Poor Richard (Seymour)

How much must it stink to be Richard Seymour? Think about it: he came into the league in 2001 and has played with the Patriots ever since, racking up Super Bowl wins and Pro Bowl appearances, all the while anchoring an underrated defense that seems to get it done right when it needs to happen. He gets paid a lot because he's good, and because he puts up good numbers, but because of that and his age (I would guess), he's been traded for a draft pick.

It gets worse: he has to play for the Raiders now. And not just the normal, terrible Raiders (whom teammate Randy Moss surely had a lot to say about after escaping that prison three years ago), but a Raiders team that is in heavy disarray. Their head coach was accused of punching out an assistant coach a couple weeks ago, for goodness' sake, and owner Al Davis is the symbol of an out-of-touch owner caught in a decomposing body while a decades-beyond-him league flies by.

Seymour hasn't showed up to camp yet, and I don't blame him. There should be no bad blood if he, say, offers to get paid $5 for the season and gets to stay in New England. Let's hope that's what's happening.

The one good thing going for Seymour is that Oakland's defense is actually decent, with some good players. At least there's a silver lining on that black-and-silver storm system.

OK, Patriots, not cool.

Tedy Bruschi appeared to retire by choice, but the Patriots just sold Richard Seymour down-river, trading him for a draft pick to the Raiders, of all teams. This comes months after sending Mike Vrabel to Kansas City.

Not cool, Patriots, not cool. I'm all for the team and the system and winning, but I'm sick of seeing our favorite Patriots (and the ones who were the foundation for the decade's success) sent away. Who's next, Brady?