Patriots' third round pick done for season with ACL tear

bergeaux said
Not saying that this is the case with McKenzie, but isn't it kind of strange that this happens a LOT to the Patriots mid to late round draft picks? Everyone is talking about waiting for the Patriots to cut some of these rookies they drafted... will there be any good ones that don't end up on IR?

blackngold4877 said
Yeah, they've convinced him to fake an ACL injury before a contract is even signed. Some of you are ridiculous.

I started this discussion, but I did not intend to point towards this incident for the very reason you mention. I actually don't think this is what's happening with McKenzie. However, my point is still there and I stand behind it. I don't expect a lot of talent to get cut from NE because they will find ways to stash them, as they always do, illegally.

Entoman said
Its against the rules for IR players to participate in practices.

Exactly.

dwid said
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3408450
""Basically, the Patriots would put a player on IR, knowing it meant he couldn't play in a game or practice with the team for the remainder of the season. By skirting the rules and practicing him anyway, it allowed them to develop his skills during the year. A side benefit is that they were also able to give some of the older players less repetitions and, therefore, additional rest.""

"Last Friday, in an article published on SI.com, Tucker wrote that: "I had heard the Patriots did this before I signed with them in 2005 and I saw it firsthand during my time there. I asked veteran receiver Troy Brown about it one time and he responded, 'Every team in the league does that.' I quickly let him know none of the three teams I played for previously had done so."

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/sh...in-practice-and-the-legacy-of-B?urn=nfl,84123

"But the fact that Tucker, Wiley and Hasty never saw it happen anywhere else does cut into the "oh, everybody does it" argument. Tucker's take is that there's so little to be gained by practicing players on IR that it doesn't make sense for a coach to take the risk of getting caught. But Belichick did it anyway."

I dont care if they did it or not, i actually like the patriots

blackngold4877 said
Right, I know what he said, and he didn't cite any specific examples either. When I look over the Pats IR lists I see maybe one or two rookies or second year players that were IRed and went on to do anything, in fact unless I'm overlooking it the only one I see is Mike Wright. Tucker was correct in that players did practice on IR, I'm sure, but only said that because it would get him a lot press at the time because I really see almost zero examples of these young players going on IR then playing like theyve been in the system for years.

Come on man, it's hard to deny what's going on in NE. BB cheats. And cheats big time. He always has and always will. If he had been on a no-name small time team, he would have been run out of the league by now with all that he tries to pull. A while back (and I don't feel like going and finding it or doing it again), I went through all the IR lists every year since BB started an NE and it was STARTLING how often draft picks ended up on on IR every year and later played for the Pats. Off the top of my head it was something like 3 a year. Not players, DRAFT PICKS specifically. No other team has that record or has players talking about "look out schedules" for a team to practice players on IR.