Bill Belichick Sabotages The New York Jets’ Draft Plan
You'd think his vendetta would've subsided by now... but clearly, you'd be wrong.
Those who know me best are well aware that I make no apologies about my love of, or appreciation for, vengeful spite.
I already might have the world’s worst poker face, and people close to me have often said that when I don’t like someone, that sentiment basically seeps out of my pores. At this point in my life, I’m completely comfortable with that; I’d rather loathe you to your face that present false pleasantries. And if the object of my true disdain happens to fall on less-than-fortunate circumstances, I basically approach the schadenfreude like it’s an afternoon matinee, watching it unfold with a bucket of popcorn and a cold beverage of choice1.
So with all of that said: watching what Bill Belichick did in the first round of the Draft was both worthy of a slow clap and warmed my cold & unforgiving heart at the same time.
Sitting at #14 overall, the New England Patriots used their intel to not only move back a couple of spots and still get the guy they were pleasantly surprised to see available when they picked (cornerback Christian Gonzalez from the University of Oregon), but also totally screw over the New York Jets—an organization whom Bill Belichick still has no love lost—in the process.
Belichick knew that the Jets were targeting offensive tackle Broderick Jones from the University of Georgia2, and thus hoping Jones would fall to their pick at #15 overall. So when the Patriots were on the clock at #14, the Pittsburgh Steelers (sitting at #17) called with interest in swapping spots with New England. As soon as Belichick figured out that the Steelers wanted Jones, and that they could facilitate a deal that would give Jones to Pittsburgh (thereby preventing the Jets from getting him), he authorized the deal.
To make matters even better for New England: Belichick helping the Steelers steal Jones away from the Jets not only deprived New York of the guy they really wanted, but also put the Jets in a position in which their primary (Jones) and fallback (Jahmyr Gibbs) targets were both off the board already—which is why lots of people believe the Jets made a “panic pick” by taking edge rusher Will McDonald from Iowa State3.
As mentioned, the proverbial icing on the cake was the fact that New England was still able to snag Gonzalez even after moving back to #17, knowing that Jets likely wouldn’t take a cornerback after picking Sauce Gardner last year, and Washington (at #16) was locked in on a different cornerback (Emmanuel Forbes).
All in all, Belichick put on a master class in pulling a dick move against a hated division rival while still securing one of the best prospects in the Draft. Just when I thought a prominent member of a Boston sports team couldn’t be any more despicable, they go and do something like this…. and TOTALLY REDEEM THEMSELF! (in my eyes, anyway) ■.
Despite everything you’ve read, I promise I’m not a sociopath.
This became increasingly common knowledge by Draft day. Peter King mentioned it on the Monday prior to the Draft, and Dane Brugler, Todd McShay, and Ben Standig all had the Jets picking Broderick Jones in their final Mock Drafts.
We may not ever find out if he was a panic pick, or if the Jets truly did have Will McDonald on their short list of targets at #15 overall. But for whatever it’s worth, the Jets did walk out of the first round having taken a guy I had ranked as my #8 overall player in this Draft.