26 replies to this topic

[SeoulSoxFan]

Alright, as we eagerly wait Sunday Night's romp vs. 49ers, I'd like to get a series of threads going that lists the best Patriot by draft class:

• UDFAs
• Rounds 7 & below
• Round 6 (ahem)
• Round 5
• Round 4
• Round 3
• Round 2
• Round 1

First up, UDFAs. This includes someone like Welker, who was first signed by the Chargers as a UDFA. The list should put more weight as a Patriot than his overall career.

Speaking of, Welker should be an easy choice as the 1st. 4 time Pro Bowler & All-Pro, 3 time NFL reception leader, and soon to close in as the only player with five 100 rec. seasons (2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, and 2012).

Some recent luminaries include BJGE, and young'uns like Kyle Love, but who would make up this list?

Edited by SeoulSoxFan, 15 December 2012 - 07:26 PM.

[BigSoxFan]

Adam Vinatieri

[soxfan121]

Wes Welker was acquired by the Patriots in a trade (by way of restricted free agent offer sheet) - he was an UnDrafted Free Agent with the Chargers and then a Free Agent with the Dolphins.

If you're gonna do this, do it right. Best Patriots UDFA should be a player who was undrafted and then signed by the Patriots - no other NFL stops in between.

My nominee is Randall Gay.

[tims4wins]

Agreed with soxfan121 on the policy.

My nominee is Stephen Neal.

[SumnerH]

Wes Welker was acquired by the Patriots in a trade (by way of restricted free agent offer sheet) - he was an UnDrafted Free Agent with the Chargers and then a Free Agent with the Dolphins.

If you're gonna do this, do it right. Best Patriots UDFA should be a player who was undrafted and then signed by the Patriots - no other NFL stops in between.

My nominee is Randall Gay.

I agree, the evaluation for someone like Welker is totally different from evaluating a UDFA (as is the compensation, obviously).

[Jnai]

Wes Welker was acquired by the Patriots in a trade (by way of restricted free agent offer sheet) - he was an UnDrafted Free Agent with the Chargers and then a Free Agent with the Dolphins.

If you're gonna do this, do it right. Best Patriots UDFA should be a player who was undrafted and then signed by the Patriots - no other NFL stops in between.

My nominee is Randall Gay.

Either your criteria are this strict, and then the answer is Vinatieri.

Or they aren't this strict, and your answer still might be Vinatieri, or it might be Welker.

Randall Fucking Gay?

[soxfan121]

I spaced Vinatieri - clearly, that's the right answer.

Welker might be the best trade, which is a different category.

And Randall Gay was Alfonzo Dennard when Alfonzo Dennard was but a gleam in the eye of phragle.

[Morgan's Magic Snowplow]

Vinatieri.

With the Dante Special honorable mentions to Joe Andruzzi, Steve Neal, and Dan Connolly.

[Buck Showalter]

Ray Hamilton 14th round

Sam Hunt 13th round

Troy Brown 8th Round

Edited by Buck Showalter, 11 December 2012 - 06:51 PM.

[scottyno]

Ray Hamilton 14th round

Sam Hunt 13th round

Troy Brown: 8th round

[steveluck7]

The answer to this question one day will be Jeff Demps

Breaking rules for the reason that Vinatieri wins in a landslide, I'll add Woodhead and Arrington

[mwonow]

If Troy Brown is eligible, he gets my vote, pretty well regardless of anyone else (well, except for in the 6th round...)

Edit - sorry, just saw that the next round is 7th/below. Carry on, and happy to vote for Vinatieri!

Edited by mwonow, 11 December 2012 - 07:42 PM.

[Papelbon's Poutine]

Law Firm

(null)

[Stitch01]

Gino Capelletti eligible?

[SoxVindaloo]

Vinatieri and then Neal some distance behind. In 2-3 years maybe Connolly jumps to 2nd.

[SeoulSoxFan]

Agree with the stricter rule.

Let's post just the UDFAs for now. Other rounds in separate threads.

[loshjott]

I suppose you won't even bother with the 6th round thread.

[Andrew]

I suppose you won't even bother with the 6th round thread.

Yeah, nothing good has ever come from the 6th round.

[BernieRicoBoomer]

I suppose you won't even bother with the 6th round thread.

Nate Ebner...lock it up.

[amarshal2]

I suppose you won't even bother with the 6th round thread.

What if we changed it from "Pats' 6th round" to "all teams, all rounds, all time"? That makes it a little harder.

[soxfan121]

What if we changed it from "Pats' 6th round" to "all teams, all rounds, all time"? That makes it a little harder.

No, it does not. And no one ever drafted in the 6th round from now until the very end of time (or football as a major sport) will ever challenge that.

[SidelineCameras]

No, it does not. And no one ever drafted in the 6th round from now until the very end of time (or football as a major sport) will ever challenge that.

Right. A first-ballot HOF, multiple regular season MVP, multiple Superbowl MVP QB might be the best pick from any round of the draft, let alone the sixth.

Maybe you were kidding as indicated by the italics. If so ignore me and move along...

Edit: Clarity

Edited by SidelineCameras, 12 December 2012 - 11:02 AM.

[loshjott]

What if we changed it from "Pats' 6th round" to "all teams, all rounds, all time"? That makes it a little harder.

I know you are kidding but.. from Wikipedia: "After college, [Johnny] Unitas was drafted in the ninth round by the Pittsburgh Steelers of the NFL but was released before the season began as the odd man out among four quarterbacks trying to fill three spots."

[SeoulSoxFan]

This is why I can always count on SoSH to teach me something I didn't know. Gino Capaletti was never drafted (so technically eligible). From Wiki: http://en.wikipedia....ino_Cappelletti

Cappelletti played quarterback for the Sarnia Imperials of the ORFU in Canada during 1955. He joined Toronto Balmy Beach in 1956, but was drafted into the U.S. Army in mid-season, returning to Canada in 1958. Cappelletti signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the CFL, but was traded to the Saskatchewan Roughriders, later cut, and went back to the ORFU, leading the Sarnia Golden Bears (the team changed its name in 1956) to the league championship.

Of course I completely forgot about Adam being undrafted as well. Time to vote folks!

[Bucknahs Bum Ankle]

Who the hell voted for Stephen Neal?

Edited by Bucknahs Bum Ankle, 12 December 2012 - 04:23 PM.

[Zombie Wakefield]

Who the hell voted for Stephen Neal?

I didn't vote for him, but I can understand -- if anything, Neal should get his own special category: "Best Undrafted Patriot who didn't even play football in college"

or "Best Undrafted Patriot who was also a world-champion wrestler"

[amarshal2]

No, it does not. And no one ever drafted in the 6th round from now until the very end of time (or football as a major sport) will ever challenge that.

Read what I wrote again -- I did not limit it to just 6th round. He's so obviously the greatest Patriots 6th round selection that it's not worth discussing. He's so obviously the greatest Patriot of all time that it's not worth discussing. The joke was that in order to make the discussion about Brady interesting -- you need to expand it to include every player drafted (or not) in every round by every team throughout the entire history of football (i.e., every player, ever).

Edited by amarshal2, 12 December 2012 - 06:33 PM.