Patriots trade for Derrick Burgess

Thank you Al Davis for giving us another good player. Burgess will make an immediate impact just like Randy did. Great pass rusher and he's only 30. Good trade.

As long as it's not for that ridiculous package with O'Connell and Vollmer that we heard about earlier, this seems like a good move.

Did you read David???? The part where it said for "picks". That means draft picks. Which means players not on the team right now. Let me know if I have to break it down more

I can not believe they were able to get him! Word was that Al would not trade with the Pats ever again after Moss. He felt Moss dogged it to get traded then excelled for us. Wow, I am so psyched...Burgess is a difference maker for our weakest link. I don't see any weak link other than OL, which seems to be doing fine now.

what defense was Oakland running in 2005 when he led the league in sacks, the 4-3 or the 3-4?

why god why?

yessss! 14 wins over/under

Good trade depending on what the Pats had to give up.

disregard my previous question about the 3-4 and 4-3. I just read the other article about the trade which answered this.

Why the hell didn't Denver try to trade for this guy?

Ummm yeah this is a huge pickup that again is going under the radar.....Burgess' first two seasons in Black and Silver was in a 3-4 defense which was coached by Rob Ryan (former Pats coach under Belicheck). If you check his numbers his first two years while they were still running the 3-4, they were phenomenal.

Ummm yeah this is a huge pickup that again is going under the radar.....Burgess' first two seasons in Black and Silver was in a 3-4 defense which was coached by Rob Ryan (former Pats coach under Belicheck). If you check his numbers his first two years while they were still running the 3-4, they were phenomenal.

I love this trade! It looks like the Pats gave up a 3rd & a 5th round pick in 2011 for Burgess.
If he can stay healthy he should really help sure up the Pats D.
Another great move. In Bill we trust

Now let's hope he doesn't hold out on the Patriots.

It's hard to figure out why the Raiders franchise sucks so bad.

I can't beleive that the Raiders would trade a valuable player from their defence for future draft picks that are not even proven yet. Well Patriot fans, you just acquired another good player.......

I can not believe they were able to get him! Word was that Al would not trade with the Pats ever again after Moss. He felt Moss dogged it to get traded then excelled for us. Wow, I am so psyched...Burgess is a difference maker for our weakest link. I don't see any weak link other than OL, which seems to be doing fine now.

Herman, the reason the Raiders would do it is because 1) he only has one year left on his deal, 2) he was holding out, 3) they need to rebuild the team, and you do that with the draft. The Pats had to do it because they're poised for a run deep into the playoffs and they addressed the biggest obstacle in their path.

This seems to be an example of a good deal for both sides. Raiders fans should be very happy with the compensation, and Pats fans can breathe a little easier now.

Pats have something to prove .... One game/play away from a perfect seasons and then managing a 11 and 5 record and out of the playoffs using their second string QB.
( He played great and wish him well.)
Lets face it , this is the Pats year. Getting back TB and drafting and making moves to sure up the teams weaknesses and now adding a needed piece on defense..
Football fans know that this team is going to be the one to beat. The Pats will end up as the NFL Champs if the key players stay healthy. Enjoy the season.

ANother fleecing. VERY effective player.

Injury plagued has-been. The cold weather will only increase the likelihood of more...

Michael Lombardi reports that the Patriots gave up their third and fifth round picks in 2011 in the deal. Seems fair for both sides. Adam Schefter points out the Eagles were offering a third-round pick and a player.

Order the playoff tickets now . . .

Que the duck boats!!!

Think back a few months, when everybody was on BB's back, saying whats he doing???? We need this, we need that, guess what ??? In Bill I trust 100%!!

Thank god he doesn't coach the jets or the finns.

Mercy of God almighty, he is a big boy. He may shore up the defense, not sure up the defense, you nitwits.

Mercy of God almighty, he is a big boy. He may shore up the defense, not sure up the defense, you nitwits.

What a masterful job this off season. WOW....this completes an off season in which:

A) The Pats solidified every possible hole through free agency with key pick ups.....for VERY reasonable outlay. Secondary....Bodden & Springs. Receiver....Galloway & Lewis. Tight end....Baker & Smith. Running back....Taylor. And now the final hole at OLB.....Burgess who is a 3-4 Pro Bowler in his prime.

They are now locked and loaded baby. No holes and deeeeep.

