DID THE PATRIOTS TURN DOWN A FIRST-ROUND PICK?

[HughC]

I don't know, I think it was a simple case of New England taking the first firm offer that was on the table because they were in dire need of freeing up cap space so they could re-sign their own players and go after free agents. They could have held out for more, but Denver and/or Tampa Bay dropped the ball.

As far as not wanting a higher first round pick, didn't they take Mayo fairly high last year? Wilfork and Seymour were fairly early draft picks too if I recall correctly. Besides, if they didn't like the value at #12 or #19, they could surely find somebody to trade down with for other picks, even if it didn't add up to equal value on the 'draft value chart'.

[Steelman16]

Originally Posted by The Patriot

Personally, I think the Pats are going after somebody.

Who, though? LT? If they wanted LJ, they missed their chance.

I agree that there's something to this we haven't heard yet.

[HughC]

Originally Posted by Steelman16

Who, though? LT? If they wanted LJ, they missed their chance.

I agree that there's something to this we haven't heard yet.

Yeah, they freed up that money with something in mind.
I don't think it's a RB, I think they're content with their running-back-by-committee.
I'd say an OLB (to replace Vrabel) and a CB (to replace Samuel).

[tony hipchest]

Originally Posted by The Patriot

What we got was roughly $19 million dollars in cap space for our backup QB and Vrabel who had one year left in his contract. The Chiefs obviously got the sweet end of the deal, but I think it's unlikely that the Pats are completely lost without Pioli. Otherwise we might have to hire you and everybody else on this forum who noticed the obvious one-sidedness of this deal.

Personally, I think the Pats are going after somebody.

ive already covered these bases and even suggested they may be a player for b. mcfadden (although i doubt they would be willing to pay him more htan what it woulda taken to keep ashanti samuel).

not outta the question though. (and im willing to bet theyd be the 1st team in line to snag a. smith for league minimum, too).

[Steeler in Carolina]

I'm not sold on Cassell, but I would think that you can get more than a 2nd round pick for him and Vrabel.

[devilsdancefloor]

Originally Posted by The Patriot

You don't have to be a genius to be skeptical of a deal that has just about every fan in the league scratching their heads. What we got was roughly $19 million dollars in cap space for our backup QB and Vrabel who had one year left in his contract. The Chiefs obviously got the sweet end of the deal, but I think it's unlikely that the Pats are completely lost without Pioli. Otherwise we might have to hire you and everybody else on this forum who noticed the obvious one-sidedness of this deal.

Personally, I think the Pats are going after somebody.

i just had a OMG OMG moment . Could they be looking to sign ray ray? belacheat likes those vet LB.

[Steelman16]

Found an interesting thought on NBC:

COULD PATRIOTS MAKE BID FOR PEPPERS?
Posted by Gregg Rosenthal : Sunday, March 1, 2009 3:36 PM
Now that the Patriots have cleared Matt Cassel's cap number, what will they do with it? Some of the money will surely go to their secondary. They re-signed solid young safety James Sanders to a three-year deal Sunday, and have met with cornerbacks Leigh Bodden and Shawn Springs.

But New England may still have a larger move up their sleeve. They have four first-day draft picks to work with, which gives them flexibility for a possible trade.

Put this post under logical but wild speculation, but Panthers beat writer Darin Gantt thinks that trade could be for Julius Peppers. This has been a whisper on many lips for weeks.

Peppers wants to play for a 3-4 team, and said he had a few NFC teams and one AFC team in mind. Many believe the AFC squad was New England. Peppers' versatility would be an absolute perfect fit for Bill Belichick's defense. The one-time coach of Lawrence Taylor would know how to maximize Peppers' unique skill set.

The Patriots were hamstrung by Matt Cassel's cap number, and the Panthers are in the same boat with Peppers. New England may be the only team with the ammunition to pry Peppers away

[lilyoder6]

Originally Posted by Steelman16

Found an interesting thought on NBC:

could be a good move.. but it will cost them

and them having 4 1st day picks.. are they still counting rd 3 as 1st day even tho the 3rd rd took part on the 2nd day???

[The Patriot]

Originally Posted by devilsdancefloor

i just had a OMG OMG moment . Could they be looking to sign ray ray? belacheat likes those vet LB.

God I hope not!

Even Cheatriot fans have standards.

[Morgan]

First Round Draft choices demand 1st round money. 4 picks in the first 2 rounds is enough to try to sign with the rookie money pool, no sense making it 2 first rounders to boot, IMO.

But I'm sure the knob polishing that S.P. did for B.B. was part of it.

Or maybe Pioli know they were going to cut Vrabel for the cap room anyway, and he said, "Throw in Vrabel." That's not much of a favor, but a little one.