FOXBORO -- In a bombshell of a move that comes one day after roster cuts, the Patriots have traded Richard Seymour to the Oakland Raiders for a 2011 first-round draft pick.
Seymour, 29, has been a stalwart on the Patriots’ defensive line and in the lockerroom since he was drafted in the first round – sixth overall -- out of the University of Georgia in 2001. He was one of the feature players in the team’s run to three Super Bowl titles this decade.
“From nearly the day he arrived in 2001, Richard Seymour established himself as one of our premier players for nearly a decade,” said Patriots coach Bill Belichick in a statement. “His presence has been felt as a force on the field, a respected man off it and a multi-year champion.
Any transaction we make is with the goal of what is best for our team and, as difficult as it is to part ways with a player of Richard’s stature, many factors were taken into account when we considered this trade,” Belichick continued. “As an organization, we feel the trade with Oakland brings sufficient value and is in the long-term interest of the club. We are extremely grateful for the huge impact Richard’s elite level of performance had on our success and we wish him the very best during the rest of his career.”
Seymour was named All-Pro three times and also made five Pro Bowl squads. The 6-foot-6, 310-pounder had 52 tackles and eight sacks a year ago, playing in 15 of the team’s 16 games. Just the year before, he had only played nine games.
In all, Seymour totaled 460 tackles, including 256 solo stops, with 39 sacks. His 39 sacks rank 10th in franchise history
Seymour was in the final year of his contract, and, with Vince Wilfork in a similar situation, it was not guaranteed that the team would have extended it.
Boston Herald...
Seymour, 29, has been a stalwart on the Patriots’ defensive line and in the lockerroom since he was drafted in the first round – sixth overall -- out of the University of Georgia in 2001. He was one of the feature players in the team’s run to three Super Bowl titles this decade.
“From nearly the day he arrived in 2001, Richard Seymour established himself as one of our premier players for nearly a decade,” said Patriots coach Bill Belichick in a statement. “His presence has been felt as a force on the field, a respected man off it and a multi-year champion.
Any transaction we make is with the goal of what is best for our team and, as difficult as it is to part ways with a player of Richard’s stature, many factors were taken into account when we considered this trade,” Belichick continued. “As an organization, we feel the trade with Oakland brings sufficient value and is in the long-term interest of the club. We are extremely grateful for the huge impact Richard’s elite level of performance had on our success and we wish him the very best during the rest of his career.”
Seymour was named All-Pro three times and also made five Pro Bowl squads. The 6-foot-6, 310-pounder had 52 tackles and eight sacks a year ago, playing in 15 of the team’s 16 games. Just the year before, he had only played nine games.
In all, Seymour totaled 460 tackles, including 256 solo stops, with 39 sacks. His 39 sacks rank 10th in franchise history
Seymour was in the final year of his contract, and, with Vince Wilfork in a similar situation, it was not guaranteed that the team would have extended it.
Boston Herald...
