Bill Belichick Just Wanted to ‘F—k the Jets’ With Steelers Trade
PITTSBURGH -- The New York Jets were the victim of an unlikely alliance forged between the New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers forged on draft night.
According to NFL executives who spoke with The Washington Post under the condition of anonymity, the Jets were targeting Georgia offensive tackle Broderick Jones with the 15th overall pick and the Patriots, who picked at No. 14 right ahead of them, knew that. So New England general manager and head coach Bill Belichick executed a trade with the Steelers to help them leapfrog the Jets and take Jones for themselves. Belichick asked for just a fourth-round pick to exchange picks with Pittsburgh and some around the league believe he took a lesser return for the team's original pick just so someone would take Jones before the Jets did.
“They should have had to give up a [third-round pick] and not a four to move up there,” one NFL general manager said. “Belichick did it just to f–k the Jets. He sold low because he knew the Steelers were going to take the kid the Jets wanted to take.”
The Patriots have been the hammer to the Jets' nail since Belichick took over as head coach in 2000 and his dislike for the AFC East rival is well-known around the league. Belichick likely knew Jones was the last of this draft class' elite tackle prospects left after Paris Johnson, Peter Skoronski and Darnell Wright had all been taken within the first 11 picks and saw an opportunity to sneak one over New York.
“Bill will try to screw them over any chance he gets,” another NFL personnel executive said. “He knew exactly what he was doing.”
Everything worked out for the Steelers and Patriots - Pittsburgh got Jones, New England got corner Christian Gonzalez, once thought to be a top-10 talent, and a fourth-round pick - while the Jets missed on adding an offensive tackle to protect new starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers. They settled for Iowa State edge rusher Will McDonald and Wisconsin center Joe Tippman in the first and second rounds.
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