After watching tonights awards, I gotta say...

[RxJock1120]

If the draft unfolds in a way in which we can obtain Darren MacFadden, there IS NO WAY WE CAN TRADE DOWN!!!!!! The guy won the Walter Camp award 2 years in a row, and if he stays another year he is gonna win another one. (Their is pretty much no chance that he comes back to Arkansas) The last guy to win that award 2 years in a row was Ricky Williams. But MacFadden is all and more,like Ricky Williams in the talent part of the game, and nothing like him in the mental part of the game. He wants the ball on 4-Goal with 1 min left. He want everyone to look at him as he destroys defenders with speed and strength. If for no other reason except that it will motivate him that much more. So with the only 1st rounder we have remaining, we cannot pass on Darren MacFadden, provided that he will be available. Not everyone can be a Tom Brady, 6th round steal. Some superstars are recognized from day 1.

 

[BlitzFritz]

I dont BB paying anyone 30-40M$ who hasnt played a down in the NFL.
Sorry.

I would bet we trade down, mainly to avoid the massive contracts at the top of the draft :bricks:

 

[PonyExpress]

I believe McFadden is an awesome talent, but the Pats currently have the #1 offense in the history of the NFL. Meanwhile, the back 7 on defense is struggling with its tackling and coverage. There are other great players in college who may merit the #2 selection in the draft.

 

[ArmyPatsFan]

Trade down and pick up Kevin Smith from UCF later if he is still around.

 

[RxJock1120]

I believe McFadden is an awesome talent, but the Pats currently have the #1 offense in the history of the NFL. Meanwhile, the back 7 on defense is struggling with its tackling and coverage. There are other great players in college who may merit the #2 selection in the draft.

Well, first we would not need a #2 pick to get MacFadden. I would say a 3rd-5th makes it likely that he could be there when we pick. The Dolphins(0-12), the Falcons(3-9), the Rams(3-9), the Jets(3-9), and the Chiefs(4-8), none of them have any kind of need at RB. And we have no REAL needs. SO we can take the player that slips.(even thought we may not have to wait to get him) 49ers are 3-9 and I doubt they win another game. Just something to think about!!!!!

Right now: big corner backs and a great blitz scheme make us look vulnerable, but with a true star running back. I won't even make a statement here....... if you can't see what would happen to this team then you haven't been paying attention.

 

[Keegs]

I think we should trade down and draft Jarren McSkinneyin in the 2nd round.

Ok sorry that wasn't funny.

 

[ClevTrev]

BB looks at the value of each position and determines how much he needs to pay to win with a particular player. Taking a RB at that position in the draft with the contract burden that comes with him is not going to happen with New England. You can bank on the fact that the team will do something else.

If you don't believe this, look at the RBs that BB has won with throughout his coaching career. Not one was an early first round pick.

 

[slash83]

As much as I love McFadden, Laurinitis or Long would help out more we need D.

 

[patsfan55]

as much as i really really think we need help in the back 7, IF you get that number 2 pick (it's not over yet guys), and IF you stay there, i think you hafta grab mcfadden IF the jets dont trade up to
if you're picking at number 2 you hafta take a guy you know has an immense shot at being a huge impact player
mcfadden is that guy

 

[patsfan55]

As much as I love McFadden, Laurinitis or Long would help out more we need D.

we never draft by need
we draft by who presents the most value at that spot in the draft
it's mcfadden

 

[HEY BRO! WHAT UP?]

we never draft by need
we draft by who presents the most value at that spot in the draft
it's mcfadden

Exactly right, which some people still fail to understand. Pats rarely draft by need. Although I would argue, the Pats needed RB in 2006 and drafted Maroney. In 2008, James Laurenitis is one of the few LB's worthy of a 1st round pick. It's a very weak class. I doubt he stays in college, but if he does, the Pats will take McFadden. Get ready to see McFadden, Maroney, Faulk and Sammy Morris running the football. I hope DE/LB Vernon Gholston enters the draft and the Pats score him in the second round. He is ridiculously cut and beat up top tackle Jake Long in their meeting this year.

 

[Deus Irae]

I still think that a dominant tackle is the way to go. Frankly, Michael Oher (6'5", 325-330+lbs) interests me if he comes out, and I would be very curious to see if the draft geeks think he'd fall to the Browns spot in the first round. If he did, I'd think very seriously of working out the trade with Dallas to get both of the Cowboys first round picks, maybe after first trading down with another team for extra picks as well. The kid is big and has lettered in basketball as well as track. He's also played both guard and tackle. Even if he's not going to fall, I'd still be interested in this kid. He's young and raw, and Dante could coach this kid. Of course, that's if they think the kid has the brains to play in New England.

 

[TealSox]

If the Pats draft McFadden, power to them. I hope they know more than I do because I think it would be a huge waste of a top pick. Rewind back to the David Terrell/Richard Seymour draft debate. Errr.... looks like they made a good decision on Seymour, no?

People are on Maroney, but I think Maroney's problem is that he often dances around the backfield rather than just square the shoulders and hit the hole. I think Bill knew that was going to be a problem and grabbed Morris and Evans to fill in for those moments that you need to grind out yards. Now, I think Maroney is capable of grinding out yards, but just doesn't have the confidence and maybe wants to break for long runs more often than not.