B) This years draft was unbelievable. FOUR second round draft picks! First rounders are a much higher risk and a lot more expensive. All the best value is in the second round and that's why the Pats stock up on them. Over the past two drafts the Pats have drafted their secondary of the future, their ILBs of the future and It also appears at first blush that they really hit on something special with Vollmer. I can't wait to see how Tate and McKenzie look next year.

I think we are in the mist of watching a Super Bowl caliber team completely re-building while constantly remaining a Super Bowl caliber team. I am absolutely amazed at level of savvy and skill this management team demonstrates.

Bravo Patriots management.

Yet another example of how shrewd BB & Co are.

Last year, Al Davis make some typically wacky comments about how the Pats 'tampered' with Randy Moss. Rather than rise to the bait ("Al Davis is a senile has-been", for example), they let it slide.

Later, they went into Oaktown and absolutely crushed the Raiders, then called them a good team after the game, minus any taunting.

So when Davis needed to shop Burgess for more "rebuilding", he turns to the Pats. Another nice pickup for NE.

I am starting to like this Al Davis guy, maybe we can get Asamugha for a couple of late draft picks, lol

Another Adalius or Randy ....only time will tell

It's about time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Drew? Raiders haven't run a 3-4 since the days of Ted Hendricks. Burgess was a DE in a 4 - 3. The Pats may have stole Moss but Burgess has been injury prone for two seasons. Check the numbers. Every year...fewer sacks. 3 and a half last year? Good luck.

I'm curious. What kind of deal/money was Burgess holding out for with Oakland ? Or did he just want out of there ?

weei.com is reporting that the Pats gave up a 3rd in 2010 and a 5th in 2011.

Davis, despite his wince-inducing Brooklyn accent and decades of shenanigans while in Oakland & LA, was born in Brockton.

Chalk Burgess up to the 'home town discount'.

Nice. This could be just what the doctor ordered. If it's a 3rd and a 5th in 2011, I'll take it, given that Belichick will probably have added a couple of extra 2nds in that draft by next year.
Still wondering how they convinced Burgess, if money is what he is after.

wgb using your logic you could have said the same for moss when he came over, i think a happy burgess thats winning may have a resurgance in his game like many veterans have in the past playing for the pats. I think this is a great move for the pats, they made a trade with a huge upside potential and gave up a couple picks that are 50-50 at best on if they work out.

BB shows why we shouldn't doubt his team managing skills. He may not be perfect but neither is any of us.

He probably just wanted off the team and out of Oaktown.Can't say as I blame him,if you've never been there your missing one of life's treats.

"The Patriots shored up the biggest weakness on their roster"
Lets hope so. I like the trade, and I REALLY like that we didn't give up Watson. Possibly the most impressive play I've ever seen when he ran down Champ Bailey and blew his ass up on the goal line in that playoff game. Absolutely awesome!
I'm thinking Burgess understands he's on the backside of his career and wants to win BAD. He will be a different player than he was the last couple years with Da Rai-duhs. I can't believe they actually think JaMarcus Russell is a franchise QB. Same people that over-hyped Vince Young and Michael Vick. If the future is Russell in Oaktown, I don't blame Moss and Burgess for wanting out!

Was the Pat's D that bad that an injury prone 30 year old who netted 3.5 sacks last year on a horrible team will make it better? I think you have a better shot of Andew Walter leading you to the playoffs...

just curious ... how does burgess compare to vrabel? what is the salary hit difference b/t the two?

WHO IS BRADY'S BACKUP? NOTHIG YET CONFIRMED......

Brilliant pick up. They address their biggest weakness with a pass rushing demon who is in his contract year. For at least one year, they'll have a devastating OLB combo (barring injury). I can't wait...

Patsfan...Comparing Moss to Burgess is apples to injuries. Moss just stopped playing hard because his team was losing. There were no injury issues. Burgess is showing the classic downturn that many players go through as their careers come to an end. 16 to 14 to 11 to 3.5? He couldn't stay on the field as a DE and now you think he will turn your D around as an LB? Okay. Maybe. . .but I'd bet you would've been better off keeping Vrabel.

Moss and Burgess do have one thing in common. They quit on the Raiders. I know Oak sucked but while BB talks about character being important...I would consider quitting on your team a flaw. But that's just me...

I think this is a good trade. Burgess will not only be converted to OLB, but he will be able to play DE if the Pats go 4-3 which they tend to do, and probably will do more of this year with the addition of Brace and Burgess. Imagine the Dline in a 4-3 my friends....Seymour, Brace, Wilfork, Burgess...now that is scary. Or you could use Jarvis Green or Ty Warren in place of Burgess on the line, and sit Burgess just behind them....this spells versatility, just what BB preaches.
Overall, liking this very much, and I think it will add wrinkles to the Pats D we have not see in years past.

