Patriots Talking To Gronk About Extension (UPDATED)

The Patriots and Rob Gronkowski are talking contract, but there's no word yet on whether or not the team is interested in reworking his current deal or giving the big tight end a contract extension, according to multiple reports. Gronkowski, a second-round pick out of Arizona in 2010, has two years left on a rookie deal that will pay in base salaries of $540,000 in 2012 and $575,000 in 2013, according to NFLPA documents.

I thought something like this would come up soon after we saw guys on the Patriots restructure their deals. I believe the Patriots want not only Gronk here, but Hernandez as well. It is so tough to gameplan against the Patriots because of those two guys. No other team can throw out two tight ends of that caliber. They are young, and they are going to be worth a lot of money. If the Patriots can lock these guys up to 5 years deals now and save a bit it could be a very smart idea.


***UPDATE***

Done deal. 6 years $54 million, making him the highest paid TE of all-time.

Breaking News: Patriots Cut Ochocinco

ESPN's Adam Schefter is reporting that the Patriots have released Chad Ochocinco. They did so after spending the day looking to trade the wide receiver, but being unable to make a deal. Ochocinco left the Stadium before OTAs today, but that was claimed to be due to an eye doctor's appointment.

This is not surprising at all. Ochocinco was retained last year despite his playbook comprehension problems because the WR depth chart was so shallow. Now with Wes Welker returning, Jabar Gafney, Brandon Lloyd, and Donte Stallworth arriving, not to mention Deion Branch, and Julian Edelman sticking around, there just wasn't enough reason to not cut Ochocinco.

He already took a paycut. And if he hadn't, he would have been cut long ago. There have been stories out of the Patriots' OTAs that he needed to be helped by Branch to run the right route. So it doesn't seem like he's getting it.

Quite simply, with the additions of all these WRs, it became very easy to cut him loose.

I'm sure he'll get picked up by another team. He's a talented player. He just didn't get the playbook here.

But before he can get to that next team, he'll have to negotiate Route 1. And we all saw how much he struggled with routes here in New England.

Good-bye, and good luck, Chad. Thank you for trying.

-The Captain

Patriots Cut Anthony Gonzalez

The Patriots have cut Anthony Gonzalez. There was a lot of interest if the 27-year-old slot WR could have a bounce back season after injuries have crushed him over the past few years. Yet, it seems that either these injuries (thumb, foot, knee, shoulder, hamstring, back and groin) are still a problem, or they really just signed him because they were worried that thing with Welker might not go well.

Whatever the reason this isn't a major loss. The Patriots still have 11 WRs on their roster, so this won't be the last well known WR to be cut by the Patriots before the season starts. Plus, the Patriots already have Welker, Julian Edelman and rookie Jeremy Ebert to play the slot.

Why Not?

Why not watch Tom Brady get upset?

Tom Brady's Wicked Accent from Tom Brady

Dallas Clark A Patriot?

Just when you thought the Patriots offense couldn't get any crazier, there are rumors he is going to sign with the New England Patriots.

I don't know how they would use him figuring he is a worse Aaron Hernandez, but whenever you hear these guys going to a place like New England I will gladly defer to Bill Belichick. It would be kind of crazy to see Aaron Hernandez as the back and Clark and Gronk as the 2 tight end set, just confusion all around. I also am shocked he isn't a Bronco, I would have assumed he and manning would be a package deal.

It's still ridiculous to think all these Colts, first Addai and now Clark would be joining their nemesis' the Patriots.

Wes Welker Playing a Game He Can't Win

After signing his franchise tender, Wes Welker later told the Boston Herald that his negotiations with the Patriots for a multi-year deal had "gotten worse." The Patriots were offering him a deal worth less than the $16 million 2 year deal he declined in 2011.

Instead, the Patriots seem perfectly willing to pay him $9.5 million for 2012, then allow him to become a free agent in 2013. They could franchise him again, but that would cost the Pats over $10 million.

People are scratching their heads at the Patriots' decision. Why offer him less than $8 million a season? I understand the injury worry reluctance with a 31 year old WR, but there was no reluctance when they made the offer in 2011. Why lower the bid? What if Welker remains healthy and the Pats want to keep him. By franchising him, they'd be paying him $21 million for two seasons, instead of $16M for two years.

My guess, and I can't emphasize the word GUESS enough, is that if Welker has a productive, healthy 2012, the Patriots won't franchise him for 2013. They'll give him a 2 or 3 year deal or let him leave. A year from now, Welker will want a multi-year deal even more than he does now. The Pats can then offer him a 2 year, $17 million deal. Or if Welker's not as productive, or if other WRs step up in 2012, the Patriots can let him leave.

People like Tony Massoratti are confused by what the Patriots are doing. So am I. But just because you and I don't see what the Patriots' plan is, doesn't mean they're operating without one.

And I think Massoratti insinuating that the Patriots are trying to teach Wes Welker a "who's boss" lesson is baseless, inflammatory, and foolish. The Patriots don't make personnel decisions with vindictiveness. More importantly, they don't do things that could potentially hurt the W-L column just to make a silly little point.

