The Patriots signed 2nd round draft choice Terrence Wheatley today, leaving first round choice Jerod Mayo as the only rookie holdout. Wheatley was a first team All-Big 12 player for Colorado last year and totaled 14 INT in just 40 games in Boulder. He should be in the mix in the defensive backfield, especially with Ellis Hobbs as the only proven player coming back in 2008.
As the Patriots get ready to start training camp at the end of this week, we want to get fans caught up on what to expect (other than extreme superiority) from 2009. Make sure to check out Mike Reiss’ snapshots of each position heading into camp.
According to our buddy Mike Reiss over at the Boston Globe, Patriots running back Kevin Faulk has pleaded no contest to an arrest for marijuana possession at a concert in Louisana in February. Faulk says the coat he was wearing at the time of the arrest wasn’t his, and even passed a drug test following the arrest.
Complete bull, I don’t believe for one second Faulk didn’t know what he was holding whether it was his coat or not. The fact that he passed the test is a good sign. That helps reduce his sentence to strictly fines, community service and probabtion. Just another in a line of troubling offseason problems for Patriots’ players.
I know, I know….sorry we’ve been gone so long. Chalk it up to post-college life adjustments. I’m getting acclimated to my new job as a co-host of the Young Guns Radio Show on 1510 the Zone in Boston. And Matt’s getting re-adjusted to…..whatever it is Matt does. Anyway, plenty to talk about with the Pats as we get set for the opening of training camp at the end of the month. Keep a watch for the next pair of podcasts coming this week. Matt and I talk about the end, finish, finale, and the celebrated death of Spygate, as well as the possible beginning to the end of the Patriots dynasty.
Here’s the rest of the fresh faces fans will see in mini-camps soon enough:
Ben’s take: Not bad choices. Some quick guys in Wilhite and Slater both of whom run 4.4 40s. As expected today, like yesterday all about defensive picks. In Slater, the Pats get a deep threat other than Moss, as well as a possible kick returner. As far as Ruud goes, he comes from a football family, his brother Barrett plays for the Bucs. Bo’s supposedly not as talented, and with a sixth round choice there’s not much risk for New England.
Matt’s take: All solid picks, with the Pats finding much needed assistance in special teams, linebacker and cornerback. Although Ruud may be the only name you know, hopefully the others will provide some depth where its needed and could push the veterans during training camp.
End of the third round, the Pats add a QB to the roster, Kevin O’Connell out of San Diego State.
Ben’s take: Really? A QB? I understand Cassell’s probably on his way out but the third round is a little high to grab a backup QB. Especially when there’s still plenty of improvements to be made on the defensive side of the ball.
Matt’s take: Uhh….all I can say is the Pats are gonna trade Cassell.
At #78 the Pats go with Shawn Crable, a linebacker from Michigan. Not a guy we had targeted, but another defensive pick as expected.
Ben’s take: Real big for a linebacker at nearly 6′5 and 245 lbs. Had 13.5 sacks over the past two seasons and does a great job rushing the passer and containing the run. Much better going forward than in pass coverage, but work ethic a little questionable which is why he drops this far.
Matt’s take: Looks like a bit of a project player. Love his size and athleticism, but we’ll see if he can make the mental leap from college to the pros.
Pats traded their first pick in the third round (#69 overall) to San Diego. No worries though, New England’s got two more third rounders so Matt and I will be offering our thoughts on those picks soon.
As we correctly predicted, Terrence Wheatley goes to the Pats. A little bit of a reach at the end of the second round, but with three third round picks, there’s plenty more opportunity to improve the defense. Anyway, here’s the take.
Ben: Don’t mind the pick, especially with the run on defensive backs at the end of the first round. Wheatley could be first round talent anyway, remember the all Big 12 selection in 2006. If he can recover successfully from his injury issues, he could be a great pickup, plus he adds value as a kick returner.
Matt: I’d personally rather see the Patriots trade up and acquire a player in the upper tier of the cornerback crop. This pick either means that the Pats had no trade partners or the talent difference between him and the “upper tier” isn’t that significant.
My bad, I blame patriots.com, they traded #7 and a fifth rounder for #10 and New Orleans third round pick.
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