Christopher Price hears from Virginia defensive coordinator Jim Reid that the Patriots got a winner in Ras-I Dowling.
"I’m sorry," said Reid, who is the associate head coach and defensive coordinator at the University of Virginia. "I’m not objective about him. I love the guy. He embodies everything a player should be. He’s a high-character guy, he works hard and he’s terrific. You don’t have to worry about him doing something unprofessional. He’s just a great role model.
"He’s the type of guy honestly, as a parent, you just get on your knees and pray he’s the kind of guy your daughter brings home one day."
As for a scouting report on Dowling, Reid said he’s a cornerback in name only, and lends some credence to the belief that he might provide some positional versatility with a move to safety sometime in the future. "He can play bump and run and he can play man seven yards off the line. He can play whatever you need," Reid said. "The guy looks like a linebacker when you see him. He’s a remark physical guy from a height and speed standpoint. The way he works in the weight room, he’s a well developed guy who takes care of his body. He’s an imposing corner — Ras-I is a very good man-to-man player. He’s quick — he can open his hips and run."
"When it comes to football, the guy is tough and physical and he wants to be a great player on every play," Reid said. "Not five or seven or 10 plays a game, but every play when he’s on the field. "He’ll be five minutes early to every meeting and he’ll stay as late as he needs to. I was around Jason Taylor and Joey Porter, and they would always ask for extra tape on guys. Guys like that who worked hard; you would stay up late to help them. Ras-I is that type of guy."
"I think the fans will grow to love Ras-I. I don’t know how you can’t," Reid said. "He’s going to give the fans what they want — 100 percent effort on and off the field. I think the fans of New England will really love him."
TEAM TALK
- Vote for the 2011 Patriots Hall of Fame Enshrinee. Fans have until May 15th to cast their votes.
- Patriots Today - Kraft family honored. (2.09 min. video)
- Inside the Draft Room with Brian Lowe: A global perspective of the 2011 NFL Draft. (58.32 min. program)
- Draft Prospect Review (5/04/11) - Listen as the writers of PFW recap the Patriots draft. (21.02 min. program)
LOCAL LINKS
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Ian Rapoport continues his interesting series, 'The Making of Malett', describing the football town Ryan Mallett grew up in where 15,000 fans show up to high school games.
- TMOM: Why the life of a Texas HS QB prepares you for the NFL.
- TMOM: What Patriots fans can learn from Mallett's start as a HS freshman.
- TMOM: A look at a high school QB beyond his years, an interview with Texas High School coach Barry Norton. (3.47 min. video)
- TMOM: Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino thinks Ryan Mallett's acclimation could be quick.
- Ian Rapoport notes Ryan Mallett's friends and family and appreciate how Bill Belichick chose to evaluate the 'complete person,' who made mistakes and learned from them.
- Mike Reiss reports the fracture in Tom Brady's foot is healing, he continues to work out aggressively, and he should be ready for the start of the season.
- Mike Reiss notes one of the points Bill Belichick made in his Saturday Draft wrap-up news conference is that the team-building picture is not yet complete.
- Chris Gasper gives us five thoughts on the Patriots draft.
- Michael Felger continues the annual spring tradition of complaining about the Patriots' draft.
- Mike Reiss analyzes how the Patriots approach to the cornerback position has been changing.
- Tom E. Curran scouts out how the Jets did in the draft.
- Mike Reiss takes an early look at the jersey numbers each rookie wore in college and whether it will be available for them to use this year.
- Ian Rapoport posts the new rap video of Patriots safety Brett Lockett. (4.04 min. video) Not bad.
- The Boston Globe looks at the current Patriots' Hall of Fame members. Don't forget to vote for this year's nominees.
- Mike Reiss notes Bodog.com released it's numbers yesterday, and the Patriots are tied with the Packers with the best Super Bowl odds at 7/1.
NATIONAL NEWS
- First Take (ESPN) Patriots RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis talks about the team's new additions at running back and more. (4.24 min. video)
- Vic Carucci (NFL.com) Colts, Pats on different paths to find successor for star QB.
- Jonathan Comey (Cold Hard Football Facts) Decade in the making: the ultimate NFL draft grades. New England - A.
- Vinnie Iyer (Sporting News) Five playoff teams still have big need to fill. [surprise] Patriots need a pass rusher.
- Wes Bunting (Nat'l Football Post) First round breakdown: "Love em" and "question em" picks from round one.
- Tony Pauline (SI) 2011 Draft: Steals and reaches.
- Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) Ryan Mallett plans "payback" after Dolphins pass on him.
- Jason La Canfora (NFL.com) Unofficial list of potential 2011 free agents.
- Pete Prisco (CBS Sports) Free-agent class: Asomugha tops shallow FA pool.
- Mike Sando (ESPN) Which teams 'won' draft-day trades.
- Analysts (NFL.com) Stiff competition for Rookie of the Year on both sides of the ball.
- Richard Deitsch (SI) NFL Network turns to Nessler, Mayock for new two-man booth.
- Michael Lombardi (NFL.com) Bears get blame, benefit after botched deal with Ravens.
- Don Banks (SI) Mendenhall just the latest NFL players to spout utter nonsense.
- Jason Whitlock (Fox Sports) Mendenhall an easy target.
- Matt Hinton (Yahoo! Sports) Von Miller, then and now: How recruits grow (and grow some more) into draft picks, by the numbers.
- Antonya English (St. Petersburg Times) Randy Moss's daughter commits to Florida Gators for basketball.
- Gregg Rosenthal (ProFootballTalk) Sabol shares credit following more honors for Hard Knocks.
LABOR LUNACY
- Andrew Brandt (Nat'l Football Post) Courtroom football: ruling coming, schedule set.
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Clerk says Eighth Circuit simply may not rule on motion for stay.
- Michael Silver (Yahoo! Sports) Player resentment for Goodell grows.
- Brian Billick (Fox Sports) NFL players need routine to thrive.
- Brian C. Hopkins (Yahoo! Sports) Why the NFL players deserve to lose.
- Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) After Gene Upshaw died, union paid his widow $15 million.