New England Patriots: Revisiting and Grading the Draft: 2008
By Hal Bent
1st Round #31: No Draft Pick. Lost as part of punishment by NFL.
Jan 11, 2014; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick before the 2013 AFC divisional playoff football game against the Indianapolis Colts at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
As a penalty for recording the opposing sideline during their first game of the season versus the New York Jets from field level rather than in an NFL approved location (the rule indicates a “covered location”–not that it seems to matter in the age of digital zoom). The Patriots were stripped of their first round draft pick (#32 overall) as part of their fine and penalty for “misinterpreting” the rule..
SHOULD HAVE DRAFTED:
Would the Patriots have traded this pick to get additional draft picks? Probably. Suppose they stayed with pick, however. Think of that 18-1 team adding another weapon on offense. How about replacing wide receiver Donte Stallworth with wide receiver Jordy Nelson (Green Bay 2nd round # 36 overall) or Eddie Royal (Denver #42 overall)?
How about on defense? Kansas City got defensive back Brandon Flowers at #35 overall and would have been available for New England to draft. They could have picked cornerback Tracy Porter who went to New Orleans at #40 overall. Or they could possibly doubled-up at linebacker with Curtis Lofton who Atlanta picked-up at #37 overall and is now in New Orleans.
This pick was a huge loss to New England. It could have made a huge difference in 2008 and beyond. The arrogance of defying a league memo by having a cameraman standing on the sidelines rather than 50 feet back with a zoom lens (perfectly legal and most do it) really cost the team in the long run.
GRADE: F