So back to McFadden, this guy doesn't give this team anything more than an outside runner. Watch his clips on YouTube; all his runs are outside and even those runs aren't with his shoulders square. I guess he isn't a north-south runner and he hasn't shown me much power. You want to get a full back to clear his paths, go for it, but this guy is no Eddie George or Corey Dillon. He is a Reggie Bush. And I don't think Bush is doing much for the Saints since he can't really replace McAllister by running the ball between the tackles and they can't really work him into the game plan with any great effectiveness like everyone thought they could.

How many backs do the Pats need anyways and how much do you want them to spend on them?

Faulk, Maroney, Morris, Evans and McFadden?

 

[ironwasp]

I still think that a dominant tackle is the way to go. Frankly, Michael Oher (6'5", 325-330+lbs) interests me if he comes out, and I would be very curious to see if the draft geeks think he'd fall to the Browns spot in the first round. If he did, I'd think very seriously of working out the trade with Dallas to get both of the Cowboys first round picks, maybe after first trading down with another team for extra picks as well. The kid is big and has lettered in basketball as well as track. He's also played both guard and tackle. Even if he's not going to fall, I'd still be interested in this kid. He's young and raw, and Dante could coach this kid. Of course, that's if they think the kid has the brains to play in New England.

I just read the book about Michael Oher. What an incredible story, and frankly if only half the stories of his athletic gifts are true then I could only drool over what Dante could do with a kid like that.

That said, I think there have to be other priorities this time around. LB chief among them. (and yes, I know we don't tend to draft them high)

 

[Ahriman]

At this point, it's more sad and pathetic that Pats fans still haven't grasped how this franchise operates.

I seriously doubt you could find even a parallel universe where Bill Belichick would give a rookie 40-50 million dollars. For crying out loud people, just ditch the notion of the Patriots drafting in the top 5. It'll never happen.

 

[ironwasp]

At this point, it's more sad and pathetic that Pats fans still haven't grasped how this franchise operates.

I seriously doubt you could find even a parallel universe where Bill Belichick would give a rookie 40-50 million dollars. For crying out loud people, just ditch the notion of the Patriots drafting in the top 5. It'll never happen.

Well it might just happen this year whether they like it or not. It has become increasingly difficult to trade out of those top slots in recent years, because of the cost of rookie contracts. I'm sure the Pats will move heaven and earth to try and get out of there and into a position they feel more comfortable in in terms of value for money, but they have to find a willing trading partner.

Let's hope there is some head coach on the edge willing to take a gamble on some super-charged RB to save his career, but with every story written about how smart the Pats are with draft and salary management etc, there should be more and more HCs and GMs unwilling to deal with them.

I honestly think that our best chance of moving out of the top five resides with the 49ers sneaking 2 or 3 more wins. But I wouldn't bet on that.

And, btw, is it really necessary to insult people as being "sad" or "pathetic" for day-dreaming about taking a tier one rookie talent?

 

[Tyler.Durden]

is mcfadden much of a receiver?

 

[ironwasp]

is mcfadden much of a receiver?

Not sure about that, but in the games I saw him play he looked like a pretty reasonable gadget play QB option, as he spent as much time under centre as the starting QB. The one TD I saw him throw though was a very wobbly spiral.

 

[NoCal Patriot]

There is no way that The Patriots Draft Darren McFadden in 1st Round. If the patriots stay put Dorsey from LSU will be their choice.They will drop down and gain and pick up a pick near the one that they lost.History is Your guide here.

 

[Ahriman]

Well it might just happen this year whether they like it or not. It has become increasingly difficult to trade out of those top slots in recent years, because of the cost of rookie contracts. I'm sure the Pats will move heaven and earth to try and get out of there and into a position they feel more comfortable in in terms of value for money, but they have to find a willing trading partner.

Let's hope there is some head coach on the edge willing to take a gamble on some super-charged RB to save his career, but with every story written about how smart the Pats are with draft and salary management etc, there should be more and more HCs and GMs unwilling to deal with them.

I honestly think that our best chance of moving out of the top five resides with the 49ers sneaking 2 or 3 more wins. But I wouldn't bet on that.

If they can't trade down from their initial pick, I'd bet they just let a few picks go by until they can snag their two first rounders. There's a .000001% chance of them picking, signing and keeping a player in that spot. Miguel would tell you it would be virtually impossible to sign and keep the player, in that draft slot, without asking half the roster to restructure. Heck, you don't even need him to tell you. Just go look at his cap page.

That won't stop the countless threads started on draft day, by pissed off fans, about McFadden being a Cowboy instead of a Patriot, though.

And, btw, is it really necessary to insult people as being "sad" or "pathetic" for day-dreaming about taking a tier one rookie talent?

I'm tired of reading addle-minded nonsense here. Call me snarky, smug, elitist or what have you, but it's just an endless stream of unthinking posts and perceived slights here. If there are really ardent Patriots fans who don't understand this front office's MO by now, then they should be ostracized. Seven years they've had to learn and they still bang their heads against the same old wall.