“I don’t know that what [Umenyiora] does really fits with the Patriots,” NESN.com Patriots reporter Jeff Howe said Tuesday morning on Toucher and Rich. “Obviously, he would fill that pass rushing need that everybody wants, but I don’t know if Bill Belichick wants that elite pass rusher. I don’t know why, but it goes with his track record.”
The Giants are reportedly asking for a first-round pick in exchange for Umenyiora, a two-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro.
Howe recently noted that only two players — Tully Banta-Cain and Mike Vrabel — have reached double digits in sacks during Belichick’s tenure in New England. It’s also interesting that the Patriots twice traded picks in the 2009 draft, when they could have selected Clay Matthews, instead opting for safety Patrick Chung.
“From that position, he’s never gotten that guy who’s been able to consistently generate double-digit sacks,” Howe said on Toucher and Rich. “They don’t spend the resources.”
He noted that when Belichick did spend for an elite pass rusher, it backfired both times. Rosevelt Colvin suffered a bizarre hip injury, while Adalius Thomas had attitude issues that festered in his time in New England.
Howe also discussed the rumored Patriots offer to Randy Moss, the potential of Albert Haynesworth and the possibility of the Pats acquiring Matt Roth. Listen to his appearance in the audio player below, or by clicking here.
