Both Jerod Mayo and Rob Ninkovich issued statements through the Patriots on Thursday afternoon regarding the death of former New England linebacker Junior Seau:

Mayo: “I was shocked and deeply saddened when I heard the news about Junior. I spent my first two years in the NFL with him. He was so approachable and welcoming and really worked with me to help me to adjust to life in the NFL. He was a true mentor and teammate. He had a legendary NFL career and had a passion for the game that I try to emulate. This is a sad day for me. My thoughts and prayers are with him, his family and his many friends. “

Ninkovich: “I grew up watching Junior Seau play linebacker. He defined the position and I try to emulate my play on the field after his. It was an honor to play with an NFL legend. 2009 was my first year with the Patriots and when Junior came in, our lockers were right next to each other. As a veteran, he shared valuable advice with me and was a true teammate. I am deeply saddened by the loss and my thoughts and prayers go out to his family.”

Gary Guyton (AP)

When it comes to his time with the Patriots, you won’t hear a bad word from linebacker Gary Guyton. The former New Englander, who signed with the Dolphins earlier this month, held his first Q&A with the South Florida media on Tuesday, and reflected on his four seasons with the Patriots.

“I learned a lot while I was there and had a good time while I was there,” said Guyton, signed by the Patriots as an undrafted free agent out of Georgia Tech in 2008. “I learned just how to be professional and how to play the game.”

One former teammate who was sad to see Guyton go was Jerod Mayo. The two had become close over the years, and I asked him Tuesday what it would be like not to have Guyton with him on the field after they spent four years together.

“He’s been beside me for a long time now,” Mayo said. ”You see us in the locker room always chopping it up. He’s a good player. He’s moved on to another team. I hope he wins every game, except for the ones against us.”

Jerod Mayo met the media Tuesday afternoon at Gillette Stadium. (WEEI.com photo)

FOXBORO — Patriots linebacker Jerod Mayo just wrapped up a quick conversation with the media here at Gillette Stadium in between workouts. Here are a few highlights of his Q&A:

Thoughts on being back: “I’ve been good. Just happy to be back. I really didn’t go anywhere, so I’ve just been working out by myself. It’s good to get the coaches — well, the strength coaches — back working with us.”

How much time have you had to rest? “A couple weeks. I love working out and just getting ready for the next season, especially ending a disappointing season like that in the Super Bowl. You always want to get back to work and try to get better for next year.”

Is this week about moving on? “I think so, just getting the guys back together, seeing all the new faces, kind of seeing how the team is going to gel together, just building that camaraderie with these workouts.”

Any connection with the new guys? “[Donte] Stallworth is a Tennessee Vol, but not too many of the other guys. But we’re working out now, and I’m getting to know each and every one of them.”

On Trevor Scott: “He’s been around. he’s a good dude, working hard. I’m not really into taking attendance because everyone works out at different times. I’ll take attendance next time we do this. I’ll let you know who is there.”

Have you watched the Super Bowl? “I have watched it a couple times.”
Read the rest of this entry »

WEEI.com will continue to offer daily insight and analysis regarding options that may be available to the Patriots when it comes to the 2012 NFL draft. Here is one is a series of profiles of players who could be on the board when it’s time for the Patriots to make a selection.

Texas linebacker Keenan Robinson, here breaking up a pass against BYU on Sept. 10, has seen his draft stock drop. (AP)

KEENAN ROBINSON

Position: Inside linebacker

School: Texas

Height: 6-foot-3

Weight: 242 pounds

Achievements: Coaches All-Big XII second team (2011), AP All-Big XII second team (2010), Butkus Award semifinalist (2010, 2011), 2011 Holiday Bowl Defensive MVP

What he brings: A pure 4-3 linebacking prospect, the speedy Robinson projects as more of a quick, sideline-to-sideline tackler a la Jerod Mayo as opposed to a downhill, Brandon Spikes-type run stuffer. Robinson’s greatest asset is his speed, a talent that some teams project can be better utilized on the outside of a 4-3, allowing him to better roam in space. Robinson was underutilized as a blitzer while playing middle linebacker at Texas, leaving his capability as a pass rusher largely enigmatic should he move to the outside.

Robinson has a reputation for hitting with a vengeance and does a good job of bringing down ballcarriers. However, scouts have slammed his ability to fight through blocks and attack the line of scrimmage, claiming that he tends to go around blocks rather than through them. When he does go inside, Robinson is known to get swallowed up when taking on larger blockers. Despite the holes in his game, Robinson is universally identified as a high-character player and leader with solid game tape, which may be enough to outweigh the issues raised by draft experts.

