Feeling Deflated

I don't think there's anything I could add to Robert Kraft's statement, so I'll leave it at that.

Well, there is this, I suppose.

And so begins my two week media blackout.

See you May 21st.

All Apologies

"The Patriots have so far gone undisciplined for their role in Deflategate…"

-      from BleacherReport's Deflategate Investigation: Latest Details, Comments, Reaction

For people who use words for a living, going with "so far gone undisciplined" instead of "yet to be found guilty of wrongdoing" tells me everything I need to know about their not-so-hidden agenda.

I'm Looking At You

Despite the usual Belichickian flourishes, the consensus amongst the gridiron cognoscenti is that New England put together a solid 2015 draft class. Undrafted free agents have been signed and while anything can happen in this crazy world, I think what you see today is pretty much what we'll see in September.

Thinking About The Future By Looking At What Happened Yesterday

When all was said and done, it was a classic Bill Belichick draft.

We Can Only Guess What Happens Next

It wouldn't be the NFL draft without Bill Belichick doing something that makes Mel Kiper, Jr.'s hair catch on fire. Not literally, of course.

What The What?

What just happened? Did the Patriots just pick a Top 15 talent at #32? 

By 11:00pm, it seemed a who's who of players linked to the Patriots were off the board. The much mocked Florida State offensive lineman Cameron Erving had been drafted by the Cleveland Browns at #19 and secret object of desire WR Nelson Agholor was taken with the very next pick by the Philadelphia Eagles. 

Both were long shots to make it to #32, anyway. 

Hybrid SS/LB Shaq Thompson, who I'd seen mocked to the Patriots at #64, was selected by the Carolina Panthers at #25. Maybe Thompson is the next Troy Polamalu? 

The Dallas Cowboys took super-freak CB Byron Jones at #27 (he reminded me too much of Ras-I Dowling, anyway) and the Detroit Lions took OG Laken Tomlinson at #28 (after trading down, I think). The Patriots were supposed to trade down from #32 to take Tomlinson somewhere in the top half of the 2nd round and the Lions were supposed to take a DT to fill the gaping Ndamukong Suh-sized hole in their defensive line so you'd have to call the Tomlinson pick something of a surprise.

Speaking of surprises...

Malcom Brown? Malcom Brown.

When do the Patriots announce they've re-signed Dan Connolly?

The End of the Big Wait has Begun

The 2015 NFL Draft – our pigskin winter of discontent made glorious summer – is tomorrow night. Whatever Belichick does in the draft, whether he trades down or trades up or sticks and picks I know one thing for certain.

No wait.

I don't.

My bad.

So anyway…