I think Welker's being unfairly criticized too. His intelligence has been questioned for signing a franchise tender then being surprised that the Pats aren't giving him what he wants after he surrendered all leverage.

Wes Welker is a football player, not an agent, not a lawyer, not a professional negotiator. He majored in management at Texas Tech but I'm sure his minor in the spread offense consumed most of his study time.

David Dunn and Brian Murphy are Wes Welker's agents. An agent's job is to get their client what they want. Baseball players who want money hire Scott Boras. And they get money. Dunn and Murphy don't seem to be doing a good job of getting Welker what he wants.

More than that, Dunn and Murphy have completely failed to make their client understand the situation. Welker got tired of sitting around, so he decided to give in. Dunn and Murphy didn't seem to explain to Welker that he'd be giving up all his leverage, and he'd have to do anything the Patriots wanted him to do.

Wes Welker seems like a nice, naive guy. I'm looking at the web-site for Dunn and Murhpy's agency, and they seem nice too. They seem like an agency that wants to give their clients a Jerry Maguire level of personal service. Which is great. Welker seems like a guy who'd want to have an agency that cares about him, not one that sees him solely as a paycheck.

But when you make decisions like that, you have to accept being pushed around when you want to play hardball. The Patriots aren't going to play anything but hardball with their players. Nor should they.

I sympathize with Welker, but he decided to draw a line in the sand. He and his representation were playing by rules in a game that doesn't have any. They were never going to win this fight.

At the same time, Welker will be getting $9.5 million to play football. It's difficult to feel bad for him for too long.

-The Captain

Wes Welker Is Dumb

Wes Welker, who signed his $9.5 million franchise tender this week, told the Boston Herald in a phone interview Thursday that talks with the Patriots have gone downhill.

“There have been talks, but nothing that’s brightened anything at all,” Welker told Karen Guregian. “It’s actually gotten worse.”

When asked by the Herald to define "worse," Welker said that the Patriots' current offer is less than the two-year, $16 million offer he rejected from the Patriots during the 2011 regular season (WEEI).

Wes I love ya buddy, but what the fuck did you think was going to happen. Any leverage you had went out the door when you signed your franchise tender. You have nothing now, the Patriots will be fine with just keeping you on one year deals, and why wouldn't they? If they don't have to commit to a 31 year old WR, they aren't going to. Guess what happens if you produce at the same level? They are going to do it again!

Welker is dumb if he really thought by signing the tender the Patriots were actually going to offer him MORE money. It's a business, and the less guaranteed money a team has to commit the better.

Wes Welker Likely to Sign Franchise Tender (UPDATED)

Wes Welker stated he had "9.5 million reasons to play" football in 2012. The remark essentially announced that he would accept the franchise tag and not holdout.

This is great news for the Patriots, who have added a busload of players at WR, but none of them are as prolific as Welker. Brady is extremely comfortable with Welker, and the two have been in sync since Welker arrived in New England in 2007.

It doesn't look like he'll participate in off-season workouts. But will be dressing in blue, red, silver, and white when the games mean something.

This off-season has been the most anticipation-building Patriots' off-season since 2006-07.

-The Captain


***UPDATE***

Welker tweeted at 1:31 p.m.: "I signed my tender today. I love the game and I love my teammates! Hopefully doing the right thing gets the right results. #leapoffaith."

Joseph Addai Is A Patriot

The Patriots have agreed to a contract with former Colts running back Joseph Addai, according to a league source.

I'm not a Patriots fan, but I have loved what they have done this offseason. To the Captain's dismay they traded up in the draft and drafted on position of need. Although I'm starting to think they should have drafted Courtney Upshaw, he's a better fit and will be more of a versatile players than Dont'a Hightower. But this Joseph Addai signing is great, figuring he can keep the Kevin Faulk roll going, not only because he went to LSU as well, but because he is a really good pass catching back.

It's hard to judge Addai on the past couple of years because the Colts have gone away from running the ball as frequently as they once did when Addai was younger. Also, Addai will be a great insurance policy if Stevan Ridley and Shane Vareen are not ready to take over the every down back roll.

2012 Top 25 Under 25: #13 Rob Gronkowski

Born: May 14, 1989 (age 22)
Team: New England Patriots
Position: TE

Odd to have a tight end be up this high on the list, but not after the season Gronk just had. Last year Gronk had 90 catcher for 1,327 yards (14.7 average) and 17 TDs. Not to mention the 258 yards and 3 TDs he had in the playoffs also. That is just insane. He might be one of the dumbest people in the NFL, but the kid is a beast and at age 22 we could be seeing one of the great TE's of all time if he can stay healthy.

Look at the record he has already set (Wiki)...

- Youngest player with 3 touchdown receptions in a game: 21 years, 214 days (2010, vs. Pittsburgh Steelers)

- Youngest player with 3 touchdown receptions in a game, playoffs: 22 years, 275 days (2011 playoffs, vs. Denver Broncos)

- Most touchdown receptions by a tight end, season: 17 (2011)

- Most touchdowns by a tight end, season: 18 (2011)

- First tight end to lead the league in receiving touchdowns (2011)

- Most receiving yards by a tight end, season: 1,327 (2011)

I do worry about his health long term, but when you're 22 and setting records like that you know you're one of the best in the NFL.

