NE39
Rotational Player and Threatening Starter's Job
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From Bucky Brooks Notes column in SI:
Another Patriots revival
After Randy Moss' rebirth last season, Lamont Jordan is hoping to be the next ex-Raiders veteran to resurrect his career in Foxborough.
"He landed in the perfect situation," said an NFC scout. "He will respond to their structured environment. Plus, he is going to play with a chip on his shoulder after being let go in Oakland."
Jordan showed flashes of becoming a premier back during his first season with the Raiders (1,025 rushing yards, 70 receptions and 11 touchdowns in 2005), but a spate of injuries limited his production and he eventually lost his starting job to Justin Fargas last season. With the team adding Darren McFadden during the draft, Jordan was deemed expendable and eventually was released by the team July 25.
There are several reasons to believe Jordan will experience a revival as a Patriot. First, the Patriots are masterful at signing veterans with a specific role in mind, and Jordan's multitude of skills makes him an ideal complement to their backfield. "He is the perfect fit," said an NFC scout. "He doesn't want to carry the load. He works best when he has 15 or so carries, and five or six receptions."
As a big runner with excellent power and toughness, he gives the Patriots another workhorse to use when Laurence Maroney is out of the lineup, and his ability to catch passes out of the backfield makes him an attractive option as a third-down back.
Furthermore, Jordan's final season in Oakland was not nearly as disappointing as it appeared on the surface. Jordan posted consecutive 100-yard games (159 rushing yards against the Broncos and 121 against the Browns) during the first month of the season, and was on his way to a third consecutive 100-yard game (15 carries for 74 yards in Week 4 against the Dolphins) before suffering an injury midway through the second quarter.
"He can still he play," said an AFC scout. "People forget that he was in the top five in rushing last season before his injury last season. The biggest question regarding him is whether he can stay healthy."