My Binky, one of our biggest draft screw-ups...

[loosebearing]

Didn't we trade a 2nd rounder for Duane Starks? That would have to be the worst use of a pick ever. Hell, being forced to accept Starks in exchange for some other team's 1st round pick would still be the worst ever

No, a third rounder (no 95) to Arizona and the picked someone named Darryl Blackstock there was also a swap of #168 and # 145

 

[unoriginal]

No, a third rounder (no 95) to Arizona and the picked someone named Darryl Blackstock there was also a swap of #168 and # 145

Unfortunately, with that 3rd rounder, we could have selected Domonique Foxworth. He's Denver's nickel corner behind Bailey and Bly, plus he played about half the season at safety last year.

 

[patpatriot]

Since we share Binkys let me wade in with a totally subjective comment. As someone else alluded to in another thread, part of Mills' problem may be that he *dominated* at his level in college and he's finding it hard to adjust that at *this* level he's currently just a JAG. That catch he didn't make the other night that resulted in a pick is an example. Mills was very open...good stuff; but the ball that came towards him was a knuckler, a tough catch, and he didn't make it. He immediately got up and made a gesture of frustration that I'm reading as immature. That won't earn him points in the Bellichick school of pro football.

Bottom line? I don't think he does enough now to help this team win games over other players. Where are the ST tackles for instance? Until this kid shows more, he is nothing more than a PS candidate. maybe the best thing for him is to be picked up by a bad team that will play him a lot and give him a chance to mature.

 

[pats1]

I am basing this on him not doing much of anything with the admittedly limited chances he's had - really, he's done NOTHING - and also on the comments I've heard, consistently now, from the PFW guys, who have a unique combination of insight, information and access. They seem to think the guy's not long for the team.

Like I said before, I hope that ends up being inaccurate b/c I like the guy. Having said that, though, my main point still stands - IF he doesn't make the team, that is a pretty big miss, considering they clearly loved this kid coming out of Tulsa. They had all night to rearrange their draft board, they could easily have traded the pick, and they had already taken their TE.

He tore it up last preseason.

 

[BadMoFo]

The term "Binky" should not be used by men or when discussing sports.

Man Law.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

The term "Binky" should not be used by men or when discussing sports.

Man Law.

We are girly men.

 

[patsox23]

He tore it up last preseason.

Did he really? I don't recall it that way, but I could be wrong. And you, being the master of the pbp, would remember better than I.

 

[pats1]

Did he really? I don't recall it that way, but I could be wrong. And you, being the master of the pbp, would remember better than I.

5 catches for 75 against the Falcons, then a pair against the Cardinals before he got hurt.

 

[stinkypete]

Not sure about Mills. Love the college highlight films, think he is a tough kid, have my doubts about him as a pro.

Either way, whiffing on a 4thround pick is not a major draft screw-up. How many 4th round picks amount to anything in this league? Remember Jabrai Holloway, Rohan Davey and Cedric Cobbs? All 4th round picks. Were they better picks than Mills?

(Before someone jumps all over me about Davey, the guy sucked, whether or not he was the primary backup for a year, he was awful.)

 

[Patjew]

I don't believe we got that much out of Johnson honestly. And you are making a helluva lot out of a 4th round pick.. If you are complaining about him, are you also complaining about Dexter Reid, Guss Scott, Marquis Hill, etc, etc? .

Off-topic, but go back and watch the 2003 and 2004 3GTGs. You'll see some very big plays from Bethel.

 

[reflexblue]

When I thought back on draft screwups in the bb era the first thing that came to mind was the year(03) I belieave that we took Ty Warren. I remember there being alot of speculation that BB wanted Johnathon Sullivan,and would have taken him. Imagine what a bust that would have been. There was a run on D-linemen and Warren was one of the last "good ones" left on the board. He was suppose to have a poor work ethic,and wgt. problem. But as history has proven he may have been the best of the lot. I think the only other d-line pick that has shown anything is the nose tackle for the jests, D. Robinson.

 

[spacecrime]

Wow, how can a fourth round pick be a big draft screwup? It isn't like second day picks are guaranteed to make the team.

Anyway, it's kind of early to judge a guy who was:
a) drafted last year as our FOURTH STRING TE, and
b) was on IR most of his rookie year.

 

[DarrylS]

Wow, how can a fourth round pick be a big draft screwup? It isn't like second day picks are guaranteed to make the team.