Patriots Sign Jabar Gaffney

Gaffney told Josina Anderson of ESPN that he will be signing a deal with the Patriots soon. The Redskins cut him just the other day and I think we all knew it wouldn't take him too long to find a home after leading the Redskins in almost every WR category (68 catches, 947 yards 5 TDs).

This is going to get very interesting for the Patriots now. The Patriots have added Brandon Lloyd, Donte’ Stallworth and Anthony Gonzalez to a receiving group that already included Deion Branch, Chad Ochocinco and Julian Edelman. Plus Wes Welker will be back as long as he doesn't holdout.

Gaffney was a much better player (state wise) after he left the Patriots, so it will be interesting to see how he does, and who makes the team. One would think this could be the end of Ochocinco.

I Don't Mind What Harbaugh Said

When someone first told me that Baltimore Raven's Head Coach John Harbaugh said something about the Patriots and SpyGate and asterisks, I got pissed. How dare he? That bastard!

Then I looked past the inflammatory headlines, and actually heard what Harbaugh said. And it wasn't that bad. Here's the quote:

"In the end, everything is brought before the light of day, when it’s all said and done. What happens, even the thing in New England, no matter whether those things had any impact on whether they won their championships or not, they got asterisks now. It’s been stained.

"To me, it’s never worth it. You have to figure out ways to use the rules to your advantage, you have to figure out ways to make the most of everything. We have new work rules here as far as what we can do and what we can’t do with our players, and we're going to make the most of it. What we're finding is, man, maybe we can do some things even better than we did before, because these rules make us focus more on some things that we didn’t focus on before. You just have to make them work for you. That’s what success is in the world. You have to find a way to do things better than somebody else. But if you’re cheating, in the end, you’re going to get discredited. It’s not worth it."

To me, as a Patriots fan, the key words he said are "...whether those things had any impact on whether they won their championships or not..." That's a qualifying statement. That tells us that he's not belittling the Patriots' Super Bowl wins, he's not saying they should have asterisks attached to those wins. He's talking about the perception of those championships. How some people view those championships.

And he's right. Many people do not think the Patriots truly deserved to win those titles. I disagree with them, but I can't deny that such people exist.

And these people are not just the Arlen Specters of the world, not just whiny Jets fans. There are people inside the NFL too. And Harbaugh would know better than any of us what the perception of those titles are in the League.

Harbaugh was being asked about the Saints, he mentioned New England as another example of a team that cheated (yes, the Patriots cheated, breaking the rules is cheating. I don't think it affected the outcome of games, but it was a violation of the rules). All he talked about was perception. He didn't talk about how HE saw Belichick and the Patriots. He talked about how Belichick and the Pats are seen by OTHERS.

And he wasn't incorrect.

-The Captain

Patriots Draft Defensively

The Patriots selected 7 players in the 2012 NFL Draft. And 6 of them play on the defensive side of the ball. Two linemen, a linebacker, and three defensive backs. Although one of those DBs is essentially a pure special teamer.

We know about Jones and Hightower. The fanbase seems pleased with that. But I'm sure they'll find something to bitch and moan about once Training Camp starts.

In the 2nd round, the Patriots drafted Tavon Wilson. Which shocked the experts who projected Wilson to go in the 6th or 7th round, if at all. Certainly not with the 48th overall pick in the draft. He wasn't even invited to the NFL Combine in Indianapolis.

Wilson is strong and versatile. He's 6' 0" and 205 pounds. He started three years at Illinois and switched between safety and cornerback. He also plays special teams. The more you learn about him, the more he seems like the type of guy the Patriots want and need.

Last season, the Patriots' defensive backfield was a hodgepodge, to put it politely. The 8-15 yard curl in the flat was open on every down. The Pats' secondary focused on not allowing 40 yard TD passes, and didn't even bother to cover huge swaths of territory underneath that.

They need versatility. They need reliability. Wilson is not a shutdown corner. That type of guy would be great, but I don't know if that would be enough to solve the Patriots' problems. Huge holes in the zone would still be there.

Wilson seems like a smart player. One that's easy to coach. The Pats' DBs last season were not very savvy. The defense had to be simplified to suit their talents and their awareness.

This guy will find his way onto the field. He'll play special teams, obviously, and the Pats' DB depth chart presents an opportunity for any young player to work his way to a starting role.

In the 3rd round, the Patriots took Jake Bequette, a defensive end from Arkansas. The all SEC pass rusher recorded 10 sacks his senior season. He's 6' 5" 271 pounds and can play as an OLB or a DE.

He missed 3 games because of a hamstring issue. And the word is he's not that great as an edge rusher. But I'll take an All-SEC defensive end with the 90th overall pick. That's fine. He seems like he has tremendous upside. And even if he doesn't fully reach that level, his versatility will help him find a role on the team.

