Patriots workout former USC and CFL DL Armond Armstead

[1%er]

The New England Patriots on Tuesday worked out former Southern California defensive lineman Armond Armstead, a source confirmed.

Armstead, 22, played three seasons for USC, from 2008-2010, starting 17 games and recording 59 tackles. His attorney claims Armstead suffered a heart attack in early 2011, the alleged result of team doctors treating him with the painkiller Toradol. He was not medically cleared to play in 2011, and sued the university in August 2012 for unspecified damages.

Armstead went undrafted in the 2012 NFL draft and later signed with the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL. He led the Argonauts in sacks this past season and was named a CFL all-star. Armstead was released by Toronto on Friday, reportedly to pursue NFL opportunities.

Listed by the CFL at 6-foot-5, 298 pounds, Armstead reportedly drew interest from the Patriots prior to last April's draft, and could be on their radar for a spot on their offseason roster. NFL rules prohibit teams from signing players from CFL rosters within the same season, so Armstead cannot join the Patriots for the playoffs.

Tom E. Curran of Comcast Sports Net first reported the workout.

 

[scout]

I wonder if/and when he worked out for Seattle.

 

[Mark Morse]

I wanted the Pats to sign this guy last spring after he went undrafted. He put up good numbers in the CFL and proved that he could play! Sign him to a futures contract. While they are at it, they should sign CB Reggie Rembert as well.

 

[1%er]

Probably some animosity between him and Carroll

 

[1%er]

I wanted the Pats to sign this guy last spring after he went undrafted. He put up good numbers in the CFL and proved that he could play! Sign him to a futures contract. While they are at it, they should sign CB Reggie Rembert as well.

Who is Rembert? CFL guy?

 

[Claremonster]

Who is Rembert? CFL guy?

Player Bio: Reggie Rembert - Air Force Academy Official Athletic Site

Don't know anything about him.

 

[ATippett56]

Argos release Armstead, who is expected to pursue NFL jobs

 

[VrabelJr]

I was super high on this guy and still am. He's a steal. He can fit that hybrid 4-3 under LDE, 3-4 5 technique DE, or 4-3 DT role. I'll be so happy if he signs with us for next year. He could compete for a starting job immediately. The upside on this guy is huge.

Imagine a DLine of Jones - Deaderick/Love - Wilfork - Armstead. We could run a 4-3 under like Seattle. Signing Armstead would lesson the pain of not being able to sign Red Bryant last year.

 

[ATippett56]

Patriots work out DL Armstead - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

 

[patfanken]

Player Bio: Reggie Rembert - Air Force Academy Official Athletic Site

Don't know anything about him.

I'm not interested in 5'10 DB's let alone 5'8 inch ones.

OTOH., the Armstead work out sounds very exciting. Signing him would be a great start on the 2013 off season

 

[Claremonster]

I was super high on this guy and still am. He's a steal. He can fit that hybrid 4-3 under LDE, 3-4 5 technique DE, or 4-3 DT role. I'll be so happy if he signs with us for next year. He could compete for a starting job immediately. The upside on this guy is huge.

Imagine a DLine of Jones - Deaderick/Love - Wilfork - Armstead. We could run a 4-3 under like Seattle. Signing Armstead would lesson the pain of not being able to sign Red Bryant last year.

Just as long as he doesn't have a heart attack or anything like that.

 

[DaBruinz]

I'm not interested in 5'10 DB's let alone 5'8 inch ones.

OTOH., the Armstead work out sounds very exciting. Signing him would be a great start on the 2013 off season

Rembert is actually only 5'7 1/8". However, he runs a 4.40 - 40 has very good 3-cone and Short Shuttle numbers..

That being said, I believe he's under commitment to the Air Force for the foreseeable future.

 

[TyronePoole]

Just as long as he doesn't have a heart attack or anything like that.

terrible post

 

[NewFeep]

terrible post

{Bump} I concur, Sir!

 

[Wilfork#75]

Armstead was a guy I was really looking forward to watching develop in 2011, and I was really disappointed when he was sidelined with his medical condition. Then when he surprisingly declared for the 2012 draft I thought he could have been a steal. Hopefully we take a shot at him now because the upside is immense. This is what I wrote about him in March.

The most interesting guy to me though is Armond Armstead from USC. He was a former 5 star recruit, who flashed some big time potential but never really reached it. He was looking to have a breakout year in 2011 but he was sidelined with an unknown medical condition and was eventually red shirted. Unhappy with the USC docters not clearing him, Armstead was looking to transfer for the 2012 season, but it seems he has changed his mind and will enter the 2012 draft.

While the medical issue is a huge concern, Armstead does have the physical tools to be a quality starting DE in a 3-4 defense. He's 6'5" 290lbs, although he has the frame to easily carry 300lbs+. He is a likely late round/UDFA, but could be a steal if he can stay healthy and develop they way he could

 

[Claremonster]

terrible post

What? Do you want him to have one? That was obviously the main reason why he wasn't drafted. Health reasons...

I had angina, it isn't much fun.

 

[mayoclinic]

Armstead was a guy I was really looking forward to watching develop in 2011, and I was really disappointed when he was sidelined with his medical condition. Then when he surprisingly declared for the 2012 draft I thought he could have been a steal. Hopefully we take a shot at him now because the upside is immense. This is what I wrote about him in March.

I too was high on Armstead in 2011, and wanted the Pats to sign him last year as a UDFA. I advocated taking a look at him last month when Claremonster started a thread about potential CFL prospects. there are a couple of threads on this on the draft board already.

Good move by the Pats. My guess is they're doing diligence on the medical front, to be cautious, but I'm hoping something will be announced. Armstead could provide the inside/outside presence that the Pats were hoping to get from Jonathan Fanene, at minimal incremental cost.

 

[Claremonster]

I too was high on Armstead in 2011, and wanted the Pats to sign him last year as a UDFA. I advocated taking a look at him last month when Claremonster started a thread about potential CFL prospects. there are a couple of threads on this on the draft board already.

Good move by the Pats. My guess is they're doing diligence on the medical front, to be cautious, but I'm hoping something will be announced. Armstead could provide the inside/outside presence that the Pats were hoping to get from Jonathan Fanene, at minimal incremental cost.

Wasn't he the CFL rookie of the year?

BB should sign him.

 

[Claremonster]

'12 CA OT Arik Armstead (Signed to Oregon)

He is j

 

[shmessy]

What? Do you want him to have one? That was obviously the main reason why he wasn't drafted. Health reasons...

I had angina, it isn't much fun.

Dude, he doesn't have a heart condition.

It was fully explained with an ABC News video in another thread a few days ago that it was an untracked painkiller injection from the USC medical staff that caused a heart attack in his otherwise perfectly healthy heart. His family has had a lawsuit on the dockets against USC for almost a year now. His situation is nothing like yours.