Straight from the Sports Desk: The Rich Get Richer

When the San Francisco 49ers traded their 2008 first-round draft pick to the New England Patriots last year to grab Joe Staley, they did so without a second thought.

The Crimson and Gold was coming off a 7-9 season and improving upon that was first and foremost, hence the trade to land an anchor on the offensive line as Staley. What would a first-round pick really be worth if the team were able to finish .500 or better.

When they say hindsight is 20/20, boy did they mean it in this case.

San Francisco sits at a pretty 4-10.

New England on the other hand is in the pursuit of perfection at 14-0 and are one of the favorites to take home the Super Bowl title this year.

When you think about it though, even if the Pats don't go 16-0, lose in the playoffs, not win the Big Dance, they're still winners. And they have San Fran to thank for that.

It's almost a foregone conclusion Bill Belichick's crew will not only be celebrating another championship, but hard at work scouting what will be a top-5 draft pick.

How unfair is that? A team that runs roughshod over the league gets its greedy mitts on a potential superstar come April. Remember the whole "Spy-gate" thing? When NFL commish Roger Goodell said the Pats would lose a first-round draft pick this year if they made the playoffs? That all became irrelevant once the Niners took a nose dive towards NFL oblivion.

Come April, college studs like Glenn Dorsey (LSU's mammoth defensive lineman), Jake Long (Michigan's people mover at offensive tackle), Chris Long (Virginia's own Howie Long -- yes, the Long's are Howie's sons), or -- what appears to be the most anticipated collegiate star Arkansas running back Darren McFadden -- could walk up to the podium and flash a New England jersey to the crowd.

Just when you thought the Patriots had enough weapons, come April, they'll potentially have one more warhead to add to the arsenal.

It's similar to Microsoft mogul Bill Gates hitting the super jackpot in the lottery, the rich keep on getting richer.

Then there's the possibility of New England listening to every single bidder for their top-5 pick in the draft. From all indications, the Cowboys appear to be the most interested in McFadden, and if the Patriots are smart -- which they are -- they'll ask for a king's ransom when it comes to potential trade talks for the pick.

Either way, New England makes out like a bandit. San Francisco, on the other hand, could use that pick they so effortlessly gave away last year.

This could go down as the most genius move in the NFL for the Pats. It's just another piece of the puzzle for New England. A puzzle towards an almost unstoppable dynasty. And unfortunately for them, the 49ers may be remembered for a long, long time, as the team that gave the Pats they key to league dominance.

Comments

Given the Patriots haven't won a Super Bowl for a couple of seasons now, I assume "unstoppable dynasty" means you think they've already won this season's championship. I know a few AFC teams that might have something to say about that, including one in California.

But you are right about the 49ers....fading away into oblivion and ensuring they remain there because of bad draft-day decisions.

Posted by: Andrew Bird | December 20, 2007 01:56 PM

You forgot one thing. The 49'ers got Joe Staley with the Patriots 1st round pick in that trade.

It's something everyone forgets when they point out what may be the worst trade the NFL has ever seen.

Staley has had a very good rookie year. He could very well be one of the best NFL tackles in another season or four. Bottom line, you just don't know.

As for the 49'ers fading into obscurity -- did you just notice? Kinda been that way for awhile now, but thank you for finally arriving at the party (or wake).

Posted by: Bill Bird | December 20, 2007 02:16 PM

The worst trade the NFL has ever seen? No, not even close. Here are three worse that come to mind:

Minnesota trading 8 draft picks, including three 1st rounders and three second rounders, to Dallas for Herschel Walker in 1989

The Saints trading away their entire draft, plus the following year's 1st and 3rd rounders, to the Redskins to acquire Ricky Williams in 1999.

The NY Giants trading Philip Rivers plus three or four draft picks, including the following year's 1st-rounder, to the Chargers for Eli Manning in 2004.

Posted by: Andrew Bird | December 20, 2007 02:28 PM

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