Patriots running back Fred Taylor (21) carries the ball during an OTA practice on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 at Gillette Stadium.

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Steve Burton interviewed RB Fred Taylor, who recently appeared in studio as a guest on Patriots All Access.  The full video of the program (19.56 min.) can be viewed at Patriots.com, but I've included the transcript of the Fred Taylor Q & A portion below.

Steve Burton:  Welcome.  Good to have you aboard.  First impression of playing here in New England.

Fred Taylor:  First impression?  Great guys on the team.  It's a reason why they've been successful.  I don't want to get in to the past because the future is here, the future is now.  We're just a great locker room, a great group of guys.  They work hard, very intense, and they try as close as they can to be perfect, and you gotta love teammates like that.

Steve Burton:  When you look around the locker room, you see a Tom Brady, you see a Randy Moss, you see some of these guys...

Fred Taylor:  I see a lot of autographs I need.  Seriously, a lot of autographs I need.  But a lot of terrific guys.  Two of the main guys I was talking about [Brady, Moss] - leadership, intensity, passion, uh, striving for perfection, and uh, it's just a great feeling to be here.

Steve Burton:  What do you think your main adjustment is going to be?

Fred Taylor:  Biggest adjustment?  Well, I'm already making those adjustments now.  Just from learning the playbook... learning the guys names might be my biggest adjustment.  You want to be as friendly as you can with your offensive line.

Steve Burton:  Opening day is a ways away, but what do you think it will be like when you put on that Patriots uniform for the first time, to take the field for that first game?  It's going to be weird for you, isn't it?

Fred Taylor:  I'm getting used to it more and more now.  When I work out in south Florida, everything is Patriots, everything. 

Steve Burton:  Really.

Fred Taylor:  I boxed all my Jaguar stuff up.  Put it in the attic.  That chapter's closed.  I'll open it back up when I retire.  Right now, everything is Patriots first.  And it'll be weird.  It will be a little strange I guess at first.  Monday night.  Buffalo.  I've played here at night a couple of times.  I know what the fans are like.  I'm sure the first game won't be any different for them.  They're ready for football around here.  But I'll be excited.  I can tell you I'll be ready to play.

Steve Burton:  One last question, one last name.  Bill Belichick.  He's your head coach.  When you see him, describe him.

Fred Taylor:  (lets out breath) Wow.  Perception is crazy.  The media can give you all types of crazy ideas of people and how they are or how they seem to be.  He's passionate.  I haven't heard the "Rah-Rah" part yet you know, but all coaches have it.  He has his approach.  Maybe it's not time for that right now, but you gotta respect him as a man, as a coach.  He's been around a long time in this business so... just that resume alone... that's all.  I mean, that should be enough.

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Date of Birth: January 27, 1976 (1976-01-27) (age 33)
Place of Birth: Pahokee, Florida
Height: 6 ft. 1 in.
Weight: 228 lb.
College: Florida
High School: Glades Central HS (Belle Glade, FL)
NFL Draft: 1998 - 1st Round - 9th overall
Experience: 12th season
Jersey Number: #21
Contract Details: 2 years, $5 million. Includes $1.45 million signing bonus and base salaries of $1.55 million (2009) and $2 million (2010).

Fred Taylor has spent his entire career in the NFL playing for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Up until now, that is. After visiting with the Buffalo Bills and the New England Patriots, Taylor ultimately chose to come play for Bill Belichick and the Pats as he enters the final stages of his illustrious career.

This is old news at this point, considering his signing came way back during the early days of free agency, but there's still plenty to be excited about.

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Height: 5-11   Weight: 197   Age: 37
Born: 11/20/1971 Bellaire , OH
College: Ohio State
Experience: 15th season
High School: Bellaire HS [OH]

The departure of Jabar Gaffney has created an opening to our #3 wide receiver spot (or #2, depending on how you look at it). After visiting with the Buffalo Bills and Pittsburgh Steelers, Joey Galloway found a new home with our New England Patriots, inking a one-year contract with a base salary of $1.15 million, according to Mike Reiss (who indicates that Galloway may have had a bit of leverage in negotiations, which is why the contract is worth more than the veteran minimum).

