I Am Not an Idiot, Part 367

OK, it looks like it is time for me to break out the PR machinery again, to educate the populace on why I did what I did. In no particular order, let me attempt to explain:

First of all, this was NOT a trade where Craig called me and I said OK. There was considerable back and forth on both parts. In the end, we came up with a deal that both of us could live with.

For me, keep in mind, this trade is about next year. I don't give a shit about this year, I'm done. Yes, Parker is good - 60-70 dollars good - but, I think his ceiling has been reached. What you see is as good as it gets.

By contrast, Maroney's ceiling is, I think, a lot higher. Of all the RBs picked in the draft this year, I think his ceiling is the highest. Higher than Joseph Addai, higher than Reggie Bush, all of them. Right now the only real issue left is that Corey Dillon is still there, and that Corey Dillon still has something left in the tank. As such, with the Patriots in the hunt, it is foolish to expect that Maroney is going to get all of the playing time now. But, what he has gotten, he has done exceedingly well.

And this is where my being a Patriots fan pays dividends. I watch the Patriots, a lot, so I know that Dillon, while he has played well this season, is getting close to the end of the line. I know that, even though he had some great runs last week against the Jets that he would be gassed for almost a series after that. As such, Maroney is always going to get an opportunity to shine there.

Also the Patriots ALWAYS have an offensive line. Bill Belichick knows that, if your offensive line is solid, even hacks can rack up good and productive stats. How much could Maroney do behind this line?

Additionally, there is some question what Parker's future in Pittsburgh will be. He will do well, but what if Bill Cowher goes (as is the hot rumor right now) and the new coach wants to go in a different direction, just because? Would Parker play as prominent a role? Again, probably, but maybe not. Would the Steelers bring on someone to split the carries with Parker? It's not like they haven't been trying, i.e., bringing in Najeh Davenport to get the goal line carries. Anyway, it is just enough to wonder.

For my part, I have watched Maroney run, and I am sold. He is solid, he is big, he is the real deal. And that is why I did this. The extra year and the extra $4 for next year, and that I get to see him during home games, are just icing. Oh, and the fans - they love him. Up in Foxboro there are plenty of Maroney #39 jerseys (and, coming soon, the new P. Garofalo #41 jersey). Don't think that doesn't matter (and yes I know that there have been Andy Katzenmoyer jersey sightings, even now.)

Not least of all, as Sports Guy has said, the only reason that Maroney is not the go-to back now, is because Dillon would submarine the entire season, poisoning the clubhouse. I have to believe there is at least some truth to that, even though Belichick is the same guy that benched Bernie Kozar for Vinny Testaverde, to the outrage of Browns Nation (even though Kozar did not poison the Browns' clubhouse like Dillon might).

As far as what else I could get from you guys. I have enough mediocre question marks at QB, I don't need any more. There are some decent WRs out there, but WRs are like closers, they come and they go. Platooning fad nowithstanding, you do win in this league with RBs, and I think I can win with Maroney. And if I am as good as I think I will be next year, I will be able to move Maroney for a hell of a lot more than I could move Parker for!

Bottom line: if Maroney was the go-to guy in Foxboro right now, no one would be bitching about this trade. Everyone would see it the way I see it, the way Craig sees it. And it says here that, by the end of the season, it will become apparent why I made this trade. This is more than good enough for me: I just want to be happy with it on Draft Day 2007. And I think I will be.