What would you have done?

captain_cheapseats · Post #1 » by **captain_cheapseats** » Wed May 2, 2007 10:21 pm

So, now with the benefit of knowing where every player was drafted, what (if anything) would you have done differently with the first 4 picks if you were Pioli? Here's what he did:

#24 = Meriweather
#28 = SF's 1st in 2008 & Randy Moss
Rd. 2 = Wes Welker
Rd. 3 = OAK's 3rd 2008 & 7th rounder

captain_cheapseats · Post #2 » by **captain_cheapseats** » Wed May 2, 2007 10:59 pm

#24: For me, this is the toughest one by a lot. I really like Meriweather, and it seems like the more I hear about him, the more I like. Then again, I still think Grubbs is going to be a very good NFL player. Meriweather wins what amounts to a mental coin-flip.

#28: Unless you are one of the people who buy into the media "character counts" hype, you take SF's 1st and Moss here without 2nd thought. Since I am not one of those people, I'd say this is perhaps the best use of a pick the Pats have ever made short of those that landed Brady and Seymour.

2nd: I say keep Welker. Before the draft I wouldn't have, but none of the 2nd round guys I liked really slid.

3rd: This is the only place I differ. I'd have taken Manuel Ramirez with the pick instead.

Post #3 » by **sunshinekids99** » Thu May 3, 2007 2:10 am

#24- I wouldn't have taken Brandon. His stomping of another player would have had me avoid him. Talent wise I agree with the pick tho, I think he'll be very good. Of course maturity could be an issue. With my two man crush guys gone (Griffin and Bowe) I most likely would have taken Jon Beason. Not a huge Beason fan, but I think he can play.

#28- Would have made that trade in a heartbeat.

2nd Round- I liked the Welker trade then and I still do now.

3rd Round- I would have went for a need pick and went with Daniel Sepulveda. Other players I would have had some interst on would be Michael Bush, Stephen Nicholas, and Daymeion Hughes.

Overall I think the Pats did very well. Also would have liked to see them give Ben Patrick a chance with their 6th round pick.

Post #4 » by **wetsthebed** » Thu May 3, 2007 3:03 am

Probably wouldn't change much, maybe take Hughes or Bush in the third round instead of trading it. Also might have taken Staley in the first.

Post #5 » by **Bleeding Green** » Thu May 3, 2007 4:27 am

I love the Meriweather pick. He's Ed Reed-lite and fell because he shot a legally owned gun and stepped on a player. Oh no.

If the 28 trade is available you absolutely take that every time.

Obviously do the Moss trade. Welker is better than anything in the second round.

I'd do every one of those trade. Fantastic draft.

Post #6 » by **sunshinekids99** » Thu May 3, 2007 10:19 am

I think stomping on a guy while he's down, is one of the lowest things you can do in a football game. Just a very cheap move.

Post #7 » by **Basketball Jesus** » Thu May 3, 2007 10:39 am

Kinda like tagging a dude in the nuggets during a football game?

Character guys are merely a figment of the same media's imagination that brought you the term "True Yankee". Belichick has never shied away from guys with questionable character. In fact, he probably enjoys the tag because it devalues a player. Market inefficiencies. Moneyball. Billy Beane and whatnot.

Meriweather falling to the Pats would probably be considered the steal of the draft if it weren't for Joe Staley falling farther.

Post #8 » by **sunshinekids99** » Thu May 3, 2007 1:34 pm

Very true BBJ. But atleast Mankins was on the field for the play. Brandon had to come off the bench.

Post #9 » by **Basketball Jesus** » Thu May 3, 2007 2:08 pm

Not to sound like an apologist but football

Post #10 » by **Chach** » Thu May 3, 2007 3:39 pm

There is a difference between "character issues" like Meriweather and problem children like Pacman Jones and Chris Henry. You need a certain **** streak in you to make it in football and if things get heated, like the brawl game in college, I would personally rather have to forfeit my next game because 56 of my players ripped it up in the fight protecting their teammates, than to have someone stand idly by and say, "I can't touch him because I will be thrown out". So being a dink on the field, like Rodney Harrison has been for his entire career, is a postive and worth taking a "risk" on. Then you have guys who have legit character issues that run afoul of the law and potentially cost your team money and games played. Those guys, sure you stay away from. And I'm not talking about speeding or MAYBE simple assault, I'm talking about Leonard Little DUI after a fatal DUI accident sized character issues. And there is maybe a dozen of those guys in the league. There were more than a dozen guys drafted this weekend with "character issues", those guys you take on a case by case basis to see who's going to punch a guy in the gonads and who's going to feed lead paint to little kids. mahalo
~Chach~

Post #11 » by **Celtics_Champs** » Thu May 3, 2007 6:30 pm

I would have taken meriweather.