Joey Galloway brings a boatload of experience. He'll be entering his fifteenth season in the league this year after previous stints with the Seattle Seahawks (who drafted him eighth overall back in 1995), Dallas Cowboys, and most recently with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He had three straight years of 1,000 yards receiving with the Bucs, including a career year in 2005 where he had a career high 83 receptions for 1,287 yards and 10 touchdowns. In 2006, he made 62 receptions for 1,057 yards and 7 touchdowns while starting 14 games. In 2007, he made 57 receptions for 1,014 yards and 6 touchdowns while playing in 15 games. His 2008 season was cut short due to a foot injury, limiting him to just 13 receptions for 138 yards.

What will he bring in 2009?

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Hey everyone, welcome to the NESilver version of Pats Pulpit! That's right! I'm taking over! Mwahaha... oh, sorry, did I say that out loud? Ahem. Anyway... I'll be taking over the stat duties, and splitting time with MaPatsFan on position profiles and free agent signings. We'll get a good rotation going there. Consider us a bit like Gary Guyton and Tedy Bruschi, or Laurence Maroney and Sammy Morris. Wait, does that mean one of us is gonna be injured frequently? Hmm... this wasn't in the job description...

Okay, so with that out of the way, I wanted to focus on our most recent draftees with my first post. I figured that would be a good way to kick things off, since we're getting closer to the draft and all. It's an exciting time of year, where everyone's excited about how well their team will do next season, and you can definitely include me in that bunch. Just for the record, I am a BIG optimist and a major homer for our New England Patriots, which means I fully expect every single one of our draftees to turn into studs and Pro-Bowlers every year. Is that really so unreasonable? I sure don't think so.

With that said, here's the list of our draft picks for the past two years who are currently still a part of the team.

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Just like rogue dandelions spotting their lawn, the rookie free agents are methodically being weeded off the Patriots’ roster.  The most recent uprooting, Tyson Devree (TE), also happened to be the latest player profile I had written and ready to go, that is until the Patriots told Devree to go instead.  So who's left in this tenuous group to profile? 

Of the 15 rookie free agents signed by the Patriots after the draft, eight have been cut: Josh Coffman, Carlos Feliciano, Henry Smith, Casey Tyler, Mike Dragosavich, Steve Fajita, Kenny Catthouse, and Tyson Devree.  Three of the remaining 7 players, BenJarvus Green-Ellis (RB), Gary Guyton (LB) and Vince Redd (LB), were considered draft prospects by Sports Illustrated and ESPN who's experts have taken the time to sum up their college careers, carefully analyze their strengths and weaknesses, and give some insight into how they might best be used as rookies.

Not as much information is available on the remaining four, so I'll do my best to present some career highlights and a small window into where they might fit in this year's roster.

Career Highlights :

§    Totaled 40 catches for 444 yards during his career
§    Had 15 catches for 112 yards in 2006. 
§    Pulled down a career high seven passes in last year’s win vs. Miami
§    Played in 25 games and started 17 times.

Jonathan Stupar has quite a challenge to earn a roster spot at tight end this year even with the hole left by the release of Kyle Brady. 

Benjamin Watson, in his 5th year with the Patriots and recovering from off-season ankle surgery, is projected to be the undisputed starter. Patriots Football Weekly's depth chart puts 14-year veteran Marcus Pollard (signed by the Colts in 1995 as an UDFA) in the number two spot, followed by Dave Thomas who is back practicing after recovering from a broken foot.  Since Devree has been cut, that leaves three-year veteran and former Eagle Stephen Spach just ahead of rookie Stupar, provided of course that injuries and/or performance don't dictate a re-shuffling of the order.

(C) Ryan Wendell 6'2", 275lbs, Fresno State

Career Notes:

Wendell was a standout during his career with the ‘Dogs. He was a 2007 First Team All-WAC selection and started at multiple positions on the offensive line.

In his first year with the program, Wendell was selected to the First Team Freshman All-American team and was awarded Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Freshman of the Year honors.

Starred on the offensive line each of the last three seasons, earned national honors for his outstanding play in 2004, and has emerged as a team leader.

Now Wendell will join three other former Bulldogs in New England. Offensive guard Logan Mankins, safety James Sanders and tight end Stephen Spach are all currently playing for the team.  The Patriots organization has a history of signing former Bulldogs. Pat Hill and Patriots’ head coach Bill Belichick worked together for the Cleveland Browns before Hill came to Fresno.

