LaMont Jordan signed, Robert Ortiz waived

[pats1]

The money is a factor when choosing between the two.

I disagree. I don't think the Pats would go with one player or another based on (or even partly based on) their cap hit.

 

[pats1]

Jordan could've signed w/the Saints and been guaranteed a job, he wouldn't sign here if he was "training camp depth," he is beyond the rookie FA deal at this point in his career. No one said he is going to be a back up 3rd down back either. He will make this team, the only way he doesn't if he gets hurt. I'm not saying Morris gets waived, what I'm saying is we find a way to keep them all. They will find room for Jordan, depth is critical at the RB position and we can't be lining up with Evans and/or Eckel as primary ball carriers if Maroney and/or Morris get hurt. We will feature the run a lot more this year with the defenses we will be facing, teams will adjust how they defend us so we will need to do the same. Also Faulk can not carry the load either so he is not an option as a full time back.

As far as Morris backing up Maroney, that was last year and this is this year. No one is guaranteed the same role from one year to another. We'll see what happens when the games start.

Well he wouldn't exactly have a big role behind Bush, McAllister, and Stecker in New Orleans, either.

As far as depth goes, they have some: Morris and Faulk. If you're going to have depth beyond that, then they have to serve some other purpose. If you have 6 WRs and want to keep a 7th for depth, then it's usually a good idea for that player to be a contributor on special teams.

But Jordan isn't going to contribute on special teams, and if Morris, Maroney, and Faulk are all healthy, then he will be inactive. He might as well be sitting on his couch than sitting on the bench. Generally you want your gameday inactives to be a mix of a 3rd quarterback, a couple of backup offensive linemen, a couple of backup defensive linemen, and if there aren't enough injuries to fill the rest of the spots, then a back-end player such as Ventrone or Woods or Eckel. But you rarely will see a healthy FOURTH running back like Jordan be a healthy scratch - if he could play special teams, then he'd be active; if he can't, then he'd serve the same purpose on the shadow roster.

 

[dryheat44]

Without going through three pages, here's two things to remember:

1) Jordan was leading the AFC in Rushing last year when he had a fall out with Kiffin.
2) He is one of the top 3-4 RBs in the NFL in the passing game. Great hands, shifty, and can pick up the blitz.

This is a great, great signing. He can help us.

 

[JMarr]

Also remember that, until the end of last year, alot of people were seriously questioning whether Maroney was a total bust, much less if he is a legitimate starting RB in the NFL. How quickly we forget.

Many were wondering if he was in BB's doghouse, or injured, at times during the pass-happy regular season. We still don't know for sure. It's not out of the question that BB still wants to put heat on Maroney--yet another reason for bringing in someone like Jordon.

 

[pats1]

Also remember that, until the end of last year, alot of people were seriously questioning whether Maroney was a total bust, much less if he was is a legitimate NFL starting RB. How quickly we forget.

Many were wondering if he was in BB's doghouse, or injured, at times during the pass-happy regular season. We still don't know for sure. It's not out of the question that Maroney still wants to put heat on Maroney--yet another reason for bringing in someone like Jordon.

There's no way Maroney will make this football team. He's made out of glass.

 

[pats1]

I'm checking out the Patriots/Raiders tape from 2005, which was Jordan's first start after 4 years as Martin's backup in New York.

Madden said that, when he was talking to Belichick before the game, Belichick said the power running of Jordan was the defense's top priority, even with Moss on the field.

 

[spacecrime]

The Pats aren't going to devote 5 gameday roster spots to running backs.

You sound very sure, almost as sure as you sounded when you said the pats would never cut Pass, and if they ever did, teams would line up to sign him.

When Mankins was signed, I stopped saying, "The Pats would never ..."

 

[ctpatsfan77]

That's just playing scared, though. If Evans, Morris, Faulk, and Maroney are active, then Jordan is inactive - period. I think the Pats would much rather invest a roster spot in a Slater or Ventrone or Spann or Eckel who could make an impact on special teams instead of riding the bench in street clothes like Jordan. And besides, the Pats have done that in cases where there are existing injuries at the position, like Thomas missing all of camp and most of the regular season. That's when you see the Pats picking up a Marcellus Rivers (or in 2006, Walter Rasby and Chris Luzar), but I don't think you see them carrying extra veteran players at a specific position going into the regular season just because there's been a history of injuries at such position.

I fixed your post for you.

Also keep in mind that they paid Eckel significantly more than the PS minimum to keep him around last year.

 

[pats1]

You sound very sure, almost as sure as you sounded when you said the pats would never cut Pass, and if they ever did, teams would line up to sign him.

When Mankins was signed, I stopped saying, "The Pats would never ..."

