Schefter on PFW in Progress today!

Written by Andy Hart on April 28, 2009 – 7:44 am -

Just wanted to let everyone know that now-former NFL Network information guy Adam Schefter will be a guest on PFW in Progress on Tuesday. The shown can be found on Patriots.com starting at Noon eastern time. Schefter is expected to join us in the first few minutes so tune in early. If you can’t listen live, check out the Podcast of the show on Patriots.com when you get the chance. It should be an interesting chat with Schefter. Not only has he proven to be one of if not the best information guy in the NFL over the last few years, but he’s also at a crossroads of his career that includes a rumored jump to ESPN. Not sure if he’ll talk about that subject, but given his many connections his thoughts on all things NFL are worth the listen. So tune in and join us at Noon.


Posted in General | 9 Comments »

All done…but FAs?

Written by Andy Hart on April 26, 2009 – 6:41 pm -

Bill Belichick just closed out the second day of the draft, and draft weekend as a whole, with his press conference. He had a lot of interesting things to say, including high praise for Tyrone McKenzie. Belichick said the inside linebacker – who started out at Michigan State before a family issue forced his transfer to Iowa State and eventually South Florida — is among the most impressive prospects in terms of things like character and maturity that he’s ever come across. He also praised his ability to be an impact player very quickly at three different schools in three different systems. Look for McKenzie to vie for reps early in training camp.

Belichick also said that a lot of forces led to the Ellis Hobbs trade to the Eagles. It was a combination of things and not really something that the Patriots anticpated. For all of Belichick’s quotes — in audio, video and text form — check patriots.com.

Looking ahead the Patriots will now turn their attention to signing rookie free agents. Given the guys the team drafted with its 12 selections this weekend there are some areas that will likely be filled out through tryouts and rookie free agent signings. Just to have a good, solid rookie camp later this week my guess is the team brings in at least one quarterback, a couple running backs, another wide receiver and at least one tight end. Linebackers and safetys too.

Thanks for reading. Hope we made the weekend a little more enjoyable and informative.

By the way, the PFW in Progress Radio Show is getting torn to shreds on the PatsFans.com forum. Guess you can’t please everyone. Hey, at least they are talking about us. If you like us, head on over and defend us. If you hate us, head on over and shred us.


Posted in Draft (2009) | 22 Comments »

We got a Y Y…

Written by Andy Hart on April 26, 2009 – 4:03 pm -

Myron Pryor is certainly built like a NT. I remember liking him on film watching someone else a year ago. Now that he’s in the draft I didn’t like his film quite as much this year. I don’t really get the pick. Brace seemed like a backup NT and potential insurance for Wilfork. What’s the deal with another NT type late in the draft? It’s not like he can help out on special teams. If not for the Brace pick, I would have been OK with Pryor. Now? I don’t love it. But how many guys in Patriots history have a Y in both their first and last name? Can’t be many. I’m not looking it up.


Posted in Draft (2009) | 45 Comments »

What comes after practice squad?

Written by Andy Hart on April 26, 2009 – 3:40 pm -

What do you take after you’ve taken a bunch of developmental guys to fill out a practice squad (as Tom Waddle put it)? The answer is a long snapper. The Patriots just used a sixth-round pick on Hawaii long snapper Jake Ingram. He’s supposed to be the best in the crop, for what that’s worth. And I think he could make the team. If I were Nathan Hodel I would rent, not buy, at this point. Ingram is the next Lonie Paxton.


Posted in Draft (2009) | 30 Comments »

Hobbs reaction

Written by Paul Perillo on April 26, 2009 – 3:36 pm -

In a weekend full of constant trades, the Patriots most shocking move came midway through the second day when they sent cornerback Ellis Hobbs to Philadelphia for a pair of fifth-round picks. Hobbs held a conference call with the Eagles media and expressed shock over the deal. Here’s a transcript of the call provided by the Philadelphia media relations department.

On what his thoughts were about the trade:

“Personally, I think it’s shocking because you’ve been playing so many years for an organization. Had some success and doing your thing, but on the other side it’s a business. I had been telling my family members for a while; I just had a feeling. Then you kind of feel things out, you see how the organization is making moves throughout the offseason. You figure that something is going to shake, you just never know when, but when I got the call no bad blood, no hard feelings. It is what it is and I’m excited to be playing for the Eagles now.”

