Draft Thread--Patriots select Chung. Brace. Butler. Vullmer.

[campybatman]

Looking back on the 2003 draft, I wonder if Chung and Butler have a chance to equal or better Wilson and Samuel as Patriots. I feel as if the ladder will be easier to climb for Chung toward being a starter than it'll be for Butler. Because Butler has Wheatley and Wilhite to contend with. While Chung might (or might not) prove to be better than both Sanders and Merriweather. And the safety positions aren't in dire need of help as much as help is needed at the corner positions. So, you've more pressure to succeed if you're Butler.

I see Bodden as an one-year and done with the Patriots. I don't see him as a mainstay. I believe he'd signed an one-year contract to prove himself and revive his career. While Springs will likely be an afterthought once one of those three young corners can emerge now and in the next few years.

[Celtics_Champs]

Yeah, Bodden is looking for the big money next off-season.

from PFT

Other new arrivals are defensive lineman Steve Williams (Northwest Missouri St.), running back Omar Cuff (Delaware), receiver Robert Ortiz (San Diego State), receiver Tyree Barnes (Navy), running back Eric Kettani (Navy), punter Aaron Perez (UCLA), and receiver Shun White (Navy).

Kettani would be nice at FB.

[campybatman]

Oh, well... So much for the intriguing McKenzie, he's out for the season. Wow.

Prior to draft picks participating in a mini-camp, their agents receive a tender letter and an injury protection agreement from teams.

The tender letter says that by drafting the player, the team has the player's rights. The injury protection agreement notes that in the event of a career or season-ending injury, the team will negotiate in good faith based on the contract the player at that spot received the year before.

In this case, McKenzie was selected 97th overall.

Last year's 97th overall pick, Bengals receiver Andre Caldwell, received a reported four-year, $2.265 million contract with a $560,000 signing bonus.

Because the Patriots agreed to negotiate in good faith, McKenzie can still expect to sign a similar contract to Caldwell's.

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/p ... ss_pieces/

[Celtics_Champs]

Eesh. Tough break for the kid.

[sunshinekids99]

Guess the team shouldn't have drafted him. Hopefully he can help out in 2 years.

[campybatman]

Rookie LBs certainly don't last long with the Patriots. Oftentimes, they're soon cut... Either they didn't really play in year one or two or missed their rookie year due to being out for the season. But, they haven't cut Crable, yet. Hopefully, McKenzie can stick like Banta-Cain.

Some past causalities include Andy Katzenmoyer, Ryan Claridge, Justin Rogers, Oscar Lua and Bo Ruud.

[TheCelticTruth]

Rookie LBs certainly don't last long with the Patriots. Oftentimes, they're soon cut... Either they didn't really play in year one or two or missed their rookie year due to being out for the season. But, they haven't cut Crable, yet. Hopefully, McKenzie can stick like Banta-Cain.

Some past causalities include Andy Katzenmoyer, Ryan Claridge, Justin Rogers, Oscar Lua and Bo Ruud.

hard to compare these guys, and hard to say that your statement is totally acurate. look at every teams roster and most of the rookies and ufas do not stick. claridge, rogers, lua, and ruud were all mid to low round prospects with the odds against them making an impact anyway.

the big kat could have been a stud but suffered a career ending injury

bruschi, mcginest, eric alexander, pierre woods, TBC...were all rookies and have stuck, its hard to make this roster when you have well established players in front of you, as opposed to a team like detroit that could reasonable expect all of its rookies to be better than incumbent players...

and i dont want to sound like an ass, but any player is only a rookie for a year so technically no rookie linebacker lasts longer than that

mckenzie should be expected to stick because he was a relatively high pick, you cant compare him to any of the guys you mentioned except katzenmoyer