Questions for the coach

Have any of your off season decisons, such as not to renegotiate Mankins, Seymour and Wilfork or to sign Bodden to a one year contract, been impacted by the potential non cap year or have you assumed that a cap, will be in place?

Mike, with the level of injuries a team sustains in a year, do you feel that it would be a good idea to extend the team squad to by allowing draft picks to not count against the roster in year one?
I think this has a lot of advantages for all teams and also the rookies.
ie: It would really make rounds 5-7 count in the draft too and give those players a chance to develop in a professional environment before worrying about being cut.
ie2: I doubt if Crable would have gone to injured reserve if this had been the case and he would have got some valuable experience later in the season.

Good question, The Redcoat. I like the idea of the uncapped year potentially affecting decision-making on contract extensions. On the second question, I don't think the owners would go for that, because it would mean paying more salaries.
--Mike

Please request Mr. Belichick, that put Tom Brady in every injury report. Only one game he was not listed, and he got hurt . Also another question would be fun to ask, if Brady be listed probable as shoulder or leg :-) ..

I'd like to ask him his thoughts on having 6 picks in the top 100, but not really having 6 clear spots open on the roster, and if that has an effect on the way that the Patriots will approach the draft this year. It would seem like an obvious course of action to go after just a few players that they really want instead of bringing 10 or 11 rookies into camp when they won't all be able to make the team. But the coach may see it differently.

It has previously been stated in the team's official press release that Floyd Reese will be handling that contract side of personnel. But knowing Floyd's great evaluation for talent, will he not have an input on who the team will draft?

It would be interesting to hear Belichick's approach to anticipating the draft boards of other teams; especially, those teams with selections near the Patriots' picks. How much time do the Patriots spend researching and understanding the needs of other teams? Does understanding other teams' draft strategies play a role in how the Patriots structure their draft board and execute their plan during the draft?

When you personally workout a draft prospect, what do you look for? Can you use an example from the past to give us insight into the evaluation process?

Yes mike,I have seen reporters at the press conferences waste their questions by asking something he would never answer. Questions #1,3,4 and 5 are questions that I think he could answer and draw him out a bit and give some insight as to how the process works . Another good question would be. Some teams are changing to a 3,4 defense this year .How much and how could this affect the Patriots this year?

I would like to know difficult it is to pick 'the best available' player and if that concept truly exists. Does the team's draft board include not a just a rank but a score to identify the drops in talent along the board and available depth?

If a team is looking for a specific position and the best available at THAT position is on your board, but 2-3 other players are rated higher overall at a different position, how can you ignore the 'need' position? Are scores given to each player to measure the drop-off in ranking from one player to the next? In the above situation, I would think that if there is a drastic drop in the next player at the 'need' position or there is simply a lack of depth that makes that position available by your next pick (and you don't have 6 picks in early rounds that allow you trade up :) ), then I would think you'd need to skip those higher rated players at non-need positions. Except in the case where those higher rated players may be scored drastically higher than that need position.

With so many first day picks, which scenerio is most likely: a) Use some of those picks to trade up and land a higher quality prospect ? or b) Look to trade those picks for higher round picks next year? or c) Stand pat and make all the picks ?

Has not making the playoffs this past season affected your level of preparation for the draft? Do you feel better prepared this year than in other years?

Is it difficult to predict how a player who was primarily a hand-on-the-ground defensive end in a 4-3 in college would project to a 3-4 OLB in the pros? What attributes do you look for in making a prediction on such a player?

I'd like to ask him what he thinks of the new time format for the draft, and whether he thinks it might effect how some selections or trades might play out. Are there things he saw happen behind the scenes in previous years that might not be possible in shorter windows or during the evening for any reason?

Also, would he support rookie contracts being slotted to make the high picks more valuable?

Coach... When you grade certain positions in the draft are you influenced by past drafting failures at that position? I'm thinking of wide receivers and tight ends. It seems like, other than players like Ben Coates and Irving Fryer , we haven't been too successful in New England in drafting wr's and te's. Maybe subconsciously they will get lower grades than linemen or other positions you've had success with.
Thanks!!!

I would ask Bill how does having former proteges Pioli, Mangini and McDaniels out there drafting similar type players affect his thought process in this year's draft?

I'd ask how much contract considerations weigh on drafting a guy and moving around the board. Many people talk about not wanting to pick in the top 5 because of the money...but is it really just the money or is it the money combined with the uncertainty? If they felt there was a sure-fire can't miss guy in the top 5, would the Pats be willing to trade up and get him?

Hi Mike, I'd like to ask BB the following:
Many have said that the success of your drafts have been due significantly to the theory that one should draft the best player available (BPA) instead of basing player choices based on a team's area of need. If this is accurate, I could understand why one would want to pick the BPA in the early rounds but I was wondering however if this process changes even slightly in say the 6th or 7th rounds from choosing the BPA to perhaps drafting with the idea of bolstering depth in specific positions of need?

1- Do you agree with the notion that the top few picks in the draft are no longer favorable on a risk - reward - economical basis?

2 - Jerod Mayo certainly seems to have been a solid contributor to the team from day 1. However, many first round picks fail to live up to expectations. Do you agree that to much emphasis is placed on unusual potential over demonstrated ability due to the pressure of satisfying first round expectations?

3 - Obviously Tom Brady far exceeded everyone's expectations once he got into the NFL. Which aspects of his evaluation were so difficult to project to the NFL that caused him to slip to the 6th round?

4 - Will you wear the cut-off hoodie for your fans to the draft?

Hi Mike, I'd like to know
- What college system does he feel allows the most accurate projections to the NFL, If not a team, then what conference.

- What is the hardest position to project due to differences between the college and NFL game.

- What one thing would make projecting players from college to the NFL easier.

