Alleged Character Issues in Patriots Draft

[XLIX]

Same here. Give me a guy with an attitude.. I don't want a choir boy. Want a guy with edge to his game .

A guy with attitude is fine. A guy with edge to his game is fine. But that doesn't seem to be what we are talking about here.

We don't want a guy who might up and pop his girlfriend. Or even some guy in a nightclub. Or do 140 on 495. Those are recipes for trouble which hurts the team.

 

[SlowGettingUp]

Breaking: person who plays violent sport may have character issues.

It is strange though that perhaps the most violent group - edge rushers - seem to have fewer divas than the WRs.

 

[Stu Pidassle]

The reality is, if you want to field a good competitive team, you'd better avoid locker room cancers that are going to distract the team from football and create negativity. And, you should avoid players who have demonstrated a lack of drive to be better, negating their superior talent. You should avoid divas who make everything about them and will only do with THEY want to do for the team, not what the team needs.

Getting low character guys is a dangerous game. Al Davis was famous for it, and look how that worked out. BB was famous for the opposite (with a few notable exceptions that we all know). Look how that worked out.

If you're thinking of drafting or signing a guy with character questions, you better take a long, hard look, have leaders who can limit damage, and be prepared to cut.

Most people are not fully formed when they are 21, especially if they did not have proper guidance as children. Even if the team only drafts players who are perceived to be high character, management needs to hold all players to the same standard. Push players who have maturity issues in the right direction, cut loose anyone who is not willing to be accountable to the rest of the team.

 

[upstater1]

It's so funny that everyone has already forgotten Jack Jones. Clearly a very talented player but had so many problems here from blowing up on coaches to running through airports with guns, and a problem with being on time. The red flags were everywhere and they were a solid indication.

Let's say you were gambling and you had to put your money down that Jack Jones will mature and turn things around with the Raiders. The best is 2 to 1. 2x as much as you put down if Jack Jones stays with the Raiders good graces over the next 3 years.

How much of your annual income will you place on that bet?

Me, I would put no more than .005%! (Yes, I mean .00005).

 

[Zuma]

It is strange though that perhaps the most violent group - edge rushers - seem to have fewer divas than the WRs.

Them and ILB / MLB. Agreed.

 

[WinstonSmith]

I want guys who will from time to time exclaim "I think I broke his fu#kin' neck!!!", and hopefully the Patriots have someone on retainer to clean up the mess when they exclaim it outside of the gridiron. Nevertheless, just because you are a character doesn't mean that you have character.

 

[TomPatriot]

Then again, there's the Antonio Brown end of the spectrum.

No, sir. He was on his own spectrum.

 

[jmt57]

For the last several years there were those that complained that the Patriots only drafted 'choir boys' while passing on superior talent.

Now today Bedard and his sources are complaining that the Patriots did the reverse.

And it's just a coincidence that this happens heading into the slowest news-desert portion of the football year.

 

[Real fan 02]

A guy with attitude is fine. A guy with edge to his game is fine. But that doesn't seem to be what we are talking about here.

We don't want a guy who might up and pop his girlfriend. Or even some guy in a nightclub. Or do 140 on 495. Those are recipes for trouble which hurts the team.

Oh absolutely agree. No doubt about that your right. I understand it's about character. Just point to the fact that the young men got through college and made it to the draft. It will be solely upon them to how they acclimate and conduct themselves in the NFL.

 

[Real fan 02]

Moss kept complaining about money and was gone. BB got rid of him. BB did not care that Moss was a HOF WR and the best during his tenure as NE HC.

BB benched Butler in the SB. BB got rid of Welker for being a cancer. BB was rumored to have a deal in place to send Gronk packing. Gronk caved and quit acting a fool. If Gronk did not care then why did he give up on his Jihad to be the highest paid TE?

BB that's why. The players respected him and respect is earned. You just don't automatically acquire it becoming an NFL HC.

Moss actually complained about playing Time. We drafted gronk and hernandez in '10. He balked that offseason about him being phased out the offense. He said he resigned here to play with brady be the focal point of the offense and win a superbowl. Bill benched butler do to an issue with Steven belichi and his wife reportedly who knows really. Bill had a deal in place to send gronk to Detroit to the 2022 offensive coordinator of the year in Patricia. However the top agent in sports drew rosenshaus wasn't having it and gronk said he'd retire he is only playing with TB12. Bill came to the Patriots with pedigree from the giant's. That's why he was respected. He was a hell of a DC for Parcells.

Once he and brady began thier legacy together then came the rings, accolades and further accomplishments. Players respected Bill they didn't always like him. Don't believe me ask Ted Johnson.

 

[Ross12]

So Bedard has some claims from League sources about potential character issues among some of the Patriots' draft choices.

Nothing on Mayes, and not much on Polk: "Another league executive said there was a red flag with Polk but he would not offer specifics. Other teams said this was a surprise to them, they had nothing."

Wallace a bit of question on drive.

