East of Boston

Make The Swap, And Go Shop

The Patriots have the 7th overall pick in the NFL draft next month. They're in a unique position, as most teams who get the 7th overall pick usually blow like the Mighty North Winds.

The Patriots don't blow at all. They can afford to be Strategic. While this pick is generally used to get an immediiate starter, the only position that we need a starter at is Cornerback. The cornerbacks in the draft may not merit a #7 pick, and we may get 2 for the price of one (or a kid to mix into our aging linebacker group) by trading down for the Cowboys' two picks in the 20s.

The possibility of a blockbuster trade happening in the next 45 days is very, very real.

Boston has made some superb trades in our major sports. We've traded for:

- Larry Bird (in a draft pick sense)

- Bill Russell

- Phil Esposito

- Pedro Martinez

- Kevin McHale

- Robert Parish

- Cam Neely

- Dennis Johnson

- Ray Bourque (we traded for the draft pick we selected him with)

-  Jason Varitek

- Brad Park

But I tend to worry about these things. We'll get deep into the Patriots in some upcoming articles, but today is a history lesson, kids...

Worst Boston Sports Trades Of All Time

- The Sox trade Babe Ruth for cash and rights to a musical. No need to make this a suspenseful list, as you pretty much knew this one was winning. We needed the cash, but Ruth went on to hit 714 home runs.

-  The Bruins exchange Joe Thornton for Marco Sturm, Wayne Primeau, and Brad Stuart.... Google "worst trade in NHL history," and this comes up. The Bruins gave away the NHL MVP for nothing at all.

- Jeff Bagwell for Larry Anderson... Anderson played about 22 innings for us, then left in free agency. Bagwell had 449 home runs and 1500 RBIs. Bagwell was born in Boston, too.

- The Patriots trade down in the draft, passing up a chance to get Jerry Rice. They instead take Trevor Matich, who had a slightly less stellar career... mostly for other teams, too.

- Chauncey Billups for Kenny Anderson. Billups is the best point guard east of Chris Paul, and was NBA Finals MVP once. Anderson was later traded for Gin Baker.

- Patriots trade down in the draft again, passing on Junior Seau. Chris Slade and Ray Agnew were the haul. Seau was an All Pro for a decade.

- The Andre Miller or Shawn Marion draft pick for Vitaly Potapenko. Marion is a star player. Miller is a superb point guard. Potapenko was recently cut by Club Baloncesto Estudiantes.

- Joe Jonhson and change for Tony Delk and Rodney Rogers. That was 2002 or so...Joe Johnson is an All Star. Rogers didn't last a year with the team. Delk was later sent off to Dallas.

- Antoine Walker and Delk for Raef LaFrenz and Tony Allen. Allen is OK, but Dallas was able to turn Antoine into the far more effective Jason Terry. Raef has/had the worst contract in the NBA.

- The Patriots trade down in the draft yet again, passing on Brett Favre to select Pat Harlow and Leonard Russell.