Roster move looms

[Mack Herron]

Yates explains that they have to fill another roster spot for Sun, which I think has to be this afternoon. Any guesses? With Talib, Cole and possibly Dennard injured, I'd like to see a CB but they don't have any. Rethinking some early season moves as Butler would be nice to have now. So maybe Williams?

Projecting Patriots inactives - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

Also had 4 tryouts:

Defensive end Jason Vega, 25, a Brockton native and Northeastern grad who played the last two seasons for the Canadian Football League's Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Wide receiver Isaiah Williams, 25, who was released by the Cardinals on Nov. 15. Williams, who played college football at Maryland, also has played for the Ravens, Steelers and Seahawks.

Wide receiver Shawn Gore, 25, a Toronto native and a three-year veteran of the Canadian Football League. He was in Green Bay's training camp in 2010.

Linebacker Nic Harris, 26, who played collegiately at Oklahoma. He appeared in 15 games (two starts) for the Bills in 2009 and 15 more for the Panthers in 2010. He was released by Carolina prior to the 2011 season.

Patriots try out four players

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Those guys give "bottom of the 53" a bad name

 

[mayoclinic]

Those guys give "bottom of the 53" a bad name

Nic Harris was originally a safety. His coverage skills made Pat Chung look like Ed Reed in comparison.

 

[Lamanai]

Isn't this about the time of year when teams sign players to future contracts? I'll bet that is what these tryouts are for, not the 53rd spot.

 

[Joey007]

Jermaine Cunningham??

 

[Mack Herron]

Jermaine Cunningham??

They still have a slot to fill after adding Cunningham. Most likely from PS.

 

[Joey007]

They still have a slot to fill after adding Cunningham. Most likely from PS.

Whoops, guess I better read the article.

Well, it looks like Spikes might not play. Jeff Tarpinian??

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Bobby Carpenter perhaps?

Its a close race between Branch and Carpenter for the Ross Ventrone Waiver Wire yoyo award...why not?

(then again,he is still on the team now?)

 

[Mix]

The Patriots have waived DL Ron Brace, according to a league source. Brace, a 2nd-round pick in 2009, had 4 tackles in 10 games this season.

Link

The Patriots have also signed PS WR Kamar Aiken and PS DB Malcolm Williams to the 53-man roster, per a league source.

Link

 

[goheels22002]

Brian Waters to the rescue.

 

[Sciz]

Brian Waters to the rescue.

Not eligible to return this season

 

[Get it shawtaay]

So whats the roster total stand at with Malcolm Williams and Kamar Aiken added?

 

[Deus Irae]

Brace has been living on borrowed time, so that's no surprise. Yates is also reporting that Cunningham has been activated to the 53.

https://twitter.com/FieldYates/statuses/285132675231133696

 

[Sciz]

So whats the roster total stand at with Malcolm Williams and Kamar Aiken added?

They're at 53 now.

 

[Get it shawtaay]

They're at 53 now.

Thanks. Interesting how few wide-body types are now on the roster.

 

[102 Pat]

It's too bad that Brace never lived up to his potential.

 

[mayoclinic]

Link

Link

Well, no one expected Brace to be with the club past February anyway, and probably not to be on the active gameday roster. Sayonara. Chung is next. If the Pats don't keep Vollmer, that could mean all 4 of the 2009 2nd round picks are going after this year.

I'm a bit confused about Aiken. IIRC, Pats promoted him to the 53 man squad last week, he played 3 snaps against Jacksonville, then they cut him, he cleared waivers, they signed him to the PS, and they re-promoted him, all within a week. Seems like a lot of work to go through for a player to end up in exactly the same spot one week later. Why not just keep him on the squad? Did they ever actually use his spot for anyone, or was it just in case they didn't get a roster exemption for Cunningham?

 

[Lamanai]

Interesting that they didn't just IR Brace...so technically, they could bring him back if the DL really takes a hit during the playoffs. Not likely, but keeps him in play in case of an emergency.

 

[patsinthesnow]

See ya, Brace. You got showed up by 7th Rounders and UDFAs your whole career. (Love, Deaderick, Francis)

 

[mayoclinic]

Interesting that they didn't just IR Brace...so technically, they could bring him back if the DL really takes a hit during the playoffs. Not likely, but keeps him in play in case of an emergency.

My guess - and it's just a guess, nothing more - is that it's more likely that they would promote Forston from the PS. Given that Brace has been a healthy scratch pretty much all season, I think Forston might offer more at this point.