Patriots claim TE Jake Ballard

[lovsn]

He's a restricted free agent after this year

I think he's an exclusive rights free agent after this year, as he'll only have 2 accrued years. That means we definitely have him for 2013 if we pay the 3rd year minimum salary.

 

[Armchair Quarterback]

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?

I'm not entirely sure but if that's the case, why would the Giants risk waiving him now if they don't gain a roster spot if they could IR him later without waivers? They could have just kept him on the roster and IR'ed him when waivers weren't necessary.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

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.

Big TEs on the field could make the possibility of losing Welker next season not as bad as it seems right now.

Brady will still have an arsenal of talent in 2013,with or without Welker.

Of course we all want Welker back though.

 

[patsinthesnow]

Big TEs on the field could make the possibility of losing Welker next season not as bad as it seems right now.

Brady will still have an arsenal of talent in 2013,with or without Welker.

Of course we all want Welker back though.

Gronkowski, Lloyd, Gaffney, Hernandez, Ballard, all set for two years, that's sick.

 

[mayoclinic]

The Pats did the same thing 2 years ago with Josh Barrett. That move hasn't worked out so far, but it still could, and was worth the gamble. I like this move - Ballard was very productive last year, and could be a really nice addition. Ballard is only 24. He reminds me of Alabama's Michael Williams - a huge (6'6" 275#) guy who is a great blocker but who has enough athleticism to stretch the field. Williams was on my short list of guys for 2013. Now the Pats have a guy in that mold with NFL experience without having to use a draft pick.

This kind of move is like having extra draft picks. It's a roll of the dice, and not all such moves work out, but it's a low risk move that has the potential to yield high dividends.

 

[Froob]

Giants 2, Patriots 1. Take THAT ************s!!!

 

[Spergon Wynn]

I, for one, think this is absolutely hilarious.

 

[pork3]

Giants 2, Patriots 1. Take THAT ************s!!!

It's actually Giants 3 seeing as they won that regular season game. And if you start counting preseason games, which they always seem to win, then that number skyrockets.

Fwcking Giants have had our number these last few years.

-Jamman

 

[Big-T]

Fwcking Giants have had our number these last few years.

16-0, 50 & 23 TDs all in a game against the Giants that was a horribly close game though.

 

[mgteich]

PUP and then IR works I believe, even if he needs to be on Game Roster for one week. Belichick has little problem freeing up a roster for a week during the season.

 

[doesntmatter1]

I have watched a few giants games and he is pretty good. But somehow i feel like we just did something wrong taking him. Something only the patriots would stoop low enough to do or something the media would say like that.

 

[Spergon Wynn]

I have watched a few giants games and he is pretty good. But somehow i feel like we just did something wrong taking him. Something only the patriots would stoop low enough to do or something the media would say like that.

Who cares? They could've saved a roster spot for him.

 

[Armchair Quarterback]

The Pats did the same thing 2 years ago with Josh Barrett. That move hasn't worked out so far, but it still could, and was worth the gamble. I like this move - Ballard was very productive last year, and could be a really nice addition. Ballard is only 24. He reminds me of Alabama's Michael Williams - a huge (6'6" 275#) guy who is a great blocker but who has enough athleticism to stretch the field. Williams was on my short list of guys for 2013. Now the Pats have a guy in that mold with NFL experience without having to use a draft pick.

This kind of move is like having extra draft picks. It's a roll of the dice, and not all such moves work out, but it's a low risk move that has the potential to yield high dividends.

Difference being Barrett was never any good and the Pats were likely trying to catch lightning in a bottle because of his measurables. Ballard can play.

 

[Ron Sellers]

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?

I'm not entirely sure but if that's the case, why would the Giants risk waiving him now if they don't gain a roster spot if they could IR him later without waivers? They could have just kept him on the roster and IR'ed him when waivers weren't necessary.

You are correct; I was mistaken in thinking that everybody counts against the 90-man roster.

Clarifying Ballard roster situation - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

When the New York Giants waived/failed physical tight end Jake Ballard on Monday, they did so with the likely intention of placing him on the Reserve/Physically Unable Perform list as soon as he claimed waivers, which would have moved Ballard off their 90-man roster.

The Patriots put a wrench to those plans on Tuesday, claiming Ballard off waivers. He now is on the team's active roster, and counts against the 90-man limit.

Going forward, the most likely option for the Patriots appears to be to keep Ballard on their active roster, placing him on the Active/PUP list at the start of training camp. At the final roster cut-down to 53 players, Ballard would then be placed on Reserve/PUP, keeping him out for at least the first six weeks of the season, and allowing him to return to the active roster as late as Week 13.

If the Patriots want to clear Ballard off their 90-man roster prior to roster cut-downs, he would have to first be either waived/injured or waived/failed physical, which would expose him to waivers and a likely re-claim by the Giants.​

 

[Armchair Quarterback]

I have watched a few giants games and he is pretty good. But somehow i feel like we just did something wrong taking him. Something only the patriots would stoop low enough to do or something the media would say like that.

Pats did nothing wrong, Giants made a stupid move waiving him knowing any team could claim him.

 

[Armchair Quarterback]

You are correct; I was mistaken in thinking that everybody counts against the 90-man roster.

Clarifying Ballard roster situation - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

When the New York Giants waived/failed physical tight end Jake Ballard on Monday, they did so with the likely intention of placing him on the Reserve/Physically Unable Perform list as soon as he claimed waivers, which would have moved Ballard off their 90-man roster.

The Patriots put a wrench to those plans on Tuesday, claiming Ballard off waivers. He now is on the team's active roster, and counts against the 90-man limit.

Going forward, the most likely option for the Patriots appears to be to keep Ballard on their active roster, placing him on the Active/PUP list at the start of training camp. At the final roster cut-down to 53 players, Ballard would then be placed on Reserve/PUP, keeping him out for at least the first six weeks of the season, and allowing him to return to the active roster as late as Week 13.

If the Patriots want to clear Ballard off their 90-man roster prior to roster cut-downs, he would have to first be either waived/injured or waived/failed physical, which would expose him to waivers and a likely re-claim by the Giants.​

Yeah, high price to pay to try and gain one roster spot on a 90 man roster.

 

[Sciz]

There's nothing like Belichick sending the middle finger toward the Giants just so he can have competition for his #3 TE role in a year :lol2:

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

.

If the Patriots want to clear Ballard off their 90-man roster prior to roster cut-downs, he would have to first be either waived/injured or waived/failed physical, which would expose him to waivers and a likely re-claim by the Giants.

But since the Pats pick off waivers before the Jints, BB uses this loophole (sic) and simply picks Ballard again.

Massive fines and loss of a #1 pick follow.

 

[unoriginal]

What is astonishing is that the Pats were the only team to put a claim on this guy. Not one other team, including his former team, wanted to carry Ballard on their preseason roster.

Now he and Logan Mankins can rehab together.

 

[DaBruinz]

One of the things that people are forgetting is the new IR rule.. That you can now activate ONE player off your IR during the season. I would not be surprised to see Ballard be that guy if one of the others gets injured.