Who is he competing with?  Currently the Patriots rely on Dan Koppen as their rock at Center, followed by Russ Hochstein who filled in for an injured Koppen in 2005, starting in 7 regular season games plus 2 playoff games at center. Further into the depth chart is recently re-signed, Gene Mruczkowski (G/C), who was originally signed by the Patriots in 2003 as a RFA, and spent 3 years either on IR, or being released and re-signed by the Pats.  In 2007 Mruczkoski played 15 games with the Miami Dolphins.

Mark Dillard, ranked No. 53 among safeties  by Raceland-based talent scout Mike Detillier, appears to be Louisiana Tech’s best NFL Draft Day bet.

A three-year starter, Dillard began this career in Ruston as a running back before switching to the secondary, where he made 87 tackles [and 2 interceptions] as a senior.

"Dillard improved his game last season in only his second year in the defensive backfield," said analyst Tony Pauline of SportsLoop Consulting, whose work appears in Sports Illustrated. "He has shown enough to be given consideration in camp as a conventional strong safety."

Patriots Football Weekly  lists Dillard as third on the depth chart for free safeties behind 4-year veteran James Sanders and 2-year veteran Brandon Meriweather.

Career Highs:

Tackles: 8, twice(last time vs. Northwestern, 11/18/06)
Solos: 6, twice(last time vs. Northwestern, 9/18/06)
TFL: 4.5 vs. Northwestern 9/18/06
QB Sacks: 1.5 two times (last time at Michigan State, 9/30/06)
QBH: 2 vs. Penn State, 10/21/06
PBU: 1, three times (last time vs. Wisconsin, 10/29/05)
Blocked Kick: 1 (FG) vs. California, 10/17/05
FF: 1, two times (last time at Wisconsin, 10/28/06)

Patriots Football Weekly  puts Norwell 4th in the depth chart at left defensive end.  First round draft pick and 6-year veteran Ty Warren holds the starting spot, with 3-year veteran Le Kevin Smith at  number 2.  Rookie Norwell falls behind 2-year veteran Santonio Thomas who was signed by the Pats as an RFA in 2005.

Another punter?  Apparently veterans Chris Hanson (picked up from Jacksonville in 2007) and Scott Player (recently signed this past April from Cleveland) are in for a bit of competition since the Patriots signed undrafted rookie free agent Mike Dragosavich out of North Dakota State.

Dragosavich was invited to the Patriots rookie mini-camp on a strictly try-out basis, and merited an official acknowledgment from Belichick during a post-practice press conference before being signed.   

"Mike's pretty athletic, he's a tall guy and he can generate some leg speed there," Belichick added.  "I've worked with a couple of long punters like that, like (former Giants' and Jets' punter Dave) Jennings, a small-school guy from St. Lawrence, 6'4" or 6'5", played receiver in college, and turned out to be a great punter."

At 6'5", 212 lbs, Dragosavich hasn't only impressed Belichick.  The Draft profilers at  both SI.com and ESPN are effusive in their praise for the personable punter, noting especially his long legs, overall strength, terrific hang-time on kicks , explosive punts and athleticism.  He has the quickness to get him downfield to support the coverage squad, and has worked hard enough in the weight room to be an effective wrap-up tackler .  Focused and cool under pressure, he's had no problems kicking in poor weather conditions or into the wind. Dragosavich also possesses soft hands to secure the snap and a strong arm to throw the option pass.  With experience as a receiver to be a threat on fake punts, he shows the athleticism and versatility consistently prized by the Patriots.

What's not to love?  "The trouble with tall punters," according to Russ Lande of the Sporting News, "is that the smallest thing can throw off their technique ."  ESPN agrees, suggesting that Dragosavich "must refine his technique to a two-step approach [from a three-step], as his long legs and stride get him too close to the line of scrimmage before he is able to get his punts away."  SI.com adds that he "must improve as a directional punter", and "quicken his release time" to cut down on blocked kicks.

Asked if he believed he had shot at making the team, Dragosavich responded, "Basically, I just have to have the mentality to work as hard as I possibly can , and devote my life to this, and just see what happens every day.  I'm going to be a sponge, take everything I can in, do whatever the coaches tell me and just be as good as i possibly can." 

Playing for the New England Patriots is one opportunity this rookie doesn't want to punt away.

Vince Redd is a hard man to get a handle on.   

His size (6'6", 260 lbs) definitely matters.  A large defender with very long arms, "Bigg Redd" makes it difficult for blockers to grab him and hold on .  His excellent timed speed, cat-like quickness and good reaction movements are talked up in his NFL draft report, while SI Grade touts his size, athleticism and speed off the edge .  "Redd stepped his game up last season and showed the ability to dominate the action.  He offers outstanding upside for the next level."

