Plot thickens as draft approaches

CLEVELAND -- One Monday closer to the draft, and in this morning's issue, here are the headlines:

�€� Another chapter for Bill Belichick's new book, Why I Hate That Team in New York I Never Refer to By Name.

�€� I'm not going to trust the smoke signals coming out of Kansas City in the next 12 days, and neither should you.

�€� Why GMs and coaches could be under additional pressure in draft rooms this year.

�€� Meet your new right tackle, Dolfans. Or ...

�€� In my Stat of the Week, an argument why Bill Parcells absolutely, positively, will pick a defensive player to kick off the 2008 draft -- and his legitimate refuting of said argument.

Item 1: This draft is going to have some real intrigue. In the 12 days between today and the first two rounds, I expect not only that Miami draft czar Parcells will control the lives of those hoping to be the first-overall pick -- which has gotten much print and airtime in the last few days -- but also that there will be some major behind-the-scenes gnashing of teeth between the Jets and Patriots

And all you Kansas City fans, pay attention. Your ball club is very much a part of this story too.

The Jets pick sixth in the first round. The Patriots pick seventh. Let me tell you a story about the last time New England picked directly behind the Jets high in a draft. It was 2001. New England held the 50th pick, New York the 49th. The Patriots very much wanted Purdue tackle Matt Light in the second round, but worried that the Jets might want Light too. New England personnel chief Scott Pioli called Light with the draft at the 47th pick and asked if he'd heard from any other teams recently. "Yeah,'' Light said. "I've got the Jets on the other line.'' Pioli thanked him, hung up, and the Patriots called the Lions, at 48, and swapped picks, giving Detroit a sixth-rounder in return. New England ended up with Light, who went on to become a three-time Super Bowl starter at left tackle. New York picked running back LaMont Jordan

Now, when this story has been discussed over the years, the Jets have been quick to say they wouldn't necessarily have taken Light. (To which I say, "Maybe.'' Or "Yeah, right. And Joe Namath took knitting classes every night in Manhattan.'')