Of particular note was his contention players are no longer going to take hometown discounts to play in New England. They won't agree to shorter money for the greater good of the team and the hope of winning a championship.

``I think with that situation there are a lot of guys that are coming up that are going to need to be paid,'' Hobbs said. ``I think it has kind of moved from that echelon where there is a lot of guys out there who are not going to take the (bottom) dollar for the win. Guys really want to get what they deserve and each one of those guys that are coming up in the next year or so deserve every dollar they are going to get.'' Will that truly be the case? In the past, players have made concessions to play here. Tom Brady isn't the NFL's highest-paid quarterback. Randy Moss didn't insist on top dollar. Tedy Bruschi always has agreed to less.

But is Hobbs right? Has the thinking changed? Will Vince Wilfork demand Albert Haynesworth money?

Heath Evans, a free agent who left the Pats last month to sign wth New Orleans, said that while he wasn't fully aware of the context of Hobbs' remarks, he did not agree with the premise.

``I'm not exactly sure what Ellis meant. I just think it's going to be like it's always been,'' Evans said from his Florida home. ``I think younger players like Asante (Samuel) will be enticed to leave based on finances alone, and money alone. Then you have players like myself who aren't necessarily young, where finances play a part of it, but the opportunity to be a bigger part of a team or, in my case, an offense, makes it about more than just money.

``Then you have guys like Fred Taylor and Shawn Springs, guys who probably could have gotten more money to go elsewhere, but said, `Hey, I've been in this business so long. The blood, the sweat, the tears. I want to win!'

``Until someone proves different, the Patriots are still the place to go if you're searching for that title year in and year out.''

Evans knows from talking with Moss, the Pro Bowl wide receiver who agreed to less last year during free agency because of the opportunity of winning a championship.

``Randy should have gotten more money, but he said, `I want to win. I want to be around a championship attitude. I want to be around a disciplined attitude. I want to be around a winning attitude.' So he took far less money,'' Evans said. ``Randy and I train together every summer. I knew what was on the table for him. He said, `What is best for the Patriots ? What is best for winning?' ''

Moss signed a three-year deal for $27 million. Veteran Taylor, slated to earn $6 million from the Jaguars, signed on for $5 million over two years. Springs signed a three-year pact with a base of $1.75 million this year, $2.25 million in 2010 and $2.75 million in 2011. He also received a $2.7 million signing bonus.

Younger players like Samuel or Hobbs might not be so willing to compromise, especially with the first chance to really strike it rich. Perhaps that's why the Pats made moves in the draft to protect against possible departures, such as the selection of BC nose tackle Ron Brace as insurance if Wilfork leaves.

Last week, Wilfork attempted to shoot down the notion he was seeking Haynesworth money.

``Albert is Albert. We are two different people. That's how I stand on that situation,'' he said. ``I'm very happy with where I'm at. It's one thing to get that type of money and play for a new organization you don't know anything about, as opposed to playing for an organization you know everything about, where the fans love you, the organization loves you, and your teammates love you, and you've made friends where you're at. That's how I look at it.

``Albert Haynesworth has nothing to do with my contract whatsoever. Whatever I like is what I'm going to get, if it's Albert Haynesworth (money) or not. We're totally different people. The last thing I want is to leave where I'm at.'' Time will tell if Hobbs' theory proves true.

- kguregian@bostonherald.com

BOX: Now and then

The Patriots drafted 12 players this past weekend, and though they did not end up with a first-round pick, they had selections that ran from No. 34 to No. 234. While it may be a couple of years to determine how they truly did in this draft, here's a look at some successful picks they've made in the same neighborhood as this past weekend:

2009 DRAFTEE ----- BEST Patriots PICK NEAR THAT POSITION

S Patrick Chung (34th, 2009) -- LB Steve Nelson (34th, 1974)

DL Ron Brace (40th, 2009) -- S Lawyer Milloy (36th, 1996)

DB Darius Butler (41st, 2009) -- LB Andre Tippett (41st, 1982)

OL Sebastian Vollmer (58th, 2009) -- LB Ted Johnson (57th, 1995)

WR Brandon Tate (83rd, 2009) -- LB Tedy Bruschi (86th, 1996)

LB Tyrone McKenzie (97th, 2009) -- QB Rich Gannon (98th, 1987)

OL Rich Ohrnberger (123rd, 2009) -- TE Ben Coates (124th, 1991)

OL George Bussey (170th, 2009) -- T Max Lane (168th, 1994)

LS Jake Ingram (198th, 2009) -- QB Tom Brady (199th, 2000)

DL Myron Pryor (207th, 2009) -- FB Sam Gash (205th, 1992)

WR Julian Edelman (232nd, 2009) -- QB Matt Cassel (230th, 2005)

DL Darryl Richard (234th, 2009) -- WR David Givens (256th, 2002)

COMPILED BY KAREN GUREGIAN