The Pats didn't pick again until the 6th round. They took Nate Ebner, who didn't play football in high school. He played rugby. And he walked on to the Ohio State football team and became a special teams specialist. He was drafted as a safety but only played three snaps at that position his senior year.

Ebner's true position is a special teams psycho. He claims to enjoy the "mayhem" of kickoff coverage most of all.

Rugby players are crazy.

In the 6th round, the odds are slim of drafting a guy who will make an impact in one of the 22 regular positions. So draft an insane rugby player and put him on special teams. You're much more likely to get a positive contribution from him than from a 6th round RB or offensive tackle.

And maybe if the Dolphins try to get clever with some sort of Wildcat 2.0 formation, or if the Jets use Tebow in the option, Ebner can use his rugby experience to counter that. Especially the option, which is very similar to rugby plays.

The Patriots drafted a project/accused criminal in the 7th round. Alfonzo Dennard has ridiculous talent, and was a shutdown corner in the Big Ten for Nebraska. But he ended his senior season with an ejection in the CapitalOne Bowl.

Then he had a disappointing combine.

Oh, and he was in jail as recently as last week for resisting being placed in custody and assaulting a police officer. The story is that he was being belligerent outside a bar, was asked twice by police to leave the area, and was later seen pushing and punching another person in the same area. Police tried to put him in custody, he resisted, more pushing and punching with the cops, and hence the arrest.

This is a first round talent taken in the 7th round. This guy might sound like a bit of a loser, but the Patriots can't lose on this pick.

I have no idea how well Belichick and the locker room leaders will do to help Dennard to get his act together. But if he doesn't, he won't get 3 chances like he did with the cops in Lincoln. He'll get 1.

In the entire NFL Draft, Dennard might have the biggest gap between his potential upside and his potential downside. He's talented enough to be in the Pro Bowl. He's also capable of winding up in prison. Belichick is probably thrilled with this pick. And so is whoever coaches football at the Correctional Institution in Walpole.

The Patriots took a receiver with their last pick. Jeremy Ebert out of Northwestern. He caught 75 passes his senior season, for 1,065 yards and 11 touchdowns. That's nothing to dismiss lightly. He might have trouble finding a roster spot considering how many people are vying for a spot on the WR list.

He's 5' 11" and 200 pounds, but this guy might just find his way on the roster in September.

I definitely give this pick two thumbs up (get it? because his name is Ebert). As I give to the whole draft. Exciting playmakers in the first round, a guy who seems like a reliable defensive back in the 2nd, an All-SEC pass rusher in the 3rd, then it got weird. A rugby player in the 6th, an alleged criminal in the 7th, then a guy with great numbers to end the 7th.

It's always tough to gauge the success of a draft before any of these players even get numbers assigned to them, let alone take the field, let alone play a game. But I think the Patriots have drastically improved the potential quality of their defense. And if just one or two of these guys work out, the Patriots' defensive unit will be much better in 2012.

-The Captain

Draft Grades

New England Patriots: B
Round Pick Position Player College
(1) 21 DE Chandler Jones Syracuse
(1) 25 LB Dont'a Hightower Alabama
(2) 48 S Tavon Wilson Illinois
(3) 90 DE Jake Bequette Arkansas
(6) 197 CB Nate Ebner Ohio State
(7) 224 CB Alfonzo Dennard Nebraska
(7) 235 WR Jeremy Ebert Northwestern
I would have given the Patriots an A if they didn't reach on Tavon Wilson and trade that last 2nd round pick. Wilson seems like an absolute special teamer for life. However, I love the Chandler Jones pick, it may take some time and he may not be THE GUY immediately, but he can be a monster later. The only thing I ponder is whether the Patriots would have been better off taking Courtney Upshaw who can play immediately and be as impactful THIS year. I love the Dont'a Hightower pick, he's a mean motherfucker, he's somewhat versatile, I'm intrigued by how the Patriots are going to use him. I also love the Alfonzo Dennard pick, I see no risk in taking a potential top 2 talent in the 7th round, could be a steal here and potentially way more impactful than Wilson who they took in the 2nd.

Pittsburgh Steelers: A

Round Pick Position Player College
(1) 24 G David DeCastro Stanford
(2) 56 T Mike Adams Ohio State
(3) 86 LB Sean Spence Miami (FL)
(4) 109 NT Alameda Ta'amu Washington
(5) 159 RB Chris Rainey Florida
(7) 231 WR Toney Clemons Colorado
(7) 240 TE David Paulson Oregon
(7) 246 CB Terrence Frederick Texas A&M
(7) 248 T Kelvin Beachum Southern Methodist
I have never been so excited to see my team select offensive line players. David Decastro was supposed to be selected mid first so for him to fall to them in the late 1st is a steal. he is already getting Alan Faneca comparisons, always a good thing. Mike Adams was another steal here, who could have been a 1st round player if he didn't get caught smoking pot, he convinced the Steelers he's not an asshole and he will be a good soldier from now on. The Steelers line is finally coming together with Pouncy, DeCastro and Adams. Sean Spence is your token Dick LeBeau guy, will be a fast rushing LB and Alameda Ta'amu will be the heir apparent for Casey Hampton. Ta'amu isn't the best pass rusher but he is perfect for a 3-4, he's fat and will clog up the middle. Chris Rainey will be an explosive option in every facet in their offensive game.

