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| A Word from The Writer: The Monday Analysis - 9 May 2005 - Special Draft & Mini Camps Edition Spring is here. Well, according to the calendar anyway. And we have ourselves some new draft rookies! But first, we're keeping a few players. Brady, Pats Agree to Extension As reported by the Associated Press, two-time Super Bowl MVP Tom Brady agreed to a six-year, $60 million contract extension to keep him a Patriot through the 2010 season. The deal includes a $14 million signing bonus with a $12 million option bonus next spring. The extension finally keeps him in line with his accomplishments - three Super Bowl titles - and with his others contemporaries - like Peyton Manning. Brady was slated to earn base salaries of $5.5 million in 2005 and $6 million next year. His cap number put him well beyond $8 million in 2005. According to sources from ESPN.com, Brady's salary breakdown is as follows:
The base salaries are:
"It's a good thing they got it done," Super Bowl XXXIX MVP WR Deion Branch told the Associated Press. "It would be good to keep everyone together. We know he'll be here, though." "I know that when I signed my deal a couple of years ago it was a darn good deal," Brady remarked at this year's Super Bowl. "I feel good about the team's commitment and I think they feel good about what I have done for this team and this organization. Hopefully I'll be with the Patriots for a very long time." Brady is the former sixth round, 199th overall pick and fourth string quarterback who took over for former first round pick Drew Bledsoe after an injury and led the Patriots to their first Super Bowl title. Then he did again twice in the next three seasons. Brady is 57-14 as a starter and holds a 9-0 playoff record. In his four years in the NFL, Brady has thrown for 13,925 yards for 97 touchdowns and 52 interceptions. Dillon Added to the Long-Term Mix The Patriots signed running back Corey Dillon to a contract extension, extending his stay with the Patriots for five years at $25 million. The new deal gets Dillon $10 million over the next two seasons, with options kicking in for 2007 to earn him over $25 million. The agreement also helped the Patriots get below the salary cap. "They stepped up and took care of him, even though he's on the wrong side of 30," agent Steve Feldman said. "This deal allows him to end his career as a Patriot." Dillon turns 31 in October, but experienced the best numbers of his career last season with the Patriots, rushing 1,635 and 12 TDs, with missing one game. He also scored one touchdown on a reception. He saw his first action in the playoffs after playing in the NFL for eight seasons, and was elected to the Pro Bowl. 2005 Draft Below is the breakdown of your 2005 First Round Draft picks. The New England Patriots picked up 7 players in the draft:
Charts courtesy of SI.com. The Patriots traded several of their picks over the two days and moved draft resources to 2006. Here's what happened. The Patriots traded their second round pick (64th overall) to the Ravens for a 3rd round, 84 overall (choosing Ellis Hobbs, CB, Iowa State), a 6th round, 195th overall (traded to Packers), and 3rd round in 2006. They then traded their 6th round, 195 overall and 7th round, 246th overall picks to Green Bay for a 6th round, 175th overall pick. The 6th round, 175 overall pick was traded to Oakland for a seventh round 230 pick (choosing Matt Cassel, QB, Southern California) and a 5th rounder in 2006. Other notable drafts: Maurice Clarett was chosen by the Denver Broncos in the final pick of Day 1 in the third round. Former Heisman trophy winner Jason White was not drafted. Patriots News Linebacker Chad Brown agreed to a two year deal with the Patriots worth...The Patriots signed former Patriots QB Doug Flutie to a one-year deal. Flutie last played for the Patriots approximately four owners and seven head coaches ago in the late 1980s...The Patriots signed eighth overall pick in the 2001 draft David Terrell, who was released by Chicago in March. Terrell is reunited with another former Michigan Wolverine Tom Brady, and at 6'3" is now Brady's biggest target...Tedy Bruschi and Richard Seymour helped throw out the first pitches on opening day at Fenway Park. Bruschi worn a Terry Francona jersey in tribute to the ailing Sox manager who spent a few days in a New York hospital after experiencing chest pains... League Notes "Fred EX" is now just Ex in Philly. The Eagles released WR Freddie Mitchell...The Redskins released QB Tim Hassellbeck...The Redskins also reached a contract agreement with WR Santana Moss. Details are not available...Terrell Owens skipped Eagles Mini-camp citing contract disagreements towards the 7-year, $49 million deal he signed last season...Chicago Signed free agent wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad and released former first round pick David Terrell. Pats Meet Prez - Again If it's spring, it must be the annual visit to the Rose Garden for the Patriots. For the third time in four years, the New England Patriots owners, players,
and coaches met with The team visited Walter Reed Naval Hospital prior to going to the White House, visiting with wounded soldiers back from Iraq and Afghanistan. Special teams linebacker Larry Izzo returned from the middle east recently after touring with the Pat Tillman USO. Armstrong to Retire after Tour Lance Armstrong has announced that he will retire from professional cycling
immediately following his attempt at a seventh straight Tour de France title
in July. Armstrong made that announcement this spring following new allegations from a former personal assistant, Mike Anderson, who claims that he found performance-enhancing drugs in Armstrong's hotel room during the last tour. Armstrong, who has never tested positive for performance enhancing drugs in his cycling career, countersued, stating the claims were false. "I have to tell you I am 100 percent committed and the decision is final," he said at the press conference. And the Tour de France will be his last race. Armstrong looks to win a seventh straight victory. His sixth straight broke the record. "It will be the last one, win or lose," the 33-year-old Texan said. "While it is an older man's race, it's not an old man's race." Armstrong signed a two-year deal with his new team sponsor The Discovery Channel, which stipulates he races one more Tour de France. After this year, Armstrong will serve as an "advisor and ambassador" to the team. The Monday Analysis will of course keep you up on the Tour info during July. Coming Soon! The Return of the Monday Analysis The Monday Analysis returns full-time starting July 3rd with division breakdowns, team by team! Catch all the action, gear up for training camp, and get ready for the '05 season!
Top Ten List of the Week 1. Happy Mother's Day to all moms! 2. Congratulations to Tom Brady on the well deserved payday. Nice job Pats. 3. And congratulations to Corey Dillon as well, who might get to retire a Patriot. 4. It's hard to get old, and as Lance Armstrong said at his retirement press conference that all athletes get old. Armstrong will be missed in cycling. 5. I like the Logan Mankins drafting. This guy is Rodney Harrison plus one hundred pounds - and plays offense. He creams defensive ends like they were small children. 6. Anyone surprised to see that Ty Law doesn't have a new home yet? 7. Continue to get well, Tedy Bruschi! 8. Yankees are in dead last place. And Steinbrenner's horse flunked the Kentucky Derby. Aw! 9. The Patriots are having another nice off season. Keep the train rolling! 10. Just barely three and a half months until training camp! ejh9 May 2005 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Writer
President Bush in a short and small ceremony. The
President was presented with a game jersey baring the traditional "BUSH 1"
name and number by Patriots owner and chairman Robert Kraft. Head Coach Bill
Belichick presented the President with a Super Bowl commemorative game ball,
and a grey Belichick-style Patriots sweatshirt with the initials "GWB"
stitched on the front. "As leader of the world," Belichick said, "we want you
to be out front in style."