If you thought Mike Vrabel was upset when he was shipped to the rebuilding project known as the Kansas City Chiefs, you can only imagine how Richard Seymour felt this morning when he was told he had been traded to Oakland.
The Raiders have become the NFL's favorite punch line and it's no coincidence that the Patriots have frequently taken advantage of their ineptitude. It's no secret how many free agents the Patriots will have in the 2010 offseason, and with two new rookie defensive lineman who both looked solid in the preseason (Ron Brace/Myron Pryor) the move to youth, speed and the inexperience that comes along with those is in full swing in New England.
2009 will forever be remembered in Patriots history as the year that the major defensive names of past glories said good bye. While Mike Vrabel, Tedy Bruschi and Rodney Harrison were in decline, Seymour still has at least a few high level years left in the tank. But with labor uncertainty on the horizon, a first round pick was too good to pass up. Especially when it belongs to the Raiders.
In 2011 the Patriots could be looking at a top 5 pick, with a rookie salary cap in place that makes high selections a whole lot less dangerous. In the meantime you d-lineman like Brace and Pryor will be thrust into the flames early and often.
There might be growing pains early on, but once again Bill Belichick has set the Patriots up for long-term success.
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