Which Bodden for Pats?

I don't understand why the media cares to distribute comments from the worst GM in NFL history. He has no football credibility to most fans who are aware of how he decimated the Lions. He gets an automatic "MUTE" when he shows up on my TV.

What does an endorsement of anything or anyone by Matt Millen mean? It's a joke that he's analyzing other teams when he couldn't improve the Lions with top draft picks every single year.

Hi Josh and Howie Long. I respect what you are saying and even Millen himself said on his conference call today that he failed badly with the Lions. For me, I have liked Millen's analysis in the past. One of the things I truly appreciate is his passion for the game and ability to communicate it and simplify things. I personally seperate his ability to build a winning team with his knowledge on the game, because I think they are two different things. A lot of people who have great knowledge of the game fail as team-builders. That is just my opinion and why I decided to share thoughts from Millen. I personally look forward to his analysis going forward.
--Mike

Excellent Player
Shoddy GM
Who knows what kind of analyst he'll be ...

I'd rather eat a giant, nut-filled turd than hear Millen's thoughts.....

Well, just look at all the analysts on TV. NFL Carriers obviously compete for guys with the biggest names but if you took a poll of the best former players turned analysts I don’t see any sort of exact science to predict performance. Who would have expected a receiver formerly labeled as “selfish” to be as objective and intelligent as Keyshawn Johnson? Who would have expected a SuperBowl winning HOF coach, such as Mike Ditka, to be completely useless other than a few anecdotes to close out shows?

The foresight necessary to build a team is quite different from the analytical skills used to break down what has already transpired. I’m sure Millen will be fine behind the mic but, unfortunately for him, he’s really hurt his credibility among fans.

Bodden is a win-win-win all around. The pats, himself and the fans. Hey, I hope he has 10 ints ( 2 in the playoffs ) and leaves the pats for a 40 mill guaranteed deal somewhere else.

I'd be running that JUGS machine 24/7

Personally, I put great emphasis on Matt Millen's eye for talent. The man just knows football.

Michael Irvin is another one. He was a very good player but a terrible analyst. He hates the Patriots too. .

Millen was a sorry GM but he knows

Mike, I usually like your analysis even when I don't agree with it, but in this case, I have to say, what are you thinking? How can you separate team-building from knowledge of the game? The latter informs and enables the former. It's like saying you'd trust the medical advice you got from a doctor because he had excellent grades in medical school, even though he killed his last thirty patients.

Come on, Realistic, no need to be polite here. Tell us what you really think about Matt Millen's credibility.

Personally, I don't have a problem with Millen as analyst provided, in the spirit of equal time for an opposing view, we also hear from another former NFL GM.

I understand the Pats own Patrick Sullivan is available. As Mr. Millen and Mr. Sullivan are already well acquainted, they should make a dynamite broadcast duo.
Who's with me?

Sorry Mike, I typically trust your instincts but think you're off the mark here. I say without an ounce of exaggeration that I could have done a better job running the Lions and my background is in Engineering. I understand the desire to separate his poor track record at his old job from potential performance at his new one, but the fact that the man presided over one of the foulest stretches of football in the history of the game is difficult to overcome. I don't care what Millen has to say; he failed so spectacularly that the credibility gap is just too great.

"I'd rather eat a giant, nut-filled turd than hear Millen's thoughts....."

"Personally, I put great emphasis on Matt Millen's eye for talent. The man just knows football." ~ The Village Idiot

That was 2 LOL's ~ literally! ~ in the first 8 posts! It's a GREAT day!

Hi Richter. I feel completely comfortable splitting team-building from knowledge of the game. I also know Millen a bit. He has exceptional knowledge of the game, and in the role of analyst, has a gift to communicate it. I think the issue might be closer to what Sonny_Corlione and Andrew posted -- credibility. That's a fair point to raise when it comes to Millen. Because I know him and have respect for his knowledge of the game, I don't have a credibility issue with him. He'll have to earn that from the fans.
--Mike

Let's not get too hyped on Bodden. In 2007 he was in the same system for 3 years. 2008 learning a whole new system didn't go so well. Granted the system was flawed to begin with.
i don't see Bodden having a pro-bowl year, but at least he's an upgrade over O'Neal.

Bodden will surprise most Pats fans who don't watch the NFL outside of NE. You'll be very surprised. He's an immediate upgrade over Hobbs with his size, athleticism and ability to stay around the ball, even straight back, which Hobbs could never do well. He'll also be their biggest corner.

Andy, I think one of the reasons that Bodden was a good signing is because the Cleveland system, the one he thrived in, is much more comparable to the NE system than Detroit's (Romeo connection). Hopefully, that means that while he may need to learn some new terms, he'll be asked to do similar thing, and those are things he's shown he can be good at.

Mike, do you think it's a coincidence that the Patriots look to acquire quality players from a team coming off of a winless season? I feel like so many other teams would discredit players immediately from a team like the lions or Raiders, but the Patriots being so "value" oriented scoop up these players on low risk high reward scenarios.

I've said it several times, but it's worth repeating, considering that most'f us have the retention of GoldFish!

I was PRAYING that we'd sign Bodden, from the very day those donkeys in Detroit cut'm!

He is FAST.
He is STRONG.
He is a MONSTER.
He is FEROCIOUS.
He was on the verge of stardom when his career got derailed, one year ago.
And he has 3 years experience in this system!

He is dedicated to his craft, gentlemen! It says here that he'll be a Top 10 CornerBack in VERY short order, and here's hoping that that Salary Cap goes up in FLAMES! NOTHING would make me happier than to see Bodden, Cutler, Wheatley, and Wihlite tear it UP for the next few years, with Springs helping usher in a new level of Excellence with some stellar work!