The Monday Patriots Huddle

Flowers Moving Up the Draft Charts 

This weekend another cornerback who I've failed to talk much about in previous postings has been shooting up a lot of people draft charts... Brandon Flowers of Virginia Tech (shown below decleating someone). Upon further review I'm really starting to like this guy. Just check out these video highlights of Flowers. He's not the biggest guy in the world but he's by far the most aggresive cornerback I've seen of all the CB prospects this year. Flowers is currently Mike Mayock's number one ranked CB and the more I see of him the more I like him. Keep an eye on him tomorrow to see how he stacks up in the measurables against the rest of the CB class.

Bruschi Retirement Rumours

Pro Football Weekend's rumour mill is reporting that there's talk at the combine that Tedy Bruschi might be hanging them up. This wouldn't be great news for the Pats. Maybe Bruschi has lost a step or two but he still led the team in tackles last year and is the heart of the defense. His loss would only compound the problems that the Pats have depth-wise at Inside Linebacker. There's also reports out there that the Pats thought they had Zack Thomas wrapped up before he signed with the Dallas Cowboys. It's clear the Patriots still have to do something to bolster the depth, skill and speed at the position.

More rumours from the combine...

• Pats reportedly will resign Jabar Gaffney.
• Not much of a market right now for Donte' Stallworth. Could this result in Nico coming back to the Pats at a reduced price?
• Peter King thinks unless the Assistant Golf Pro has video proof of the St. Louis Rams walkthru before Super Bowl 36 that the Pats should sue the Boston Herald for Judas Tomase's false report the day before this years Super Bowl.
• Something could happen this week with Rosevelt Colvin. As it stands now his cap hit is more than Tom Brady's for 2008. It's likely the Pats will look the restructure his deal and it could happen this week in preparation for Free Agency.
• Cap space is again not a problem for the Pats. After not picking up options on Stallworth and Kelley Washington the Pats are a rumoured 17.4 million under the cap. That is enough room for Moss, a free agent or two, and maybe some extensions. Of course, reworking Colvin's deal will open up even more room.
• The Cleveland Browns, New Orleans Saints and Philadelphia Eagles are rumoured to be interested in Asante Samuel. Surprisingly no rumblings about the New York Jets.

Capers a great pick up for the Pats

The Patriots signed former Houston Texan and Carolina Panthers head coach Dom Capers to be the Secondary/Special Assistant Coach this week. I think this is a great move. Capers also is 3-4 defense guru but is known more as a pressure guy, something the Pats did not generate enough of last season after Rosevelt Colving went down. Clearly the Pats were outcoached in the Super Bowl and having another experienced guy on the sidelines can only help as well as bringing some new wrinkles to a defense that looked stale at the end of the 2007. Capers will certainly have his work cut out for him as Ellis Hobbs is the only starting Cornerback from last year under contract for 2008.