Patriots with value

I would put Hobbs on the overpaid side.

Whatever Hobbs is making, it's too much! He's awful, period.

Apparently FoxSports doesn't watch Patriots games.

That being said, Ellis Hobbs may be the best player in NFL history and gyrating and celebrating after routine tackles.

I have NO IDEA why he isn't criticized more. He's a great kickoff return man and a nickel corner on his very, very, very, once-in-a-lifetime best day.

Why is everyone down on Hobbs? He is a legit #2 Corner and I do believe he is underpaid. $1,631,720 according to sportscity.com

Is he a #1 corner in this league, no. But for a solid #2 he's a steal. Considering Randall Gay is making $1,762,500. Talk about overpaid. Gay couldn't cover Hobbs' jock.

Also, Hobbs gives his all on every play he is out there. He is the ultimate team player.

Hobbs stinks. He is no better than a nicket corner and a great kickoff returner. He is overpaided

I don't think he belongs in either category. He is what he is. A decent corner that gets beat by good WRs or even marginal ones that make good plays.

I would agree that I appreciate that he puts full effort in every play, so you have to give him credit for that. He's just not that great.

ULTIMATE team player? that might be a stretch. That phrase makes me think of Troy Brown, and Hobbs is nowhere near that kind of praise.

Hobbs gets too much heat in my opinion. Many plays in which he is beaten, there is a clueless safety not anywhere near the play. I don't expect him to shut down the TO's and Burresses' of the world, but with the right talent around him, he should be a sufficient #2 corner, and his pricetag, while it may not be a "steal" is pretty low for a starting CB.

I can't believe no one's mentioned this.

WES WELKER

Heres a guy NO corner can cover and we got him for 6 yrs at 18 million. If you don't call that a steal, I don't know what is!

Yeah, he's definitely inconsistent. But I wonder how much of that's attributable to so much attrition-based/earned playing time. That is, his celebrations could it be a way, albeit half-baked, of psyching out of himself the game he's not yet ready for... But, overpaid? Really? Do you know what he actually makes? Where would you say he compares to the top-flight corners of the league, 1/2 as good? 1/10 as good? What about his special team-play? Not to say he's an elite player; but, he's played like 60 games on a rookie contract. Compare that to those drafted immediately before & after him at his position, and you'll get a better sense of his value.

To get the more out of him, we need to find a way to limit/temper his responsibilty on special-teams, put him on the weak side of the type of player O'Neal is supposed to be, i.e., the 'better' corner that matches up with the best receiver, playing just under him. This sets up one side of a sandwhich, where one of the safeties can move in to pop'em (just the receiver, hopefully) & just as the ball comes into range, on the other side. This allows Hobbs III just enough time to jump over & scoop the ball up as it bounces off the ground/pops into the air & runs it into the end zone.

Did the article actualy say that Hobbs was underpaid? I may throw up.

Sean in Taunton it was 5 years, a second round and seventh round draft picks. But still I agree it was probably one of the biggest steals in NFL history.

Who thinks Deltha O'Neal belongs on the overpaid list? He should be paying the Pats to let him play.

And to all those who were crying for D. Hall.... yeah you guys are so smart. I'd still take Hobbs over him anyday of the week.

Great call on Wes Welker, one of the best weapons in the NFL...he has to be up there on that list.

I agree with TF. Hobbs is a good #2 corner. Although I have no scientific formula for this, I think he ranks somewhere around 45th best out of all corners. For example, his 42 tackles is tied for 46th, his 2 INTs are tied with 27 other corners for 23rd, and his 1.5 sacks is tied with 3 other corners for 6th.
He's also a good Special Teams player.
The only problem is he's the Patriots best corner right now.

Hobbs? Really? He's only good for a couple of returns, and even then he gets cramps easily. Ugh, this guy is WAY over paid.

You think it's an accident other teams attack his side of the field more? Even when there's a rookie of the other side of him, teams attack Hobbs more, they know he'll give up the big play. Always does. The sad thing is, when Hobbs does one little thing good, he celebrates as if he just won the Super Bowl. Ugh!! Hobbs, under paid. Nice one.Time for a new back field.

