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Analyzing the New England Patriots 2013 Draft Class

May 8th, 2013 at 9:41 PM
By Andrew Goldberg

 

 

'NFL Draft' photo (c) 2011, Zennie Abraham - license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/

 

Now that the 2013 NFL draft is a little more than a week old, everyone has had time to digest their respective team's draft class and get excited to see what the rookies can do. Let’s take a look at the Patriots draft class and see how it improves the team.

Round 1 pick 29

The Patriots originally had the 29th pick in the first round but in typical Bill Belichick fashion the Patriots traded with the Minnesota Vikings. The Patriots received the 20th pick in the second round, the 21st pick in the third round, and a seventh round pick as well.

Round 2 pick 20 Jamie Collins, OLB, Southern Mississippi

Collins played two years as a linebacker and finished his career on the defensive line. Collins had 92 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, and four forced fumbles and was rewarded with first team All-Conference USA honors. It may seem like a questionable pick with Jerod Mayo, Takeo Spikes, and Dont'a Hightower already in the fold, but Collins can act as an edge rusher or a down lineman in either a 4-3 or a 3-4 scheme. He can also drop back into coverage if need be. 

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Buffalo Bills’ Stevie Johnson Suggests North Korea Bomb Foxboro, New England Patriots

April 4th, 2013 at 10:17 AM
By Dan Benton

The United States has essentially been at war since September 11th, 2001, and with rising tensions between our military, our allies in South Korea and a dictatorial leader in North Korea, more war may be on the horizon. Needless to say, it's not something to joke about. Unfortunately, Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stevie Johnson didn't get that memo and recently suggested that should North Korea begin dropping bombs, they do so in Foxboro, Massachusetts and on the New England Patriots.

Social media can be a tremendous asset to professional athletes if used properly, and extremely detrimental if used improperly. Knowing full well what he was saying/suggesting, Johnson took the latter route.

Yes, he was obviously joking and would never suggest the innocent slaughter of American citizens, but there's a theoretical line in the sand and he crossed it with his comments.

He did eventually apologize for his comments (kind of), but was it too little too late?

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Defense Should Be the Patriots Number One Offseason Priority

March 1st, 2013 at 12:32 AM
By Spencer Frenchman

 

“Anquan Boldin, Anquan Boldin, Anquan Boldin, that Ravens team won with a big receiver like Anquan Boldin, that’s what the New England Patriots need.”

 

I am not quite sure why this is not a moot point. But when I listen to people talk about the Patriots off-season agenda it feels like they must have had one of the NFL’s worst offenses. An offense that scores 34.8 points per game does not seem like it needs to change much. When you score the third most points in NFL history without ever playing with a receiving corps or offensive line at full strength, I do not think you need to change anything. There are going to be some great receivers on the free agent market, Dwayne Bowe, Mike Wallace, and Greg Jennings to name a few. However, it would be dumb, stupid, absolutely abhorrent for the Patriots to even consider signing one of these players, who will likely come at a price of at least half of the approximately $18 million the Patriots have in salary cap space (assuming Wes Welker is re-signed). They do not need a big wide receiver. It would be nice to have one but they should not sacrifice their ability to go after quality free agents on the defensive side of the ball in order to go out and get a receiver. 

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Alfonzo Dennard Convicted of Assaulting an Officer

February 20th, 2013 at 11:33 PM
By Spencer Frenchman

New England Patriots cornerback Alfonzo Dennard was found guilty of felony assault of a police officer and misdemeanor resisting arrest stemming from an event in Lincoln Nebraska last year.  He was acquitted of a third charge, third degree assault of another man.  

Dennard faces up to six years in prison.  His sentencing hearing will take place on April 11.  County Attorney Joe Kelly said that he is unsure when his office will recommend prison time to the Judge.

The incident occurred just five days before the 2012 NFL draft, when Dennard was accused of punching a police officer jaw outside of a Lincoln bar.  The projected second or third round selection fell to the seventh round where he was selected by the Patriots with the 224th overall pick.  He ended up making seven starts in 2012 and was supposed to start at right corner for the Patriots in 2013.  

With Dennard's 2013 availability potentially derailed by either a prison sentence and/or suspension, the Patriots may have even more reason to bring back Aqib Talib, who's contract has expired.

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New England Patriots Will not Give Wes Welker the Franchise Tag

February 18th, 2013 at 9:33 PM
By Spencer Frenchman

Ron Borges of the Boston Herald reported that the Patriots will not use the franchise tag on Wes Welker.  Placing the tag on Welker would have cost the Patriots $11.4 million for tagging him in a second straight season.  

If the Patriots do use the franchise tag they will likely place it on right tackle Sebastian Vollmer or cornerback Aqib Talib.  They have the next two weeks to decide whether or not to use the franchise tag. 

 

 

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