Patriots claim TE Jake Ballard

[Calciumee]

According to Reiss:

Patriots have claimed injured Giants TE Jake Ballard on waivers, per Ballard's agent @the_ifa.

https://twitter.com/MikeReiss/status/212650079461441537

Another TE!

 

[BadMoFo]

He'll be on injured reserve all year. No biggie. If he heals, could be a good addition for 2013.

 

[BlueThunder]

What are the Pats...a walking wounded TE camp?

 

[Rob0729]

He is going to be IRed this year. The Giants had to waive him because since he only had three years of service, he could not go directly to IR. He would have to go to PUP and take up a roster spot. The Giants planned to cut him and then pick him up after waivers so they could IR him immediately.

Since he went through the waiver process, the Pats can IR him immediately and keep him for next year. I doubt he will see the practice field this year.

 

[BlueThunder]

One less weapon that can be used against Pats D

 

[jan08]

I'm not a football expert like many on here but Ballard looked very good whenever I saw him play. Great move imo

 

[jah]

YES! Called it this morning! I told my dad that he would be picked up because it filled the need for a #85.

 

[Armchair Quarterback]

Good, great move. Giants deserved to lose him by foolishly waiving him. A roster spot on a 90 man roster isn't worth losing a talented 24 year old. He's 6'6 275, had 38 catches for 604 yards in his rookie year.

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

He's a restricted free agent after this year, though RFAs are not really free agents, as we learned this offseason, since nobody makes them an offer (cough, cough, collusion, cough). Maybe the Giants could make an exception, since we spoiled their plans.

But if not, the Pats pay him in 2012 and 2013 and he plays in 2013 after being on IR for a whole year, then he becomes unrestricted.

I suppose it works for me.

Is he that good?

 

[Armchair Quarterback]

He is going to be IRed this year. The Giants had to waive him because since he only had three years of service, he could not go directly to IR. He would have to go to PUP and take up a roster spot. The Giants planned to cut him and then pick him up after waivers so they could IR him immediately.

Since he went through the waiver process, the Pats can IR him immediately and keep him for next year. I doubt he will see the practice field this year.

I think the Patriots have to use the roster spot on him until they are allowed to IR without waivers. I don't think they can IR him without waiving him themselves.

 

[jah]

Last time the Pats liked a guy so much they claimed him just to IR him was Josh Barrett. That experiment turned out horribly. Not like there's any real risk, though, so I don't care.

 

[Ron Sellers]

I think the Patriots have to use the roster spot on him until they are allowed to IR without waivers. I don't think they can IR him without waiving him themselves.

That's true, but with there now being a 90-man roster (including everyone) rather than the old 80-man roster (not counting unsigned draftees), does that matter? Don't players placed on IR still count against the 90-man roster limit?

 

[BradyFTW!]

He is going to be IRed this year. The Giants had to waive him because since he only had three years of service, he could not go directly to IR. He would have to go to PUP and take up a roster spot. The Giants planned to cut him and then pick him up after waivers so they could IR him immediately.

Since he went through the waiver process, the Pats can IR him immediately and keep him for next year. I doubt he will see the practice field this year.

He was actually pretty good last year, made them not miss Kevin Boss so much. Worth stashing away and taking a flyer on in the future, I guess. Can't really get much lower risk than this, at least.

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

The dude showed some toughness, testing his knee on the sideline in the Super Bowl, when in fact he couldn't stand up without help.

That was painful to watch.

Then again, lots of that game was painful to watch.

 

[DefenseRules]

How many tightends do they need?

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Not a surprise considering that Belichick always has interest in players who have done well against the Patriots and if anyone forgot the last Regular Season loss at Gillette in over 3 seasons came at the hands of the Giants who won on a last second TD.

....and that winning last second TD was caught by none other than Mr. Ballard

 

[Big-T]

When I saw he got released the first thought was "I wonder if..." and BB has done it

Don't mind if he gets PUP'd or IR'd, he's a good TE so stashing him away for later in the season/next season is a good move.

 

[DefenseRules]

When I saw he got released the first thought was "I wonder if..." and BB has done it

Don't mind if he gets PUP'd or IR'd, he's a good TE so stashing him away for later in the season/next season is a good move.

I do agree with that, but wow, it seems like BB has taken every decent TE off the market this offseason. LOL

 

[Big-T]

I do agree with that, but wow, it seems like BB has taken every good TE off the market this offseason. LOL

OTG has clearly got hold of BB's phone and made all these TE signings, it's the only answer!

 

[patsinthesnow]

He became a pretty solid TE during the season, if he returns to form in 2013 that's one hell of a 3rd TE, and him and Gronk on the field at the same time would provide many options with both being 6'6 265ish.