Bad news for anyone who enjoyed watching Tom Brady-less New England miss out on the playoffs last year -- the Patriots are the odds-on favorite to win the Super Bowl XLIV. And those numbers came out before Thursday's trade that brought them Derrick Burgess from Oakland.A disgruntled Burgess, in the final year of his current contract, had been holding out of Raiders training camp in search of the pay raise and extension that he's wanted for years. Oakland refused to budge, though, and Burgess became much more expendable after Greg Ellis landed with the silver and black.
New England saw the obvious opportunity. Burgess, 30 and owed $2 million this season, should fit in perfectly as the Patriots' outside linebacker/rush end spot, currently held by Pierre Woods. Whether New England opts to use a 3-4 or a 4-3, Burgess is still capable of making sure someone's gets in the quarterback's face.
According to the National Football Post, New England will send the Raiders a 2010 third-round pick and 2011 fifth-round pick in exchange for Burgess.
Burgess had 3.5 sacks in 10 games last season for Oakland, his worst statistical career since 2004. In the three years between, 2005-07, Burgess notched 35 sacks in 46 games. New England, for the record, finished tied for 14th in the NFL with 31 total sacks last season.But back to that whole "New England is the Super Bowl favorite" talk for a moment.
For as mediocre as the Patriots' 2008 season was perceived to be, they still won 11 games and barely missed out on the playoffs -- despite losing Brady in Week 1. Brady's back, of course, and now Burgess is in and New England looks better on both sides of the ball than it did last season.
That's especially on true on defense now, given what Burgess brings to the table.
If you're thinking of betting on the Pats as Super Bowl winners, now might be the time to pull the trigger. It doesn't look like their odds are going up any time soon.
Latest NFL Images
Arizona Cardinals' Melvin Fowler (50), Mike Leach (48), Larry Fitzgerald (11) and Neil Rackers, right, lead the way during sprints at afternoon practice at the NFL football team's training camp Thursday, Aug. 6, 2009, in Flagstaff, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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Arizona Cardinals' Kurt Warner warms up during afternoon practice at Cardinals NFL football training camp Thursday, Aug. 6, 2009, in Flagstaff, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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Tennessee Titans head coach Jeff Fisher instructs his team during NFL football training camp in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, Aug. 6, 2009. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
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Tennessee Titans cornerback Tyrone Poole, behind, gets one hand on wide receiver Lavelle Hawkins, front, during NFL football training camp in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, Aug. 6, 2009. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
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Tennessee Titans wide receiver Dominique Edison (19) catches a pass as he is defended by cornerback Tanard Davis, right, during NFL football training camp in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, Aug. 6, 2009. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
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Tennessee Titans secondary coach Marcus Robertson, right, talks with safety Nick Schommer during NFL football training camp in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, Aug. 6, 2009. Robertson is optimistic that the defense will make up for the free agency loss of defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
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Tennessee Titans safety Chris Hope (24), safety Michael Griffin (33), and cornerback Cortland Finnegan (31) watch teammates run a play during NFL football training camp in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, Aug. 6, 2009. The three players combined for 16 of the team's 20 interceptions last season. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
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Tennessee Titans safety Michael Griffin watches teammates during NFL football training camp in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, Aug. 6, 2009. Griffin trailed only Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed last season for most interceptions in the NFL with his career-best seven. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
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Tennessee Titans safety Chris Hope (24) watches teammates during NFL football training camp in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, Aug. 6, 2009. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
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New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin watches his players stretch during summer training camp at the University Of Albany, Thursday, August 4, 2009, in Albany, New York. (Steve Jacobs/Newsday/MCT)
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
8-06-2009 @ 8:27PM
Roy said...
When the Pats were CAUGHT cheating it was written off as a "Season of Redemption" If that had been the Colts, they would have been painted as a disgrace to football by everybody and Peyton Manning would be the poster boy for it. But since its Tom Brady everybody goes down on him and the rest of his team.
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8-06-2009 @ 8:48PM
dtenore said...
The LEAGUE sucks on Peyton Manning.
Go cry a river, you loser
8-09-2009 @ 11:36AM
Pete Hager said...
you are a hometeam idiot-learn about the game, then make educated comments. I am not a patriots fan at all, but i recognize a great team when i see one. let me guess-still sore about your team getting their asses handed to them? I don't blame you there
8-06-2009 @ 8:46PM
jm4279 said...
Patriots #1 baby!!! Bring on another SB title!!
Don't hate Roy
Reply
8-06-2009 @ 10:44PM
newnlkm said...
Payton suck's, he did his part and won a SB, Tom and Ben, they's be the one's to bet on, Eli did his part and is getting bank, but he will FADE just like his brother, good but not good enough, the new blood will be in their shoes one day and it's coming fast... The best that could happen to old QB's just happened to Warner, but Ben happened last and finished it, it's old QB's trying but never fullfilling, it's a young man's sport, right BRET!!!