Philadelphia Eagles: A

Round Pick Position Player College
(1) 12 DT Fletcher Cox Mississippi State
(2) 46 LB Mychal Kendricks California
(2) 59 DE Vinny Curry Marshall
(3) 88 QB Nick Foles Arizona
(4) 123 CB Brandon Boykin Georgia
(5) 153 T Dennis Kelly Purdue
(6) 194 WR Marvin McNutt Iowa
(6) 200 G Brandon Washington Miami (FL)
(7) 229 RB Bryce Brown Kansas State

Fletcher Cox is a god damn monster. The Eagles were atrocious with their stopping the rush, so what did they do? Got Flethcer Cox at DT than Mychael Kendricks at ILB and then Vinny Curry at DE. These are 3 guys who can be groomed into that defensive line and be a huge factor. I also love Nick Foles, I like his crazy hair, and I like his arm. It's not a bad thing to add a QB with fragile Vick back there.

Baltimore Ravens: B

Round Pick Position Player College
(2) 35 LB Courtney Upshaw Alabama
(2) 60 T Kelechi Osemele Iowa State
(3) 84 RB Bernard Pierce Temple
(4) 98 G Gino Gradkowski Delaware
(4) 130 S Christian Thompson South Carolina State
(5) 169 CB Asa Jackson Cal Poly
(6) 198 WR Tommy Streeter Miami (FL)
(7) 236 DE Deangelo Tyson Georgia

I loved their first 3 picks. They traded out of the 1st round and still ended up with Courtney Upshaw, it's ridiculous. How do teams allow this to happen? Upshaw is a huge talent and a mean defensive player and the Ravens find a replacement for Jarrett Johnson right off the bat. Osemele is a starter on the line and Bennard Pierce is a great "in case" player if/when Ray Rice goes down.

Green Bay Packers: A

Round Pick Position Player College
(1) 28 DE Nick Perry USC
(2) 51 DT Jerel Worthy Michigan State
(2) 62 CB Casey Hayward Vanderbilt
(4) 132 DT Mike Daniels Iowa
(4) 133 S Jeron McMillian Maine
(5) 163 LB Terrell Manning North Carolina State
(7) 241 T Andrew Datko Florida State
(7) 243 QB B.J. Coleman Chattanooga

Love everything they did here. The Packers were horrendous on defense, so they drafted mostly defensive players. Nick Perry can be a monster and adds versatility, Jerel Worthy was a 1st round talent and Casey Hayward is going to be able to be huge in that nickle formation. They just got a whole lot better on the pass rush and now will not be a defense composed of 3 people (Matthews, Raji and Woodson).

New York Giants: B

Round Pick Position Player College
(1) 32 RB David Wilson Virginia Tech
(2) 63 WR Rueben Randle LSU
(3) 94 CB Jayron Hosley Virginia Tech
(4) 127 TE Adrien Robinson Cincinnati
(4) 131 T Brandon Mosley Auburn
(6) 201 T Matt McCants UAB
(7) 239 DT Markus Kuhn North Carolina State

They didn't need much, but they still got some excellent talent. I would have preferred Lamar Miller over David Wilson but whatever they needed RB help. But the pick I love is Rueben Randle. Randle is a big receiver who was not talked a lot about in the SEC because shitstain Jefferson was throwing him the ball at SEC. Randle can be a big time replacement for Mario Manningham and will be another tool for Eli to throw to.

New Orleans Saints: C

Round Pick Position Player College
(3) 90 DT Akiem Hicks Regina, Can.
(4) 122 WR Nick Toon Wisconsin
(5) 162 S Corey White Samford
(6) 179 G Andrew Tiller Syracuse
(7) 234 T Marcel Jones Nebraska

Akeim Hicks was at LSU before moving to Canada and has some upside, and Toon sounds awfully like Marques Colston.

New York Jets: B

Round Pick Position Player College
(1) 16 DE Quinton Coples North Carolina
(2) 43 WR Stephen Hill Georgia Tech
(3) 77 LB Demario Davis Arkansas State
(6) 187 S Josh Bush Wake Forest
(6) 202 RB Terrance Ganaway Baylor
(6) 203 G Robert Griffin Baylor
(7) 242 S Antonio Allen South Carolina
(7) 244 WR Jordan White Western Michigan

I love the Coples pick and I love the Hill pick. Quinton Coples is a hell of a talent, there are reports that he took some games off at UNC, but this kid can be a huge talent for Rex Ryans defense. And Stephen Hill can replace Plaxico Burress as that tall receiver, it also doesn't hurt that he runs a 4.3 40. I know he only had 40-something catches at Georgia Tech his WHOLE career, but they ran an option offense, so you can't really hold that against him.

