Jets/Patriots feud could benefit Chiefs

[Hammock Parties]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...g/04/14/draft/

Cool stuff. Carl, stop laughing and draft someone good in the second round.

The Jets pick sixth in the first round. The Patriots pick seventh. Let me tell you a story about the last time New England picked directly behind the Jets high in a draft. It was 2001. New England held the 50th pick, New York the 49th. The Patriots very much wanted Iowa tackle Matt Light in the second round, but worried that the Jets might want Light too. New England personnel chief Scott Pioli called Light with the draft at the 47th pick and asked if he'd heard from any other teams recently. "Yeah,'' Light said. "I've got the Jets on the other line.'' Pioli thanked him, hung up, and the Patriots called the Lions, at 48, and swapped picks, giving Detroit a sixth-rounder in return. New England ended up with Light, who went on to become a three-time Super Bowl starter at left tackle. New York picked running back LaMont Jordan.

Now, when this story has been discussed over the years, the Jets have been quick to say they wouldn't necessarily have taken Light. (To which I say, "Maybe.'' Or "Yeah, right. And Joe Namath took knitting classes every night in Manhattan.'')

We can argue about New York's intent in 2001, but I can tell you this year's first round is already causing angst with the Patriots and Jets. As in the draft seven years ago, this draft finds the Jets and Patriots with similar needs. Not exactly the same needs -- the Jets might look at tackle and quarterback here, two spots the Pats won't pick in the first round -- but there are similar players very high on each team's draft boards. Glenn Dorsey. Vernon Gholston. Sedrick Ellis. Chris Long. Keith Rivers.

Moreover, the two organizations are warring clans now, after Spygate and the Deion Branch tampering charges, and that leads to an interesting scenario. Rich Cimini of the New York Daily News and Mike Reiss of the Boston Globe have written intelligently about the two teams trying to trade down. Cimini says because the Jets have spent so much guaranteed money this offseason, they'll be looking to shed the sixth slot in the draft; makes sense, I think, partly because of the estimated $20 million in guarantees the sixth pick will command.
However, after spending a good chunk of the weekend on the phone, I think the opposite could happen. I think if a player each team loves is sitting there when Kansas City goes on the clock at five, both could try to trade with the Chiefs to get the guy they want.

"We'll have our phone lines open,'' Chiefs president Carl Peterson said with a chuckle Saturday. "I can tell you if the guy we've targeted at five is not there, we'll definitely be interested in trading down.''
Wait: You need to add this proviso, Carl -- if you know the guy you want isn't going to be taken by the Jets or Pats, you've got to try to trade down just as hard.

Lots of teams trade little pieces of draft information this time of year. But you can be sure that the Patriots and Jets will be ultra-secretive when talking to friends in the league. They simply don't want their arch-enemy to know what they're thinking. Peterson also realizes that if New England is kept guessing about who the Jets want, and if the Patriots guess about who New York wants, he might be able to get either team to trade up. The Chiefs can win by keeping their lips zipped, and by dropping hints to the Pats and Jets that they'd better move into the fifth spot if they want to be sure to get the guy they love.

My theory is Peterson likes Jake Long and Matt Ryan. Also, there's a slight chance he might want Boise State's Ryan Clady, who is probably a better left-tackle prospect than Long. The way I see it, Long will be long gone by the fifth spot ... But if Atlanta doesn't take Ryan, he'll be there at 5. And should the Chiefs move down, Ryan would probably still be available at 6 and 7 too.

Here's what I love about this story: Don't put it past the Jets and the Patriots to try to trump each other.

[Amnorix]

I really don't see the Pats giving up what it takes to move up. Maybe, maybe, MAYBe for Ghoulston, if they feel they really need to go LB, and have him graded alot higher than anybody else, and he's available at 5.

I'm expecting them to move back, to be honest...

[cadmonkey]

I am expecting the Patriots to stay right where they are and take Gholston

[Amnorix]

Originally Posted by cadmonkey

I am expecting the Patriots to stay right where they are and take Gholston

You think he'll last that long? If he's there, I agree, but i'm worried he won't be there. All else being equal, the Jets would take him I'm sure, but they may not be able to spend on a "luxury" like a pass-rushing specialist type, instead needing to fill more obvious needs along the defensive line, etc.

