As I expected, the Pats won’t spend two 1st round picks to move up and get a RB in the draft. Instead they traded this year’s 2nd round pick for Cinnci RB Corey Dillion. They’ll regret that move before training camp is over and Dillion isn’t worth a 2nd rounder, especially not to the Pats.

On top of overpaying with their 2nd round draft pick, the Pats will overpay in cash, as well; a highly surprising move. Dillon, who even as a full time starter can’t be counted on for more than 1,200 yards, will make over $3 million dollars each of the next two seasons. Is a guy who is almost 30 (the magic number for RBs) and who hasn’t broken the 1,500 yard mark a single time in his career really worth $3 mil per year? No way.

Dillion is the worst possible signing for the Pats. Not only has he shown only sporadic greatness over the course of his career, but last year he couldn't even beat out the no name RB (ok, ok, he has a name; Rudi Johnson) who eventually replaced him.

Dillon had some great games, but, again, tell me how many great SEASONS he's had. I'll give you a hint: It's a number that is less than one.

More importantly, Dillon is a headcase and a viral infection, exactly NOT the kind of player that fits with the Patriots team-first concept.

The Pats had a two man committee ( Kevin Faulk and Antowain Smith) at RB last year. They got rid of Smith already this offseason. So the signing of Dillion doesn't mean they suddenly have a feature back, it means Kevin Faulk now knows who he’ll be sharing carries with.

Don’t believe me? Here’s what Bill Belichick said:

“Corey joins Kevin Faulk and our other very good backs to deepen an already competitive running back position,”

He's not one standing above the crowd, he's just one IN a crowd.

Maybe, as Jeff thinks, Dillion will simply be phased out if he’s the troublemaker I believe him to be.

But, you can bet that Dillon expects to be the feature back. Reality is that he's already phased out by having to share carries. He may have been promised the "opportunity" to be the "starter", but he doesn't have enough left in him to effectively carry the full load.

Then there’s the situation with Ty Law. Some of you may share a belief that because Law was arrested, that he will get the boot over it.

Hold on a minute. It isn't like Belichick is big on character. If he was, he would never has signed Dillon. Law hasn’t killed anyone or been busted for dope -- they didn't even get rid of him when he WAS found with dope. He was jacked up for being a jerk, and that can't be news to anyone in N.E..

While I don't think the Pats WILL get rid of Law, I think (and have since his contract nonsense came up) that they SHOULD.

First they had the problems with Malloy being crapped on, and all of that manure being spread over the team as he expressed his displeasure, last season.

Then came Law who continues to spread his own doodoo.

Now they have a very selfish Dillon coming in.

The Pats can afford this kind of thing less than any other team. They're built on the united performance of fair to good talent. They have no real superstars, unless you want to count Brady. They can't keep taking hits to that unity, and to team morale, and continue to perform at a high level.

That is also the primary reason I see them suffering a relative slump this season – combined with a mild case of Vermeil Syndrom (too much time sitting on their hands during FA). That they have already twice overpayed for Dillion also hints that the system itself may be fraying and the Pats’ decline may be faster and more severe than even I am predicting.