AP Article on the Pats Draft

[mayoclinic]

This from the Associated Press by way of CNNSI:

New England Patriots go into NFL draft with four of top 58 picks - SI.com - NFL Draft

The opening line: "Bill Belichick has a shot at his second straight solid draft after two years of mediocrity." I don't think they have a very good handle on what BB considers a solid draft. As BB said in his presser the other day, his only metric is whether he improved the team. He came out of 2007 with Brandon Meriweather, Wes Welker, Randy Moss and a 2008 1st which he later turned into Jerod Mayo. I would call that a successful draft.

Not much new info here. Mostly a stringing together of quotes from BB's press conference. According to the article, "Among those who could be available with the 23rd pick are Connor Barwin of Cincinnati, Larry English of Northern Illinois, and Clay Matthews of Southern California.
Cornerback Darius Butler of Connecticut could be a possibility, along with his college teammate, running back Donald Brown."

 

[HEY BRO! WHAT UP?]

Taking away Wes Welker and Randy Moss, their 2007 draft was okay considering how weak the draft class was. In fact, who knows who they would have taken in 2008 had they not been robbed by the commissioner. However, their 2005 and 2006 drafts were terrible. I've said this many times, with so many good picks in this year's draft, the Pats can't afford to mess up again if the want to hold up the Lombardi trophy in February.

 

[Synovia]

Taking away Wes Welker and Randy Moss, their 2007 draft was okay considering how weak the draft class was. In fact, who knows who they would have taken in 2008 had they not been robbed by the commissioner. However, their 2005 and 2006 drafts were terrible. I've said this many times, with so many good picks in this year's draft, the Pats can't afford to mess up again if the want to hold up the Lombardi trophy in February.

2005 was terrible? Are you ******ed?

1 32(32) Logan Mankins OG Fresno St.
3 20(84) Ellis Hobbs CB Iowa St.
3 37(100) Nick Kaczur OT Toledo
4 32(133) James Sanders S Fresno St.
5 34(170) Ryan Claridge OLB UNLV
7 16(230) Matt Cassel QB Southern Cal
7 41(255) Andy Stokes TE William Penn

Theres 4 players that start for the team right there, and a guy they just traded for a 2nd round pick and might be a probowl qb.

Thats an ELITE draft. Very few teams EVER have a draft like that.



2006 wasn't great, but there are a bunch of valuable contributers (Smith, Ghost, Thomas), and two players who might have been elite if not for injury issues, one of which may still end up elite (maroney).


You people have a seriously distorted view of how drafts normally turn out.