Reason Harry was drafted over Brown Samuel revealed.

[JohnJH]

I don't know whether or not the story is true. One thing I do know (as it's been repeatedly pointed out by those in the know (and folks on here), is that B.B. (especially in his last 5 to 7 years as HC), didn't place a high enough value on WR talent (especially in the drafting and development way). They over-drafted Harry due to not properly addressing the position for years and even then, passed on 3 #1 Caliber WR's (or certainly better than what they've had since) in the 2nd Round (Metcalf, Brown, Samuel). And, if that wasn't bad enough, did the same thing in the following draft (Higgins, Pittman Jr.). I do know that Brady was getting tired of Bill not giving him better weapons for years in a row.

 

[TheRainMaker]

I talked about it the day it happened. I absolutely hated the story of Harry continually hanging up on BB during draft night. The light bulb finally went off in his brain that he must have a bad connection and go outside to take the call. That was my first red flag. The 2nd was him taking his sweet time getting back on the field after his injury in the preseason. Then when he finally got his ass on the field, he was clueless. It got to the point where Tom was tired of him and humiliated him on live TV by laughing at his mistakes.

 

[NashuaPats]

As I recall, they said his blocking ability was what put him over the top.

 

[Hyped]

Pats needed a big outside WR that could body up DB’s and win 50/50 balls. Harry looked like that guy without the red flags of Metcalf’s injury history. Maybe some don’t remember Metcalf was a boom bust player. As noted earlier in the thread, BB’s relationship with Todd Graham and Herm Edward’s sealed the deal. With that said, Harry was still considered a shock of a pick leapfrogging Metcalf, Samuel and Brown.

On that draft night I was literally chanting, "D.K. Metcalf, D.K. Metcalf...." in my living room for a solid 5 minutes before the Harry pick.....

My wife can attest to this.....

Man, that single pick really changed the trajectory of this franchise, IMO.

 

[Wozzy]

Jesus… if not for N’Keal people would still be whining about Chad Jackson.

Even if they drafted AJ Brown, Tom was still leaving after 2019, nothing would have been different. Move on with your lives…

 

[TheRainMaker]

On that draft night I was literally chanting, "D.K. Metcalf, D.K. Metcalf...." in my living room for a solid 5 minutes before the Harry pick.....

My wife can attest to this.....

Man, that single pick really changed the trajectory of this franchise, IMO.

I thought for sure they were going to roll the dice on Metcalf, but I was worried about him busting. Harry was an out of left field selection that had the commentators surprised. I wasn’t a Samuel fan and he’s really done nothing to change my opinion, but I didn’t know much about AJ Brown. Brown is the best or the bunch.

I also remember the nonsense on here with posters pushing Andy Isabella.

 

[VJCPatriot]

Leaked Story Reveals The Ridiculous Reason Why BIll Belichick Drafted WR Bust N'Keal Harry Over Superstars A.J. Brown & Deebo Samuel In 2019

Bill Belichick once passed on drafting AJ Brown and Deebo Samuel ecause they were having too much fun during a visit to Foxborough.

www.totalprosports.com

That is the DUMBEST reason not to draft Star WR studs that I've ever heard. You're having too much fun playing football, let me draft this no talent slow as molasses DUD instead! BB might have been a defensive genius but he made some huge goofs in the draft especially on the WR front.

 

[JohnJH]

Jesus… if not for N’Keal people would still be whining about Chad Jackson.

Even if they drafted AJ Brown, Tom was still leaving after 2019, nothing would have been different. Move on with your lives…

Actually, things would be different. Maye would have A.J. Brown.

 

[JohnJH]

This is an old topic and Breer already wrote about it back in 2021. His conclusion was that BB was close with Harry’s former coach at ASU, Todd Graham, and went with his input over his scouts.

Bill Belichick reportedly ignored scouts in drafting N'Keal Harry

Last week's comments from Patriots owner Robert Kraft, covered extensively here and on PFT Live, included a blunt and candid assessment of the team's recent failures in the draft.

www.nbcsports.com

If true, it shows that Bill really needed to go, and probably a year or more before he did. And, Jerod was NEVER the answer at HC.

 

[Wozzy]

Actually, things would be different. Maye would have A.J. Brown.

AJ Brown is no longer on the team that drafted him. You don't know this to be true.

 

[JohnJH]

AJ Brown is no longer on the team that drafted him. You don't know this to be true.

Neither do you.