The high points show Redd finishing strong at Liberty, starting 10 games, and registering 67 tackles with a league-high 6.5 sacks.  He's been timed a 4.56 in the 40 and brings a highly respectable 39" vertical to the field.

The Patriots refer to him as "one of the more intriguing undrafted rookie free agent prospects" and their assessment is understandable considering his "somewhat tumultuous college career."

Redd began his college career playing for Al Groh at Virginia.  But he was suspended for one game for violating team policy in 2005 and was then reportedly dismissed from the squad along with fellow Cavaliers defender Ahmad Brooks for another violation of team policy in March of 2006.  Redd transferred to Liberty where after sitting out 2006 he had a very productive 2007 campaign playing for former Groh assistant Danny Rocco's Flames.

The defense Redd played at both UVA and Liberty has many similarities to what he'll be asked to do in New England.  He's aware that he likely earned a free agent look with the Patriots thanks to his connection to Bill Belichick via Groh and Rocco and is hoping to make the best of the opportunity.

"Them knowing each other, they can speak to each other and see how I play and my character and stuff like that and how I actually work," Redd said before acknowledging that his familiarity with the scheme should help him in the early going.  "It's good for me, but I still have to come in here and make my own spot on the team."

By all accounts Redd needs to work on his alarming lack of strength and power for a player his size, which the rookie himself admitted to in an interview with Eric Rose in January.  Rose was very impressed with him and his future in the NFL .

When talking to Vince I noticed how poised and respectful he is.  He loves the game of football and is willing to do anything to play at the next level.  Don't be surprised if Vince Redd becomes a household name in a few years.  He's got the size and potential, and once he works on his speed, strength and overall knowledge of the game, like all rookies must do, I'm expecting Redd to be very successful in the NFL.

"There is nowhere to go but up , that's the way I see it," Redd said while admitting that he must work on the "total package" that is the tough job of playing outside linebacker in New England's 3-4 scheme." 

Let's watch him rise.

Undrafted, but not unwanted, linebacker Gary Guyton comes to the Patriots following a standout senior year at Georgia Tech and a very impressive Combine.  The 6’2”, 242 lb Guyton touts his “whole game” as his best attribute.  In an interview with Cecil Lammey of Draft Guys TV, Guyton displays the confidence fans love to see in their young players.  “I can bring anything to the table that you need .  I can come down and hit the ball, destroy blockers, get off tackles, cover…everything you need.”

Most notably as a senior Guyton switched to weak side linebacker and started all 13 games, racking up 78 tackles (13.5 for losses), five sacks and five pass breakups.  He returned two fumbles and an interception for touchdowns. Guyton also caught three passes for 54 yards and a touchdown and scored two two-point conversions.  By the end of the season, the staff and opposition alike were calling him the team's best defensive performer .

The Patriots rely heavily on the versatility of their players, especially in veteran linebackers Bruschi, Vrabel, and Thomas. While Guyton has found his weak side sweet spot, he also has vital experience at playing strong side and special teams, which will enable him to play where he is needed most.

The Combine showcased Guyton who had the best vertical jump, best broad jump, and 2nd best 40 of all participating linebackers.  On the long list of positives from his NFL profile, the standouts are:  Good character on and off the field, good use of his size and strength, shows burst as blitzer, flashes explosiveness as a hitter and can wrap up and make the tackle, uses long arms and strong hands to supply a pop to blockers and disengage.

Why wasn’t he drafted?   Critics point to his needing to add more bulk to his frame, and become more instinctive when diagnosing run/pass plays, especially when playing deep in the zone.  A bit too hesitant, he needs to get quicker at changing directions and trying to slip blocks.  Russ Lande, Draft Expert from the Sporting News, feels he hasn’t received “a lot of publicity because of Georgia Tech teammate Philip Wheeler [drafted in the 3rd round by the Colts.]  

However, it is Lande’s opinion that Gary Guyton is the more well rounded, better NFL prospect .  “He’s a well-built athletic linebacker who can chase down running plays in pursuit just as easily as helping out in pass coverage.  If you want a big-time playmaker, he’s not your guy, but if you want a very well rounded linebacker who stays on the field for three plays, Guyton’s the man you need.”