Taking a quick peek at 2010

[ctpatsfan77]

Ghost is great, but hes a kicker. If some team "steals" him and gives the Pats a 1st and 3rd, Belli will send christmas cards for years.

Remember that they would have to give up picks in the 2010 draft to do it.

Assuming they're talking about 2010 picks, that immediately rules out Carolina and Chicago (but not Denver*).

It also, from a practical standpoint, rules out any team picking in the first half of the round.

You can also rule out any team that has a good kicker under contract for 2010, as Gostkowski isn't that much better. Heck, even Indianapolis, who might let Vinatieri go after this season, probably isn't that desperate.

So if any team truly is that stupid, then, yes, I do think Belichick would drive Gostkowski to the airport himself.

*Denver traded away its first, but is likely to get back a higher pick from Chicago. Thus, they're not immediately out because the NFL's rules let a team use its own pick or a higher pick to meet the tender requirement (so, for example, if the Pats had wanted to, they could have signed three players offered second-round tenders).