Legendary NFL linebacker Junior Seau died Wednesday at his California home due to gunshot wound to the chest. Police are investigating his death as a suicide. He was 43.

“He had a legendary NFL career and his unrivaled passion for the game quickly made him a fan favorite here in New England,” the Patriots said in a statement. “This is a sad day for the entire Patriots organization, our coaches and his many Patriots teammates. Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to his family and his many friends who will mourn this loss.”

Seau played with the Patriots from 2006-2009. He also played with the Dolphins, but spent most of his career with the Chargers. Continue reading Junior Seau Dies in Apparent Suicide »

It’s a joke that websites publish NFL Draft grades the day or even the year after the actual NFL draft. Draft “experts” like Mel Kiper and Todd McShay say they evaluate team’s drafts based on whether they fulfilled their needs and received draft “value” with their picks. There is nothing wrong with those evaluations. Just don’t tell me you can assign a letter grade to them without actually seeing these players on the field in a regular season NFL game.

You can find a Tom Brady in the 6th round or a Peyton Manning with the 1st overall pick. You can grab Troy Brown in a round that doesn’t even exist today or you can bring an undrafted player like James Harrison who can be a perennial Pro-Bowler and Super Bowl hero. Draft success can be good scouting, strong due diligence or just plain luck.

When it comes to the Patriots drafts or others, I like to evaluate using a simple criterion. Continue reading Assessing the 2012 NFL Draft: A Patriots Perspective »

After trading with the Bengals for the 21st pick, the Patriots selected Chandler Jones, Defensive End from Syracuse. Listed at 6’5 266 lbs, Jones is a tremendous athlete who will step in at starting defensive end for Mark Anderson, who left in free agency go to Buffalo.

Despite being injured five games last years and only recording 10 sacks in 3 seasons, Jones’ draft stock rising in the weeks leading up to the draft going from a projected mid round prospect, to being projected as high as number 12. Continue reading Patriots Trade Up, Draft Chandler Jones and Dont’a Hightower »

On Wes Welker, let me be clear that regardless of his size, leaping ability or big play capability, I think I am in agreement with all Patriots fans – that I want this guy on the team. I also think the Patriots should come up with an offer that works for the Patriots. They have cap money to spend and they can probably structure a deal that works for both sides after the draft.

But, I also cannot stand the revisionist history coming from the Anti-Patriots media cartel. When the Patriots acquired, Welker they signed him to a five-year deal for about $12.5 million. The deal was worth it for his past production but he has since definitely outperformed the contract. I heard Michael Felger say that the Patriots should have done this deal years ago. Now Felger, like a “birther” or a ”truther,” is a “cap denier.” He is a self-admitted conspiracy nut ranging from the NFL Salary Cap to solar flares from the Sun. Continue reading Was Wes Welker’s Contract Dispute Avoidable? »

The New England Patriots hosted two guests for visits on Friday. Both Ryan Grant and Tim Hightower were in New England, as the Patriots are on a search to fill the void left by BenJarvus Green-Ellis.

If either player or both find themselves taking hand-offs from Tom Brady next season, it will be a small, but important workload. The emergence of Stevan Ridley, who showed flashes of a guy that could be a solid back in the NFL last season (albeit in limited time), and the fact that the Patriots are a heavily pass-oriented offense means any new running back won’t be asked to do too much.

Green-Ellis, who never fumbled for the Patriots, was the perfect back for this offense. Can Ryan Grant or Tim Hightower fit this role well? Continue reading Patriots Host Free Agent RBs Ryan Grant, Tim Hightower for Visits »