I am glad they made that moss/san fran first trade.

I like welker and all. But now knowing all the recivers we have, I wouldnt have done the 2nd round trade. Or the 3rd round trade.

Post #12 » by **Celtics_Champs** » Thu May 3, 2007 7:01 pm

sunshinekids99 wrote:I think stomping on a guy while he's down, is one of the lowest things you can do in a football game. Just a very cheap move.

I agree. But tell that to Haynesworth. Or Richard Seymour. Or all the others who gave a cheapshot after the whistle was blown. The list goes on and on. At least Merriweathers incident wasnt a cheap shot, well in my mind it wasnt. Merriweather did not stroll out there, look for a player who was on the ground unsuspecting of what will happen, and stomp on him. He ran out there to help/protect his teammates, and his emotions caught the worst of him.

EDIT: I am not condoning what any of these players did. Just trying to say that it happens, and if football anyalists want to judge one person then you should judge them all.

Post #13 » by **sunshinekids99** » Fri May 4, 2007 12:13 am

Seymour's play was in the heat of the moment and he was protecting himself from being cut. I don't blame any player for fighting back if someone is going after their knees.

While I understand emotions were very high for Meriweather and all of Miami U. He kicked players while they were down. It was not while protecting teammates.

Post #14 » by **Celtics_Champs** » Sat May 5, 2007 3:48 am

Meh, dont really want to get into a debate on Meriweathers character. I am just glad we got him, he has ALOT of talent.

captain_cheapseats · Post #15 » by **captain_cheapseats** » Sat May 5, 2007 6:04 pm

I'm surprised to see that Meriweather appears to be the most controversial move. I was guessing it'd be either #28 or the 2nd rounder.

Post #16 » by **sunshinekids99** » Sat May 5, 2007 6:48 pm

I think 28 was a very good move. While I do like Staley, the niners should allow us to get a good pick and gave us the 4th used for Moss.

Dirty Water · Post #17 » by **Dirty Water** » Wed May 9, 2007 4:39 pm

sunshinekids99 wrote:
Overall I think the Pats did very well. Also would have liked to see them give Ben Patrick a chance with their 6th round pick.

Ben Patrick went to my school. He was my favorite player and an absolute beast to watch when I was at the games. I kept hoping either NE or Philly woudl take him because those are my teams. I can't believe he fell all the way to the 7th round. Mel Kiper Jr was saying he had 2nd round talent.

alwayslovetheceltics · Post #18 » by **alwayslovetheceltics** » Fri May 11, 2007 1:42 pm

to any one who are unhappy with the merriweather pick

when you see him HURTING receivers next season, you will forget all of your doubts. this kid lives to HURT those daintly little receivers

quite frankly, i like my safeties to have a MEAN streak.

prediction: 5 years from now, when people are looking back at this draft, they will consider merriweather to be one the top 15 players.

s3antana5757 · Post #19 » by **s3antana5757** » Sat May 12, 2007 9:31 pm

#24: I can deal with Meriweather. I like how he's molded after Ed Reed and he's a big hitter. From what I've read he's trying to clean up his act. An article, and I can't find the link, said that Meriweather restrained his own player during the 1st half of the Florida International player, and was then hit in the head and the two players prior to the brawl and that he just lost it. It also said that the gun incident was strictly self-defense, and Brandon stated that he wouldn't do anything different.

#28: Great move. SF #1 and Moss. That's a no-brainer.

2nd rounder: This deal I don't like so much. Now, the receiving core is almost too crowded. I think Welker is a good player, but not worthy of a second round pick. If Moss goes for a 4th, I think Welker should go no higher than a 4th or a 5th round pick. How do you play Moss, Stallworth, Welker, Caldwell, Gaffney, Jackson, Washington and the list goes on. I think Moss, Stallworth, and Caldwell would've made a fine 1,2,3 punch as receivers.

3rd rounder: I guess I don't really care. I would've liked to see Michael Bush here, but other than that...I don't really have an opinion. The Raiders #3 next year should be like the last pick of the second round and the 7th rounder is really irrevelant.