Cleveland Browns: A

Round Pick Position Player College
(1) 3 RB Trent Richardson Alabama
(1) 22 QB Brandon Weeden Oklahoma State
(2) 37 T Mitchell Schwartz California
(3) 87 DT John Hughes Cincinnati
(4) 100 WR Travis Benjamin Miami (FL)
(4) 120 LB James-Michael Johnson Nevada
(5) 160 G Ryan Miller Colorado
(6) 204 LB Emmanuel Acho Texas
(6) 205 DT Billy Winn Boise State
(7) 245 CB Trevin Wade Arizona
(7) 247 TE Brad Smelley Alabama

I absolutely love what the Browns did this draft, they got the next Adrian Peterson, and they got the 3rd best QB in Brandon Weeded late in the 1st. Brandon Weeden is 28, but is a much better option than Colt McCoy. You got a starting tackle in Schwartz (plus a funny name) and travis benjamin is a decent WR.

That's all I care to write on this, if you have any more questions, ask.

Patriots Shock Everyone By Doing Exactly What Fans Wanted

Yesterday I wrote a lengthy preemptive explanation of how the Patriots draft. I was expecting the fans of New England to be pissed today, as they usually are the day after the Patriots' activities in the first round.

Instead, the fans are happy. I'm happy. And I think that the Mayan end-of-the-world prophecy is happy too.

When Roger Goodell announced that the Patriots had made a move up in the draft, he might as well have been opening the Fifth Seal of the Apocalypse.

The Pats sent their 27th overall pick, along with their 3rd round pick (93rd overall) to the Bengals for the 21st pick. And they selected DE Chandler Jones from Syracuse.

Jones is a big man (6' 5" and 265 pounds) that has a big frame he can grow into. He only played 7 games of his junior year due to a knee injury in the middle of the season. But he totaled 4.5 sacks, 38 tackles, 2 forced fumbles, and an interception. Which he returned for 32 yards.

He's an edge rusher. And if he lives up to his potential, the combination of him and Vince Wilfork could present opposing offensive lines with serious problems.

Minutes later, as the First Round zoomed by, the Patriots did it again. They made a deal with Denver, sending their 31st overall pick, along with their 4th rounder (126th overall) in exchange for the 25th pick.

With that, they drafted Alabama linebacker Dont'a Hightower.

Hightower is another large man. 6' 2" and 265. He can do just about everything that a linebacker could do. He can play in all defensive situations. That's something that Bill Belichick covets. And so does Nick Saban. Belichick loves drafting Saban coached players.

With Hightower's flexibility, he'll find a place in the Pats' LB corps. Which was already kind of good, if a little bit dull. Mayo is solid. Spikes showed some sparks last season.

The Pats like to mix up defensive formations, especially up front. Hightower's versatility enhances the Pats' ability to do that.

I'm not a huge fan of trading up. But the Patriots didn't give up much to move ahead. As Belichick noted in his post-draft press conference, they didn't give up any of their 2nd round picks to do so.

And I think these two particular players struck them as good fits. They didn't just get a pass rusher and a linebacker, they got two guys that they feel will excel in Foxborough.

So enjoy it, Pats fans. The Patriots did what you wanted.

Draft Recap Day 1

PICK TEAM PLAYER POS
1 Colts Andrew Luck QB
2 Redskins Robert Griffin III QB
3 Browns Trent Richardson RB
4 Vikings Matt Kalil OT
5 Jaguars Justin Blackmon WR
6 Cowboys Morris Claiborne CB
7 Buccaneers Mark Barron SS
8 Dolphins Ryan Tannehill QB
9 Panthers Luke Kuechly ILB
10 Bills Stephon Gilmore CB
11 Chiefs Dontari Poe DT
12 Eagles Fletcher Cox DT
13 Cardinals Michael Floyd WR
14 Rams Michael Brockers DT
15 Seahawks Bruce Irvin DE
16 Jets Quinton Coples DE
17 Bengals Dre Kirkpatrick CB
18 Chargers Melvin Ingram DE
19 Bears Shea McClellin DE
20 Titans Kendall Wright WR
21 Patriots Chandler Jones DE
22 Browns Brandon Weeden QB
23 Lions Riley Reiff OT
24 Steelers David DeCastro G
25 Patriots Dont'a Hightower ILB
26 Texans Whitney Mercilus DE
27 Bengals Kevin Zeitler G
28 Packers Nick Perry DE
29 Vikings Harrison Smith FS
30 49ers A.J. Jenkins WR
31 Buccaneers Doug Martin RB
32 Giants David Wilson RB


Winners;
Patriots: Chandler Jones DE and Dont'a Hightower ILB. I may hate the Patriots but I love this draft. The funny thing about this is that when our own Captain of Bill Belichick Jr wrote this longwinded post about how he figured out how the Patriots drafted and that all us normal people are too stupid to figure out. The Patriots did exactly the opposite of the formula he created, the Patriots traded up TWICE to get to positions of NEED. I'm not the biggest Jones fan but I do like what he brings with his potential pass rush upside. Dont'a Hightower is my boy from Alabama and he is one nasty motherfucker, that being said, I don't know where he will fit in the Patriots system (I thought Courtney Upshaw may have been a better fit to be honest) but with the Patriots being awful on the defensive end, I don't see him hurting them. Drafting a Nick Saban player is always a good gamble.

