Revisiting Hobbs for two fifth-rounders

No pressure Rich!

The Eagles' error is in thinking Hobbs is a legit starting corner.

I don't see how Hobbs would have been on the field for more than a few plays here and there, assuming the guys on the roster live up to the hype. They have Springs and Bodden, not to mention Wheatley and Wilhite (and to a lesser extent, Richardson). Now throw Butler into the mix and you're left with a very stacked backfield. Also, Merriweather can play some corner, so if Chung can step in at SS....that leaves Merriweather to be a roaming cover safety. Assuming (big assumption) that both of the guys from last year and Butler can become starting-quality corners, they could literally put 5 starting quality corners on the field at any given time, along with a good cover safety (led the secondary in INTs last season). That doesn't leave a lot of room for Hobbs...who is a good, solid nickel corner. Might as well strike while the iron is hot.

Agree with comment #2. Ellis Hobbs was one of the main reasons for signing Springs and Bodden in the first place. Quite possibly, Belichick didn't feel like paying Hobbs (a nickel back at best) $2.5 million.

Just because he was starting doesn't mean he was a starter. That was about the worst secondary in the league last year.

Mike, I just read about the Globe closing within 60 days. Say it ain't so? What happens with you?... I hope you land on your feet. I couldn't stand to see you writing the JETS column in The Daily News (nor for The Cleveland Plain Dealer for that matter). Hopefully things will work out at the Globe. Please keep us (the fans of your column) posted. I'll keep thinking positive and hope it all works out.

i would have traded hobbs for a bag of chips

Thanks for the thoughts, Ken. The way I look at it is that this is out of all of the writers' control, so we just have to be patient and see what the result is, and what the plan is for the future. If things don't work out at the Globe, my hope would be to keep doing what I'm doing somewhere in this market. This is really all I ever wanted to do and I'm having a blast doing it.
--Mike

Yeah Mike: very best of luck with the situation at the Globe. I am based in the UK and your blog and your coverage is almost a one-stop shop for all things Patriots, I visit many times a day and your coverage and analysis is both vital and excellent. Here's hoping it all works out. Newspapers are in decline but your work proves that good solid journalism is not.

Hobbs was an average NFL starting CB and an excellent kick returner. On the Eagles he will be the 3rd or 4th option. It was a no brainer for the Eagles, the Patriots didn't get maximum value but because of their cap situation they must have felt the added breathing room plus the picks made sense.

I don't Ohrnberger was the specific reason they made the deal, odds are he becomes a Billy Yates backup type.

I know I'm just dittoing a commonly expressed sentiment, but I'm glad to see Hobbs gone. True, he provided some exciting runbacks, but given the imminent contract squabbles with Wilfork, Seymour and Mankins, those were definitely $2.5 million of the most expendable $$$ on the roster.

Seeing Hobbsie torched by one receiver after another---flailing helplessly and flinging himself almost as a display that he was really trying, after having missed his assignment or having misjudged an angle---became so routine, I was shocked when it DIDN'T happen.

I guess the Eagles must have the cap room to spend big on a return/nickel guy, but god help 'em if they presume Hobbs lll is the heir-apparent to Sheldon Brown.

I believe the Philadelphia Eagles to be in the top 5-6 when in comes to talent evaluators in the league. Interesting how they went after and acquired two of the Patriots starting Cornerbacks. Ask yourself how the play of Hobbs would look if he had a better supporting cast around him or if the Patriots were able to put more pressure on opposing Quarterbacks…

I am not defending Hobbs per se, just not making him the scapegoat of what has been wrong with the Patriot’s program on defense (coaching, scouting, free agents signings, trades, unbalance approach with regards to resources on offense) the last couple of years. The Patriots won Super Bowls with a core of Bill Parcell guys on defense. The Patriots have not been able to find long-term solutions / replacements for the likes of

Lawyer Milloy
Tedy Bruschi (He is 35 and will be used situational)
Ty Law
Ted Johnson
Willie McGinest
Chris Slade

Hi Mike.. Cosign best wishes that the Globe situation works out. Your coverage of the Pats is always excellent.. and you know that's true when commenters on the interwebs actually say how much they miss you when you're on vacation.

Hobbs is not a starter, he was just basking in NE glory. He is just a loud ass, not sure if Eagles folks checked with samuel, he would have given them good advice. I think taking hobbs is a mistake done by eagles as he will be torched by receivers.

Hobbs would have been OK as a 3rd or 4th corner making under $1m per year.

So glad to see BB finally addressing the secondary this offseason.

CN are you seriously claiming that Belichick hasn't been able to field a defense without Parcells 'picking the groceries'?

