Pats726

New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston
Reiss listed the players that COULD make it to the PSquad and I was surprised to see Wheatley's name there. I know he played some last year although was inactive in many games...injured in the Colts game in 09...but thought he had MORE than the minimum. (My files are in another PC...so I can't check for sure..) Just seems a bit odd.

Alyfoley

it does seem odd, there must be some clauses that allows this.. I hope Reiss can explain this.. I'll see if he will answer a tweet to help clarify but if anyone here knows I am interested to see why.

__________________
Do it for Myra!
Boston= Titletown!

jmt57

Shockingly that is correct. As long as a player has not played in at least nine games in one season, he is practice squad eligible. Wheatley played in six games in 2008 and five games last year. The other PS rule is that a player cannot be on the PS for more than three seasons; Wheatley has never been on the practice squad.

AzPatsFan

It's academic. There is no way the fourth rated or better CB is going to the Practice Squad. Or would even get there is they tried.

Alyfoley

Thanks! Do you think he will be placed on the practice squad?

__________________
Do it for Myra!
Boston= Titletown!

jmt57

Absolutely no way. He would have to be cut first; another team would sign him. Being practice squad eligible is one thing; being able to realistically expect a player to sign to the practice squad is another. I would say any player drafted in the first four rounds over the last couple of seasons would most likely be signed by another team and would never make it to a team's practice squad.

Pats726

NFL Practice Squad Explained: Rules, Salary And Player Eligibility - Arrowhead Pride
OK a bit confusing here...from that article.......

"To makes things easier to explain, players who are eligible for the practice squad:
Have no prior Accrued Seasons in the NFL (An accrued season is six or more games on the active roster);
Have one prior Accrued Season in which the player was on the 45-man active roster for no more than 8 games; and,
Have been on the practice squad with a particular team no more than 2 prior seasons unless the team never had their active roster go below 53 players during the two years the player served on the practice squad. If that is the case, the player is eligible for a third practice squad season.
This is where it gets a bit confusing. A player with an accrued NFL season (6 or more games) isn't eligible for the practice squad but a player who played in fewer than 9 games is still eligible? Yeah, it's a bit confusing. "


He played in 6 games in one season...would that NOT be an accrued season in the NFL?? OK a bit of confusion...I thought it was 9 accumulated games...NOT...so??

patsfan-1982

they won't put him on the PS not when teams like the Dolphins are tradeing good WR's for guys like Benny Sapp, who may not be any better then Wheatley, i think he makes the team and ends up inactive for most of the year.

Pats726

The question was NOT whether IT WOULD happen...not likely as many have said OR ANYTHING to do with whether other teams would pick him up BEFORE..but of eligibility..which is the confusing part. Strangely, he MIGHT be eligible..but it is odd that a player who has been active in 6 and 5 games would be.

patchick

I'm with you -- Wheatley's been a pleasant surprise in camp.