Patriots hire Reese

"He has successfully drafted a Rookie of the Year in over 27% of his first round selections." - wikipedia

Sounds good to me.

Yea, but he also drafted Vince Young and Pacman Jones.

So wouldn't have someone else. Reese knows his stuff. Awesome.

Mike,
I was wondering if you could go back and research the last couple of drafts and see if how the final order panned out.(in relation to how they finished in regular season and then in the playoffs.

It seems this years situation is very unique and what i think you have been telling me is that the only way NE would have moved up from 24 is if sandiego was in the SB which didnt happen. My feeling is that anyone out of the playoffs would be 1-21...then the seeding after that would be how they finish in the playoffs.... I dont believe that sandiego should or will pick before anyone that didnt make the playoffs because of their odd record. jimc

Caserio's ascension to the throne is actually more important than the Reese signing. Under the former scouting director, they'd had several poor college. But in Caserio's first year in that role, they got defensive rookie of the year (Jerod Mayo), two other solid contributors (Gary Guyton, and BenJarvus Green-Ellis), and several other players who showed real potential (Jonathan Wilhite and special teams standout Matthew Slater).

I'm very much looking forward to seeing how Caserio, Resse, and Belichick work together.

Jones and Young both have talent. Unless you put them on a shrink's coach prior to drafting them you wouldn't know one was a flake and the other a criminal.

Matthew Slater only showed real potential to continue to make horrible plays.

Ummmm... that should be "they'd had several poor college drafts." Maybe I should have studied in college instead of following the Patriots.

Slater had one really bad play that cost them the chance to get back into the Pittsburgh game -- not that I thought they would have won that one anyway. But overall, he was very good on special teams.

Combined with Guyton and Green-Ellis, and that makes one outstanding rookie free agent class.

Hi, yes, agreed on Slater with regard to horrible plays. He had a rotten year and is certainly 1st cut material come training camp. I watched every game and I just don't understand this sentiment. He single-handedly lost a game for us, didn't he?

I agree with Caserio being the bigger story here. He's 32 I think! Reese clearly brings a wealth of experience but it's Caserio who's head of Player Personnel.

-Cheez

It's critical that Belichick have someone he can trust implicitly in the position vacated by Pioli. Casserio, albeit, very bright and knowledgeable, does lack in experience. Bringing in someone like Floyd Reese, who Belichick goes way back with and who has abundant experience is just what is called for. You keep Reese in this role for a year or so, while Casserio gets his feet under him, and then you have your next Pioli for the foreseeable future. Even all Belichick haters must appreciate the way he runs things.

In the immortal words of Frank Barone "holy crap".

I didnt see that one coming.

Yeah... Slater was not a rookie FA. Man, I hate posting between things at work.

Sorry guys.

Yeah...you can't think negatively of Floyd because of Jones and Young. Everybody in the business of drafting makes mistakes. Overall, he did one hellova job for the Titans. They made a Super Bowl appearance in 1999 and in several other seasons were a strong playoff performer. Good hire for the Patriots. If BB says he looks forward to working with him, or that they have a positive history, then that's more than fine with me.

Reese's experience will prove to be helpful to caserio.

Sounds like we just picked up a veteran GM with close ties to Belichick and a proven track record who can step right in and be a huge asset to the front office and a mentor to Caserio. Nice to hear about us ADDING someone to the organization for a change. Keep it going!

And meanwhile, on a similar note, Tom (Bumbling Idiot) Benson bought Mickey Loomis and Sean Payton some peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch.

You people have no clue what you are talking about. Go back to work.....deadbeats!

Actually, it was veteran Jabar Gaffney who cost us the Colts game (dropped an *easy* touchdown in a game decided by 3 points). You are probably thinking of the Pittsburgh game, when Slater fumbled a kickoff. But that was the first of five consecutive turnovers (three by Cassel), and came after two dropped touchdowns by Randy Moss and a 27-yard miss by Gostkowski. So I don't think you can blame it on Slater -- though it was his one really bad play this past year.

I thought Slater was very good in kick coverage and weak on returns. But overall, it will be interesting to who is cut first, him or Gaffney.

To Brian and Evil2008: Vince Young saga is not over yet. I recall another flake who was considered a loser in his first 3 to 4 years - Brett Favre. People think that if a QB is not great or good after 3 years, he's a bust. Well, look how he turned out. Also, Randall Cunningham. He settled down and took the Vikings to NFL title game after being the victim of Buddy Ryan. Air McNair is another one - supposedly a disappointment and out of control, he took a team to the SB and came within a yard of victory. I think that the pressures of being number 1 draft picks and expected to lead a team right away is too much for some young dudes. I think that in two years, Young will be great . That depends on development and coaching, too. Mark my words: if Young is bounced, then he'll be a Kerry Collins/Kurt Warner type comeback kid story in about 3 more years.

Hey # 2, lets not forget before Pac Man and VY lost there minds they were Pro Bowlers as rookies in the NFL. Floyd Reese knows the Draft. The only thing i can say bad about him is that he had to sit next too Mark Schlereth on the set of "NFL Live".

That's a little harsh to say that Slater single-handedly lost the game. The Steelers were pretty dominant that game. They drafted the kid primarily as a kick returner. He was injured in training camp and I think that really set him back. Do you cut a guy because of one bad play or do you work with him and rebuild his confidence in the offseason and let him show what he can do during the exhibition season.

The owner of the Titans wanted VY and Pacman, pre-draft Reese had them ranked high with ability but he did question the other stuff with them and if I rememebr correctly he would not have picked them if it were not for the owner pretty much "demanding" it!