Cleveland: Trent Richardson and Brandon Weeden. They got two players that will help them immediately. People shy away from having a RB be a dominant force of your offense, but I think Richardson has Adrian Peterson upside. And With Brandon Weeden (who I liked better than Tannehill) they will have a solid QB for at least 5-6 years. Weeden may be 28, but he can hurl the ball. People are hating on the Browns, but I like their go for it attitude.

Vikings; Matt Kalil and Harrison Smith, they traded back a lot, and they still got what they wanted in Kalil and a good safety in Smith. I loved what they did here and it will be huge later.

Losers;
Seattle Seahawks: Bruce Irvin OLB, There were so many other options available and they chose someone they could have got in the 2nd round. I hated this pick and it seems they panic'd after watching Luke Kuechly going 9.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Missed out on Claiborn and Richardson. I'm not saying that Mark Barron and Doug Martin were bad picks, but they missed out on the best defensive player and best non qb offensive player.

Patriots Draft Preview

In this century, the Patriots are the most successful Boston sports team. Yet their moves are also the most heavily critiqued. Perhaps because those moves are the least understood by their fans.

That's not a knock on Pats fans. The football salary cap is the most complex in of all sports. Football rosters are also more than twice the size of the other sports. The pursuit of the best talent at the best price in the NFL is more complicated than buying and selling options on the Taiwanese bond market.

I have no idea who the Patriots will draft tonight. I have no idea what position he'll play. I don't know if the Patriots will make any trades with their picks. But I do know that the Patriots' Draft Day isn't random. There is a system in place, a strategy. There is a certain approach to the Draft that is distinctively Patriot-like.

There's an assessment of value, risk, and payoff. The Pats' War Room is more like the Chicago Board of Trade or New York Stock Exchange than a gathering of football minds.

As an outsider, I've tried to understand how and why the Patriots draft the way they do. And these are the rules/guidelines/strategies that I see:

TRADING FOR A BETTER PICK IS USUALLY A WORSE RISK:

Fans lament that the Patriots don't trade up and draft superior talent. There's a good reason they don't, and it isn't just to hoard picks for the future. There's a risk involved with every pick. In the NFL Draft, you're only selecting talent. With each player, there's a significant chance that they won't work out in the NFL. There's no way to predict how a player will react to the independence, to the money, to the competition, to being a big fish in a big pond.

If you trade up in the Draft, you are going to acquire superior talent. Which means the potential payoff is higher. But you're also risking more. Since you used other picks to move up, you're paying a higher price. Unnecessarily so. It's like betting more on a roulette wheel. You'll win more if you win, but lose more if you lose.

If the pick doesn't work, you'll also have inferior remaining picks to make up for the shortcoming. So not only do you risk more when you trade-up, you have weaker insurance to recover if the pick doesn't work out.

And typically to move up in the draft, you have to overpay. Look at what the Redskins paid to draft RG3. Even if RG3 turns out to be a superstar, the price was still ridiculous. And too much of a risk. RG3 might work out in Washington, but it's still a bad move. Bad moves sometimes work out. Good moves sometimes don't.

FUTURE PICKS ARE WORTH THE SAME AS PICKS NOW:
Speaking of the RG3 trade...

You see these kinds of deals all the time. Team A sends future picks to get Team B's superior picks in the current draft. And what you also see is the Patriots emerging from each draft with a load of future picks in their pocket.

Some teams seem to think that a 2013 pick is less valuable than a 2012 pick. And it isn't. They're worth the same. You can draft the same caliber of player and retain their talent for the same amount of time.

We're all fans and we all want our team to improve as much as possible right now on Draft Day. And every team has some area that it really needs to improve. But the need to improve will be just as pressing next April. The value of a pick now is the same as a pick next year. The Patriots take advantage of teams that are desperate to improve right now and are willing to sell future picks for a low cost.

Let's say I offered you a Hawaii vacation for $1,000. Does it matter if you take the vacation now or a year from now? Not really, not in the long run. And now let's say I offered you the same vacation package for $1,000 if you go now, or $800 if you go next year. Which would you take?

TWO PICKS ARE BETTER THAN ONE (AND NOT BECAUSE TWO PLAYERS ARE BETTER THAN ONE, THEY USUALLY AREN'T):
Two good picks are better than one great pick because of risk. As I mentioned earlier, each player drafted might not work out in the NFL. There's unpredictability. A way to manage that risk is to make more picks.

The Patriots love to increase their number of picks. And it's not because they want more players. It's because they want to have a better chance of getting players that will produce in the NFL.

Let's say I have $1,000 to gamble on NFL games. I could put it all on one game. But something crazy could happen, like an injury or a missed field goal. I don't want to put all my eggs in one basket. It's safer to bet $200 on 5 games. A crazy thing might still happen, but one or even two crazy things won't mess up my entire day of betting.

