With the benefit of four years' hindsight, nfl.com has redone the 2008 draft and determined where players actually would have gone if teams knew then what they know now.
The Patriots? They lose Jerod Mayo, who goes to Oakland with the fourth overall pick. (The Raiders actually picked Darren McFadden.) In his place, with the 10th overall selection -- they had the 49ers' pick, remember -- they get running back Ray Rice. Rice's addition, says nfl.com, gives "the Pats a certifiable force in both the ground and air game. Rice (2,068 total yards) outgained all of New England's backs combined (1,936) in 2011".
True enough.
But would Rice clown around with Tom E. Curran on Quick Slants?