Reports: Pats eyeing trade for Burgess

that would be a bad move.

i thought al davis refused to trade anymore players to the Pats after Belichick fleeced moss from him for a 4th rounder and some magic cleats?

I would love to have Burgess on the team. He would help solidify the Pass Rush. He might have a break out year just like when Moss came here from the Raiders. Lets hope he can bring 16 sacks this year like he did in 2005 for the Raiders.

Anyone who willingly signs with a team run by my senile old uncle clearly doesn't have the smarts to pick up a Belichick defense.

Now, exactly why would that be a bad move. He's younger and cheaper than Jason Taylor. He had an amazing number of sacks in 2005. And just like Moss, he's probably just sick of playing for Oakland. I love that whenever the Pats look at someone who wasn't suddenly on the fans radar, it must be a bad move.

I think it makes a lot of sense. Bring in someone who wants to prove themselves. The value a hungry player brings is priceless.

A 2nd rounder for an injury prone, 30-year old DE who has to make the switch to LB in the Pats system? No thanks.

if he can be half what he used to be after these injuries; its worth a high third rounder

You don't understand. These guys in Oakland hate playing there so much they just quit on the team. My expectation is that he would be capable of playing a full season assuming no other injuries.

I trust the Pats medical staff to evaluate him and determine if the injuries will be a concern. I would say, conditional upon passing a physical, that a third and a 5th would be sufficient to get the deal done. The issue becomes whether or not he want a new contract. If he's currently making $2mil and is in the last year of his deal, what does he want now? A 3 year deal worth $12 mil? Does he want a 5 year deal worth $30 mil? Maybe a 1 year extension that will pay him $5 mil over the two seasons, making a large portion of that guaranteed? I don't know, but it has to factor in. If he's healthy, he can contribute. I'd say get him if the demands are reasonable.

And who is entering the final year of his contract, which means it's a one year deal- if he does well, he demands a whole bunch of money for next season. If he does badly, he's likely to get cut at end of season.

So it would be a second rounder for an injury-prone, 30 year old, moving to a new position, for one year's work.

In my eyes, fourth rounder or at most the Pat's 3rd round pick (should be round 3, pick 32!

Would'nt he be better than an unproven Crable,and anything BB wants I want,also playing for a contract sounds good to me

draft picks are just chips to acquire talent/fill needs. Many times proven > rookie.

we may not even use those draft picks next year if theres a lockout, go for it, get burgess

Great...just what we need, MORE injury-prone guys. Bill would have to be smoking dope to give up a 2nd rounder for this guy who we don't know
1. if he can stay healthy
2. if he can pickup the Pats D
3. if he can even play OLB
4. if he'll be willing to redo his contract with Pats or be another 1 year wonder

Hmmm...that's a whole lot of "ifs" for my taste.

Low 4th-rounder, tops.

I don't get it. I thought the whole point of not taking an OLB in this year's draft is that they were all under 6' 5" and didn't have the 4.61 speed. We know this guy is under 6'5" and I bet he doesn't run a 4.6. What gives? And a 2nd rounder at that?

I wouldn't put up a second rounder for this bloke no matter how many of 'em we have, but I might swap a third rounder for him depending on where in the round the pick is...I think it would have to be #90 overall or lower.

Thank you Jason you took the words outta my mouth. Hey, Lance thats why Moss is considered by BB as one of the smartest players he's ever coached any position, right? Dude, your a joke. However, a 2nd round selection for him is too much. Maybe Al Davis is putting a high value on Burgess 'cause he got owned in the Moss deal?Because he was injured 2 of the last 3 seasons compenstation should start at around a 3rd rd pick. Or a 4th rd pick that could turn into a 3rd based on % of time on the field and/or based on production, bank it!

if they get him for a 3rd rounder it's probably worth it...while he ain't no superstar, he's been around the block enough to know what to do in general - if he came here from shythouse Oakland (like Moss did) he'd probably be in his glory & being that he's in the last year of contract, he'll probably play his azz off with the hope of securing some big money in a new long-term deal.

401, Moss was traded to the Raiders unlike Burgess who signed with Uncle Al and his crackpot organization willingly. Does that compute?

It's like trading Mike Vrabel for Mike Vrabel. Personally, I'd rather have kept Mike Vrabel.

I predicted that the Pats might make a play for Burgess on the Pats Forum, just after Jason Taylor chose to stay home in Miami. I agree that a second round pick is too high a price to pay. But, if the Pats could get him for, say, a 3rd rounder and a 6th rounder, it would be a good move.

