BB's 1995 draft

[convertedpatsfan]

NFP Sunday Blitz | National Football Post

The Patriots have made similar moves in past drafts. Belichick even did it with the Browns, dealing their first round pick in 1995, the tenth overall, to the 49ers. San Fran used it to take wide receiver J.J. Stokes. In return, the Browns received the 30th pick and a fourth round pick that year and the 49ers’ first round pick the following year.

Belichick never had the chance to use that second first rounder because he was fired when the team moved to Baltimore. But the Ravens did OK with it, picking some guy named Ray Lewis.

I once asked Belichick about giving up a present pick for a future one. “The concept of trading for next year’s picks value wise is pretty good,” he told me. “Generally speaking, if you can bump up a round, that’s pretty good value.”

I never really looked at BB's time with Cleveland, but after looking back, it's amazing how anything he does in the draft surprises anyone.

Prior to the draft, the Browns traded away Eric Metcalf and the 26th pick to Atlanta to pick up the 10th pick.

Then they sent the 10th overall pick to the 49ers. The 49ers selected J.J. Stokes.

The Browns received the following 1995 picks: 1st round, 30th overall (Craig Powell, whoops). They also received a 3rd (Mike Frederick), and a 4th that they traded for 2 5ths (Mike Miller, Kenneth McDaniel). They also received a 1996 1st round pick, 26th overall, which was used to select Ray Lewis.

They made a lot of deals. I'm not saying BB spent them on quality guys mind you, just that he was active. For example, they traded up slightly in the 3rd, giving up their 3rd and a 5th, to acquire Eric Zeier. The Packers used that later 3rd to select Antonio Freeman. :ugh:

BB also traded another 4th to the Jaguars for a 5th and a 1996 6th. And last, and probably least, he traded the Browns 7th rounder for the Pats 7th rounder.

Which is all a long way of saying it isn't necessarily something he picked up in NE.

 

[FredFromDartmouth]

I don't remember the details of his time at Cleveland but my vague general impression is that ownership or the GM was interfering / meddling with his draft process and thus the lack of much success.

I seem to remember that he was forced into taking Tommy Vardell (ninth overall) and was barely covering up his displeasure when he was interviewed during the draft. Is this correct? Of course BB always seems to be barely covering up his displeasure when talking to the press....

 

[Ochmed Jones]

I don't remember the details of his time at Cleveland but my vague general impression is that ownership or the GM was interfering / meddling with his draft process and thus the lack of much success.

I seem to remember that he was forced into taking Tommy Vardell (ninth overall) and was barely covering up his displeasure when he was interviewed during the draft. Is this correct? Of course BB always seems to be barely covering up his displeasure when talking to the press....

Wasn't Lombardi the meddling GM at the time?

Didn't BB really want Warren Sapp one year and Lombardi submarine it?

 

[FredFromDartmouth]

Wasn't Lombardi the meddling GM at the time?

Didn't BB really want Warren Sapp one year and Lombardi submarine it?

Yes Lombardi was the GM! But he does not shoulder the blame. Who knows where the real problem lay but I suspect Lombardi overrode BB. Here is what he said (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/football/nfl/specials/draft/2008/04/20/lombardi.belichick/):

The old adage learning from your mistakes holds true in the NFL. In 1995, while with the Browns, we held the 10th pick in the first round after trading Eric Metcalf to the Atlanta Falcons. We were in perfect position to acquire a quality player and loved Kyle Brady, the tight end from Penn State. Unfortunately, the New York Jets picked Brady one spot before us. The next best player available was Warren Sapp, a defensive tackle from Miami.

However on draft day, rumors were running rampant about Sapp. Even though Belichick had personally worked out Sapp and loved his talents, we decided to take Sapp off our board because of inaccurate personal background information. So, without a real conviction for a player, we traded out of the spot and watched with great regret as Sapp went on to a standout career. The mistake we made was trusting outside sources. From that day on, trusting outside sources would never happen again in a Belichick draft room.

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/football/nfl/specials/draft/2008/04​

/20/lombardi.belichick/#ixzz1H9gd9zNj

This is a great article and may be relevant to this year's draft. He will not take someone (Nick Fairley?) off his board just because of rumors....

 

[stinkypete]

Wonder if the same will apply regarding the Meriweather situation.

 

[Off The Grid]

Of course BB always seems to be barely covering up his displeasure when talking to the press....

A JEWEL, Brother Fred!! A JEWEL!!

 

[Uncle Rico]

From that day on, trusting outside sources would never happen again in a Belichick draft room

Love it. Part of the Bill Being Bill. You can just bet his draft board doesn't fluctuate a fraction of others' who might be swayed by spastic media trends or other such crap.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Then they sent the 10th overall pick to the 49ers. The 49ers selected J.J. Stokes.

The Browns received the following 1995 picks: 1st round, 30th overall (Craig Powell, whoops). They also received a 3rd (Mike Frederick), and a 4th that they traded for 2 5ths (Mike Miller, Kenneth McDaniel). They also received a 1996 1st round pick, 26th overall, which was used to select Ray Lewis.

Let's not forget what happened just BEFORE that trade . . .

"The New York JEST select tight end from Penn State Kyle Brady."

It only took 15 years, but BB finally found his white whale last year.

 

[convertedpatsfan]

Let's not forget what happened just BEFORE that trade . . .

"The New York JEST select tight end from Penn State Kyle Brady."

It only took 15 years, but BB finally found his white whale last year.

I thought he scratched that itch when we had Kyle Brady on the roster in 2007

 

[ctpatsfan77]

I thought he scratched that itch when we had Kyle Brady on the roster in 2007

I was referring to the massive rookie TE he could mold. . . .

 

[larryo]

huh? am I missing something?

that must be when they moved to Baltimore. Damn totally forgot about that