Who's really calling shots in Foxboro?
Still wondering who's in charge in the Patriots' war room? We got our answer yesterday with New England's first-round selection of wide receiver Terry Glenn in the NFL draft.
Bob Kraft wanted a top-flight receiver to complement quarterback Drew Bledsoe and he got him. Coach Bill Parcells wanted to strengthen his defense with the first pick, but was denied.
Simple logic: Kraft invested a fortune in Bledsoe last year, and as a football fan he knows that offense is what puts fannies in the seats. Oh, and by the way, Bledsoe will be around a lot longer than Parcells. Who would you keep happy?
The questions still to be answered are why the Patriots didn't trade down in the first round, swapping their No. 7 pick with someone more interested in grabbing one of the few remaining defensive players in the draft, or perhaps someone in search of a running back.
And was Glenn the best wide receiver available? He's fast, but he's small. And as Parcells pointed out last week, "Sometimes the most productive college receivers get into pro football and they're now confronted with bump-and-run coverage on a consistent basis and that changes their productivity."
Don't be surprised if Parcells packs it in after next season.
Meanwhile and far away ...
