He's 37 but he's an interesting 3rd or 4th option. I'd honestly be a whole lot happier if they concentrated on signing Shaun Springs at CB, and maybe use one of those 2nd round picks to look for WR depth.

I'm personally more interested in Galloway and Leigh Bodden than Springs....but if Torry Holt is released, I'd rather have Holt than Galloway

....and I'm kind of holding out hope that a Peppers to NE trade is imminent

I don't think we have the leverage to land Peppers with Cassel already in KC. I wouldn't put it past Belichick to give up that first round pick for him though considering all the other quality draft picks we have.

Peppers would be one of two guys (Suggs too, but I think Peppers would be more likely) that would fill the hole left by Vrabel that would excite me....and I know it's not Belichick's job to excite the fans, but I don't think Taylor has anything left in the tank, and none of the free agents left seem like they'd be a good fit

if they could get old man galloway really cheap, i'd say go for it.

DO NOT WANT STONE HANDS.

always loved joey galloway, someone get this man a super bowl ring!

Eei is saying springs is signed by the pats

SHAAAAAAUN SPRINGS. I'm about it. If the Raiders hadn't coughed up DeAngelo Hall, Springs would still be a starting corner. Solid veteran, and for the first time in a while we'll have a corner that's 6 feet.

Schefter is reporting Pats trade a condidtional draft pick to the Eagles for Greg Lewis

I heard they might be lookin at Roy Williams after he just ran screaming from Dallas.

If Shaun Springs stays healthy his fit in NE will be perfect. He will definitely help groom a young Wheatly.

I am looking forward to what Wheatley and Wilhite do this coming season, I think both will be vastly improved by the end of the season

Plus, after last season they might have grabbed a true diamond in the rough with Gary Guyton. He didn't get a hell of a lot of playing time last year, but for an undrafted walk-on, he was pretty damn good in his rookie season.
No matter who they sign and draft this year (although I can tell there are D linebackers Bill B has his eye on in the draft.) they could rebuild a young and dangerous defensive line based around a freak named Jarod Mayo.

I think they have a bunch of people they'd be eyeing in the draft for the 1st round, mostly LBs....namely the three USC LBs (Rey Maualuga, Brian Cushing, Clay Matthews), Aaron Maybin from Penn State, and Clint Sintim from Virginia (who would be a reach at #23, but not at #34)...chances are if they want Cushing or Matthews, they'd have to trade up though

I do like Guyton (he was the fastest LB at last year's combine, but somehow went undrafted), and he should make some strides this year as well. Keep your eye on Shawn Crable too. He dominated in preseason last year (I know preseason doesn't mean shit, but he showed alot of promise) before getting hurt. He should be at the very least a solid contributer to the Pats this season.

People are going to be talking about Gary Guyton like they talk about Mike Vrabel someday.

people talk about Vrabel, who the hell is he

Clay Matthews and James Laurinitius (sp?) I would bet are being eyeballed closely as both Patriots kind of linebackers and the most likely to grab with their picks. I think Matthews is possible because Maualuga and Cushing will go before him.
I agree about Guyton and I am very excited to see what Crable can do when he is 100% healthy in the regular season.

I hope they get Matthews, fast OLB.

I'm not high on Lauranitis, especially in a 3-4

I think they are high on him beause they believe he's adaptable to a 3-4 or whatever Belichek makes him do at any given time.

crable will replace vrabel.

In short, the Defence will go back to destroying teams in due time.

Imagine if we landed Ray Lewis? Damn nugga!

LOL @ TO Goin to Buffalo. Get ya buffalo wings ready!

Lookin more and more like the Pats will destroy again this year and more likely next.

Fine, fine work. I hope Tommy boy can shake the rust off quick enough, and stay healthy.

reportedly, Leigh Bodden signed a 1-year deal with the Pats

Source? I'm not seeing this anywhere.

EEI said someone reported it, but I wasn't paying attention until I heard Bodden's name, so I missed it

There it is. I like this move.

where is it?

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patr...ieces/2009/03/patriots_agree_2.html

"The 27-year-old Bodden was released by the Detroit Lions on Feb. 9, after a season in which he had one interception -- although it was the only interception by a defensive back for the 0-16 Lions, who had just four interceptions total last season."

that is mindblowing...WOW

haha 4 ints all season?

Well the Pats secondary finally has some good depth. I doubt they draft a cb round 1 or round 2 in the draft now.

while I agree, I really hope Nic Harris, the SS from Oklahoma, falls to them in the 3rd round.....he would be a hell of a pick

The Patriots pass rush is 100 fold better than anything the Lions have put together in the past decade. Give a quarterback all day to throw the ball and even Champ Bailey is going to have trouble getting interceptions. Bodden had 6 INTs with 75 yards total the season before that with the Browns.

