Pre-Draft press conference today at noon

[Ungeheuer]

That was awesome. He said absolutely nothing for like 30 consecutive minutes. He should really go into politics.

 

[JSn]

My interpretation:

• Woods is getting packaged in a trade. - Just humour me, that seemed awfully stumbly there.
  
• They are moving up in the first for someone if at all possible. See: "The higher the pick, the better the talent."
  
• The Peppers Trade is on.

Barwin, Butler and Peppers. There's your Patriots Day one. Book it, Dano.

Also, everything he said was a smokescreen. Or a double smokescreen.

So there.

 

[Deus Irae]

That was awesome. He said absolutely nothing for like 30 consecutive minutes. He should really go into politics.

He said plenty. He just didn't say it on topics that would give lots of information on the draft. To stick with your politics analogy, it was like a Supreme Court candidate refusing to comment on abortion, but spending hours discussing how decisions are rendered and published by the lower courts.

 

[DaBruinz]

That was awesome. He said absolutely nothing for like 30 consecutive minutes. He should really go into politics.

He said nothing?

1) Mentioned that the process of evaluation hasn't changed with the loss of Pioli and the additions of Reese and Licht (pronounced Light).

2) That there has been preliminary talks about trading picks with a number of teams.

3) Called the UCONN Pro Day exciting and praised Randy Edsall for the quality of player he's producing there.

4) Comments on Andre Smith's skills, but not his intangibles..

5) Admitted that this year's draft, even from their perspective, has no clear #1 player at numerous positions, including QB, CB, S, WR, RB, and OT.

You may not have found the tidbits interesting, but others probably did.

 

[Patriots Nation NY]

My interpretation:

• Woods is getting packaged in a trade. - Just humour me, that seemed awfully stumbly there.
  
• They are moving up in the first for someone if at all possible. See: "The higher the pick, the better the talent."
  
• The Peppers Trade is on.

Barwin, Butler and Peppers. There's your Patriots Day one. Book it, Dano.

Also, everything he said was a smokescreen. Or a double smokescreen.

So there.

I hope we get that Barwin kid .. I like him ..

 

[JSn]

It was right here that the Woods signing his Tender was first announced.

 

[Leave No Doubt]

My interpretation:
Barwin, Butler and Peppers. There's your Patriots Day one. Book it, Dano

omg I hope you're right:woohoo:

 

[DaBruinz]

My interpretation:

• Woods is getting packaged in a trade. - Just humour me, that seemed awfully stumbly there.
• They are moving up in the first for someone if at all possible. See: "The higher the pick, the better the talent."
• The Peppers Trade is on.

Barwin, Butler and Peppers. There's your Patriots Day one. Book it, Dano.

Also, everything he said was a smokescreen. Or a double smokescreen.

So there.

As for Peppers, until he signs the tender, the Pats/Panthers can't consumate a trade. And things aren't looking good for Peppers to sign that tender. That being said, a trade for Peppers that included Woods would help the Patriots salary cap situation since Woods doesn't have a signing bonus as part of his tender. And Woods would probably fit very well as a DE for the Panthers.


I think that, while Belichick did mention the potential for moving up big, I think he's more than content to only make small hops in this draft and that the Pats could be looking at 4 picks still on day 1.

 

[DefenseRules]

My interpretation:

• Woods is getting packaged in a trade. - Just humour me, that seemed awfully stumbly there.
  
• They are moving up in the first for someone if at all possible. See: "The higher the pick, the better the talent."
  
• The Peppers Trade is on.

Barwin, Butler and Peppers. There's your Patriots Day one. Book it, Dano.

Also, everything he said was a smokescreen. Or a double smokescreen.

So there.

I love the way you think, my friend. I hope that it happens.

I do find it interesting that Peppers' name continues to be mentioned by BB without anyone asking him about the player. Very interesting indeed.

 

[Rob0729]

That is a truly weird statement, unless you're a reporter...

I love BB presser's because I love jerking people around and he's kind of a role model in that respect...

Some of his press conferences are entertaining, but most are just boring. Most of the reporters know they aren't going to get any information from him and don't get jerked around anymore because they don't even bother asking questions they know aren't going to be answered and even if they do, they don't bother to follow up when Belichick gives them the brush off.

 

[Rob0729]

As for Peppers, until he signs the tender, the Pats/Panthers can't consumate a trade. And things aren't looking good for Peppers to sign that tender. That being said, a trade for Peppers that included Woods would help the Patriots salary cap situation since Woods doesn't have a signing bonus as part of his tender. And Woods would probably fit very well as a DE for the Panthers.


I think that, while Belichick did mention the potential for moving up big, I think he's more than content to only make small hops in this draft and that the Pats could be looking at 4 picks still on day 1.

Well, the signing the tender really isn't that big of a deal. Teams are pushing for that more this year because they are trying to avoid anything that gives the NFLPA any ammo to attack the entire franchise tag process, but in previous years, signing the franchise tender was just a formality that was usually done after a trade and long term contract was negotiated. Belichick is talking the talk with the franchise tender signing, but I doubt that is holding up a potential trade if it was to happen.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

It was right here that the Woods signing his Tender was first announced.

