I will be honest. Unless the pictures of Cushing floating around the net are bogus, he's not going to be on the Pats radar because of previous steroid use. I don't think the Pats want to deal with that.

That being said, could the Pats draft a LB in the 1st 3 rounds? Yep. Anything is possible. But much of it will depend on the development of Redd and Crable. If the Pats like Crable's development and Redd's development, then I can see then sticking with them. Unless, the players in the draft have a score 10 points or more higher than Redd or Crable. I don't think the Pats are going to draft a guy who is only a point or two better in their eyes.

Yeah, true, they will def have to do their due diligence on that one.

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I think he is spot on. Unless Mangini or the legandary BP pulls a fast one,I think mathews is with us next season.

I'm not saying anything about Matthews one way or the other; I'm just trying to understand why you both think it's so likely.

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Has nothing to do with Matthews as a player, though he actually has gotten some meaning snaps this year in the regular D at USC. Belichick likes to collect NFL legacies (Klecko, Slater) and his dad played for Belichick during his gig as the HCCB (though that was when Matthews' best years were behind him).

Not being overly serious but wouldn't be surprised if it did happen.

Not overlooking Woods or Redd but neither have yet shown that they are either being used regularly or getting to the passer consistently. I hope you're not saying that a Demarcus Ware type of OLB wouldn't upgrade this defense a whole notch higher, because I doubt you're that disingeneous.

Getting pressure on the QB is one ingredient that has been missing from this defense for a while now, arguably ever since we let Mcginest walk. The Pats have a pretty strong nucleus at LB, but they could stand to improve in the pass rush department. In a 3-4, OLB is the obvious position to look for that pressure guy.

One person asked, does this OLB need to be a 1st round pick. Answer - not necessarily. I'm sure there will probably be a couple of good ones that can be found in say rounds 2, 3, or even 4. But the odds go down and the Pats will really need to do their homework to find him. Once the college season is over, the scouting reports are in, and the combine results are in, we can make a lot better judgment on who would desirable to fit this need.

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"Are you not ENTERTAINED?!" - Addressing the Romans

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"What we want to try to do is maximize each spot on the roster; we want to be stronger at No. 1 than the opponent, stronger at No. 25 than they are, and stronger at No. 53 than they are, we're always looking to upgrade the talent level on the team, and play together to be functional."
- Bill Belichick -

Jerry Mcguire reference... that's the only hint i'm giving.

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"Are you not ENTERTAINED?!" - Addressing the Romans

Go back and look at your history. Particularly that of Adalius Thomas. Then come talk about this.

But if you're going to upgrade over Crable and Redd - and understanding that no draft pick is a sure thing - you're going to go with a guy with higher upside...to me, that's gotta be Day 1. Redd and Crable already have added to their value by experiencing a year in the Patriots organization, so whoever they add in 08 will be at that disadvantage when it comes to allocating roster spots.

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