Patriots Trade Tebucky Jones to New Orleans (4/14/03)

The New England Patriots made a shocking trade today when they sent starting safety Tebucky Jones to the New Orleans Saints. Jones was one of the first round picks the Patriots got from the New York Jets in the Bill Parcells compensation trade and was an integral part of their 2001 run to Superbowl 36. Jones had a key interception against the Pittsburgh Steelers and would have been immortalized forever had the Willie McGinest holding penalty not negated his fumble recovery for a touchdown in Superbowl 36.

                                                   Tebucky in Superbowl 36

So why was he traded? The entire defense took a step back in 2002 and was one of the worst rushing defenses in the league. Tom Brady needed two comeback wins against Chicago and Miami along with an overtime kick by Adam Vinatieri against the Kansas City Chiefs not to finish 6-10 last season. Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick is cleaning house out of a lot of players that contributed to that. The Patriots made a splash in free agency signing Rosevelt Colvin from the Bears and Rodney Harrison from the San Diego Chargers. Jones was pretty much expendable with both Lawyer Milloy and Rodney Harrison on the Patriots now.

                                               Jets beat the Patriots to win the AFC East

So what did the Patriots get for Jones? The Saints sent their third and seventh round picks in this upcoming NFL Draft and a fourth round pick next season.  The Patriots as of right now have 13 picks in the upcoming draft including two firsts, a second, two thirds, two fourths. two fifths, a sixth and THREE seventh rounders. If the Patriots are going to rebuild the defense after last season's disaster, now is the time to do it. We got 12 days until the draft, who knows what will happen then.