Yes, Burgess is not the "perfect 10", 3-4 OLB. But, he's a PROVEN PASS-RUSHER...something that the Patriots sorely need.

Though theres' no guarantee that he'll flourish in BB's 3-4 system (just as theres' no guarantee Crable or Vince Redd will), he''s the best fit out of whats' available. For the right price, he is certainly worth the risk.

This is a no brainer of a deal. Give Davis a 2nd. We need Burgess. He has the necessary skill set.

No question Burgess has something left in the tank. But one thing stands clear, he wants to get paid. He doesn't have a problem playing for the raiders, he just wants a boat load of money. Nothing would please Burgess more than getting a big fat contract extension in Oakland. Things is, the raiders don't think he is worth the gamble. The Patriots could trade for him and lose him in 2010 if they don't pay him what he wants. Are the Pats willing to take that gamble for a second round pick and a boat load of money in 2010?

No question Burgess has something left in the tank. But one thing stands clear, he wants to get paid. He doesn't have a problem playing for the raiders, he just wants a boat load of money. Nothing would please Burgess more than getting a big fat contract extension in Oakland. Things is, the raiders don't think he is worth the gamble. The Patriots could trade for him and lose him in 2010 if they don't pay him what he wants. Are the Pats willing to take that gamble for a second round pick and a boat load of money in 2010?

Nel_Boston -- Burgess is a bonafide speed rusher. Measureables like height are more important when you don't know what a player is capable of. But just like the 6'1" Adalus Thomas, Burgess has a proven track record and he has been an NFL sack leader.

Russ in Pitt -- We have to make this trade if we want to make a serious run deep into the playoffs. A second rounder is a no-brainer here. Without him, opposing qbs will have the time to pitch a tent, fire up the grill and serve up brats before our pass rush gets to them.

A lot of valid points and consensus seems to be 3rd or 4th round draft pick at best which I agree with. I think everything falls on the probability that Burgess can transition to the 3-4 position. If he was coming over to play the position he played his entire career then I think a 3rd rounder is worth the risk but how many successful DE transitions have we seen in this league? It look several years for Vrabel to be a good not elite 3-4 lb. Other than Ware and Merriman there has been very limited success that did not take years to develop. For example look at James Harrison of Pittsburgh, the guy was in the system for years before becoming a good 3-4 LB. Adalius Thomas had all the makings of a 3-4 LB and so far (partly due injury) has shown to be at best a good one on his best days but could be better with more time to develop and no more injury setbacks. Willie McGinest also took awhile to be effective at the position. The odds are against Burgess even if he has a good attitude and works hard at it. Bottomline, I wouldn't mind giving it a shot with a 4th rounder but this is a position that needs to be developed through time or major FA signing.

I prefer Julius Peppers but this guy sounds cool, whatever it takes to make our pass rush better cause that is horrible.

He is in a contract year! Let him get his motor going and see what he made of! I say keep him and let him play his heart out so he earns his due! We will see!

Hey Lance, At that time Moss was considered one of if not the top wr in the league. So, you think he didnt have any input into his where he ended up? Where do most disgruntled Wrs choose to go when all other options fall through? Washington, Dallas or Oakland! Why? Because all those organizationsand/or owners have reputations of WAY over paying players they really want(i.e. Dante Hall, Haynesworth, Calvin Pace, etc). You think agents dont realize this fact, considering they make money on contracts signed by thier clients.

I hope he goes to the Pats and gets a nice fat contract so when he only plays about eight games a season and his numbers continue to drop I can sleep great at night knowing Bill isn't. Maybe some Karma for a cheater.

patsfan401 and Jason, totally agree with you guys. I think a Burgess acquisition would be a nice move by the Patriots as long as they don't go too high with the draft pick. A 2nd may seem a bit too steep, but would definitely agree with a 3rd. Hey is a productive DE/OLB who came off an injury riddled season last year and is playing for a team that is in shambles. I feel Burgess would be a steady compliment to Adalius, while also allowing Redd, Crable, and Woods come in for sub packages. And if Burgess has a productive year, he can hit the market, maybe get a contract from the Patriots for '10 and beyond. Like Bodden's deal.

Just what we need, another "brothers got to get paid" kind of guy. Those guys are corrosive forces in the locker room. We need more Vrabel, Bruschi, Seau, Harrison types who will take less to play. Our team is stronger if the core players will play for less than they would elsewhere. Guys who are mercenaries should play for the Raiders, not the Pats.

Why can't we get more guys like Vrabel? Oh, that's right, we traded him away for a song....

We didn't trade Vrabel for a song--we traded him for a chorus of whines.