Feeling Surprisingly Good Monday Pats Linkage

May 5th. We don't get much further away from the NFL season than we are right now. By now the hangover from last season is over, and the anticpation for the next one has begun. The draft is over, most of the pieces are in place. Now we can do nothing except wait. At least we have the Assistant Golf Pro finally coming clean next week! Ugh, that ought to be interesting. Anyway, here's some linkage from the weekend. We're sure to be in full Spygate mode in a few days as the media will most likely be looking to relive the whole saga one more time before AGP speaks and the issue is (hopefully) put to bed.

Pretty pictures of the rookies here and here.

Here's a new posting from someone who calls themself "NEInsider" on the ESPN messageboards. His posts are rare but he talks like he has connections inside Gillette and so far all his stuff seems to make sense. Who knows how real it is, but it's fun stuff to read...

1. Mayo will be a superstar. He is super smart with skills off the charts for our system. A NAtional Honor Society kid, graduated from college, humble but driven, and a film rat.

2. As I said on draft day believe me when I re-iterate that Wheatley is also potentially special. Another kid with off the charts intangibles and hands down the best change of direction from back pedal of any DB in the draft. Forget about his height. he played an entire game after a metal rod "broke" in his wrist. Super smart kid and a really good kid. Great man coverage and understands defense.

3. Crable is my favorite in the draft. No kid has ever come from tougher circumstances and made it. Another very smart kid. If you want a reason why Loyd Carr needed to be fired at Michigan this kid is it. A boatload of talent coached "down" . he has the ideal size, speed, and length to play outside and he wants to be the best. He will get the coaching he deserves here.

4. O'Connell was just too good to pass up. 4.61 40 and arguably at 6-5 the best pure football player at QB. You have no idea how bad that team he played on was until you see game film. Might be the worst college O-Line I have ever seen and he made big plays. Josh went and visited with him in california and do not be surprised if we have a few packages for him during the year. Kevin is a big, fast, smart, and tough kid.

5. Wilhite is interesting. Most of the staff saw him when they visited Auburn to look at the other cornerback and he was the one that impressed us the most. He is a little guy with a chip on his shoulder and he plays that way. Good kid but he will back down from nobody and that includes O-line guys. Super aggressive and very physical with receivers. The 4.51 time I saw posted for him is way off. He can run sub 4.4 but that isn't what is important. Like Wheatley this kid can transition from the back pedal as smooth as silk. the kid got a lot of penalties in college for being over-aggressive but that is ok. rather have them that way than passive. Capers loves this kid by the way.

6. Slater is another favorite of mine. Never seen a kid with this much raw talent misused at a major univeristy like UCLA in my entire life in this business. What a shame for this young man but it is really good for us. 1st or at worst second round physical talent and super smart. Can play CB, WR, special teams etc. recruited heavily by USC but went to UCLA. Watch this kid closely because he should blossum here. Capers wants him at corner so we will see.

Here's a couple late recaps of Saturday's mini-camp practices: Shalise Manza Young, Mike Reiss.

Pats Fan Weekly takes a look a W-squared, the two young cornerbacks that are going to make an impact in the Pats defensive backfield this year. Pro Football Weekly concurs that their addition should put to rest any notion of Brandon Meriweather being moved to cornerback.

Mike Reiss had some Sunday linkage with some good articles. Here's Pro Football Talk's links for all things Pats Mini-Camp. Consider this my linkage to their linkage.

Know your enemy.

Peter King's MMQB ranks the NFL teams post-draft. Any guess as to where the Pats sit? Luckily high enough so I didn't have to sift through King's ramblings...

Crazy-Legs Crable recounts his draft day tale of getting the call from the Pats. I seriously don't understand how you don't answer any and every call on a day you might get drafted but it all worked out okay I guess.