Manti Te'o returning to Notre Dame; one less available LB

[MP-Logick]

A first round prospect. Disappointing, as I thought he played at the one position on the defense we were unlikely to draft, meaning it's one player harder for someone to fall to us.

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[Hercules Rockefeller]

A first round prospect. Disappointing, as I thought he played at the one position on the defense we were unlikely to draft, meaning it's one player harder for someone to fall to us.

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Disappointing indeed, on two levels for me. One, for the reason you state. Two, on the off chance that they fell in love with him, I really like him as a player and would like him as a Pat.

 

[Sciz]

I'm actually not too disappointed. I'm a much bigger fan of the possible high-end talent in 2013 than 2012, and I'm hoping the Pats have another team's 1st in 2013 that ends up being higher than the Saints'. So I'd rather have him go top-10 in 2013 and knock another top-10 guy down a spot to the Pats' pick at 11 (or something like that) than go top-25 and knock the 28th guy down to pick 29 (or wherever the Saints pick). Same with Barkley and Kalil. If both of those guys go back to school, then I'd even advocate trading BOTH 1st round picks for like a 2013 1st and 2012 3rd or something like that.


Much more excited about these 2013 early entry prospects than the 2012 prospects at their respective positions: WR Robert Woods, WR Keenan Allen, DE Sam Montgomery, DE Barkevious Mingo, DT Kwame Geathers, DT/DE Michael Brockers, CB/FS Tyrann Mathieu, CB/FS David Amerson, S Tony Jefferson
(Yes, there are 4 defenders from LSU on that list)

 

[Hercules Rockefeller]

I'm actually not too disappointed. I'm a much bigger fan of the possible high-end talent in 2013 than 2012, and I'm hoping the Pats have another team's 1st in 2013 that ends up being higher than the Saints'. So I'd rather have him go top-10 in 2013 and knock another top-10 guy down a spot to the Pats' pick at 11 (or something like that) than go top-25 and knock the 28th guy down to pick 29 (or wherever the Saints pick). Same with Barkley and Kalil. If both of those guys go back to school, then I'd even advocate trading BOTH 1st round picks for like a 2013 1st and 2012 3rd or something like that.


Much more excited about these 2013 early entry prospects than the 2012 prospects at their respective positions: WR Robert Woods, WR Keenan Allen, DE Sam Montgomery, DE Barkevious Mingo, DT Kwame Geathers, DT/DE Michael Brockers, CB/FS Tyrann Mathieu, CB/FS David Amerson, S Tony Jefferson
(Yes, there are 4 defenders from LSU on that list)

I see your point, but I don't think it can hurt the Pats to have Te'o come out. The more, the merrier. I love the way Belichick trades back and gets more assets. Don't think it's best to try to plan for the guys that are going to come out next year, though, as there are guaranteed going to be a guy or two on your list that flames out/gets hurt/something and doesn't go first round anyway (not that I have any problem with the players on your list, I want to draft LSU's entire defense too). In general I think you're right that next year's draft may be stronger on defense, but there does come a point when you need to add to this defense and start trying to win a ring with Brady, within the framework of planning for the future that Belichick has established.

 

[DarrylS]

I believe he has to do a year as a missionary, as his religion requires it..

 

[Ochmed Jones]

Good for him! Best decision he could have made.

I wish him all the best and a top 20 draft position next year.

I wish more players would tune out evil agents and do what is best and stay in school.

 

[State]

I don't often disagree with Ochmed, but I do so here.

Te'o returning to the g-dd-mn [left intentionally blank so as not to offend] is a real head scratcher. I don't see any benefit to it, and he'll likely have more competition next year at his position.

 

[VrabelJr]

I hope he stays healthy. He will probably be a top 10 or 15 pick next year.

 

[DarrylS]

I hope he stays healthy. He will probably be a top 10 or 15 pick next year.

He has to do a year as a mormon missionary.. unless he left his faith.

 

[VJCPatriot]

A first round prospect. Disappointing, as I thought he played at the one position on the defense we were unlikely to draft, meaning it's one player harder for someone to fall to us.

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1. That's why you don't fall in love with prospects.
2. Even if he came out he would probably be drafted earlier than our pick.
3. By staying in school he increases the chances that he turns into our next 'Wilfork'. Players usually drop stock when they stay in college, unless their name is Andrew Luck.

 

[rookBoston]

I'm disappointed, he's a stud.

And, I think he is at a position of need. I don't understand why any Pats fan would write him off. The Pats are still a few LBs short of solid. I wont be satisfied until Guyton is relegated to STs, and we can shift Mayo to Will in a 3-4.

Ninkovich - Spikes - Teo - Mayo is starting to feel closer to what we had in the glory days of McGinest - Johnson - Bruschi - Vrabel... even tho Spikes still hasn't 100% proven it to me. I'm almost more optimistic about Fletcher than Spikes at this point. But Teo would be a great piece to the puzzle in the linebacking corp: an explosive tackler that can play in space and drop into coverage.