[donkhater]

Honestly, this is the first draft ever I have no strong feelings for who the Chiefs select. They have so many holes that anyone they take (as long as it isn't a super reach) would be fine with me.

Hell, even if they took Clady with the pick at #5 I wouldn't be that upset. If he truly is the best LT in the draft and KC can't find a partner to trade down with, it's not a terrible move. People here might not like it, but it isn't bad-bad.

Now if they took a WR, S, TE, RB or Guard with their first pick I'd be upset just because there doesn't seem to be talented enough players to be had that high (outside of RB). But anything else I'd be on board with, even Keith Rivers.

[Coogs]

The Patriots have an extra pick in round 3 at #69 from Oakland. That pick is about equal in value to swapping #5 and #7. I don't expect it to happen, but wouldn't be shocked if it did.

[Frosty]

I could see the Jets swapping with Oakland to get Matt Ryan in front of the Chiefs. QB is a pretty big need for them and they are supposedly high on him.

[DaKCMan AP]

Originally Posted by arc

I could see the Jets swapping with Oakland to get Matt Ryan in front of the Chiefs. QB is a pretty big need for them and they are supposedly high on him.

That would be fine with me. It would mean we don't draft Ryan and that we get one of Dorsey, Long, Long, Ellis and that the 'duhs don't.

[Chiefnj2]

Screw the Jets. They unloaded Herm on us and got a 4th rounder. That's got to be one of the greatest steals of all time. I'd give the Pats the #5 spot for free, plus Herm.

[markk]

if we take clady at 5 there should be rioting in kansas city and a mob showing up at arrowhead demanding reprisal. he will be there 10 picks later i bet

[beach tribe]

Originally Posted by donkhater

Honestly, this is the first draft ever I have no strong feelings for who the Chiefs select. They have so many holes that anyone they take (as long as it isn't a super reach) would be fine with me.

Hell, even if they took Clady with the pick at #5 I wouldn't be that upset. If he truly is the best LT in the draft and KC can't find a partner to trade down with, it's not a terrible move. People here might not like it, but it isn't bad-bad.

Now if they took a WR, S, TE, RB or Guard with their first pick I'd be upset just because there doesn't seem to be talented enough players to be had that high (outside of RB). But anything else I'd be on board with, even Keith Rivers.

Draft boards should be stacked according to how valuable a player is to that team. Not what the media, fans, or other teams think. If you can trade down, and still get your guyit is a bonus. If not, choose your guy.
That's what a certain GM in Green Bay says anyway.

[Fat Elvis]

Originally Posted by markk

if we take clady at 5 there should be rioting in kansas city and a mob showing up at arrowhead demanding reprisal. he will be there 10 picks later i bet

I think Ryan Clady has an alternate spelling of his name. It goes something like this: Trezelle Jenkins.

[beach tribe]

Originally Posted by markk

if we take clady at 5 there should be rioting in kansas city and a mob showing up at arrowhead demanding reprisal. he will be there 10 picks later i bet

I doubt it. He won't make 15. He would likely be a bronco at 12.

[patteeu]

Originally Posted by markk

if we take clady at 5 there should be rioting in kansas city and a mob showing up at arrowhead demanding reprisal. he will be there 10 picks later i bet

If we (a) want Clady, (b) don't have a pick 10 picks later, and (c) can't find a partner for a trade down, the only pick we can use to get him is pick #5.

Imagine the team who passed on Ricky Williams in 1999 and took Anthony MacFarland instead or the team who passed on Quenten Jammer to reach for Albert Haynesworth in 2002. Personally, I'm glad the Chiefs got Derrick Johnson instead of Cadillac Williams in 2005.

I just hope that the guy they take ends up earning his draft position AFTER he's picked rather than before the draft begins.

[beach tribe]

Originally Posted by patteeu

If we (a) want Clady, (b) don't have a pick 10 picks later, and (c) can't find a partner for a trade down, the only pick we can use to get him is pick #5.

Imagine the team who passed on Ricky Williams in 1999 and took Anthony MacFarland instead or the team who passed on Quenten Jammer to reach for Albert Haynesworth in 2002. Personally, I'm glad the Chiefs got Derrick Johnson instead of Cadillac Williams in 2005.

I just hope that the guy they take ends up earning his draft position AFTER he's picked rather than before the draft begins.

Righteo.