2008 DRAFT BOARD

Round Selection Overall How Acq.

1 7 7 From San Francisco
2 31 62 Assigned Selection
3 4 69 From Oakland
3 31 94 Assigned Selection
4 31 * Assigned Selection
5 3 * Assigned Selection
6 31 * Assigned Selection
7 31 * Assigned Selection

*-To be determined following assignment of compensatory selections
NOTES

Round 1, Selection 7 – The Patriots traded a first-round selection in the 2007 NFL Draft (No. 28 overall – T Joe Staley) to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for a first-round selection in the 2008 NFL Draft and a fourth-round selection in 2007 NFL Draft, (later traded to Oakland for WR Randy Moss).

Round 3, Selection 4 – The Patriots traded a third-round selection in the 2007 NFL Draft (91 overall – T Mario Henderson) to the Oakland Raiders in exchange for a third-round selection in the 2008 NFL Draft and a seventh-round selection in the 2007 NFL Draft (211 overall – LB Oscar Lua).

2008 Home & Away Opponents

The 2008 Patriots schedule has yet to be released, but we do know who we're playing. Here's a quick rundown of the teams we'll play at Home as well as those the Patriots are traveling to meet, listed in alphabetical order:

Home games

Bills,Broncos,Cardinals,Chiefs

Dolphins,Jets,Rams,Steelers

Away games

Bills,Chargers,Colts,Dolphins

49ers,Jets,Raiders,Seahawks

Veteran Bryant lands in the Patriots' corner

Globe Staff / March 21, 2008
The Patriots have apparently decided to go the Filene's Basement route in free agency to fill needs at cornerback. Yesterday, New England signed Fernando Bryant to a one-year deal.


A nine-year veteran who spent the last four seasons playing for the Detroit Lions, Bryant joins seasoned cornerbacks Jason Webster and Lewis Sanders, both of whom also signed one-year deals with the Patriots, as free agents brought in following the departures of Asante Samuel (Philadelphia Eagles) and Randall Gay (New Orleans Saints).

All three come with starting experience and are low-risk, potential high-reward additions.

The 5-foot-10-inch, 184-pound Bryant, who was due a $3.35 million base salary for 2008, was released last month. He started all 16 games last season for Detroit, recording two interceptions and 14 passes defended, matching career highs, despite a foot injury.

"Adding a cornerback with Fernando's experience and production is a good opportunity for us," said Patriots coach Bill Belichick.

When healthy, Bryant, owner of seven career interceptions, has been a starting cornerback - he has started 109 of 110 career games. But durability is the caveat emptor he carries.

Last season marked the first time since 2003, the last of his five seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Bryant played a full 16-game slate.

In 2006, he missed six games - one because of the death of his grandmother - and had to sit out the final four games after suffering a concussion in a 28-21 loss to the Patriots at Gillette Stadium. Bryant played just two games in 2005 before he was placed on injured reserve with a clavicle injury. In 2004, he sat out six games because of injuries, and was sidelined the final four by an ankle injury. He played 16 games in 2002, but in 2001, he missed six games with a foot injury.

Like Sanders, Bryant has a connection to Dom Capers, the Patriots' new special assistant/secondary coach. Drafted in the first round (26th overall) by the Jaguars in 1999, Bryant played his first two seasons in the league for Capers, who was the Jaguars' defensive coordinator in 1999 and 2000.

The Patriots have eight players who can play cornerback, led by Ellis Hobbs, who underwent surgery Feb. 12 for a torn labrum in his shoulder. The other cornerbacks on the roster are Brandon Meriweather, who saw the majority of his playing time at safety last season, Mike Richardson, Tim Mixon, and Antwain Spann.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello offered an update on negotiations with former Patriots employee Matt Walsh, who claims to have additional material that could be relevant to the Patriots' illicit videotaping practices. Aiello said lead attorneys on both sides, Walsh's lawyer, Michael N. Levy of McKee Nelson, and NFL outside counsel Gregg Levy (no relation), are working on documentation. Aiello said "things continue to progress." The sides announced March 9 they made "substantial progress" toward an agreement that would allow Walsh to come forward.

© Copyright 2008 Globe Newspaper Company.
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Light not ready to sack line over Giant loss

By Karen Guregian Thursday, March 27, 2008 http://www.bostonherald.com N.E. Patriots

FOXBORO - Matt Light [stats] has a pretty good idea how Patriots [team stats] fans view the offensive line in wake of what transpired in the Super Bowl last month. Whatever their opinion, he’s not going to avoid the issue.
Yesterday, the left tackle talked about the line’s collective disappearing act against the New York Giants. In fact, he addressed the topic without much prompting. One might say he tackled it head-on.

“Obviously, it didn’t work out very well in that game. We just didn’t perform well. I’m not going to go back and bring up every last detail. We didn’t execute the way we normally do,” Light said of the line, which didn’t provide its usual protection for quarterback Tom Brady [stats] against Michael Strahan, Osi Umenyiora & Co. “Their defense also played a great game. That’s a great football team.”