I think Reese will do a fine job however, hom much personel work would a TV analyst being doing in his previous gig? I don't remember anything that Reese said about Belichick while on ESPN but isn't there a former GM on CBS that is a big critic of Belichick?

Gaffney is gone...Aiken will replace him and Slater will stick unless a better option shows up in this year's draft class.

I love this move. Pioli won't be missed, though I wish him the best and appreciate what he did for the Patriots.

I also agree that this past year's draft was the best of the past several. Looking back on Pioli's time here, the Patriots added more through trades and veteran FA's than they did the draft.

this feels a lot to me like Lucchino-Theo with Reese in the Lucchino role and Caserio in the Theo role. I like this move a LOT.

ATLPatsfan:

With regards to Slater...it wasn't just that one horrific play against the Steelers. Slater was advertised as this great kick-off return prospect...but was a complete dud.
Perhaps you recall Bethel Johnson. Thought he never reached anywhere near his potential as a WR, he was an excellent kick returner from the get go...and made a few important plays as a receiver here.
Thus far, Slater has shown nothing.

Slater was a bust.We need to get an outstanding Kick off and Punt return man and Slater has shown that he is "not that guy".We can not continue to put 5-10 yr vetrans back there because we don't trust the rookie.

In Bill we trust.

Its a good fit
hes not alone hes got to pick players that fit the patriots system
he's got some help

Many comments are on target. Slater unfortunately as a 5th round pick (trade up) was a complete bust. Showed absolutely nothing. So was Wheatley - INJURY PRONE, Wilhite, and Crable. An awful draft. Mayo is a really good player - but not a PLAYMAKER. PATS need PLAYMAKERS on D! Sacks - Passes defensed - Fumbles caused - Fumbles recovered - Passes knocked down. Plays!
I like Floyd Reese, Period. He's experienced. Scott Pioli was overrated. Bill B. (the greatest Pro Football coach ever) created him and made him a success. His 1-4 draft pick Flops are really numerous. His second round picks flops are - just plain awful! Don't worry - Be happy! Things will get better!

awful.

My prediction - FLOP at KC!

Does this guy cheat too? If he does he will fit right in with the New England Cheaters.

Not sure how you can write off Wheatley and Crable so readily. And by the end of the season, Wilhite was starting AND playing well. And I thought Mayo was a playmaker, personally.

gond36 - stay on your awesome ny jets comments board - you moron.

Unusual to see the Patriots sign a top notch Front Office guy!!! To those who didn't like Slaters play you weren't watching the only thing you saw was the muffed KR against Pittsburgh,he was a great gunner on ST.. Last years Draft cannot even be graded for 4 more years! Pioli did an Ok job in Drafting but he was even better as a contract negotiator,and Free Agent evaluator.Last years Class of Non Drafted FA's included Tyson Devree,B.J.Green-Ellis, Gary Guyton,Vince Redd,Ryan Wendell,Titus Adams,Angelo Craig,Darrell Robertson.Some of these guys you saw play this year some you may see play next year.Darrell Robertson is one guy to watch

I dunno if someone mentioned this but I'm pretty sure both Reese and Fischer were against the drafting of Young...I'm pretty sure that was all the owner's doing...but I could very well be wrong! Either way the titans have been one of the better franchises for the last 10 years so its good to get someone who has had success and has had a great record of drafting defensive players!

Agreeed Mark, Uxbridge hated that whole draft. I see great potential there. Wheatley was starting ,I believe, just before he got hurt, and they had two rookie linebackers with speed who were playing down the stretch when we started to put the defense together, along with Wilhite who was really starting to get it. The Pats are rebuilding as we speak. I am disappointed with Randy Moss. He is showing since midseason last year that he is not the great clutch player he was before Oakland, where I saw him during his stay there. He keeps dropping big passes, and he can't get open when we need him most. Great players make great plays.

In a recent interview on espn,floyd reese was emphatic that he wanted no part of pacman jones.the only reason he was drafted was because coach jeff fisher told ownership he would be able to control pacman.reese was on the record as wanting no part of pacman in tennessee.who was right in that decision?reese seems like a true professional football guy and should help the pats front office immensly.looks like a quality hire.

1. Wheatley had a couple of shut down plays on Marvin Harrison before he got hurt. If he had stayed healthy it might have made the difference in the Jets game.

2. Didn't slater blow more than one kick return? I remember one earlier in the season.....

Glad to see the Pats sign management. The draft is not that far away and this will be an important year to put NE back on the map.

What the %#$@???? Mayo was rookie of the year for cris sake! I don't understand any negative comments regarding him or his play. He called the defense, NO ONE has ever done that as a rookie for BB (or BP for that matter). He did his job, make plays by filling gaps and controlling space which is exactly what the SAM LB in BBs 4-3 is supposed to do.

If you want to point out a bad draft, you could look at 2007 that yielded only Meriweather but you have to remember most of that draft was traded to acquire Moss & Welker, outside of that maybe 2006 that yielded "only" a ProBowl kicker a fragile RB and 2 serviceable subs. But regardless you really can't question the results, remember BB and SP were building teams, not all-star rosters (call Jerry Jones, I'm sure he is accepting fans and PSL donations if that is what you want).

Also it takes 3 years to get an idea of how good a draft class is; heck VY was considered a sure thing after his first 2 years and now he is considered a bust. Get a clue people...

can't even believe I still read the comments here anymore, getting worse than the Herald...

Slater needs alot of work. He pretty much single-handedly swung the momentum of the Steelers game away (when it HAD been a close one) after he played hackey-sack with that friggin' punt deep in our end. And yes, he did have more than one, or even two, severely negative plays. Bad angles leading to missed tackles, misplayed punt coverage opportunities, ball security. He has talent and potential, but needs to be working this offseason to improve some areas.