FanPost

When Gene calls, you answer.

In light of our recent competence at the General Manager position, I've decided now would be as good a time as any to reflect on some of our past misfortunes. I thought I'd share a little story of a late April night in Jacksonville, Florida that greatly influenced our team, and the NFL, as we know it today.

It was the second night of the 2009 NFL Draft, the New England Patriots were on the clock with the 73rd pick, one of the selections they acquired from Green Bay in the first round. Our beloved Jaguars had just drafted a 320-pound defensive tackle with a belly full of pot roast with the prior selection. Then, the phone rings.

Bill Belichick uncharacteristicly grins from ear to ear before letting out a little giggle, then he leans over to Robert Kraft and whispers "watch this, Bob". He answers the phone and says "hey Gene, what can I Do for you, pal?" To which Gene Smith drunkenly replies "Bill, you know how I just took that big hunk from Temple? Well, I got my eye on another stud from a different powerhouse and I just have to have him."

Belichick then quickly covers the phone so everyone in the room can have a good laugh. He then puts the phone back to his ear and says "well, that's gonna cost you, Gene. I can't simply let you have this pick, and you don't have another pick in this round, so you'll have to get creative." Smith takes a hard pull of peach schnapps from his flask and ponders. "Well Bill" he says "I would offer up my fourth rounder, but there's a speedy little fella from out in Arizona that I'm gonna pick with that one, he's the final piece to the puzzle that's gonna help us kick your ass in the playoffs this year. My rebuild only needs one draft."

At this point, Belichick has signaled everyone into the room to laugh at the lunatic on the other end of the call. "Well Gene, I think I have an idea that will work for everyone. Since your team is clearly built for a championship run this year, you won't need any of your draft picks next year. How about you toss me a second-round pick in 2010, which will more than likely turn out to be pick 64, and I'll give you our current pick." Belichick suggests. Smith then looks around the room and gives a thumbs up. Then replies to Belichick "well, that's awfully kind of you, Bill. I don't know, it just doesn't seem fair though, I'm getting a shutdown corner and you're getting a measly second round pick that you won't even get to use until next year? I'll tell you what, buddy, why don't I go ahead and throw in my seventh round pick that I got from the Dolphins, too. Like I said, my team is built and if you want any chance of contending with us, you need all the help you can get this year."

The entire Patriots staff is in awe of what just transpired, even the towel boy is shaking his head in disbelief. Belichick, trying not to crack up, says "well, I appreciate your generosity, Gene, we obviously won't be able to compete with you guys, but I'll take every pick I can get. Sounds like we have a deal." As he hangs up the phone and puts in the call that he has traded the pick, Belichick looks over at Robert Kraft, who is now on the floor, laughing uncontrollably, and just winks.

Meanwhile, Smith is fist bumping his way around the war room chanting "Cox! Cox! Cox!" Jack Del Rio is in the corner banging his head against the wall asking the Football Gods "why me? What the hell did I do to deserve this" Gene Smith turns in the card. With the 73rd pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars select Derek Cox, cornerback, from William and Mary University.

The Next three rounds go by, the Patriots are on the clock with the seventh round pick Gene Smith so graciously gave them. In order to pay homage to Gene Smith, Belichick knows he can't select any players from a Power Five conference. So he says "what the hell, lets get that quarterback from Kent State. I'll stick him in the slot, if Welker can do it, I'm sure he can." With the 232nd pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, the New England Patriots select Julian Edelman, wide receiver, from Kent State.

Fast forward to next season, the Patriots went 10-6 and made the playoffs, the Jags went 7-9 and did not. The second round of the 2010 NFL Draft rolls around, and the Oakland Raiders are on the clock with the 42nd overall pick. Belichick thinks of Gene Smith for a second and smiles. He decides that he too should take a pass-catcher from Arizona, just as Smith did the year prior. So he makes a call to Raiders owner Al Davis, but that's a story for a whole other day. The Patriots use the Jaguars pick to trade up with Oakland. With the 42nd pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, the New England Patriots select Rob Gronkowski, tight end, from Arizona.

So the moral of the story is, when Gene calls, you answer.

FanPosts do not necessarily reflect the views of the authors of Big Cat Country or SB Nation.