The art of Zen and why losing late first won't hurt NE. Suck it Goodell.

1960Pats said:

I know I saw the art of Zen in the title but didn't see much Zen in the content. Too bad, it's a fascinating subject.

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Presumably a riff on this:

Would trading Mayo for the 33rd pick in the 2016 Draft (plus anything else that the Patriots can get thrown in) be a viable strategy for overcoming the loss of our first round pick? People have already talked about trading Mayo.

PittPatriot said:

Do you really think that is true?
That the a guy getting paid $44M/yr to run the NFL can be so petty?
The stories of how "close" he is to Robert Kraft make it impossible for him to just "have it in" for our team. I don't know if such a simple explanation makes sense to me. If it were true, it would make Kraft a complete fool and idiot.
That's like saying, "Bush Jr. spent $2 Trillion to destroy Iraq because his father was disrespected by Saddam."
It just doesn't make sense to me. There is a better reason why Goodell brought the hammer down so hard on his "friend's" franchise.
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/f...-goodell-300m-salary-report-article-1.2092554

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The whole ordeal has been terrible and concerning--yet also fascinating and strange, due to the reasons you've mentioned. While it certainly seems as though Goodell has shown obvious favoritism, it would seem odd that he'd turn on someone who has supported him so strongly. While we're at it--do you happen to know who the other 2 owners are that are on the committee to determine Goodell's salary every year?

The most important thing to take out of all of this is that it proves even more how satisfied and happy the NFL owners are with Roger Goodell, not just for raising revenue and spreading global interest, but also for making the NFL a 365 day event and for settling the concussion problem with such a low cost to the 32 teams.

Canuck said:

Would trading Mayo for the 33rd pick in the 2016 Draft (plus anything else that the Patriots can get thrown in) be a viable strategy for overcoming the loss of our first round pick? People have already talked about trading Mayo.

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May be too early to try and project that kind of major trade just yet; after all, when healthy Mayo is the leader on defense.

Canuck said:

I can tell you the answer, they will say the Patriots are habitually cheaters, that's why the Patriots were docked their first round pick.

The real reason is Goodell was a former Jets employee and has the normal hate and bias for all things Patriots. It's no accident that the Jets get a slap on the wrist for any of their infractions but the Patriots get hit with some of the heaviest penalties in NFL history for infractions on a scale of jaywalking. Heck the Patriots don't even have to commit an infraction, all it takes is Goodell to think you commited one.

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supafly said:

May be too early to try and project that kind of major trade just yet; after all, when healthy Mayo is the leader on defense.

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I can't imagine we'd get a better overall player at #33 than what Mayo brings to the table with his versatility, leadership, and oh, yeah...Pro Bowl level play. He is a sure thing and I would want as many "sure things" as possible on the roster for the next 2-3 years of Brady's career.
I am back to the same 'ol thinking we had after 2007 - where the ONLY thing that will overcome all this negativity is another Super Bowl.

pdangle - Yes, I actually found a photo of a sausage bouquet. I love you Internet!

Awesome.

Wax Frog said:

pdangle - Yes, I actually found a photo of a sausage bouquet. I love you Internet!

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eom said:

when you put it like that I'm surprised they ever use their first round picks

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Before the rookie salary cap (agreed - less so today), it indeed could be argued (except for a 100% sure-thing franchise QB), that a GM should improve his team more efficiently by simply not picking in the top 12, and using the cash savings elsewhere. Fan excitement / revolt, revenue and crashing season ticket renewals aside.

A point I failed to mention in the OP was that at pick 32, on field productivity and player cost curves begin to cross and are actually pretty close to equal. If that can be replaced via FA is another question. But not out of the question.

Which leads to one final glass half full observation, even if NE has a down year, on the bright side, the higher NE picks, the higher one pays a rookie premium vs production, so the more likely the cash savings could be used to find replacement FA players.

Suck it Goodell & goodnight!