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A bigger corner with plenty of strength and excellent run support, Banks has traits that the Patriots value in a CB. However, he had a disappointing 4.61 forty time, and Banks did get burned more often than he should have last season. Still, Banks is good value with the 29th pick and fell too far as a result of the forty time. I don’t mind this pick for the Patriots.

2. Contrary to what Seattle Seahawks corner Richard Sherman thinks, New York Jets CB Darrelle Revis is not “irrelevant” and is still the league’s premier shutdown corner until proven otherwise. ACL tears are much easier than they used to be to come back from, and the only major concern I have with Revis is what type of a contract he wants. In case you didn’t see it yet, the New York Daily News had a picture of Revis in a Patriots uniform. Click here to see the pic and thoughts on Revis from Masshole Sports.

3. Missouri Tigers defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson showed off an impressive motor and great penetrating ability against some tough SEC programs last season at Mizzou. Richardson, who is expected to go to the Carolina Panthers, would certainly be on the Patriots radar if he fell all the way down to 29. Even though I can’t see that happening, WEEI’s article on Richardson and the potential of him being selected by the New England Patriots is an interesting read.

4. I’ve started a new gig frequently covering news on our general NFL site NFL Spin Zone, and I wrote an article yesterday about the Cincinnati Bengals decision to franchise Michael Johnson (before the news of the franchise became official). Now this is notable from a Pats perspective, because Johnson was expected to be a free agent on the Pats radar if he made the market. Johnson didn’t, and writers such as Greg Bedard tweeted about how Johnson could have been a target for New England. Johnson reminds me a little of Rob Ninkovich, because they are both mostly run-stopping DEs who get quick, rather than consistent, pressure. Johnson is the better player due to his athleticism and better pass rushing ability, but Ninkovich and Johnson seem too similar. If the Patriots are going to get a DE, I would prefer a speedy edge rusher in the rotation who can consistently add pressure.

5. Steve Young is one of my favorite quarterbacks of all-time, but I can’t believe he thinks Joe Flacco deserved the record-breaking deal he received from the Baltimore Ravens. Flacco’s contract will make it extremely difficult for the Ravens to keep guys like Anquan Boldin and Jacoby Jones in 2013.

You can follow Joe Soriano on Twitter @SorianoJoe.

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Brady is, more or less, a Patriot-for-life, and that was something we could only say “in name” rather than, well, “in fact”. But with this deal, Brady has shown that he is going to be with the New England Patriots for as long as he plays the game. And really, that’s the way it should be.

By the way, this was a huge “You guys are idiots” statement to the people who thought the Patriots would trade Tom Brady.

But the biggest statement that this deal makes is towards Wes Welker, and it seems to me like there’s this unspoken “Your turn” regarding Welker. We were all reminded that it was Welker who was disappointed that Asante Samuel took money over championships to sign with the Philadelphia Eagles after Samuel told Welker to “chase the paper”.

You know who isn’t “chasing paper”? Tom Brady. He’s busy chasing championships. However, we must keep in mind that Tom Brady and Wes Welker are in two different positions. First off, Brady has made considerably more money throughout his career. Secondly, Brady’s wife makes a ridiculous some of money as well.

The message, though, remains the same. Wes Welker’s quarterback showed that he is willing to receive less money for the good of the team. In fact, it can be said that he is willing to take less money to help out Welker and the other impending free agents on the Patriots. Now, it is up to Welker to show that he values Brady’s move and gets something done with the Patriots that is favorable for the team as well. Even though I wouldn’t be upset  with Welker for taking a final pay day, I’m sure many fans will see him in a different light if he “chased the paper”.

The argument that Welker can’t produce with another team is a poor one. The argument that Welker can’t win as easily with another team or build a legacy is a good one, especially when it involves the word “legacy”. Brady has already built his, and his decision to make that deal entrenched it.

Welker, it’s your turn. Are you going to stay with your quarterback, who has targeted you throughout thick and thin? Or are you going to leave him hanging after he took this cheaper deal to help out the team? It’s your move. I know I’ll stand by Welker no matter what he chooses, but there is still honor in doing what Brady did. Just talk to any fan of the New England Patriots, and they will tell you just how much more they love and respect Brady after this. Heck, even New York Jets fans will consent to that.

Oh, and Brady’s deal sends a message to Baltimore Ravens QB Joe Flacco. If you want to be a true franchise QB, then you have to be willing to make sacrifices to help the team. Flacco is in a position to take a little less money to help keep some key receivers on the team, and it will be interesting to see if he takes the noble side. Athletes are entitled to getting as much money as possible due to the uncertainty of the game, but it is special to see a guy like Tom Brady take $12 million a year instead of $20 million (that is how much he will be paid for the next five years).

Let’s just say, I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Wes Welker and the Pats are now discussing a long-term deal.

You can follow Joe Soriano on Twitter @SorianoJoe.

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Even though there is all this talk about what the Ravens are doing with Flacco, there is pretty much no chance of him leaving Baltimore. The question is all about how much money Flacco will get from the Ravens organization, because his contract will dictate what the Ravens do with their other players (most notably the receivers) as they have some cap issues. Flacco bet against a top-five QB deal last year, won the Super Bowl, and now he wants an even bigger deal.

2. Miami Dolphins General Manager Jeff Ireland loves second-year running back Lamar Miller, and it seems like the entire Dolphins organization is extremely high on Miller. They want to give him the chance to start next year, and all this talk about Miller’s upside and how much the Dolphins want him means that Reggie Bush will likely be playing elsewhere next season- even if he really wants to stay in Miami. Omar Kelly of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel  tweeted that it is “universally understood” the Dolphins will give Miller “every opportunity” to start next year.

3. WEEI’s Christopher Price tweeted that South Carolina Gamecocks safety D.J. Swearinger met with New England Patriots scouts, while LSU’s Tyrann Mathieu did not. I am extremely high on Swearinger and hope he falls into the Pats laps in the second-round at pick 29, because he has terrific aggressiveness, explosiveness, hard-hitting ability, and enough coverage skills to fit as an SS in the pros. He said he likes New England’s defense, as well as Bill Belichick and his coaching discipline (also from Price).

4. Nick Underhill tweeted that Oregon State Beavers cornerback (mocked to the Patriots by FanSided.com at one point) Jordan Poyer also met with Patriots scouts, but this came during the Senior Bowl. I hope Poyer is available in a favorable spot for the Patriots as well, because he would be a nice selection for this team a bit after the first round (second or third, hopefully).

5. Below are two interesting quotes that Florida Gators safety Matt Elam (another guy I really like in this draft at safety) shared with ESPN Boston.

“My physicality, I play very hard. I love to strike people, I feel like that will help me stand out the most. I’m very versatile, I can cover slot receivers, I can go in the box and tackle, I can play in the post. I feel like that makes me stand out the most.”

“I’m very athletic. Growing up I was very athletic, and I feel like that separates me. I’m not the biggest safety I guess, but I feel like I play hard, and that makes me stand out.”

His older brother, Abram Elam, has been a safety in this league for a while, but Matt Elam said that he molds his game on Ravens safety Ed Reed. So do you want Reed or Elam? Personally, I think this defense needs youth so I’ll take a safety in the draft instead of Reed- even if that safety isn’t Matt Elam.

You can follow Joe Soriano on Twitter @SorianoJoe.