4 Patriots Players Late Then Sent Home

"A report from the Providence Journal's Shalise Manza Young this morning indicated that four players -- Gary Guyton, Adalius Thomas, Randy Moss and Derrick Burgess -- were sent home after arriving for the team's 8 a.m. meeting. Bill Belichick just addressed the report at his press conference, saying "Anything that happens with discipline on the team will stay between me and the players."

Asked if the four would practice today, he reiterated, "Whatever it is, it will be between me and the players, like it always is (Boston.com)."

Usually I love this kind of stuff, but it was snowing today, so I wonder how late they were and if that had anything to do with it. Brady has been questioning the team's effort, and this seems to be falling in line with that.

This is not a good thing for a guy like Adaluis Thomas, who has already been in the dog house with Belichick this season getting benched 1 game. I don't think much will come of this, and hopefully it will be used as a wake up call for this struggling team.

Patriots Trade For Derrick Burgess (UPDATED)

"The Patriots just announced via their Twitter feed that they have traded for Oakland defensive end Derrick Burgess and released veteran offensive lineman Al Johnson. The team said the deal was made for "undisclosed draft considerations." The 6-2, 260-pound Burgess will likely be an outside linebacker and situational pass rusher in the Patriots' 3-4 defense (Boston.com)."

Great trade for the Patriots since now they have addressed their biggest weakness which was their pass rush. Burgess has 47 career sacks. He led the NFL in sacks in 2005 during his first season in Oakland (16) to make his first Pro Bowl. The 30-year-old Burgess, who is in the final year of a five-year deal, carries a $2 million base salary for 2009. The Raiders had to either give him a new deal or trade him since he refused to show up to camp. Welcome to the Patriots Burgess.


***UPDATE***

"The Patriots surrendered 2010 third-round and fourth-round picks, with a condition: If the Patriots pick up a fifth-round pick in 2010 (they’re pick was traded to Tampa Bay for tight end Alex Smith), that pick will go to Oakland instead of the fourth-round pick. The Patriots have three second-round picks in 2010 (Boston.com)."

To be honest I thought it would be for less, but since the Patriots have so many picks, and they really needed to fill this whole, I still like the trade a lot for New England.

Derrick Burgess To Pats

Pats-Raiders deal in the works?
Derrick Burgess refuses to get out of the rumor pool. Prior to the draft, Chris Mortensen reported that the Oakland Raiders were shopping Burgess, and as Bill Williamson noted in the AFC West blog days after the draft, the Raiders loaded up on players at Burgess' position, fueling speculation that his days in Oakland were numbered.

As first reported by John Clayton in his column on Monday, and then confirmed by WEEI's Christopher Price (as per the Boston Herald's Point After blog), the New England Patriots are investigating a trade for Burgess. In this scenario, the Pats will send a second- or third-rounder to Oakland in exchange for the two-time Pro Bowler, who will be a pass-rushing outside linebacker in the New England 3-4 scheme.

Burgess was at his most dominant in 2005 and 2006, playing in all 32 possible games and registering 107 total tackles and 27.0 sacks. Since 2006, Burgess has struggled with injuries and is unhappy with the fact that the Raiders haven't offered him a contract extension. He will earn $3.5 million in 2009, the final year of his current deal.

This would be a great move for the Patriots. Because as we know, he probably doesn't give a shit about Oakland and puts minimal effort in there (just like Moss). But Burgess is still a very good player and even though he isn't Julius Peppers he is a hell of a plan B. Burgess will thrive under the Patriots if he comes here due to their recent success and not being Oakland.