I like his chances at improving those numbers with an intelligent Belichick 3-4 to work with.

I'm just shocked that Detroit was THAT bad that Bodden was the only DB on the whole team that had a pick all season.....that's just ridiculous to me

That's pretty surprising. But I just got finished reading about how Jeremy Shockey is actually expecting a new contract with the Saints. So I've already had my mind blown for the day.

lol true that

Shockey is such a prick

damn I liked having him on the Saints, I hope they get at least a 3rd and 4th for him.

A 3rd or 4th rounder for Shockey is a little optimistic unless he really shows up this season. I'm a Drew Brees fan much more than a Saints fan, and I think the most optimistic I can be about Shockey is that I hope Brees doesn't break his hand when he finally ends up punching him out for being a lazy asshole.

They might get a cheese sandwich for Shockey at best.

actually, the more I think of it, if Darrius Butler from UConn is there at #23, I think they'd have to think about taking him there:
http://www.walterfootball.com/pro2009dbutler.php

looks like he'll be at least a solid secondary playmaker in the pros

hey i gotta dream big since no one in the saints front office gives a shit

I'm tellin ya, Clay Matthews and/or James Laurinaitis are guys to watch. Andy Levitre, an Offensive Guard from Oregon State could be a second rounder to put some heat on Nick Kazur's ass. Jason Phillips an Inside Linebacker from TCU could be a deep pick as an overachiving old school goon kind of player.

Also I approve of getting Bodden. I think he'll put up numbers like he did in Cleveland no problem.
BTW, word on the street is that Belichek and Brady might be putting the squeeze on Jason Taylor to join the Pats. If they can pull that off for low money and then organize a contract for Vince Wilfork, this will already be a great off season even before the fucking draft.

p.s. I also forgot about Belichek's alleged manlove for Larry English, an DE/OLB from Northern Illinois.

I approve of everyone but Lauranitis....he just doesn't do it for me

I'd LOVE Matthews and English though

a buddy of mine is VERY high on this guy, and I'm starting to come around:
DE Connor Barwin, Cincinnati
Height: 6-4. Weight: 256.
Projected 40 Time: 4.60.
Combine 40 Time: 4.66.
Benchx225: 21. Vertical: 41.5.
Projected Round (2009): 2.
2/24/09: Connor Barwin had an outstanding combine. He's as close to a second-round lock as you can get. There are a ton of teams atop Round 2 looking for rush linebackers, so Barwin may go to one of them.

1/9/09: Connor Barwin finished strong, compiling 15 TFL, 11 sacks, seven passes broken up and three blocked kicks in 14 games.

11/16/08: Connor Barwin has emerged for the upstart Bearcats, registering seven sacks and 9.5 TFL. More impressively, he has three blocked kicks!

actually, getting both Matthews and English is extremely feasible....you'll probably have to trade up to the 10-14 range to get Matthews, but they can do that while keeping the pick they got from the Chiefs, and English should still be there at that pick

I'm not as psyched on Jason Taylor as a lot of people. He stint with the Redskins was a pretty fizzled effort. I don't know how much he has left in the tank, but if the price is right he could really help develop all these young linebackers.

All this draft talk makes me wish I followed college football more, because when draft time comes around I have to base all my hopes and opinions on secondhand information. Then I remember that college football bores me to no end, and I stop feeling bad about it.

3 blocked kicks by this Barwin kid is a pretty impressive stat.

I totally agree with you on Taylor, but if this were 2-3 years ago, I'd be all for it


Barwin, by some accounts, will probably be gone by pick #47, so either they reach for him at #34, or trade up/down for him (depending on what picks they have at that point)...he's only had one year at DE after converting from TE, which make his defensive stats evewn more impressive

I've been watching some Youtube highlights on some of these guys. Barwin is fast (4.49 in the 40), but my concern with him is that from what I've seen he doesn't demonstrated a lot of pass rush moves.

English isn't quite as fast but his tackling ability is superb. Then again, the fact that Belichick has mentioned him so many times makes me think he might be playing mind games.

yea, Belichick mentioning a player pre-draft typically means he doesn't want him

John Madden: "The Patriots are going to draft a football player with that pick they got from KC."

Thank God for John Madden to answer the hard hitting questions of the NFL.

Needs more fawning over a pill-addled redneck who doesn't know when to quit.

Almost 2 weeks later this finally comes to fruition.

JOEY GALLOWAY IS A PATRIOT.

huh what

A SMART COACH WOULD CALL THIS PLAY

blog on Barwin:

http://www.weei.com/sports/boston/patriots...barwin-busting-out-traditional-mold

they should've just kept stallworth and let him bring a car on the field. he'd be unstoppable, especially if nicco was driving.

resigned Tank Williams too, hmm