Sources Say Walsh Gave League Eight Tapes

Former Patriots video assistant Matt Walsh has reportedly turned over to the NFL eight videotapes that were recorded between the 2000 and 2002 seasons.  The “New York Times” says the footage shows the play-calling signals of five opponents in six games, but the tapes do not include video of the St. Louis Rams’ practice the day before Super Bowl 36.  According to the paper, the Pats recorded the offensive and defensive signals of coaches in regular-season games against the Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns and San Diego Chargers. 

In addition, Walsh’s tapes show New England recorded the signals used by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2002 AFC Championship Game.  In that contest, the paper says the footage has been edited to show Pittsburgh coaches calling plays, followed by two different camera angles of the actual plays that were signaled in.  Walsh was employed by the Patriots from 1997 to 2003, and he will discuss with the league the team’s videotaping practices during his tenure with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on May 13th.

The Pats were caught videotaping signals used by the New York Jets during the first game of the regular season last year.  The “Spygate” scandal cost the Patriots 250-thousand-dollars and their first-round pick in this year’s draft.  Head coach Bill Belichick was also fined 500-thousand-dollars for the incident.  Goodell said additional penalties could be levied after his meeting with Walsh.

Former Pats Punter Patrick Dies at 55

Former Pats punter Mike Patrick passed away Sunday at the age of 55. He died at his home in Biloxi, Mississippi. The cause of death has not been released. He was with the Pats from 1975 to 1978, and is fifth all-time with 8,481 yards on 225 punts in 43 career games. “I think what people would remember most about him is that he was probably the most gregarious, happy-go-lucky guy you would ever meet,” former Patriots teammate and longtime friend John Smith said. “He was the most generous man I’ve ever met and would give you the shirt off his back. He had that great Southern drawl and people were just drawn to him.”

High Marks for the Pats on the Weekend Draft

Jason Cole of Yahoo loves what the Pats did over the weekend in the draft, and gives them an A- for a grade.  Here is the breakdown:  

Picks: LB Jerod Mayo, CB Terrence Wheatley, LB Shawn Crable, QB Kevin O’Connell, CB Jonathan Wilhite, WR Matt Slater and LB Bo Ruud
Positives: Mayo, Wheatley and Crable
Negatives: O’Connell
Bottom line: A-. Indy’s Bill Polian is the best drafter, but no team in the NFL works the draft better than the Patriots and they again showed it this year. They moved out of the No. 7 spot and got yet another pick after not getting a shot at one of the premier defenders in the draft. The Pats now can begin the transition from the paleo-linebacking corps they’ve had the past two years to a more modern group. Likewise, they hope the likes of Wheatley and Wilhite will fill the shoes of departed CBs Asante Samuel and Randall Gay.

Patriots Select Jerod Mayo With The 10th Pick

Defense First; LB Mayo Goes #10 to the Pats

Realizing that the defense is getting older and needs to get better, the Pats moved down a few picks, then with the 1th pick who they got from the Saints, they picked OLB Jerod Mayo from Tennessee.  Mayo is 6-1, 242, and last season had a whopping 140 tackles in 14 games, with 8.5 tackles for losses, 1.5 sacks and one pick.  He will be a welcome addition for a defense that needs to get better if the Pats are going to keep being an elite team in the NFL.

Here is a scouting report on Mayo from NFLdraftcountdown.com

Strengths:
Very athletic…Has excellent timed speed and quickness..Physical and plays bigger than he is…Has terrific range and does a great job in pursuit…Reliable tackler and will deliver the big hit…Smart with good awareness and instincts…Has a non-stop motor…Fluid & smooth in coverage…Versatile…Productive..Nice program pedigree.

Weaknesses:
Undersized and doesn’t have either the ideal height or bulk that you look for..Has trouble taking on and shedding blockers…Needs to be protected up front…Just a marginal blitzer…Durability may be an issue…Probably not a good fit for everyone.

Notes:
The next in a long line of top Volunteer linebackers…Can project inside or outside depending on the defensive scheme and has experience at both…Best fit may be as a middle ‘backer in a Cover 2 or on the weakside..Not a traditional thumper but he will prove awfully attractive to teams that are willing to sacrifice some size for speed…He will draw comparisons to Al Wilson and those are reasonably accurate.

And here is ESPN’s take on Mayo:

Mayo isn’t quite as instinctive as Rivers, and Mayo has to improve his cover skills. But he has more upside than Rivers. He has very good top-end speed for his size, and although he lacks ideal strength he explodes into hits. In addition, he’s versatile enough to line up on the inside or the outside depending on how a team wants to use him.

Pats Trade with Saints; Move Down in First Round

The Pats have moved their 7th pick in the first round and made a deal to move down with the Saints.  New Orleans took USC’s Sedrick Ellis with the pick.  Early thought is that with the #10 pick the Pats will go CB.

Could the Pats Have an Interest in Jason Taylor?

While the Jacksonville Jaguars seem to be one team interested in dancing sensation and Dolphins LB Jason Taylor, don’t count out the New England Patriots from the mix according to today’s Boston Herald.  The paper says that the Pats could do their best to pry Taylor from the rival Dolphins, using their number seven pick in today’s draft to do it.  Many fans have already voiced that they don’t want the Fins to move Taylor, and Bill Parcells already said that Taylor will either play for Miami in 2008 or be retired.  There has to be more to the story than that, as where there’s smoke there’s fire.  While it’s a long-shot the Pats would get in the mix, it may be a longer shot that Taylor is in a Miami uni come September.

Veteran TE Pollard and Pats Come to Terms

The Pats have come to terms with veteran tight end Marcus Pollard, a replacement for the recent release of Kyle Brady.  Pollard has been with a number of teams, including the Colts, Lions, and Seahawks.  The team now has Pollard, Benjamin Watson, David Thomas, and Stephen Spach as tight ends on their roster.

Pats Schedule Released

The Patriots will open the 2008 season against the Kansas City Chiefs on September 7th at 1:00 p.m. at Gillette Stadium.  The Pats will also play primetime Sunday night games against the Colts, Chargers and Seahawks on the road.  The Patriots’ schedule also includes a Thursday night game at home versus the Jets.

Pats Ink Linebacker Victor Hobson

The Pats stole a free agent Monday from their rival in the AFC East - the Jets, as they signed linebacker Victor Hobson.  The 28-year-old has been with the Jets for all five seasons of his NFL career, starting 58 of 76 games he played.  “Victor is a good young player with considerable playing experience,” Patriots coach Bill Belichick said in a statement.  He was a second-round pick out of Michigan in 2003, and last year with the green, he started 14 games, making 62 tackles with two sacks.