Baker significant issues - fights, guns, very problematic father. "One league executive estimated that Baker was off the board for half the league." Arrived at OTAs with an entourage.

Milton - "heavy maintenance, partier."

Bell - "He was a borderline (non-fit/off-the-board) for us. The questions or concerns were personality fit: diva, selfish, party habits. Emotional maturity."

So all-in-all sounds like a much riskier group than in past years - they clearly had a looser cut-off than the old regime, where Belichick allegedly only wanted to coach non-problematic guys. Perhaps why we could never draft a WR given they seem to be more inclined to divadom.

Bedard: Another perspective on the Patriots' draft picks, including more character concerns than years past

Here are the thoughts of an AFC senior personnel executive, including some of the concerns on Javon Baker, Joe Milton and Jaheim Bell straight from their pre-draft research on the players.

www.bostonsportsjournal.com

The only one here that sounds like it even has a snowball’s chance in hell of actually having “character issues” (enjoying parties in college isn’t a character issue) is Baker, and he was drafted in the 4th round and needs to beat out several players, including veterans, to see any snaps. If he wants to prove himself he will keep his **** together. He seems to want it so I am not too worried about it. If they had drafted him in the 2nd round hoping for him to be their top guy it would be a bigger concern.

End of the day, Maye and Polk are high character guys who should be very dependable and seems like Wallace and Robinson also slot in there too. Not much to see here.

 

[NormZauchin]

I want guys who will from time to time exclaim "I think I broke his fu#kin' neck!!!", and hopefully the Patriots have someone on retainer to clean up the mess when they exclaim it outside of the gridiron. Nevertheless, just because you are a character doesn't mean that you have character.

So, are you on board with Jack Tatum who actually broke Darryl Stingley's neck?

 

[WinstonSmith]

So, are you on board with Jack Tatum who actually broke Darryl Stingley's neck?

No, I thought that referencing an absurd but funny scene from a comedy, as well as making another movie reference would indicate that I was being somewhat facetious.

 

[Love The Drake]

I think this is the context we are looking at.
Who cares about these kids past listen to the work theve been putting in Baker since 8th grade.

 

[cmasspatsfan]

Like Parcells used to say, I'm not coaching a team of choir boys, as long s these guys commit to football, who cares.

 

[NormZauchin]

No, I thought that referencing an absurd but funny scene from a comedy, as well as making another movie reference would indicate that I was being somewhat facetious.

I am not aware of the movie(s), so I did pick up on your humor.

 

[VJCPatriot]

So Bedard has some claims from League sources about potential character issues among some of the Patriots' draft choices.

Nothing on Mayes, and not much on Polk: "Another league executive said there was a red flag with Polk but he would not offer specifics. Other teams said this was a surprise to them, they had nothing."

Wallace a bit of question on drive.

Baker significant issues - fights, guns, very problematic father. "One league executive estimated that Baker was off the board for half the league." Arrived at OTAs with an entourage.

Milton - "heavy maintenance, partier."

Bell - "He was a borderline (non-fit/off-the-board) for us. The questions or concerns were personality fit: diva, selfish, party habits. Emotional maturity."

So all-in-all sounds like a much riskier group than in past years - they clearly had a looser cut-off than the old regime, where Belichick allegedly only wanted to coach non-problematic guys. Perhaps why we could never draft a WR given they seem to be more inclined to divadom.

Bedard: Another perspective on the Patriots' draft picks, including more character concerns than years past

Here are the thoughts of an AFC senior personnel executive, including some of the concerns on Javon Baker, Joe Milton and Jaheim Bell straight from their pre-draft research on the players.

www.bostonsportsjournal.com

We're not hiring choir boys, we're hiring football players.

The good news is there wasn't anything at all on our top pick of the night.

I'm glad we went for the talent picks.

Half of the picks in the draft won't work out anyways so you might as well go for upside when you're so poor in offensive talent.

Some of the "flags" don't sound serious. Gronk was the biggest frat boy we've ever drafted and loved a good party. He turned out all right.

 

[Zuma]

There is a big difference between drunken vandalism and premeditated murder. I don’t really have a point…I just felt the need to say that.

 

[Force Zero Boomer]

Most people are not fully formed when they are 21, especially if they did not have proper guidance as children. Even if the team only drafts players who are perceived to be high character, management needs to hold all players to the same standard. Push players who have maturity issues in the right direction, cut loose anyone who is not willing to be accountable to the rest of the team.

How many times have you seen someone with character or drive issues in college figure it out in the NFL? I’m sure there have been some, but for every one you name I bet there have been 10 or more that don’t change. Manziel, Leaf, JRussell, Gordon, Hernandez, Phillips, etc. The safest assumption is that they aren’t going to change, and you can’t fix it. BB went a step further and preferred team captains, because being entrusted with leadership says a lot.

If this is the direction they have chosen, they are going to get burned and Mayo/Wolf will be out the door. I doubt Kraft will put up with it.

 

[AQPE]

Only good memory for me about Jack Tatum:

**** him