DID THE PATRIOTS TURN DOWN A FIRST-ROUND PICK?

[lamberts-lost-tooth]

DID THE PATRIOTS TURN DOWN A FIRST-ROUND PICK?
Posted by Gregg Rosenthal : Sunday, March 1, 2009 2:38 AM

I'm not in the habit of linking to ESPN videos, but the Chris Mortensen video posted tonight is too stunning to miss. (The information is stunning, not Mort's visage.)

Mort reports that the Patriots turned down a first- and third-round pick from the Bucs in a potential three-way trade that would have sent Matt Cassel to Denver and Jay Cutler to the Bucs. Instead, the Patriots chose a second-round pick from the Chiefs.

This defies all logic and belief, no matter how close you think Bill Belichick and Scott Pioli are.

The only explanation I can come up with, and this is admittedly pure speculation, is that New England's deal with the Chiefs was already agreed to. Mike Vrabel, after all, was in Kansas City for Friday. It's possible the terms of the Cassel deal were done before the Bucs and Broncos tried to jump in.

In that scenario, though, it's unclear why the other teams ever thought they had any chance. There was a brief window Saturday, after Adam Schefter initially reported the trade, when the deal appeared to be in question.

"Mystery teams" were mentioned on air as possibly getting involved, but the move quickly became official 20 minutes later. We know who those teams were now, but there are so many other unanswered questions.

Was the Chiefs trade ever truly close to falling apart? When was the deal agreed to? Was Cassel's contract hopes another piece to the puzzle?

Here's to hoping that better reporters than I can solve some of this mystery in the coming days. In the meantime, I'm going to sleep.

http://blogs.nbcsports.com/home/arch...own-a-f-1.html

Mods please move this if it is too much like previous post

thanx

[tony hipchest]

the theory i heard is that the patriots usually pay the majority of their players below market value.

bringing in an unproven rookie on a multi-million $$$ contract could be seen as a distraction and point of dissention amongst the veterans on the team.

in other words its just something belichick would prefer not to deal with in the name of locker room chemistry.

[lamberts-lost-tooth]

Originally Posted by tony hipchest

the theory i heard is that the patriots usually pay the majority of their players below market value.

bringing in an unproven rookie on a multi-million $$$ contract could be seen as a distraction and point of dissention amongst the veterans on the team.

in other words its just something belichick would prefer not to deal with in the name of locker room chemistry.

I understand that...I'm not real big on top ten 1st rounders myself...but the Bucs 1st rounder is at pick #19....which is considered a PRIME trading point.

Logic would dictate you take the Round 1 and Round 3...trade down from #19 and have the second round you covet and 2 more picks ..both possibly in the 3rd round.

..OR trade them for next year.

[steelreserve]

Anyone who offered more than a hard kick in the nutsack in exchange for Cassel is pretty much mentally retarded.

[RoethlisBURGHer]

Originally Posted by jaysee

if the bucs would have done that their fo is a bunch of morons and the patriots are morons for not accepting

Well who do the Buccs have to play QB?

Garcia is gone.

Luke McCown?

Cutler has a good arm, and he has the skillset to be a dominate QB. The Buccs would get thier first franchise QB in ages...I would take Cutler over trading up to get Stafford or (dirty) Sanchez.

[BrandonCarr39]

This story is probably BS-Gruden/Allen is no longer with the Bucs, so I'm sure their FO's philosophies of giving away picks for unproven players is no longer there. And Belichick may be a cheater, but he's not bone-stupid.

[The Patriot]

Originally Posted by tony hipchest

the theory i heard is that the patriots usually pay the majority of their players below market value.

bringing in an unproven rookie on a multi-million $$$ contract could be seen as a distraction and point of dissention amongst the veterans on the team.

in other words its just something belichick would prefer not to deal with in the name of locker room chemistry.

And it's smart. Have you noticed that the teams that are consistently bad year after year get the top draft picks, yet still remain consistently bad.

[devilsdancefloor]

i really think there is more going on than what we see.

[lamberts-lost-tooth]

Originally Posted by TNewman41

This story is probably BS-Gruden/Allen is no longer with the Bucs, so I'm sure their FO's philosophies of giving away picks for unproven players is no longer there. And Belichick may be a cheater, but he's not bone-stupid.

Actually Adam Shefler from NFL.com is reporting the same thing.

[lamberts-lost-tooth]

Originally Posted by The Patriot

And it's smart. Have you noticed that the teams that are consistently bad year after year get the top draft picks, yet still remain consistently bad.

Smart .....but not correct in this case since the Bucs draft at #19