[*]They are moving up in the first for someone if at all possible. See: "The higher the pick, the better the talent."

[*]The Peppers Trade is on.
[/LIST]


Barwin, Butler and Peppers. There's your Patriots Day one. Book it, Dano.

Also, everything he said was a smokescreen. Or a double smokescreen.

So there.

One of Kirwin's pre draft smokescreens was extend a player at a position of interest thereby leading others to think you're less inclined to be looking there...

still talking up his personal visit to CT too...kerwin draft smokescreen #2...have the big guy personally attend a workout and everyone will be buzzing.

The only one left is one we won't be able to decipher 'til Saturday - visit players you aren't interested in as opposed to those you are... But we've seen that one used here before.

Smoke screen or double smokescreen. That's my guess.

I love when he discusses team building though. Just wish more people spent time listening to that. Got a dig in on the idiots who presume to grade drafts post draft too.

Loved his comments about all players from HS to college to pro going to the next level and how the hype often doesn't pan out and they don't translate because it isn't all about talent. Talked about development of late round gems like Brady, Cassel, Koppen, Neal. And system fits...

Said what he does beats working for a living, too. He just has a tremendous perspective on the whole process that belies the dour control freak so many have worked OT to paint him as over the last decade. He has a sense of humor. He just doesn't suffer fools particularly graciously.

That's what I walked away with and I only caught the last 5 minutes...

 

[Jimke]

Well, the signing the tender really isn't that big of a deal. Teams are pushing for that more this year because they are trying to avoid anything that gives the NFLPA any ammo to attack the entire franchise tag process, but in previous years, signing the franchise tender was just a formality that was usually done after a trade and long term contract was negotiated. Belichick is talking the talk with the franchise tender signing, but I doubt that is holding up a potential trade if it was to happen.

I can't imagine how the trade could happen. The first thing the Patriots
would have to do is clear 16 million dollars of salary cap space. Most of
their high priced players have contracts that expire after 2009. This
would make restructuring alone impossible. I think they would have to cut
three or four starters outright to get the cap space.

 

[DaBruinz]

Well, the signing the tender really isn't that big of a deal. Teams are pushing for that more this year because they are trying to avoid anything that gives the NFLPA any ammo to attack the entire franchise tag process, but in previous years, signing the franchise tender was just a formality that was usually done after a trade and long term contract was negotiated. Belichick is talking the talk with the franchise tender signing, but I doubt that is holding up a potential trade if it was to happen.

If Peppers doesn't sign the tender prior to the draft, then I don't believe he can be traded as part of a draft pick scenario..Which would mean that Carolina would lose out on picks this year for him

 

[DaBruinz]

I can't imagine how the trade could happen. The first thing the Patriots
would have to do is clear 16 million dollars of salary cap space. Most of
their high priced players have contracts that expire after 2009. This
would make restructuring alone impossible. I think they would have to cut
three or four starters outright to get the cap space.

This is false. The Pats can make the trade on the condition of a new contract being submitted at the same time. Unlike in the Randy Moss situation, the Pats could have worked out a contract ahead of time as part of the Free Agency process.

 

[Leave No Doubt]

Bits From BB/Reiss: Bits from Belichick - Reiss' Pieces - Boston.com

Among other things he feels this is the most potentially flexible draft for him. He also says it's getting more difficult to predict which top positions and therefore players teams are going to go for.

 

[ScottieC]

Bits From BB/Reiss: Bits from Belichick - Reiss' Pieces - Boston.com

Among other things he feels this is the most potentially flexible draft for him. He also says it's getting more difficult to predict which top positions and therefore players teams are going to go for.

Anyone know if there is a Podcast out there of Bill's Press Confrence?

 

[Leave No Doubt]

Anyone know if there is a Podcast out there of Bill's Press Confrence?

Good question, I didn't get to hear any of it either; BB's always got such good takes on so many things hopefully there'll be a podcast of it.

 

[Rob0729]

If Peppers doesn't sign the tender prior to the draft, then I don't believe he can be traded as part of a draft pick scenario..Which would mean that Carolina would lose out on picks this year for him

Well, Peppers can sign his tender at the time he is being traded. Well, just before. There isn't a waiting period between when he signs the tender and when he is traded. The Pats actually unofficially announced the trade of Tebucky Jones before he signed his tender a few years back.

 

[DaBruinz]

Well, Peppers can sign his tender at the time he is being traded. Well, just before. There isn't a waiting period between when he signs the tender and when he is traded. The Pats actually unofficially announced the trade of Tebucky Jones before he signed his tender a few years back.

Actually, no, Peppers can't, unless he is there in New York since the league has to verify it before the trade can be consummated. And the league isn't going to just take someone's word for it and let the Pats and Panthers make the trade without verification of the contract before hand. Especially if there is a pick involved.