Jax? Nice racial slam on Russell. Why not compare him to Leaf or Druckenmiller? Young and Vick? Interesting choices. How many thought Brady would be as good as he was after Bledsoe went down? You? Doubt it. I wouldn't give up on the kid in Oakland yet. By the way, Russell wasn't there while Moss was. . .

nice pickup

Who's Brady's backup? Who cares?

Wgb, time to run upstairs now -- your Mom's asleep, and you can steal her last beer out of the fridge.

"Same people that over-hyped Vince Young and Michael Vick."

And what people would that be?

Wow, I feel better already, just look what he did for Oakland. Oh wait don't look at
the record. He did what he wanted in Oakland, how did he do with the run, what was the team defense rank, never mind. Let's see how he likes the system. This team has a track record of bringing in outside pass rushers and they get caught in the weeds and don't produce as they did in the past. Where is mister peppers, maybe he talked and saw the light.

So, when Brady goes down, who's going to carry them to the playoffs?

OLB finally addressed. Bravo! Now as long as they can protect Brady's knee this could be another special season. They still need to play the games though. More often than not the preseason favorite stumbles in the end.

With the infusion of both young and old talent, I can see this defense causing major headaches for opposing offenses this year. Should be fun season to sit back and enjoy :-)

This could be a really fun season!

WGB, injury prone and under-performing: aren't those two common symptoms of someone who is disgruntled or disinterested due to being on a thoroughly irrelevant team in constant turmoil? Maybe he is washed up - it's certainly possible. Or maybe he just lost his juice playing games that didn't matter. He's only 30, and he had 16 sacks just 4 years ago, 11 three years ago. You can't get those kind of numbers without the goods. I'll bet my money that he winds his motor back up now that he is out of NFL purgatory and playing on a cohesive team with its sights set on a SB. If it doesn't work out that way, it's certainly worth the gamble. PLUS, look at the kind of money Peppers, Kearse and others command for double-digit sack credentials. If this guy DOES crank it back up and they have him for only $2 mill?? C'mon ... easily worth the chance, and then some.

So happy to see such a good player as well as great person get out of the Raiders nightmare. He will do very well in the Patriot scheme and return to his Pro Bowl form. When it comes to trades New England is the linear opposite or Oakland,
as reflected in this move. Good luck DB!

People overrate black QB's so they are not called the "r" word. The hype around Young, Vick, Russel is a joke... All are terrible QB's.

Burgess is showing no "classic downturn". Oakland's defense is horrendous. They have some great players in a few areas, but overall, the defense lost its edge when Sapp retired and they had a thin, inefficent D Line. Burgess does not have to be THE guy in NE. That's the key. He'll be a role player similar to Ted Washington, adding versatility and the opportunity to go to a 4-3 more often than not. Ted was a DT, Burgess a DE/OLB. Only difference is where the impact comes from. Make no mistake, this gives BB tremendous felxibility now.

The Pats can have him. He wasn't happy in Oakland and wanted to be traded anyways. He fits in well with BiliCheat's defense. Burgess is injury prone and everyone knows it. I'll give him 4 weeks into the schedule and he'll be sideline for remaining 2009. How 'bout them Yankee's last night!

wgb,
Who are you? Al Sharpton? Spike Lee? Some other hate merchant who jumps at the chance to spin any statement or incident as racism to line their pockets? As far as the Moss/Burgess comment, I was referring to the Raiduhs decision-making in general, not to any players tenure specifically. Leaf and Druckenmiller were not hyped as the "super athlete" "future of the league" QB's like those three. They were bigger busts than Russell, Vick, and Young. I don't care if they are black, white, purple, green, WHO CARES!!? Two are busts, and Russell can escape the "bust" label for now because the Raiduhs are so bad, but he will be exposed as another overpaid mistake. I did'nt say anything about McNair or McNabb, did I? They were/are good QB's. The reason there is still racism is because oversensitive ignoramus's like you fan the flames. You know NOTHING of me. If you did, you would know three years ago at my wedding I chose, out of all my friends of very diverse racial backgrounds, my friend Paul, who happens to be black, as my best man to represent me in one of the most important events in my life.....my marriage to my awesome wife. I'm a forgiving guy, so I will pre-accept your apology for impugning my character.
Thank you Ryan for telling it like it is.