That's kind of what the Patriots do with their vast pool of draft picks. They know that each player has a chance of failure. So they'd rather spread that chance of failure around instead of hoping one guy works out. It's a safer, smarter way to invest.

And that's what these picks are: investments.

DON'T DRAFT BASED ON POSITION:

This is a classic gripe of Patriots fans. The Pats don't draft based on their needs or wants at certain positions.

The Patriots draft the best talent available when they pick.

If you have the 30th pick, and you need a linebacker, and there's one available. Why not pick him? If he's worth a 30th overall pick then fine. But if he's worth the 40th pick then it's a bad move to take him.

Why reach? Why use the 30th pick to take someone who is worth a 40th pick? Picks are like money. And players are like groceries. It's like spending $10 on a head of lettuce just because you need a salad to complete a meal. Just go without the salad and buy more pork because it's on sale. You won't go hungry. You'll just have a different looking meal that's stronger in another area.

Besides, drafting based on what you need tends to be a bad idea anyway, even if the price is right. There is a significant chance that the player drafted won't work out. So you spend that pick to get someone, he doesn't work out, and you're in exactly the same situation only you've lost that pick.

If you really need help at a position, it's better to sign and trade for players who have NFL experience. It's much easier to predict how well they will fill that need.

You'll end every draft with needs. You'll start every season with needs. You should try to fill them. But if you overspend picks and cap space to fill that need, you'll just create needs at other positions. And you'll have fewer resources to try to address those needs.

The Patriots need a CB, for instance. If they acquired Asante Samuel and his hefty contract, they'd address their need at CB but create a need somewhere else because of all the cap money Samuel would consume.

You don't help yourself, you hurt yourself.

We're all fans, and we're all excited to see the Patriots improve themselves. We get giddy at the idea of some star linebacker wearing a Patriots jersey. But the guys running the Pats' Draft aren't fans. This is their business. And they treat it like a business.

Fans like to point out anecdotal evidence of picks not working out. I know 98.5's Felger and Mazz were heavily criticizing the Patriots' Draft strategy yesterday. I think it makes sense. I think it works out. It builds consistency. The Patriots don't draft amazingly well, but they always find themselves rich with picks. Which allows them to stay competitive year after year.

And for this year's Draft, the only thing I can predict is that Pats fans will be upset after tonight.

-The Captain

Patriots' 2012 Schedule

The NFL released its 2012 schedule last night. And I have to say that I'm pleased with the Pats' 2012 slate of games. The Pats opponents aren't particularly tough. They'll play 4 games against 2011 playoff teams. That's the absolute minimum. And they're home against 3 of those 4 playoff teams.

Here's the schedule:

Week 1: Sun 9/9 - @ Tennessee Titans - 1:00pm (CBS)
Week 2: Sun 9/16 - vs. Arizona Cardinals - 1:00pm (Fox)
Week 3: Sun 9/23 - @ Baltimore Ravens - 8:20pm (NBC)
Week 4: Sun 9/30 - @ Buffalo Bills - 1:00pm (CBS)
Week 5: Sun 10/7 - vs. Denver Broncos - 4:15pm (CBS)
Week 6: Sun 10/14 - @ Seattle Seahawks - 4:15pm (CBS)
Week 7: Sun 10/21 - vs. New York Jets - 4:15pm (CBS)
Week 8: Sun 10/28 - @ St. Louis Rams (London) - 1:00pm (CBS)
Week 9: BYE
Week 10: Sun 11/11 - vs. Buffalo Bills - 1:00pm (CBS)
Week 11: Sun 11/18 - vs. Indianapolis Colts - 1:00pm (CBS)
Week 12: Thu 11/22 - @ New York Jets - 8:20pm (NBC)
Week 13: Sun 12/2 - @ Miami Dolphins - 1:00pm (CBS)
Week 14: Mon 12/10 - vs. Houston Texans - 8:30pm (ESPN)
Week 15: Sun 12/16 - vs. San Francisco 49ers - 8:20pm (NBC)
Week 16: Sun 12/23 - @ Jacksonville Jaguars - 1:00pm (CBS)
Week 17: Sun 12/30 - vs. Miami Dolphins - 1:00pm (CBS)

The more I look at the schedule, the happier I get. The Patriots were going to travel to Florida twice this season. And both times will be in the mildness December, not in the sweltering heat and humidity of September.

The Pats also host two warm weather teams in December: The Dolphins and Texans.

Five of the last 8 games are at home. Most of the AFC East games are in the second half of the schedule.

The only rough part of the Pats' schedule is their preseason schedule. It's just weird. They open up on August 9th at home against New Orleans. Then don't play again for 10 days. Then it's the Eagles on Monday August 20th, at Tampa Bay on Friday the 24th, then at the Giants on Wednesday the 29th. Three games in 10 days. Just weird.

But I'll take the odd preseason schedule in return for the favorable regular season schedule.

-The Captain