Five Patriot rookies fail physicals: Ebert, Roark, Francis, Zusevics, Jeremiah Warren

[patsfan13]

So it begins an inauspicious start for 4 rookies.

Source: Five Patriots rookies fail physicals - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

Ebert, a seventh-round pick out of Northwestern, was placed on the Active/PUP list. Ebert was slowed during minicamp with a leg injury, according to a source.

Four undrafted rookies were placed on the Active/Non-Football Injury list: defensive end Justin Francis, wide receiver Matt Roark, and offensive linemen Jeremiah Warren and Markus Zusevics.

Ebert missed the rookie camp due to his grad sch at NW, then was injured during rookie mini camp now is on Injured PUP, tough to see him making the regular roster this year.

Linemen seem to have the most difficulty with the conditioning drill, A little surprised about Francis he got good press during the mini camps. Zusevics missed the mini camps IIRC so he is not a surprise.

For a WR failing the conditioning test is not good especially with the talent we have at the position, Roark may have put himself in a precarious position.

 

[nashvillepatsfan]

I don't get too concerned about rookies failing. Its the vets failing that worry me

 

[mayoclinic]

All are extreme long shots to make the team. Hopefully the failed physicals will cause other teams to pass on them after they get cut, so the Pats can sign them to the PS.

No note that DL Marcus Forston failed, which is encouraging, given his history of injury problems.

 

[Hudson Pats Fan]

Not making excuses, but four of them were undrafted and then as previously mentioned Ebert had been injured during mini-camp.
However, have this many rookies not passed the conditioning test/physical on day one before?

 

[shmessy]

Don't know about the others but 2 days after the draft, I wrote in this forum that Ebert would be Pup'd this year with a phantom injury. He is Welker insurance for 2013.

This was as shocking as the sunrise this morning.

 

[Sicilian]

Better them than Jones, Hightower, Wilson, and Bequette.

 

[Jackson 2]

Better them than Jones, Hightower, Wilson, and Bequette.

Good point...

 

[PatsFanSince74]

Injuries, I can understand. If you get hurt, passing that physical is going to be very tough, if not impossible.

But, considering what a shot at the NFL with one of its premier franchises means, I'm surprised that the guys who weren't injured didn't give a high priority to getting ready for the exam. Perhaps they decided, as was observed above, that they were "long shots" at best and wanted to invest their time and energy elsewhere.

 

[patchick]

Don't know about the others but 2 days after the draft, I wrote in this forum that Ebert would be Pup'd this year with a phantom injury. He is Welker insurance for 2013.

This was as shocking as the sunrise this morning.

Wow shmessy, this goes beyond the standard mythical "redshirt IR"! You're actually proposing that the Patriots would put a rookie on PUP and not allow him a single day of training camp practice, in order to leave themselves in 2013 with a former 7th rounder who hasn't seen a football field in over a year as "Welker insurance"? I have to say, that makes no sense to me. Wouldn't you want as much training and evaluation of that player as possible?

BTW, it seems like folks are assuming that some these designations come from failing the conditioning test, as opposed to injury. Is there another source that indicates that? At least two of the four have previously reported injuries, it seems unfair to just assume anybody's out of shape/lazy.

 

[jah]

The 3 UDFAs I thought had a chance (Francis, Warren, Zusevics) are NF-inj...this might actually be a blessing for them. If they don't get cut and remain on the reserve list in the regular season, they can be activated to the roster once a spot opens up (provided they're physically ready).

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Don't know about the others but 2 days after the draft, I wrote in this forum that Ebert would be Pup'd this year with a phantom injury. He is Welker insurance for 2013.

This was as shocking as the sunrise this morning.

I don't know. Deliberately gleefully pupping a kid doesn't set up too well when the player you're hoping he replaces is one with a vulcan mind meld to the GOAT running the mega complex up tempo offense. He would get zero time with the QB's to work on timing and route/blocking responsibilities and refinement before they'd have to make a blind decision on Welker by March... They wouldn't see this kid on a field in even live practice action until May of 2013? Makes no sense. Phantom IR maybe to avoid the waiver wire or PS duty, phantom PUP is like the kiss of death.

 

[brdmaverick]

Not making excuses, but four of them were undrafted and then as previously mentioned Ebert had been injured during mini-camp.

Agreed, not even an iota of concern on my worry radar.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

The 3 UDFAs I thought had a chance (Francis, Warren, Zusevics) are NF-inj...this might actually be a blessing for them. If they don't get cut and remain on the reserve list in the regular season, they can be activated to the roster once a spot opens up (provided they're physically ready).

Most any rookie's chances of getting activated to the roster in the regular season after missing all of camp and however many practices are minimal... Mentally ready and football ready are a whole other level beyond physically ready and few players can contribute much absent all 3 let alone as rookies.

 

[jah]

Most any rookie's chances of getting activated to the roster in the regular season after missing all of camp and however many practices are minimal... Mentally ready and football ready are a whole other level beyond physically ready and few players can contribute much absent all 3 let alone as rookies.

Marcus Cannon did just fine. I know it's just one player with unique circumstances, but it's not impossible.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Marcus Cannon did just fine. I know it's just one player with unique circumstances, but it's not impossible.

I think at a skill position like WR let alone in this offense it would be exponentially more difficult.

 

[BradyFTW!]

As long as it was none of the guys who we're actually hoping will produce a bit this uear (Jones, Hightower, Wilson, Bequette) I don't care very much.

 

[Kontradiction]

I think at a skill position like WR let alone in this offense it would be exponentially more difficult.

Eh, I wouldn't be so sure about that. Two rookies did it in 2010 that were members of the receiving corps. Neither of which had actual playing experience in the Ehrhardt-Perkins system.

 

[WinstonSmith]

Bad news on Ebert, but it won’t effect my 2013 Ebert projections: 185 catches for 2350 yards – ya know, because he’s younger and faster than the short-old-slow guy that he will replace.

 

[randomk1]

The comments on the jets forum are funny on this.

"LOL..great draft picks ha !!"

"Did any of them throw up? "

"THE PIG IS RIPE FOR THE SLAUGHTER"

"So they will only win 13 games this year instead of 14."

"Notify me when Brady retires or if Gronk's d!ck falls off while he is inside some pornstar.

Until then, nothing is changing for the Pats."

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Eh, I wouldn't be so sure about that. Two rookies did it in 2010 that were members of the receiving corps. Neither of which had actual playing experience in the Ehrhardt-Perkins system.

Who might that be? I can't recall any rookie receiver on the PUP who after missing all of camp and practice was activated to the 53 and saw playing time...