The CURSE of Bethel Johnson??

[VJCPatriot]

It seems that the Patriots have not had much success drafting with their second rounders ever since they took Bethel Johnson with a 2nd round pick in 2003. The Pats have had more success when they traded away the 2nd round pick, either for a player, or for other picks: Corey Dillon, Wes Welker, Ellis Hobbs. So on draft day, I hope that the Patriots trade away their second round pick so they can avoid the CURSE of Bethel Johnson!! Ooh, does this mean that the Pats will trade away their 2nd round pick for a certain disgruntled Eagles CB? Excellent question, and the answer is yes, because those trades seem to work out real well for the Pats if history is any indicator!

2001

#48 Matt Light

2002

#65 Deion Branch

2003

#36 Eugene Wilson

#45 Bethel Johnson

2004

#63 Marquise Hill

2005

Pick aquired from Baltimore along with a 2005 sixth round choice (195 overall - WR Craig Bragg) and a 2006 third round choice in exchange for a 2005 second round choice (64 overall - T Adam Terry). This trade down resulted in Ellis Hobbs in round 3.

2006

#36 Chad Jackson

2007

Pick traded for Wes Welker

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Poor Bethel!

 

[VJCPatriot]

Poor Bethel!

LOL... you do have to admit that the Curse seemed to start with the drafting of Bethel Johnson. The Pats have had poor luck with second round draft selections ever since.

 

[Pats726]

Only two picks after...Hill of course and Chad J??? Well if he is a bust..which we do not know of..then trouble but a curse??? A BIT premature I think...

 

[BradyManny]

Hobbs was the result of a 2nd rounder you could say, I'd put him in the success category. And Chad Jackson has redshirted his first two seasons, and he could still do big things.

 

[Metaphors]

It seems that the Patriots have not had much success drafting with their second rounders ever since they took Bethel Johnson with a 2nd round pick in 2003.

Assuming you aren't being sarcastic...are you nuts?

Hill was drafted as Seymour insurance since his future contract situation was anything but certain. Seymour re-signs so the insurance policy didn't need to be cashed in. Before he died, Hill didn't develop as expected but we will never know if he was just slow catching on with limited opportunities or if he was never going to make it (I would vote for the latter). And he was practically a 3rd round pick anyway.

CJack had a typical quiet rookie year but showed flashes. Tears ACL in mid-January and you expect him to take a big leap forward in the same calendar year? Behind Moss and Stallworth?

Even your evaluation of Bethel is off. He was drafted to inject speed into the return game and he did precisely that. He didn't develop as a receiver and injuries caught up with him. Your "curse" designation puts far more significance on him than is deserved. Useful? He was the difference-maker in a handful of games. Bust? Sure, he just didn't get it to be a consistent contributer. Curse? No way. Were you expecting Jerry Rice?

I think if you consider all the uses of a pick (selection, movement, trade) as being equal, you would see the last 5 years as being fairly successful in round 2. Not perfect, but hardly curse-worthy. Then add in why each pick (Bethel, Hill and CJack) was taken and you get a different picture of the situation.

 

[Handel]

LOL... you do have to admit that the Curse seemed to start with the drafting of Bethel Johnson. The Pats have had poor luck with second round draft selections ever since.

curses do not exist.

 

[Pat the Pats Fan]

Bethel will always be remembered by me for 2 key contributions, both important to winning games.

The kickoff return for a touch down right before halftime against the Colts. That was huge, negating Colts momentum they gained by scoring in the last minute of the 1st half.

The diving catch he made on a pass from #12 against the Seahawks to get a 1st down and seal the win.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Bethel will always be remembered by me for 2 key contributions, both important to winning games.

The kickoff return for a touch down right before halftime against the Colts. That was huge, negating Colts momentum they gained by scoring in the last minute of the 1st half.

The diving catch he made on a pass from #12 against the Seahawks to get a 1st down and seal the win.

And thirdly, his big long TD catch against the Tits in that wicked cold playoff game in January 2005. No catch. No AFCCG for the Patriots.

Clearly, Bethel contributed far more to the Patriots than non-contributors Tony Simmons or Chad Jackson.

 

[VJCPatriot]

Well maybe I'm being too rough on the apparently beloved Bethel Johnson, he was a bust but he was OUR bust dagnabbit! I DO hope that the Patriots break this string of bad luck and draft a good player with a 2nd round pick this year.

 

[mgteich]

red sox fans!!

I've fine with Hobbs, Welker and the possibility of Jackson.

 

[ALP]

thats funny....the players we call busts help us win superbowls...lol

what do players we call superstarts do? help us win a LOT of superbowls