Anyway, it's kind of early to judge a guy who was:
a) drafted last year as our FOURTH STRING TE, and
b) was on IR most of his rookie year.

Agree, give the guy some time, not convinced that playing in preseason games from our point of view the TV, is a good barometer to assess progress. The films BB & crew are completely different than the ones we see, thank god if BB and folks had to listen to Cross and Criqui the tv's would all get broken.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

Even thougfh Mills looked good in preseason last year, this preseason, he has looked especially weak and slow. It could be a function of the 2nd and 3rd string QB and OL play, but I don't think so.

I haven't seen him do anything special on ST, so I'm thinking he might not make the team or maybe PS at best.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

We are girly men.

There was a lot of pretty boy vanity in that commercial.

 

[Brownfan80]

Mills was a 'potential' pick with big upside. The fourth round is a good place to take such prospects. If they work out you got a steal, if they don't then all you 'wasted' was a fourth round draft pick. Small price to pay.

I still think Mills has potential, but his window has got to be getting closer to being shut by now.

Not every 4th rounder turns into Asante Samuel.

 

[Mike the Brit]

The term "Binky" should not be used by men or when discussing sports.

Man Law.

I will make you a deal. I will not use the term "binky" if you never, ever, EVER use the phrase "Man Law" again. The memories are too awful.

 

[cstjohn17]

Not every 4th rounder turns into Asante Samuel.

Ain't that the truth, here are the Patriots 4th round picks since 2001.

Pretty much 50/50.

2007 - New England Patriots
4 127 Kareem Brown DT Miami (Fla.)

2006 - New England Patriots
4 106 Garrett Mills RB Tulsa
4 118 Stephen Gostkowski K Memphis

2005 - New England Patriots
4 133 James Sanders SAF Fresno State

2004 - New England Patriots
4 113 Dexter Reid SAF North Carolina
4 128 Cedric Cobbs RB Arkansas

2003 - New England Patriots
4 117 Dan Klecko DT Temple
4 120 Asante Samuel CB Central Florida

2002 - New England Patriots
4 117 Rohan Davey QB Louisiana State
4 126 Jarvis Green DE Louisiana State

2001 - New England Patriots
4 96 Kenyatta Jones T South Florida
4 119 Jabari Holloway TE Notre Dame

 

[Terry Glenn is a cowgirl]

BJ made several HUGE plays. In the end he was a bust, but we got a lot out of him considering that he was a bust.

HMMM... didn't know "we" got alot out of him...

 

[Brownfan80]

Ain't that the truth, here are the Patriots 4th round picks since 2001.

Pretty much 50/50.

I think you can see how the Pats 4th rounders are all 'potential' picks. They 'risk' the high second day picks and try to hit on the high first day picks. I think I like the philosophy.

2007 - New England Patriots
4 127 Kareem Brown DT Miami (Fla.) - Who knows.

2006 - New England Patriots
4 106 Garrett Mills RB Tulsa - the Jury is out.
4 118 Stephen Gostkowski K Memphis - came on strong after a tough start to the season. Looks like an NFL kicker.

2005 - New England Patriots
4 133 James Sanders SAF Fresno State - Work in progress.

2004 - New England Patriots
4 113 Dexter Reid SAF North Carolina - Contributed on Special teams and moved on to another team. Flop.
4 128 Cedric Cobbs RB Arkansas - Flop.

2003 - New England Patriots
4 117 Dan Klecko DT Temple - played for a bit, moved on to another team, but still in the NFL. Not a bad 4th rounder considering he was totally undersized.
4 120 Asante Samuel CB Central Florida - The other arguably best 4th round pick of the BB era, panned out well.

2002 - New England Patriots
4 117 Rohan Davey QB Louisiana State - Drafted to be a backup to Tom Brady. Backed up Tom Brady. Whoop.
4 126 Jarvis Green DE Louisiana State - Arguably the best 4th round pick of the BB era, great value for his draft position.

2001 - New England Patriots
4 96 Kenyatta Jones T South Florida - Played in the NFL. Not sure if he's still out there somewhere, but we got some use out of him while he was here.
4 119 Jabari Holloway TE Notre Dame - Didn't pan out. Flop

Garrett Mills fits in with their 4th round MO and could easily either pan or flop at this point. I don't think his fate is yet decided.