of the draft. Last year for Gholston, a few years ago for D'Wayne Roberston.

There was also the rumor that they were going to take Sean Taylor the year he came out. As usual, Mike Reiss is the voice of reason here: "Regarding Peter King's report about the Patriots exploring a trade up, I believe the club was going through its standard pre-draft exploratory conversations with various teams. The idea is to call teams, see who is willing to trade and what it might take, and then you enter the draft with a feel for where the opportunities may be when the clock is rolling."

 

[Adebisi]

IF teams are sticking close to the value chart (and I realize that is a big IF these days)

? "these days?" they never did. these are real NFL teams, not a bunch of FF 's. they care mostly about what they see on film and in person, not some dorky "value chart."

This value chart holds far more weight on the internet than it does in the NFL.

 

[-baller]

Speaking on NFL Network, coach Bill Belichick said the chances of the Patriots trading into the Top-10 are "less than zero."

A refreshingly witty Belichick bantered with the NFL Network crew, telling Mike Mayock: "Everybody knows you don't like anybody in the Top-10 either." Belichick plans to select the best player available at No. 23.

 

[Ron_Mexico]

Speaking on NFL Network, coach Bill Belichick said the chances of the Patriots trading into the Top-10 are "less than zero."A refreshingly witty Belichick bantered with the NFL Network crew, telling Mike Mayock: "Everybody knows you don't like anybody in the Top-10 either." Belichick plans to select the best player available at No. 23.

Clay Matthews :X

 

[-baller]

Last year's valiant effort was an abberation of sorts, and attributted to their SOS being the most favorable of all 32 teams in the league - but they couldn't beat the team(s) that had to in their own division.

lolthey played san diego, indy, and pittsburgh, and their division was one of the toughest in football.

I'd hate to see the schedules of the other 31 teams if that's the easiest.

San Diego went 8-8 last year so I'm not sure why you would include them in your argument. The AFCE in general had a favorable advantage in that they played the AFCW and the NFCW last year. So, yes, the Pats had a fairly easy schedule. I cannot find a link to their opponents' W/L record for 2008 but I know entering 2008, it was considered the easiest schedule entering the season by a wide margin.

you're not sure why?who won the afc west division and beat indy in the playoffs?

or are there only 3 teams in the league that you consider 'good'?

peoples' opinions of sos entering the season has as much relevance as your mock draft does entering the draft.

what's really funny about your reply is that the first thing you do is write off san diego based on their final record, then flip flop on the rest of the teams based on expectations entering the season LOL.

you should've been a politician.

let me see you cook up an answer for this, since you're already cracking me up ---- how is it the pats have this advantage of playing the afcw and nfcw, leading to the EASIEST schedule, which is apparently even easier than the afcw teams, who not only play themselves TWICE but also play the afce, and the nfcw who do likewise?

I would imagine playing 3 easy teams twice as more of an advantage than once, but maybe I'm the crazy one.

 

[FreeBaGeL]

oops, wrong thread.

 

[Despyzer]

Seems like almost every year or so there rumors of Pats trying to move up to the top of the draft. Last year for Gholston, a few years ago for D'Wayne Roberston. I might be missing some. I'd be surprised if anything comes of it.

I agree. Now the rumor is that they are looking to drop out of the 1st round altogether to take advantage of the pack of WR-hungry teams that will be drafting right after that pick.

That doesn't make too much sense unless they're trading for veterans. They already have 11 picks and there's no way 11 rookies are making this team so adding more picks seems like overkill. They're always a threat to deal for future picks but I have to believe their first priority is helping themselves for 2009.

Never question me again.

 

[Ron_Mexico]

Stockpiling again ?

Those are my boys.

 

[Boston]

Seems like almost every year or so there rumors of Pats trying to move up to the top of the draft. Last year for Gholston, a few years ago for D'Wayne Roberston. I might be missing some. I'd be surprised if anything comes of it.

I agree. Now the rumor is that they are looking to drop out of the 1st round altogether to take advantage of the pack of WR-hungry teams that will be drafting right after that pick.

That doesn't make too much sense unless they're trading for veterans. They already have 11 picks and there's no way 11 rookies are making this team so adding more picks seems like overkill. They're always a threat to deal for future picks but I have to believe their first priority is helping themselves for 2009.

Never question me again.

Very impressive effort...the fact they traded down and didn't do it for a 2009 pick surprises me even more. It will be real interesting to see what they turn all these picks into.

 

[Ron_Mexico]

Any word on the details of the trade ?

 

[Boston]

Any word on the details of the trade ?

The Pats got Baltimore's #5.

 

[Brutis]

Beanie wells to NE? lol

 

[Morton Muffley]

Seems like almost every year or so there rumors of Pats trying to move up to the top of the draft. Last year for Gholston, a few years ago for D'Wayne Roberston. I might be missing some. I'd be surprised if anything comes of it.

I agree. Now the rumor is that they are looking to drop out of the 1st round altogether to take advantage of the pack of WR-hungry teams that will be drafting right after that pick.

That doesn't make too much sense unless they're trading for veterans. They already have 11 picks and there's no way 11 rookies are making this team so adding more picks seems like overkill. They're always a threat to deal for future picks but I have to believe their first priority is helping themselves for 2009.

Never question me again.

Very impressive effort...the fact they traded down and didn't do it for a 2009 pick surprises me even more. It will be real interesting to see what they turn all these picks into.

Pats now have 4 second round picks and 4 third round picks...I'd be SHOCKED if they didn't turn some of these into 2010 picks. Typically second round picks this year turn into first round picks next year and this years' third rounders turn into next year's second.My guess is that with these 8 picks NE ends up with:5-6 playersa 2010 first roundera 2010 second rounder

 

[Adebisi]

Seems like almost every year or so there rumors of Pats trying to move up to the top of the draft. Last year for Gholston, a few years ago for D'Wayne Roberston. I might be missing some. I'd be surprised if anything comes of it.

I agree. Now the rumor is that they are looking to drop out of the 1st round altogether to take advantage of the pack of WR-hungry teams that will be drafting right after that pick.

That doesn't make too much sense unless they're trading for veterans. They already have 11 picks and there's no way 11 rookies are making this team so adding more picks seems like overkill. They're always a threat to deal for future picks but I have to believe their first priority is helping themselves for 2009.

Never question me again.

That was a pretty bold prediction with its "Now the rumor is" preface. We'll never question you again...

 

[SeniorVBDStudent]

Peter King.

EPIC FAIL.

Again.

 

[Despyzer]

Seems like almost every year or so there rumors of Pats trying to move up to the top of the draft. Last year for Gholston, a few years ago for D'Wayne Roberston. I might be missing some. I'd be surprised if anything comes of it.

I agree. Now the rumor is that they are looking to drop out of the 1st round altogether to take advantage of the pack of WR-hungry teams that will be drafting right after that pick.

That doesn't make too much sense unless they're trading for veterans. They already have 11 picks and there's no way 11 rookies are making this team so adding more picks seems like overkill. They're always a threat to deal for future picks but I have to believe their first priority is helping themselves for 2009.

Never question me again.

That was a pretty bold prediction with its "Now the rumor is" preface. We'll never question you again...

Lighten up, Francis