Pats bolster D with Burgess

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Hello Derrick Burgess, and welcome to your best shot for a Super Bowl Ring. The Pats got exactly what they need yesterday when they traded "undisclosed draft picks" for DE Derrick Burgess of the Oakland Raiders. Will he play defensive end? No, he most likely will not. He will, however, be a good pass rusher from the outside linebacker position and add depth to the front 7.

While he doesn't add youth to the defense, he does add the experience and versatility that Bill Belichick loves from any player on his roster. It should also help that he's going to be heavily motivated and rejuvenated playing for a winning organization and the Super Bowl favorite New England Patriots. Burgess has spent the past four seasons in futility out in Oakland and returns to a winning franchise for the first time since leaving the Eagles in 2005.

Now don't get me wrong. He's not going to be amazing, but he is a better option at this point than both Pierre Woods, Shawn Crable or Tully Banta-Cain. I like Woods, but he's not a starter in my mind. I am intrigued by Crable, but needs to stay healthy and really doesn't have any experience. Tully Banta-Cain should be worried about being cut at this point with the addition of Burgess. Burgess does add proven pass rushing ability to a position they sorely need it from. Adalius Thomas is still a very good player as long as he's healthy.

This move does make me feel better about the defense though. The defensive secondary doesn't bother me so much because I think the front 7 will be very good and allow the secondary to mask some of their weaknesses. I guess we'll start to see next week when they Pats open up the preseason.