Bill Belichick talks to the media following Day 3 of the Draft.
I feel like we added some players at a number of different positions, added some depth at our team. Some of the players that we talked about today fall into the same category that we talked about yesterday. [They] are guys that are tough that have played at a high level and produced well. We're excited about working with those guys next weekend when they come in. Of course, Devin [McCourty] was here today. We got a chance to spend some time with him this morning and he's excited to be here and we're excited to have him. We're looking forward to working with him as well. Overall, a pretty interesting weekend. We also announced the signing of Gerard Warren today. [There was] a lot of movement. [We're] looking forward to getting on the field and getting them out there and actually see them play football.
I think players that are good players, but also have traits such as leadership, work ethic, good communications skills, toughness and those things end up being players who are elected leaders and representatives of their team - captains and so forth. A lot of times those follow each other. I mean we didn't go into the draft and say we just want to draft guys who were captains of their team. Certainly, the fact that they do that and put that together with the rest of the skills they have certainly add up for the players favor and a higher value for us.
I think you want to draft players that are tough, smart, that work hard, that are good instinctive players, that know how to play the game and that can make plays. Playmakers in the skill positions offensively and defensively or in the return game that can make plays. I'm not telling you anything new. We've tried to draft those players since I got here and I'm sure every other team in the league is trying to do basically the same thing. We certainly have guys that are tough, that have been productive and show the ability to come in and give our team what we feel like will benefit whether that's by position, by skill, their style of play or their work ethic. That's all part of it, too. We're always looking to improve those.
TEAM TALK
- Patriots official 2010 Draft Board. Also, here are the selections with notes on all trades.
- Bill Belichick Press Conference - 4/24/10. (18.36 min. video) Plus Transcript.
- Patriots Today - McCourty's day in Foxboro. (1.59 min. video)
- Patriots Today - Inside the Draft room Part 1. (1.41 min. video)
- Patriots Today - Inside the draft room Part II. (1.26 min. video)
- Patriots Today - Zolak's thoughts on new TEs and more. (4.37 min. video)
LOCAL LINKS
- Albert Breer looks at the physical focus to the draft selections of the AFC East and foresees some tough battles ahead.
- Ian Rapoport notes the leadership characteristics of the players Belichick selected. At least 5 were captains of their college team.
- Albert Breer says the draft shows the Patriots trying to right previous wrongs, selecting players of character from coaches he trusts.
- Mike Reiss offers some Quick-hit thoughts around the NFL & Patriots.
- Christopher Price offers his Five Things we learned this weekend at the NFL draft.
- Mike Reiss notes Belichick drafted with attitude, valuing toughness, physicality and character in this year's draft.
- Karen Guregian reports this year's draft wasn't about rebuilding, it was about replenishing the team for the future.
- Chris Gasper thinks Belichick played it too safe in the first round and should have taken Jerry Hughes or Dez Bryant when he had the chance.
- Tom E. Curran says Gronkowski and Hernandez could, in theory, change the way the Patriots use the tight end position.
- Karen Guregian notes Gronkowski, Cunningham and Spikes should improve the Patriots fortunes inside the 20-yard line this season.
- Ian Rapoport talks about multi-tasker TE Aaron Hernandez, Belichick's post-draft plan to scour the free-agent market, and the undrafteds invited to rookie camp.
- Robert Lee reports that with the Draft over, the Patriots are still seeking ways to improve.
- Ron 'Mr. Sunshine' Borges isn't too sure about the Patriots draft, says the Jets improved more and reminds us that Urban Meyer also recommended Chad Jackson.
- Ian Rapoport reveals a new Brady-Bledsoe controversy: Zoltan Mesko and Aaron Hernandez both were Patriots fans, but Hernandez loved Bledsoe and Mesko rooted for Brady.
- Mike Reiss reports on the chemistry issues prevalent in the AFC East, including the Jets and the Dolphins.
- Comcast Sports Sunday: Michael Felger, Ron Borges and Chris Gasper discuss how the Pats did this weekend and grade the draft. (3.26 min. video).
NATIONAL NEWS
- Tim Graham (ESPN) AFC East Draft analysis.
- NFL 2010 Draft Tracker.
- Peter King (SI) MMQB: Making sense of the 2010 draft and the one prospect who got away.
- Matt Bowen (Nat'l Football Post) Mid-round impact players: Five prospects who could see plenty of playing time in 2010. TE Aaron Hernandez is included.
- Judy Battista (NY Times) In the Draft: Winners, losers and the Patriots.
- John Czarnecki (Fox Sports) NFL Draft Report Cards. Patriots get a B+
- Rick Gosselin (Dallas Morning News) NFL Draft grades. New England gets an A.
- Clifton Brown (Sporting News) Who makes the grade? Rating each team's performance in the 2010 NFL Draft. Patriots earn a B.
- Charles Robinson (Yahoo! Sports) Fortunes of Tebow, Clausen unlike projections. Puts the Patriots in the Draft Winners category.
- Ross Tucker (SI) Breaking down the best and worst of each team's selections from the 2010 NFL draft.
- Rob Rang (CBS Sports) Draft Grades. New England Patriots earn a B.
- Pat Kirwan (NFL.com) Format change a hit, but some teams capitalize on draft process.
- Vic Carucci (NFL.com) Draft boom: New three-day format a success and here to stay.
- Joe Fortenbaugh (Nat'l Football Post) New draft format proves great for ratings.
- Sean Leahy (USA Today) NFL Draft's dust settled, a look at some of the event's winners and losers. Pats are winners.
- Gregg Rosenthal (NBC Sports) A quick snapshot of some winners and losers from the first ever three-day NFL Draft extravaganza.
- Tim Graham (ESPN) Kiper gives Dolphins worst AFC East grade.
- Robbie Andreu (Gainesville Sun) Hernandez joins mates in New England. Florida finished with the most players selected in the draft with nine.
- AP (Gainesville Sun) Pats, Belichick show love for UF.
- Tim Graham (ESPN) Mesko goes from Brady fan to teammate.
- Gil Brandt (NFL.com) Teams begin to scramble to sign undrafted players.
- Tim Graham (ESPN) Undrafted players crucial to rookie classes.
- Mike Mayock (NFL Network) Exclusive interview with Patriots head coach Bill Belichick. Laura London (All Things Bill Belichick) has all 4 parts on her website. Worth the look.
- Mark Dagostino (Tonic) Matt Light and Peter King: Breaking bread for charity.