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8-06-2009 @ 11:09PM
Albert S. said...
Al Davis needs to die that dumbass keeps giving good players away for nothing . We wont get sh!t from those sorry picks they should have just kept him atleast we would have gotten some production for one year instead of two picks which will end up being cut or maybe we can get a track star that couldn't catch a ball thrown to him underhanded with a pound of stickem in his hands.
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8-07-2009 @ 12:36AM
George W Bush said...
Yeah....the Pats....this years champs.....yeah.....sure......and Obama will fall in love with Michele Malkin and marry her at half time.....yeah......right
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8-07-2009 @ 2:29AM
Mike said...
LOL..."caught cheating". Again, another frikkin' moron who hasn't a clue about the game of football. There was a video camera on the sidelines! OMG!
Meanwhile, EVERY TEAM has at least 6 defensive coaches WATCHING the other team signal LIVE, in REAL TIME, RELATING THE INFORMATION WHEN IT MATTERS.
The HOME team (Jets) also has a prime camera spot in the booth, FACING the visiting team's defense, filming the signals, and saving them for later. The SAME TIME the Patriots were filming the Jets, the Jets were filming the Patriots....except the Jets were doing it from a "legal" spot.
Wake up you friggin' moron. Oh, and you want to talk about "Cheaters"? How about the Colts pumping noise into the RCA dome for years???????
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8-07-2009 @ 9:18AM
John said...
I no longer watch the NFL since it became "National Felons League". I stopped watching the Super Bowl when it went from 60 minutes of football and 90 minutes of puff to 60 minutes of football and 6 hours of puff.
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8-07-2009 @ 10:15AM
crome29 said...
Patriots #1.
8-07-2009 @ 10:16AM
Walter Ganieany said...
Roy. your name doesn't rhyme with MORON, but it should!!
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8-07-2009 @ 10:17AM
Red said...
No one can predict who is going to win the SuperBowl. It is so stupid how these idiots do this. Let's just get into the football season and enjoy the games and root for our teams. HAIL!!!!
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8-07-2009 @ 10:59AM
bigblue said...
You are 100% right RED. No one can predict. All the so called experts and armchair QB's last yr predicted Dallas to win everything and as we all know they folded like a tent....AGAIN...It's not who the best team is on paper, it's who plays the best on the field, expecially at the end when it counts. When the Pat's were 18-0 going into the Superbowl the people from BEANtown were all flapping their gums. The game is played on the field and the Pat's lost the game on the field and Brady had the grass stains on his back to prove it...Let's not put the cart before the horse just yet...
8-07-2009 @ 10:29AM
cutlassv8 said...
Peyton Manning ... you are now in
Mr. Burgess' black book. You better
get you a good pair of running shoes!!
Reply
8-07-2009 @ 10:30AM
chilco said...
Cape Verdeans and Puerto Ricans love the Patriots. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
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8-07-2009 @ 10:51AM
HEADHAWG said...
Red has it right,we have been waiting for months,now bring it on.HTTR!!!!!!!!!!!
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8-07-2009 @ 11:13AM
jdoublep1 said...
Colts and Patriots won't play in the playoffs. Look for The Eagles to win it this year. Making Vince Young look bad and making all the people who can't get off Tom Brady's jock look bad. Moss = pothead, yet parent buy his jersey for kids. Peyton Manning is the best QB in the league. Brady had Moss and couldn't close. Manning made Harrison what he was, so Moss already being the best came in to be with Brady, failed. Rodney Harrison is a great role model for kids to. Remember the SB, I believe Rodney took some cheap shots at a Cardinal.
None the less I will enjoy playing fantasy football this year.
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8-07-2009 @ 12:31PM
jfromulus said...
congradulations pats for trying to buy another super bowl. I am sick and tired of hearing about the pats since brady is comming back.
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8-07-2009 @ 1:30PM
daveintn said...
I can speak on this with an unusual perspective. I watched Manning in all of his college starts. I can say that he is a good QB, thats it. You put the least little pressure on him and he gets "happy feet", and the result is usually an interception.
The other reason my perspective is unique? I am a lifelong Patriot's fan, grew up a couple of miles from the stadium. The Patriots are a great team, this cheating crap is just that..crap. Every team did what NE does, they just got caught.
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8-07-2009 @ 3:56PM
reikilight said...
LOL ... When MY Team does it it's OK ... They didn't really cheat ... LOL ... Just like the morons in LA that are on the Manny wagon insist ... Manny doesn't JUICE!!! Isn't it hilarious that people use such hypocritical standards when they blast the other guy ... but my team and my guy are the good guys! What a fricken' JOKE! Yeah the Pat's cheated ... Yes Manny is a juicer ... and no ... the so called "experts" have no idea who will be in the playoffs ... and Yes ... Al Davis is now a senile old dreamer and should sell his interest to someone that has a clue ... it is at the organization level that the Raiders have failed at for the last ten years ... and that is because no one with any self respect will work for Al Davis.
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