Where the Patriots could get him: Rounds 3-4

Notes: Robinson came into the 2011 college season as one of the top inside linebackers in the draft, but he has fallen drastically as scouts continue to pick apart his game. In one of his early drafts last year, ESPN’s Todd McShay had Robinson going No. 23 overall. Now, though, Robinson’s stock has drifted toward the middle rounds.

The speed-reliant prospect’s performance at the combine was hit-and-miss. Robinson’s 4.79-second 40-yard dash ranked 23rd out of 29 linebackers, which could raise eyebrows when talking about a player who has such high-end game speed. Meanwhile, Robinson’s 27 reps on the bench press was in the top five at the combine for his position.

Related articles:

The Daily Texan: Keenan Robinson displaying his versatility

Endzone Report: Q&A with Texas linebacker Keenan Robinson

Stateman.com: Keenan Robinson, Emmanuel Acho give Longhorns twice as much punch at linebacker

Video: Here’s a package of Robinson’s highlights from his final game at Texas: the 2011 Holiday Bowl against Cal. Robinson recorded nine tackles in a 21-10 victory.

INDIANAPOLIS — Boston College inside linebacker Luke Kuechly was asked 20 questions by reporters Sunday, not counting how to pronounce his name and how tall he was.

Luke Kuechly won the Butkus Award as a junior. (AP)

Four of those questions were about Philadelphia, and how it seemed he was destined to be selected by the Eagles in the first round of April’s draft. The Eagles could use help at inside linebacker, they’re picking 15th overall and Kuechly is one of the best defensive prospects. To those asking the questions, it makes sense.

Yet the idea that the BC star is headed to Philadelphia at No. 15 might suggest that people have got Kuechly all wrong. It suggests they’ve got elite inside linebackers all wrong.

Players expected to go at the top of the draft fall every year — even star quarterbacks (Aaron Rodgers plummeting to the 24th pick in 2005 is probably the best example). Yet in recent years, it seems that the one player guaranteed to not slip is a star inside linebacker.

And that, from all indications, is what Kuechly is. An incredibly instinctive player who’s far more athletic than he’s given credit for, Kuechly has been compared to former Dolphins great Zach Thomas. If teams like him for what he is, he won’t fall.

Take a look at the recent years in which there’s been a star inside linebacker among the best players in the draft. There was Miami’s Jonathan Vilma in 2004, who didn’t get past the Jets at 12th overall. In 2007, Patrick Willis was held in a similarly high regard as Kuechly, and he went 11th overall. Since then, he’s been the best inside linebacker in the league. Jerod Mayo went 10th overall to the Patriots in 2008. The Raiders are known for being a little crazy with their first-round picks, but when they saw Rolando McClain as a top talent in the middle, they didn’t let him get past the eighth overall pick.

Sure, Derrick Johnson went 15th overall in 2005, but that was as an outside linebacker before the Chiefs eventually moved him inside in the 3-4. And DeMeco Ryans wasn’t considered an elite, sure-fire first-round middle linebacker in 2006, but after he went with the first pick of the second round, he proved that he should have received better consideration.

The moral of the story: If you’re an elite inside linebacker, you’ll go right around that Top 10 area. This year, a likely suitor for Kuechly is the Chiefs who pick at 11th overall. They could grab Kuechly and stick him next to Johnson. Or maybe another team will move up to secure his services, but based on recent history, one shouldn’t expect him to be available when the Eagles pick at No. 15.

“I try not to look at that stuff,” Kuechly said of the mock drafts. “I’ve heard it from different people, friends and family and other people who have been looking at that stuff, but for me, the primary concern for me right now is doing well here and taking care of business here before I can even look at that stuff.”

As for Kuechly’s resume as one of those top-tier inside linebackers, everything is there. He won the Butkus Award as the nation’s top linebacker, joining the likes of outside backer Von Miller (2011), McClain (2009) and Willis (2006), among others. Analysts rave about his football smarts, but his instincts by no means are supplement for any lack of athleticism. He also came into Indianapolis with better size than he played in at BC — Kuechly measured in at 6-foot-3 and 242 pounds after playing at 235 last season as a junior.

Kuechly has everything to make him a blue-chip inside linebacker prospect. History shows that position to be one that doesn’t generally fall in the draft, so don’t expect his wait to be long come April 26.

In the new edition of the “It Is What It Is” podcast, WEEI.com’s Christopher Price chats with former  Patriots linebacker Matt Chatham, who breaks down the New England defense, with a specific look at linebackers Brandon Spikes, Rob Ninkovich and Jerod Mayo. Chatham also gives his thoughts on the Patriots’ Super Bowl loss to the Giants and where the team goes from here. Click HERE to listen.

