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- Sep 13, 2004
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I hadn't noticed until I got in a little fight with some Browns fans that Bruschi is the last starter left. Of course, Troy plays a noticeable role but he's not a starter. I was surprised because we had a good number of holdovers on defense initially but with McGinest's departure they're all gone now.
Also, of the 22 starters, 15 were drafted. 14 + Neal but I include him as we signed him very young, very close to a UDFA. Just the one expensive UFA, Colvin, and the one mid level UFA, Harrison.
Of course a few like Vrabel and Koppen have been expensive UFA re-signings but it's very interesting looking at how our starters were initially acquired. The fight I got into was a thread they started saying how awesome the Patriots defense looked and it immediately moved to "what expensive UFA can they sign". So I had to provide them with this list and things went downhill from there
DE Seymour - DRAFTED
NT Wilfork - DRAFTED
DE Warren - DRAFTED
OLB Vrabel - CHEAP FREE AGENT
ILB Seau - CHEAP FREE AGENT
ILB Bruschi - DRAFTED
OLB Colvin - EXPENSIVE FREE AGENT
CB Hobbs - DRAFTED
S Harrison - MID LEVEL FREE AGENT
S Wilson - DRAFTED
CB Samuel - DRAFTED
Offense ?
QB Brady - DRAFTED
RB Dillon - TRADED FOR (2nd round pick)
TE Watson - DRAFTED
TE Graham - DRAFTED
LT Light - DRAFTED
LG Mankins - DRAFTED
C Koppen - DRAFTED
RG Neal - UNDRAFTED FREE AGENT
RT O'Callaghan - DRAFTED
WR Caldwell - CHEAP FREE AGENT
WR Gabriel - TRADED FOR (5th round pick)
Also, of the 22 starters, 15 were drafted. 14 + Neal but I include him as we signed him very young, very close to a UDFA. Just the one expensive UFA, Colvin, and the one mid level UFA, Harrison.
Of course a few like Vrabel and Koppen have been expensive UFA re-signings but it's very interesting looking at how our starters were initially acquired. The fight I got into was a thread they started saying how awesome the Patriots defense looked and it immediately moved to "what expensive UFA can they sign". So I had to provide them with this list and things went downhill from there
DE Seymour - DRAFTED
NT Wilfork - DRAFTED
DE Warren - DRAFTED
OLB Vrabel - CHEAP FREE AGENT
ILB Seau - CHEAP FREE AGENT
ILB Bruschi - DRAFTED
OLB Colvin - EXPENSIVE FREE AGENT
CB Hobbs - DRAFTED
S Harrison - MID LEVEL FREE AGENT
S Wilson - DRAFTED
CB Samuel - DRAFTED
Offense ?
QB Brady - DRAFTED
RB Dillon - TRADED FOR (2nd round pick)
TE Watson - DRAFTED
TE Graham - DRAFTED
LT Light - DRAFTED
LG Mankins - DRAFTED
C Koppen - DRAFTED
RG Neal - UNDRAFTED FREE AGENT
RT O'Callaghan - DRAFTED
WR Caldwell - CHEAP FREE AGENT
WR Gabriel - TRADED FOR (5th round pick)