BPF
In the Starting Line-Up
- Joined
- May 13, 2006
- Messages
- 2,469
- Reaction score
- 0
Good point on Smith's contract:
The National Football Post | Notes From Lombardi: Patriot Games
The National Football Post | Notes From Lombardi: Patriot Games
I wrote Thursday about working the phones for trades and not resting on your draft picks, and the first team to make a trade is the Patriots. They clearly were not comfortable with the tight ends in the draft, and despite all their picks in the second round, they didn’t value any tight ends at that point on the horizontal board. If there’s no labor agreement in the next year, Smith will not be a free agent and would become restricted. That’s one of the many reasons to consider all the restricted free agents for trade. You might be able to gain added years of service.
Smith will give the Patriots a player who can play on the line at Y and does not have to be the move player. The Pats have Thomas and Watson as their move players and need to find an on-the-line tight end who can become a good protector and a good point-of-attack blocker. Smith has never been a great point-of-attack player, but he does have the size and frame to handle the role. In addition, he has the intelligence to handle the Patriots’ check-with-me offense at the line of scrimmage.
As for Jason Taylor coming to New England, it makes sense on the surface because pass rusher is the one position the Pats have not completely addressed. Taylor was not healthy and was not effective for the ‘Skins last year. He lacked power and the ability to secure the edge as a rusher. Even if the Patriots were to sign Taylor, I’m sure they would keep up their pursuit of a rusher. With a legitimate rusher coming off the edge, it would be hard for me to imagine the Patriots not contending for another title. That’s the only piece missing on their team.