Pass will one day make his triumphant return to the NFL.

 

[patsin°°]

This should be interesting.

 

[spacecrime]

Also remember that, until the end of last year, alot of people were seriously questioning whether Maroney was a total bust,

Only a few fools ever ever said Maroney was a bust. There are certainly a very few of those, but not "alot."

 

[spacecrime]

Pass will one day make his triumphant return to the NFL.

He still has two more years before he is eligible for the Hall, so you'll just have to wait.

 

[pats1]

Wow, Moss looks really, really strange in a Raiders uniform. How quickly we forget...

 

[JMarr]

Pats1, sarcasm aside, I personally think Maroney's a stud. Just sayin, alot of people questioned his skills and motivation last year and speculated about why we were so "unbalanced" offensively during the regular season. Just reinforces the point that fans second-guessing the coaching staff at this point is just that.

 

[PonyExpress]

Jordan was a devastating 3rd down back for the Jets with Cumar. That's the role for which he's best suited. he got his cash from oakland, and now he wants to win again. Assuming the back is OK, he can approximate a Kevin Faulk type role going forward.

I also think the Pats intend to rely more on the ground game this season, and they are anticipating the need for an extra rb with a pulse, someone a notch or two above roster filling FBs like Eckel or the Evans.

 

[BelichickFan]

I've actually decided we can just whack Evans and Eckel. We'll have enough RB with Kool Aid, Morris, Jordan and Faulk; Morris and Jordan can block enough for the limited blocking role our FB have and we added several ST players who can pick up what's lost there.

 

[BPF]

Well he wouldn't exactly have a big role behind Bush, McAllister, and Stecker in New Orleans, either.

As far as depth goes, they have some: Morris and Faulk. If you're going to have depth beyond that, then they have to serve some other purpose. If you have 6 WRs and want to keep a 7th for depth, then it's usually a good idea for that player to be a contributor on special teams.

But Jordan isn't going to contribute on special teams, and if Morris, Maroney, and Faulk are all healthy, then he will be inactive. He might as well be sitting on his couch than sitting on the bench. Generally you want your gameday inactives to be a mix of a 3rd quarterback, a couple of backup offensive linemen, a couple of backup defensive linemen, and if there aren't enough injuries to fill the rest of the spots, then a back-end player such as Ventrone or Woods or Eckel. But you rarely will see a healthy FOURTH running back like Jordan be a healthy scratch - if he could play special teams, then he'd be active; if he can't, then he'd serve the same purpose on the shadow roster.

Most NFL teams have 4 RB's and at least 1 FB, the team we played last season in the SB has 2 FB's (39 M. Hedge****, 24 R. Douglas) and 4 RB's (27 B. Jacobs, 34 D. Ward, 44 A. Bradshaw, 22 R. Droughns). Only Bradshaw plays teams, he returns. BTW, Faulk and Jordan can return for us.

I say we will keep: Maroney, Morris, Faulk and LaMont Jordan at RB and 1 FB in Evans who could double as the 3rd TE if we only keep 2 (Watson and Thomas). We mostly play 1 back now anyway so maybe Evans goes and Morris takes his spot on teams. There are many different ways to go and things will shake out as the pre-season rolls along but don't be so quick to dismiss Jordan because he is a quality back.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

I've actually decided we can just whack Evans and Eckel. We'll have enough RB with Kool Aid, Morris, Jordan and Faulk; Morris and Jordan can block enough for the limited blocking role our FB have and we added several ST players who can pick up what's lost there.

ST players aren't completely interchangeable. Do you think Antwain Spann (6'0", 195#) can fill the ST role of a Heath Evans (6'0", 250#) or a Kyle Eckel (5'11", 240#)?

 

[BelichickFan]

ST players aren't completely interchangeable. Do you think Antwain Spann (6'0", 195#) can fill the ST role of a Heath Evans (6'0", 250#) or a Kyle Eckel (5'11", 240#)?

We've added some big bodies who will have to play on special teams too. I actually have never looked at the ratio of athletes vs. big guys on special teams so maybe we wouldn't have enough under my plan but I think we would given how many starters play on special teams for us.

 

[DaBruinz]

I don't see Jordan making the roster and Morris not, barring an injury. Morris is out on the field practicing - I think we can throw the whole "coming off an injury" idea out now.

The Pats have absolutely no room to carry a fourth pure RB. Jordan is training camp depth unless one of the incumbents do something to his job.

Pats1 - What you might be over-looking is that Morris is a great special teams player. And I don't mean as a return man. He's been a gunner and had other positions as well and played them well.

So, I CAN see the Pats keeping 4 RBs and Evans since Morris and Evans could be used on Special Teams.

Will it happen? Who knows.