The five sacks and 20-odd hits on Brady were more the exception than the rule in assessing how the offensive line protected the quarterback during the season.
The O-line was a strength. It was dependable, giving Brady time to set records, claim an MVP award and post all-world passing numbers. It also produced three Pro Bowl players in Light, guard Logan Mankins [stats] and center Dan Koppen.
Light doesn’t believe the unit should be tossed to the curb over one game, as some of its harshest critics might suggest.

“We shouldn’t forget about all of those good things we’ve done in the past. We still have a great group of guys,” Light said. “Up front, we have guys that have been together a long period of time. It’s pretty unique.”

That’s not to say Light finds fault with some of the criticism. He’s just not going to dwell on it.
“I’ve always been a firm believer people can say whatever they want,” he said. “I don’t listen to what my kids say. So I’m not going to listen to negativity from fans. It’s their right to say whatever they want, and I respect that. I think the only person anyone should listen to, whether you’re a professional athlete or the guy working down the street in a 9-to-5 job . . . is your immediate family and close friends. Other than that, I could care less what people say.”
Listening to Light, the eighth-year veteran doesn’t need anyone whipping him. He sounds like his own worst enemy.

“I can list a hundred things to improve on from each game. You can keep counting for a long time what I need to work on,” he said with a smile. “We never lack for ingredients for that (humble) pie.”

Light is back at Gillette Stadium this week, participating in the Pats’ offseason conditioning program.

“I think at this time of the year, you start to think about the things you need to improve on,” he said. “Your main focus is to get your strength back to where it needs to be through the offseason conditioning program, and then start building on the things you didn’t do so well during the season.

“I think each guy, whether they write it down or not, have goals they want to achieve, and things they want to improve on and do better. That’s what we do at this time. And hopefully come training camp, we’ll all be healthy and ready to roll.”

Light joked the time off since the Super Bowl has seemed more like a bye week, as opposed to an actual vacation. He spent early March enrolled in a workshop at Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management as part of the NFL’s business management and entrepreneurial program.
Given he runs a charitable foundation - he has a golf trip to Ireland planned in July - any knowledge helps. Plus, Light is involved in other business ventures.

“The more you know, the less money you’ll lose,” he said with a laugh.
Light applies part of that theory to the offensive line.

“All of the things that happened to us last season are in the memory bank,” he said. “We’ll draw on all the experiences that happened to us, both good and bad. It’s always a new year.”

Article URL: http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/football/patriots/view.bg?articleid=1083176

Pats eye prepaid parking pass for season ticket-holders

By Scott Van Voorhis Monday, March 31, 2008 http://www.bostonherald.com N.E. Patriots

The New England Patriots [team stats] are studying some changes to their lineup this offseason - the parking lineup that is.

The team’s front office is reviewing thousands of questionnaires sent to season-ticket holders aimed at gauging interest in a prepaid parking pass that would cover the entire season, said Stacey James, director of communications for the Pats.
Still, no decision has been made on whether to issue such passes, or even whether such a move would come this season, James said. Any change would involve careful consideration, he said. And team executives would work with a traffic consultant to sort out the issue.
“Every year we are trying to focus on the things or areas to improve, both on and off the field, and become more efficient on and off the field,” James said.
Currently media members, luxury suite holders and employees are the only ones right now with parking passes, with average fans paying cash - $40 - and jockeying for the best spot they can snag.

In theory, anyway, passes could speed up the flow of traffic, cutting out the time-consuming cash transactions.

While the Pats study the idea of a pre-paid parking pass, it may be one of the few areas where one of the sports world’s top franchises is behind the times.
A number of other pro teams issue season parking passes for fans, said Marc Ganis, head of Chicago-based Sports Corp.

While there are likely to be long-term gains in traffic efficiency, any shift to a new system could also bring some short-term pain.

“Disrupting traffic patterns can be a problem, especially when you have one road servicing the stadium,” Ganis said.

The team’s next step, if the decision is made to explore the issue further, is to hold focus groups with fans, James said.

Article URL: http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/football/patriots/view.bg?articleid=1083974

Seward looks like a fit for Pats ‘D’