On whether the team gave any indication on how he will fit in here:

“They didn’t give me any indication, but obviously you bring me in for a reason. One of my former teammates is there. I’m pretty sure he spoke well of me. I know that situation over there dealing with [CB] Sheldon [Brown] and how that stuff is going. Like I said, you bring somebody in for a reason but everything has to be earned out there. Nothing is going to be given. I just look forward to getting out there and showing Philadelphia and the organization what I have. Hopefully we can bring success that’s already established there.”

On whether the team conveyed to him about their concerns with Sheldon Brown:

“Obviously so, to do that, to make a move like this. Like I said, I heard rumors anyway of they were interested in things like that. I didn’t have any expectations as far as something would shake this early. From the business side, you have to understand when somebody shows their hand like this, the other player has to show their hand and make moves also. Just taking care of business.”

On whether he has talked to CB Asante Samuel yet:

“No I haven’t talked to Asante [Samuel] yet. My phone has been blowing up like crazy for the last 20 minutes. It’s pretty nuts right now. To be settled somewhere else and now all of a sudden that happens and you have to start somewhere else, everybody is that much more excited about it and that much crazier about it especially with the draft going on right now, too. So, no, I haven’t gotten around to talking to him.”

On whether he is happy to be going to the Eagles:

“Most definitely. I talked to the defensive coordinator Jim Johnson. If you want to go somewhere, you want to go to a team who had past success. As many times as these guys have been right there at the pinnacle, they haven’t got, but they’re right there. So, they’re missing that one key piece or two key pieces or that one play. You’re definitely excited to get to a team like that where you feel like you’re not going into a losing situation. You’re going into a place where these guys know how to win. All you have to do is jump in line and continue to do your thing and they’ll be successful.”

On what happened in New England and why the change:

“I started all four years since I’ve been there. From the business side, they feel like they can make moves other places. Who’s to say? Maybe they weren’t as successful as I was there coming in initially to now. Maybe they wanted more success or maybe they wanted something different to shake something up, I don’t know. You can never figure it out all the way because I’m not that person; I’m not that organization. Obviously they wanted to do something. They saw value in me to get rid of me and to get something else in there. It is what it is. It’s kind of a typical move of them where they move players in and out. You really don’t understand it and it kind of hits you very abruptly with certain players definitely from the past. Your Deion Branch’s, Willie McGinest’s, David Givens’, those guys to name a few. Now recently Mike Vrabel, who was the face of the organization, they got him out of there. It’s just how it goes. You understand that, you understand that this is a business and you have to keep on, keep on.”

On whether he is happy about his contract:

“Not at all. It is definitely frustrating when you see guys getting certain amounts of money that you know you can get just as much that you deserve. Especially, some of the situations that I’ve been in as far as playing through injuries, a torn shoulder, a torn groin all of the way throughout the season, and this and that. To take some of the blows that I did from the area and the community and to put it on the line day in and day out when I know some other guys were not doing that and to get the money you get, you are definitely not happy with it. That is what it is and I am getting paid more than a lot of people in this world are and that will come.”

On whether Philadelphia is a place he wants to stay for a long time or just one year:

“No, if we could make this my home then I would definitely love to be here. I know that it is not going to come easy. Like I said, you have to go out there and prove it. Nobody wants a paper champ. These guys have seen me and the coaches say that every time on film there I am. I’m showing up on the film and making plays. I feel I have proved myself enough in this league that I can sustain a position and do my thing in the NFL, but I definitely haven’t done enough to be out there as a player where I am that guy and that’s where I want to get to. Understanding that, I definitely want to try to make this my home.”

On whether he has talked to anybody about his contract and if that is why he was traded:

“I think with that situation [in New England] there are a lot of guys that are coming up that are going to need to be paid. I think it has kind of moved from that echelon where there is a lot of guys out there who are not going to take the [bottom] dollar for the win. Guys really want to get what they deserve and each one of those guys that are coming up in the next year or so deserve every dollar they are going to get. I think that with the roster like we had, there were so many guys that needed to be paid, somebody has to move out of the way. Unfortunately and fortunately it was me and like I said I am looking forward to the future.”

On how many years are left on his contract:

“This is my last year.”

On whether he expects to be returning kicks in Philadelphia:

“I expect to do anything that can help us win. I don’t care what I have to do, I win. That’s what I expect to do, whatever it is. It is what it is and I continue to move on.”


Posted in Draft (2009) | 23 Comments »