Question for serious Patriot Draftniks.

[RIP#40]

Does anybody recall if any of the Pats last 5 or 6 first round picks came to Foxboro for a visit prior to the draft? I guess my point is, does a visit by a player mean the Pats have no interest?

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

...does a visit by a player mean the Pats have no interest?

No. I think it means the Pats are trying to get the widest read on a kid from the various coaches and staff personnel who are available to meet him. I'm pretty confident that any one of these kids who pass the eyeball tests would get drafted if the price was right.

As for who came for a visit, I don't recall the first rounders coming here. Wilfork reported no special sign of Patriot interest...Mankins was worked out privately in Fresno by Coach Scarnecchia...I don't think very many people had an inkling regarding Watson. On the other hand, I believe Luis Castillo came for a visit only to be snatched by San Diego at 28, Mankins was chosen at 32 shortly afterwards in what "experts" were calling a "reach."

Hope that helps.

 

[Poll]

Maroney came in, didn't he?

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Maroney came in, didn't he?

I think you're right, RB was furthest from my mind last draft so I probably paid no attention.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

It seems to me that the guys that come to Foxboro are the bubble guys that they want ore information.

 

[Patsfanin Philly]

And something tells me that the "vacation" in Florida to see SPring Training was a nice cover to check out those Gator and Miami guys and sneak over to LSU without as much media coverage as if they came up to Foxboro.
Just my $0.02,

 

[rookBoston]

I'm pretty sure Chad came into Foxboro last year.

 

[DarrylS]

I think anyone who gets the big publicity is just a smokescreen, with that being said this year after these unexpected signings it might not be.

 

[ironwasp]

I think anyone who gets the big publicity is just a smokescreen, with that being said this year after these unexpected signings it might not be.

You know, I think this is such a busy team for the coaching, scouting and personnel staff, I'm not sure they have time for generating smoke screens or anything like that.

They have finite time and resources to see a limited number of players, and my best guess (and it is that) is that they are genuinely interested in those they spend personal time with.

 

[marty]

You know, I think this is such a busy team for the coaching, scouting and personnel staff, I'm not sure they have time for generating smoke screens or anything like that.

They have finite time and resources to see a limited number of players, and my best guess (and it is that) is that they are genuinely interested in those they spend personal time with.

Given how much respect the Pats FO has generated in the league, to me it would be just common sense to disguise our interests. Especially from those with a more recent, intimate, knowledge of our weaknesses or tendency's.