Lawyer Milloy-Rodney Harrison
Tedy Bruschi-Mayo
Ty Law-Assante Samuel
Ted Johnson-Failure to replace
Willie McGinest-AD Thomas & Colvin (played well until injured)
Chris Slade-Who????

Brady, Wilfork, Seymour, Samuel, Warren, Light, Koppen, Mankins, Branch, Gievens were BB's guys

@CN, Out of your list of 6 players, Ty Law is the only one who had any real success after leaving the Patriots. I'm not sure why you've included Tedy Bruschi on the list as he is still with the team and technically doesn't need to be replaced. Perhaps you really meant that Mike Vrabel needs to be replaced, and I agree. I am curious however to see how Vrabel does in KC.

I hate to just blindly shout "in Bill we trust", but I do trust Bill. He has earned the benefit of the doubt when it comes to personnel decisions. Other than Asante Samuel and Drew Bledsoe for one year, I can't think of any player that has departed the Patriots and gone on to star for another team.

Y'all need to get over Hobbs - he's no longer a Patriot and BB got someone for him he thinks can contribute to his team. Continually saying you hate Hobbs (and how horrible he is) shows you have a hard time letting go and likely are trying to find something to complain about. Certainly you're browsing the roster to find someone else to whine about.

Hobbs gave everything he got while playing for this organization. If you don't respect that then you don't know as much as you think you know.

Mike, you're one of the best sports writers in the country. I'm not at all worried about your future because your customer base isn't going anywhere and we'll support you whatever your endeavor - just as long as it involves the Patriots. That goes for Mr. Gasper too.

Hobbs is a good nickel guy, thats it. I hope that is what the eagles have in mind. I think the eagles had a great draft. They are good as BB or better in manipulating the draft. I give them props.
I find it interesting that both teams had similar thoughts about the draft, 2nd and 3rd rounds had value, validates the pats approach for 3 2nd rd picks and 2 3rds.

I agree with CJ.

Hobbs gave everything he had and never claimed to be an All-Pro or #1CB for that matter but he certainly played like a Pro. The guy could have bashed the Pats on the way out but he left town with class.

Ellis - Thanks for helping us get a ring and good luck with the Eagles!

CN, you are so dumb. Here you go praising a team, the eagles, for how well they evaluate talent. That same team has not won a SB in how long. Now, Bill has won 3 and has been to 4 final. You are sighting 6 players and attributing the success of the team the these plays that Parcell drafted. I guess Tom Brady had nothing to do with it. I guess the front 3 on the DL had nothing to do with you. Do you know the % of 6/53. Also, all 6 of those players were not on every SB winning team. There are those among us who will seek to find fault even when the going is good. Guess you just dont know how good you have it until you are a lion's fan.

Honest, to God, Chris Slade? They have not been able to find a suitable replacement for Chris Slade? Incredible.

Hobbs is a nickel corner who talks a lot of trash that is, ultimately, corrosive to the team.

His recent comments about guys not taking a discount to stay is probably just the tip of the iceberg. And the reality is that veterans will take a discount to play on a championship calibre team. Belichick knows what he's doing.

Hobbs should try to cover better and talk less.

It's not fair to Hobbs, but I'll never shake the image of him glancing helplessly at Plaxico from XLII.

Cover Zero, with Ellis on Plax; It still haunts me!

Honest, to God, Chris Slade? They have not been able to find a suitable replacement for Chris Slade? Incredible.

Posted by Scott May 4, 09 11:14 AM

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LOL yeah, I mean come on. The guy wasn't even ON any of the superbowl teams. His last year in the league was '01.....on the Carolina Panthers. He did contribute significantly though, with no starts and a grand total of 23 tackles.

Please: can we stop hating Hobbs and get on with finding Chris Slade's replacement?

Bulletin for JR et al,: Hobbs isn't, repeat: IS NOT with the Patriots any more. Even Mike Allen acknowledged Hobbs was stand guy and a class act.

And the "reality" is SOME veterans MAY take SOME level of discount to play on a championship-calibre team. What "tip of the iceberg" are you referring to?

You know.. It just occured to me that this is all predicated on a Peter King article.

Yeah, his Patriots accuracy track record is more than suspect at this point.

Isn't Jarvis Green an adequate replacement for Chris Slade?

mike,

love everything that you have in the past ... it shows a level-headed, intelligent and informed love for the patriots, which there needs to be more of among the fan base. i hope that globe sticks it out solely for the continuation of reiss's pieces!

All I know is that if anyone in the secondary is gonna blow a coverage by 30 yards, it's going to be Hobbs. He kept his mouth quiet because he knew what kind of team he was on - just because Brady can put up 30 points a game doesn't mean you can coast through the season - he's Philly's problem now, and I'm ecstatic....