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Today in Patriots History
The 1998 NFL Draft
The 1998 NFL Draft
The New England Patriots entered the 1998 NFL Draft with six of the top 81 draft picks - two selections in each of the first three rounds. Besides their own original picks, the Pats owned three more Jet draft picks: an additional first and third as compensation for the loss of restricted free agent Curtis Martin, plus another second that was one of the four picks awarded to New England for Bill Parcells signing with NYJ.
With all that draft capital, this should have been a glorious day to remember. But for these 20th century Patriots, it was less like the April 18, 1775 glorious ride of Paul Revere and John Dawes, and more like the devastating April 18, 1906 San Francisco earthquake. A golden opportunity was squandered, eventually indirectly leading to the end for Pete Carroll and Bobby Grier.
April 18, 1998:
63rd Annual Player Selection Meeting, better known as the NFL Draft
Day One, Rounds 1-3
The Theater at Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York City
- 1st round, 18th overall (from the Jets for Curtis Martin):
RB Robert Edwards, Georgia
- 1st round, 22nd overall (Patriots own pick):
S Tebucky Jones, Syracuse
- 2nd round, 52nd overall (part of compensation from Jets for Bill Parcells):
WR Tony Simmons, Wisconsin
- 2nd round, 54th overall:
TE Rod Rutledge, Alabama
- 3rd round, 81st overall (from the Jets for Curtis Martin):
FB Chris Floyd, Michigan
- 3rd round, 83rd overall:
DE Chris Spires, Florida State
Now let's do a bit of a re-draft, based on who was available.
RB Robert Edwards, 1.18
Randy Moss was selected three picks after Robert Edwards and one before Tebucky, at 1.21
If the Pats wanted a RB first they could have packaged some draft picks together to move up, for Fred Taylor
S Tebucky Jones, 1.22
Hall of Fame guard Alan Faneca was selected four spots later
Five-time Pro Bowl tackle Flozell Adams was taken by Dallas early in the second round
If the team wanted a DB, corners Patrick Surtain and Samari Rolle were available too
WR Tony Simmons, 2.52
Anybody but Simmons would have been a better choice
One year later the Pats took C Damien Woody in the first round
They could have gone with C Jeremy Newberry (2.58) here instead, and used the '99 first on another position
TE Rod Rutledge, 2.54
Rutledge was as good as there was at TE in '98; no problem with this pick
But since they went FB next, Jon Ritchie (3.63) is a possible alternate choice
FB Chris Floyd, 3.81
Had the Pats gone with Newberry rather than Simmons in the 2nd round, grab your WR here
Hines Ward was still on the board and went later in the third round
DE Greg Spires, 3.83
No issues with this pick; the problem was injuries, then the Pats giving up on him too soon
But if they wanted another RB, Michael Pittman Sr was available
Day Two wasn't any better.
4th round, #115: DT Leonta Rheems
CB Deshea Townshend, S Lance Schulters and LB Greg Favors were all solid starts that were chosen in the next few picks
Rheems lasted one season; his NFL career consisted of six games
5th round, #145: LB Ron Merkerson
Six-time Pro Bowl C Matt Birk was available
Merkerson never played in a single NFL game
6th round, #176: RB Harold Shaw
Pro Bowl FB Fred Beasley was available, taken four spots later
Another option would have been BC QB Matt Hasselbeck, to backup Bledsoe
Shaw rushed for a total of 35 yards over his three seasons
7th round, #211: BYU C/G Jason Anderson
CB Eric Warfield was still available; he had an eight-year career with KC, five as a starter
Anderson played in 19 NFL games, 16 in New England[/I]
On a side note, the 1998 draft is most well known for the Colts deciding to choose Peyton Manning over Ryan Leaf with the first overall pick.
Not only did Leaf turn out to be a huge bust, but San Diego gave up a lot just to move up one slot to take him. The Chargers traded Eric Metcalf, Patrick Sapp, their 1998 #3 overall first round pick, their 1998 second round, #33 pick, AND their 1999 first round pick (#8 overall to the Cardinals - just to move up one spot! Arizona being Arizona, they didn't take advantage of that gift, selecting Florida State draft bust DE Andre Wadsworth at #3, while Heisman Trophy winner Charles Woodson was still on the board
In addition, at the #5 overall pick the Chicago Bears went with Penn State RB Curtis Enis rather than Florida RB Fred Taylor. Before the draft Jacksonville traded QB Rob Johnson, their backup who had looked good in his one and only start, to Buffalo for the Bills #9 overall pick. The Jaguars selected Fred Taylor, while Johnson went 9-18 as a starter in his four seasons in Buffalo.
NFL Agent Says He Helped Sabotage The NFL Draft That Sent Peyton Manning To Indianapolis
Leigh Steinberg reveals a crazy plot.
www.businessinsider.com
Leigh Steinberg, the NFL agent who was the inspiration for the movie "Jerry Maguire," has written a book titled "The Agent" in which he claims he helped manipulate the 1998 NFL Draft.
Prior to the draft in 1998, in which the Indianapolis Colts held the first pick and the San Diego Chargers drafted second, there was considerable debate over whether the Colts should pick Peyton Manning or Ryan Leaf — whom many considered to be more talented and physically superior to Manning.
Steinberg believed that the Colts were leaning towards drafting Leaf, who was his client. However, Leaf did not want to be drafted by the Colts and preferred the "exceptional weather and more laid-back lifestyle" of San Diego, according to Steinberg's book.
At this point, Steinberg and Leaf devised a plan to convince the Colts to pass on Leaf.
Steinberg told Leaf to skip a meeting with Colts head coach Jim Mora during the combine, anticipating that the "prideful" Mora would "explode."
It worked, according to Steinberg.