I agree Hobbs is underpaid!!! When you consider how often he appears in opposing team's highlight clips, he'd be a millionaire off the residuals if he was a member of the screen actor's guild. ;) We love you Mr. Hobbs The Third.

why do you guys hate hobbs so much. like others have said he's a solid #2. he's man up well vs reggie wayne in the past and has played very well in the playoffs. i don't mind hobbs celebrating its good to get the guys pumped up. gaffney does it too so what? its not penalizing them. he was better than like 150 corners i think it was last season giving up less than half of the passes thrown at him. can you back me up on this mike?

Los Angeles go join the other sour guys: Mike Allen, Gick, and Ricoman.

You guys are the typical hard to please and satisfy type of fans.

And O'neal got picked on way more than Hobbs... I don't what games you've been watching this year.

All i need to say about Hobbs is see the Deion Branch touchdown. Out muscled by a 5'9" receiver.

That Dion Branch TD was a great throw by Wallace, an even better shield of Hobbs and a Mosslike one handed tip and grab for the TD. A great play by Branch. Makes me think if they had kept him in 2006 the Pats would have another SB ring. But the past is the past.
Why is it when teams/players make a great play against the Pats, it's always the Pats/player that stink. Sports fans can never give the opposing team/player credit.
Yes Classless, out muscled by Dion Branch--former Super Bowl MVP Dion Branch. Dion Branch that always came up with the big play--Dion Branch. But I guess in your mind, Hobbs is still worthless. Can't change the mind of a 2 yr old.

Hobbs=#2 Corner We still need a #1 but I am sure Bill and Scot will work on that this offseason.

2005 Overall Corner Drafted By 2008 NFL Team/String
Rd. Pick
1 6 Pacman Jones Tennessee Titans Barely Still in League on Dal
1 23 Fabian Washington Oakland Raiders 2nd string Baltimore
2 50 Ronald Bartell St. Louis Rams 1st stringRams
2 56 Darrent Williams Denver Broncos Deceased
2 57 Justin Miller NYJ-Let go when Jets signed Ty Law- Raiders
3 84 Ellis Hobbs New England Patriots 1st string pats
3 97 Domonique Foxworth Denver Broncos 3rd string ATL
4 104 Travis Daniels Miami Dolphins 2nd string CLE
5 147 Alphonso Hodge Kansas City Chiefs Out of League
6 205 Derrick Johnson San Francisco 49ers Out of League
7 218 Reynaldo Hill Tennessee Titans TEN 3 tackles this year
7 245 Kurt Campbell Green Bay Packers Out of League

That's true you can't change the mind of a 2 year old. You could also use spell check when typing your hero "Dion's" name. Idiot.

And please, name a Hobbs play in which he was the difference maker on defense. This doesn't include tipped balls to him or his kickoff returns.

Great work, Tom. It's interesting that Hobbs and Bartell are by far the best two corners from the 2005 draft (not including Darrent Williams), and Hobbs is having an ever so slightly better year than Bartell.
The Patriots certainly could have done worse, like the Titans, Raiders, Jets, Broncos, Dolphins and Chiefs. Even the Rams used a mid 2nd round pick on Bartell, while the Patriots used a low 3rd round on Hobbs.

Point is....Hobbs is a solid #2. And for what he's paid, an excellent value. But to make anything of that we need a #1.. And it's about time for O'Neal to emerge as that type of player. It's just an errily similar situation as with Duane Starks, but with a slightly younger player: talented skilled-player is, initally, over-valued because of a shallow draft field & ends up with a back-loaded contract. Has some success, but only as long as he's surrounded by superior talent. Gets cut/traded to a second team that's desperate to improve. Production drops off. Gets a "third" chance, but this time, with only a 1 year contract. Suddenly it's time to put up or shut-up. I think it's too early to say that O'Neal can't or won't earn that 4th signing bonus/contract (if not here, with some other team), because he's still new to the team, system, its expectations, style of coaching, etc....But time is running out. And he knows it.

ClASSless,
So when you can't back up your arguement you pick on me spelling Dion's name? Wow, you really do have the mindset of a 2 yr old. Until you can come up with some sort of logical arguement, you are further banned from spewing your venom.

Thanks for playing--------Drive thru