 

[Hyped]

I thought for sure they were going to roll the dice on Metcalf, but I was worried about him busting. Harry was an out of left field selection that had the commentators surprised. I wasn’t a Samuel fan and he’s really done nothing to change my opinion, but I didn’t know much about AJ Brown. Brown is the best or the bunch.

I also remember the nonsense on here with posters pushing Andy Isabella.

The Isabella folks were likely UMASS Alums....

 

[Hyped]

Jesus… if not for N’Keal people would still be whining about Chad Jackson.

Even if they drafted AJ Brown, Tom was still leaving after 2019, nothing would have been different. Move on with your lives…

100% disagree.

Go back to 2019....week 14...N'Keal is ruled OOB when he scored a TD vs. the Chiefs... a TD ruled there by the official means we don't even need that week 17 game vs. the Dolphins at home to secure a BYE...which meant we would be hosting Houston...or going to Baltimore...and that is with N'Keal Harry.

Whereas A.J. Brown had a 52/1k/8TD rookie season.... dontcha think that would at least have prevented the Snau deal as well...thereby saving us a 2nd rounder...which turned out to be J.K. Dobbins....

So many variables that could have altered the trajectory of the last 5 years..... but yeah...on a basic level I agree...Brady was a goner when we did not extend him in 2017..., but I feel that if we swapped out Harry for Brown, things would have been very different....

 

[PancakeBlockPaul]

Jesus… if not for N’Keal people would still be whining about Chad Jackson.

Even if they drafted AJ Brown, Tom was still leaving after 2019, nothing would have been different. Move on with your lives…

I remember watching him play and just knew things were over and he would be leaving. 18-19', you could see he was not dialed in during the games. Definitely got the vibe and not surprised....20 years of working with the same people will get on you, championships be damned...

 

[Patsgofor4]

What TF is the point on recycling this now? This dubious report has already been discussed here multiple times in the past, starting YEARS AGO, when Harry was clearly on road to Bustville.

Belichick Derangement Syndrome is alive and well.

(Breer's negative reports involving BB should be read with a skeptical eye. Breer has hated him ever since Bill used to be dismissive of his questions and make him look foolish during press conferences when Breer was a Pats beat writer. When was the last time that he broke the story about a major transaction (trade, FA signing, cut)? All of Breer's reports involve anonymous sources that conveniently can't be fact-checked. Why is that? If he had legit sources throughout the league and was respected as a true insider, Breer wouldn't still be working be working for an irrelevant dinosaur like SI.)

 

[Wozzy]

Neither do you.

I didn't claim something as fact.

 

[Wozzy]

100% disagree.

Go back to 2019....week 14...N'Keal is ruled OOB when he scored a TD vs. the Chiefs... a TD ruled there by the official means we don't even need that week 17 game vs. the Dolphins at home to secure a BYE...which meant we would be hosting Houston...or going to Baltimore...and that is with N'Keal Harry.

Whereas A.J. Brown had a 52/1k/8TD rookie season.... dontcha think that would at least have prevented the Snau deal as well...thereby saving us a 2nd rounder...which turned out to be J.K. Dobbins....

So many variables that could have altered the trajectory of the last 5 years..... but yeah...on a basic level I agree...Brady was a goner when we did not extend him in 2017..., but I feel that if we swapped out Harry for Brown, things would have been very different....

So what do you disagree with me about?

At 43 Brady wasn't making his decision to stay/leave based on how a rookie WR did his first year.

 

[TommyD4207]

Leaked Story Reveals The Ridiculous Reason Why BIll Belichick Drafted WR Bust N'Keal Harry Over Superstars A.J. Brown & Deebo Samuel In 2019

Bill Belichick once passed on drafting AJ Brown and Deebo Samuel ecause they were having too much fun during a visit to Foxborough.

www.totalprosports.com

Bill Belichick has been gone from here since the first week of January, 2024.

 

[TinhWoodhead]

whats the point of having scouts…

 

[Sect140]

This is an old topic and Breer already wrote about it back in 2021. His conclusion was that BB was close with Harry’s former coach at ASU, Todd Graham, and went with his input over his scouts.

Bill Belichick reportedly ignored scouts in drafting N'Keal Harry

Last week's comments from Patriots owner Robert Kraft, covered extensively here and on PFT Live, included a blunt and candid assessment of the team's recent failures in the draft.

www.nbcsports.com

After they drafted him I read that the current ASU coach at the time Herm Edward’s was singing the praises of Harry to Bill. That should’ve been first sign not to draft him.