- Why are we playing in Indy again this year?

Hey Mike. I'd love to ask him if the second year is as critical in evaluating a player long-term as we often hear, or if Bill has a different perspective. We often assume QB's will slip in year two, but expect that same year to make or break LB's and such.

J

Question: With so many players' in the league affected by "character issues", how do the Patriots assess this before the draft? Do they, for example, place much onus on intelligence tests? Do they have a team psychologist interview prospective draftees?

You have had so much success with later-round draftees or street free agents. What is the real difference between a first-rounder and a sixth-rounder - just likelihood of success from the "official" NFL group perspective or a judgement of innate skills? Do late rounders become successes because of coaching up their skill set, or a specific fit to a team's system?

Mike, ask Belichick a lighthearted question that will get him to do what he does best, joke around like...

If Jason Smith is there at 23, will you take him? :)

I'd ask how the uncertainty surrounding next year's CBA negotiations has affected the draft, including the depth of the draft and the Pats' approach. I would think this is a deaper draft than most with more underclasmen and that the Pats' 2nd and 3rd selections should prove be very valuable.

I'd be curious to know. The whole of the Patriots drafts in the past (under Mr. Belichick) have yeilded players from all conferences but on the defensive side of the ball the picks largely stay in the BCS conferences while the offensive side of the ball is where Patriots have selected players from smaller schools and non-BCS conferences. Is there something particular to the defensive side of the ball that makes it harder to project smaller school prospects into the professional game (such as speed of play, quality of opponent, complexity of schemes, etc.)?

Can you give us an idea of what the work week is like for the draft team this week? Is it 6am-2am every day debating scenarios and talking with other teams about potential deals? From a schedule standpoint please share with us what your Saturday and Sunday looks like?

Here's an easy one - Why are you bringing in so many defensive tackles for pre-draft visits, given the limited number you have available? Of course, I believe it's because they'll be drafting Seymour's replacement in the first round this year.

Just wanted to say thanks to those who posted comments. Some very insightful thoughts.
--Mike

I always wanted to know - Does the team need at a certain position increase the value of a player at that position?
For example - if the team had a need at the safety position, would that raise the value of the safeties in the draft more as opposed to the value of say the wide receivers?
-Thanks for the good work, Mike

I would ask how the proliferation of teams with coaches from the Belichick tree (Mangini, McDaniels) affects the draft. Now there are more teams looking for the same type of players, does that make things harder for the Pats?

Hey Mike, one question I'd like to ask Coach is, since there are always diamonds in the rough in the later rounds and as undrafted free agents, has the overall scouting of those guys, who are definitely projected to be selected on day two or not at all, changed since Brady was drafted #199. I guess I'd also like to know if he's happy the video of him and Charlie singing with Jon Bon Jovi made it to YouTube? :) Thanks Mike for the great work!

I would be curious to know how high would he consider drafting someone that he thought would be solely or at least primarily a special teams player (not counting kicker or punter). For example, would someone that they think could be a force on special teams but may not be able to play linebacker, how high would they draft someone like that.

Here's ano0ther insightful question. Any chance BB is going to invite gick and/or Mike Allen to help with deciding who to draft? Their knowledge of players is incredible.

What is his favorite ice cream flavor?

CJ, If they did that, I know we'd end up with Sean Smith...but would they just forfeit the rest of the picks, under the assumption that every one of them would be a bust?

How many spots do you guess you will fill through this draft?

DOES THE COACH THINK THAT SHERRIF GODDELL IS PUNISHING HIM BY MAKING THE PATS PLAY IN INDY EVERY YEAR?

Why is there such a low success rate for the teams that draft at the top seeemingly every year such as Houston, Cleveland, Detroit, St. Louis.

Dear BB - Based upon the apparent success of picking Mayo - are there any players you'd like to draft this year, who project to be top 10-picks? If so, what would you be willing to trade, in order to move up that far? Would it make any difference what Division or Conference the trading partner is a part of & would that change what you might be willing to offer them?

btw gick - I'm guessing BB's is Vanilla & have a feeling yours is packed-fudge

Gick has got to be in the war room. His knowledge is second to none. Bill B should step aside for the good of the team and let Gick pick. He knows everything about the players in the draft and frankly would run the Pats better then Bill. Mike please make Bill understand that Gick is the key to the Pats seasons. The best football mind in football is NOT Bill it's Gick.

What is his favorite ice cream flavor?

Posted by gick

I am sorry, but that is hilarious!

Mike - If you have the chance, could you please ask Coach Belichick how influential the college coaches that he has contacts with are. Coaches like Urban Meyer, Al Groh, Charlie Weis, Kirk Ferentz, etc. Do they comment just on their own players or do they provide insight into players that their teams play against as well?

Thanks

I would like to ask the coach if he would promise to go to bed early on Friday night and get a good night's sleep. Keeping his mind clear and lucid will be the most important thing. I'm serious.

Answer to all of the above questions. "It is what it is." Or, "we'll just do what we think is best for our football team."

I was wondering if there was a height cap to being an efficient OLB in the Pats 3-4. I know Michael Johnson has tremendous size, but at 6'7'' would he be too tall? Is there an ideal height?

I am sure there is a better way to word the question but I think you get the gist.

I would ask about how he values the different aspects of a player and in what order. IE- There are two talented DE's on the board, they were both equally productive in college, but Player A is bigger and faster, while Player B is smarter and more technically sound. Which would he prefer?

Now say Player A is clearly a half-step ahead of Player B in production and athleticism, but has an arrest record for non-violent offenses, does he still grab the more talented guy, or does he avoid the character red-flag and go with Player B despite the slim talent gap?

Jim L... You beat me to it

Mike would you tell him the fans thank his hard work

Ask BB for an application

Gonna take Pat White?