Vince Wilfork is our highest-rated defensive player. (AP)

With the 2011 season in the rear-view mirror — and the Patriots facing a number of key personnel decisions — it seems like a good time to break down the current 53-man roster, taking a look at who might be the most valuable members of the franchise.

We arrived at this list by considering a combination of factors, including overall ability, positional versatility, expectations, contract situation and place on the depth chart. We also looked at what might be best described as intangibles — loosely defined as a mixture of clubhouse character and willingness to work. In all, it helped us determine the overall value of each player within the Patriots system.

A quick note: The 53 players were taken straight from New England’s postseason media guide, the most up-to-date listing available. That means injured players such as Andre Carter, Mike Wright, Jermaine Cunningham, Dan Koppen and Ras-I Dowling, as well as practice squadders, are not included for purposes of this exercise.

We started with No. 53 through No. 26. Here’s No. 25 through No. 1:

25. Punter Zoltan Mesko: A borderline Pro Bowler, Mesko had an excellent year and was singled out earlier this season by an NFL scout we spoke with who acknowledged his work when it came to helping the Patriots win the battle of field position, especially early in games when New England was struggling to score points. Should be one of the best in the league for years to come.

24. Defensive back Sterling Moore: Released by the Raiders in September, he ended up playing significant minutes down the stretch and into the postseason. He made what was likely the defensive play of the year when he knocked the ball out of the hands of Baltimore’s Lee Evans in the AFC championship game. Regardless of what the Patriots do in free agency or the draft, he has played his way into the regular rotation of defensive backs going forward.

23. Tackle Sebastian Vollmer: It was a lost season for the big German, who struggled with back and foot issues for much of the season. Presuming that left tackle Matt Light will return as the starting left tackle in 2012, Vollmer will face a fight for his starting job next year at the right tackle spot with Nate Solder.

22. Kicker Stephen Gostkowski: A very good year for Gostkowski, who remains one of the more steady and consistent kickers in the league.

21. Defensive lineman Kyle Love: Love is likely the best and most consistent young defensive lineman on the roster. He played roughly half the snaps for the Patriots this season at the defensive tackle spot, and gained a wealth of knowledge playing much of the season alongside Vince Wilfork. It will be interesting to watch his progression into 2012, especially with a lockout-free offseason.

20. Wide receiver Deion Branch: He’s not the receiver he once was, but he maximizes the tools that are still at his disposal, including his smarts, his knowledge of the game and his relationship with Tom Brady. Prior to a couple of ill-timed drops in the Super Bowl, he still showed a knack for coming up big in big moments. A free agent, he’s one of the really intriguing decisions the Patriots face this offseason.

19. Running back Stevan Ridley: An interesting rookie year — he showed genuine flashes of greatness at times, running the ball for 5.1 yards per carry with real explosiveness. But there were a couple of fumbles late in the season, which ultimately meant that an occasionally promising year ended on something of a sour note. With a good offseason (lockout-free), he could push BenJarvus Green-Ellis for the role of lead back in 2012.

18. Defensive end Mark Anderson: One of the pleasant free agent surprises of 2012 (along with Andre Carter and Brian Waters), Anderson saw his role expand over the course of the season from that of a pure third-down pass rusher to a more complete defender. He’s not quite a complete three-down player yet in the New England system, but certainly progressed over the course of the season. Like Carter, his better-than-expected performance on a one-year deal will leave the Patriots with a decision to make at the start of free agency.

17. Tackle Nate Solder: The Patriots’ Rookie of the Year, he had a very good rookie season, working as a right and left tackle, a part-time tight end as well as getting reps on special teams. (According to Pro Football Focus, he was eighth on the offense in total snaps with 1,044, more than veterans like Dan Connolly, Deion Branch and BenJarvus Green-Ellis.) He struggled in the Super Bowl, but will almost certainly push Vollmer for the starter’s job at right tackle in 2012.

16. Running back Danny Woodhead: An up-and-down season for Woodhead, but when he was on, it was clear he’s emerged as a mostly positive heir to Kevin Faulk as the teams’ third-down/changeup back. (He’s not the blocker Faulk is, but has shown himself to be a statistical equal in several other areas.) Woodhead had a very good Super Bowl, and stands ready to be an integral part of the New England offense going forward.

15. Cornerback Devin McCourty: A mixed bag this season for McCourty, who struggled mightily in coverage over the first half of the season but did show some improvement over the second half, returning to his old physical self. He flashed some versatility late in the regular season and into the playoffs with a move to safety on third down and other passing situations, and he didn’t appear overwhelmed when he made the switch. Like Julian Edelman, he’ll bear watching in minicamps and other OTA’s when it comes to where he lines up. What the Patriots ultimately decide to do with him could have a sizable impact on the rest of the secondary.
Read the rest of this entry »