By John Tomase Friday, March 7, 2008 http://www.bostonherald.com N.E. Patriots

Anyone wondering why the Patriots [team stats] hosted restricted free agent linebacker Adam Seward yesterday should consider the words of Steve Johns, his position coach at UNLV.
“He’s a very quick learner,” Johns said. “He’s the son of a coach and understands concepts. He’s a very physical, tough kid. He’s a workhorse. He just makes plays.”
Johns would know. Now the linebackers coach at Navy, he had Seward for four years with the Runnin’ Rebels under coach John Robinson. He watched Seward transition seamlessly from the middle in the 4-3 he played his first two years to inside linebacker in the 3-4 for his final two.
The Patriots need to get younger at linebacker and the 25-year-old Seward fits the bill. At 6-foot-2, 248 pounds, he’s the size they seek in the middle, and his college experience in the 3-4 helps.
The Carolina Panthers offered him the lowest restricted free agent tender, which means if the Patriots sign him to an offer sheet and the Panthers decline to match it, the Pats will only surrender a fifth-round pick, which is where Seward was selected in 2005.
A source close to Seward said last night that the meeting with the Pats went well, and he expects to receive a contract offer.
“When you see the kind of defense the Patriots play, that’s kind of what would fit Adam,” Johns said. “He’s bigger physically than a Tedy Bruschi [stats] type, although I wouldn’t say he’s as big as Junior Seau. He’s got all the tools. He runs well and he’s big and tough. When I look at that defense, Adam would be a nice fit for what they do, especially as the A gap guy in the odd front. He can stack behind the nose guard there. It would be a good spot for him.”
Seward has been limited mainly to special teams, and would likely fill that role with the Patriots as well. How much time he could see in a base defense is partly tied to the health of his foot, which has been an issue since college.
Seward suffered a stress fracture before his senior year and played with a pin inserted in his fifth metatarsal, but that did far more damage than expected. The pin snapped and his draft stock plummeted. Then, he broke the foot in Carolina’s fourth game and missed the rest of the season.
“He was obviously hobbled with us and it never really went away,” Johns said. “But I think it’s better now.”
Johns said there’s no questioning Seward’s toughness. He was a state champion wrestler in high school and is best served, he believes, in the heart of the defense.
Seward left UNLV in 2004 as the Mountain West Conference’s all-time leading tackler (433). He played alongside Ryan Claridge and both were selected in the fifth round of the 2005 draft, Seward by the Panthers (No. 149) and Claridge by the Pats (170).
Claridge never really found a role with the Patriots, was slowed by shoulder injuries, and cut two years ago. Seward’s first professional tackle came against the Patriots in 2005, when he dropped Corey Dillon [stats] for a loss.
“Adam wasn’t so much a dynamic sideline to sideline player as a workhorse,” Johns said. “Claridge was a little more dynamic, made more spectacular plays. Adam was just solid. He would run and make plays, but he did most of his work from tackle to tackle. Adam had more of an understanding of the game and defensive schemes, which is probably why he’s still hanging on and playing in the NFL.”
Johns believes a 3-4 team represents a much better fit than a 4-3 team like Carolina.
“That’s probably a good, fair assessment,” Johns said. “He’s not an NFL 4-3 guy. He was a good college 4-3 guy, but not for the NFL. Hopefully he gets a shot in New England. That would be great.”
The Patriots also made a minor move yesterday, signing cornerback Lewis Sanders. The 29-year-old is an eight-year veteran who played with the Browns, Texans and Falcons. The 6-1, 210-pounder started 25 games in his career and is considered a solid special teams player.
The Patriots also made official the signing of free agent safety Tank Williams.Article URL: http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/football/patriots/view.bg?articleid=1078486

Pats add a Tank for some safety

By Karen Guregian / Patriots Notebook Thursday, March 6,

2008 http://www.bostonherald.com N.E. Patriots

Little by little, the Patriots [team stats] are patching the holes on defense. Yesterday, they added more depth to the secondary by signing former Minnesota Vikings safety Tank Williams.
The St. Paul Pioneer Press was the first to report the move, as Williams and the Pats agreed to a one-year deal.
It’s the second signing in as many days to shore up the defensive backfield. On Tuesday, the Pats inked cornerback Jason Webster to a one-year deal.
Williams, 27, plays both safety positions and is regarded as a big hitter. He’ll likely be a fill-in behind Rodney Harrison [stats] and James Sanders [stats], essentially taking over for the departed Eugene Wilson, who is testing the free market but has yet to sign with a team.
Williams began his career in Tennessee, spending four seasons with the Titans, who selected him in the second round (45th overall) of the 2002 draft.
In 2006, when he joined the Vikings, he suffered a freak injury during training camp, fracturing his kneecap while backpedaling doing a drill.
Last season, the 6-foot-2, 223-pounder appeared in 13 games with two starts. The Vikings wanted to retain him, but Williams explored his options after they signed former Bengal Madieu Williams.
Meanwhile, details of Webster’s deal became available. The Pats will pay the cornerback a base salary of $730,000.
Moss salutes Favre
Randy Moss released a statement on his Web site regarding the retirement of Packers quarterback Brett Favre.
“It has been a blessing and a privilege to watch Brett Favre in his prime, with the MVPs and the Super Bowls,” the Patriots receiver wrote on therealrandymoss.com. “He is a great competitor and he will be missed.
“All I can say is, ‘Brett, I love you and I enjoyed my time watching you. In my heart, a legend is stepping away from the game.’ ”
Gaffney gets $2M
The Pats officially confirmed the signing of wide receiver Jabar Gaffney [stats], who reportedly inked a one-year deal for $2 million.
“Jabar is a good fit for our offense,” coach Bill Belichick said in a statement. “He has been a versatile and dependable player who steps up in whatever role is asked of him.” . . .
The Pats are expected to host Panthers restricted free agent linebacker Adam Seward today in Foxboro, according to a league source.
While Seward has been playing in Carolina’s 4-3 alignment, primarily as a backup, he did play the 3-4 at UNLV.
Read the Patriots Point After blog every day at bostonherald.com.Article URL: http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/football/patriots/view.bg?articleid=1078161