The Practice Squad

[mgteich]

Every year we have our undrafted free agents who just can't possibly make it to the Practice Squad. A couple of our UDFA's are always so great that other teams would put them on their 53 instead of their draftees or those cut by other teams.

Please list all the patriots UDFA's from the Belichick era who were claimed by another team for their 53 before the first game.

 

[Mark Morse]

Justin Rogers DE Dallas
Kareem Brown DT
Garrett Mills TE Minnesota
Kyle Eckel RB Miami (we got him back a year later when they tried to pass him to the PS)
Patrick Cobbs RB

These are all in the past three or four years

 

[spacecrime]

Every year we have our undrafted free agents who just can't possibly make it to the Practice Squad. A couple of our UDFA's are always so great that other teams would put them on their 53 instead of their draftees or those cut by other teams.

Please list all the patriots UDFA's from the Belichick era who were claimed by another team for their 53 before the first game.

It isn't that ALL our UFDAs would be taken, it is that the one or two that would really help the team will be taken. Losing Garrett Mills really pissed me off. I didn't like losing Eckel either, but mostly it was because the Dolphins took him. Hasn't Mangini raided our waiver wire?

There are some teams who are not that deep from 40 to 53. They are the ones who would benefit from taking players from deep teams like the Pats, Steelers, etc.

But really, who can remember all of our UDFAs who ended up on other teams? Hopefully, we will keep the ones who wouldn't make it through waivers (like we did with guys like Gay, Woods, etc) and cut the ones we don't care if we lose or not.

I'm sure that most of our cuts will survive unclaimed, but since you are asking there are a couple I doubt will clear waivers (Gutierrez and Guyton are my two top candidates for landing elsewhere if cut).

 

[PatsFan37]

Every year we have our undrafted free agents who just can't possibly make it to the Practice Squad. A couple of our UDFA's are always so great that other teams would put them on their 53 instead of their draftees or those cut by other teams.

Please list all the patriots UDFA's from the Belichick era who were claimed by another team for their 53 before the first game.

So you think a second-year QB who made the roster of the best offense in NFL history is in the same category as any run-of-the-mill rookie UDFA?

Gutierrez will not pass waivers.

They may cut him anyway, if they sign a veteran backup, but look around the league at the state of QB play and tell me he isn't a better prospect than at least one 3rd string QB out there. That's all it takes.

Edit: not too mention the guy busts a nut in practice. This, too, has not gone unnoticed.

 

[mgteich]

Please try again. How many of these were undrafted rookie free agents. We know who we're discussing: Redd and Guyton.

And yes, Gutierrez is in a different category. I do think that we should consider him gone if we cut he to sign a veteran. However, I think that there is good chance that no one would sign him to their 53 man squad.

Justin Rogers DE Dallas
Kareem Brown DT
Garrett Mills TE Minnesota
Kyle Eckel RB Miami (we got him back a year later when they tried to pass him to the PS)
Patrick Cobbs RB

These are all in the past three or four years

 

[Rob0729]

Justin Rogers DE Dallas
Kareem Brown DT
Garrett Mills TE Minnesota
Kyle Eckel RB Miami (we got him back a year later when they tried to pass him to the PS)
Patrick Cobbs RB

These are all in the past three or four years

Brown, Rogers, and Mills weren't UDFAs. Brown and Mills were not cut during cut prior to the season of their rookie years anyway. Mills was cut in his second season and Brown was cut midseason.

Cobbs was traded to Pittsburgh for a conditional draft pick that never was claimed because Pittsburgh cut him after the first game.

The Pats cut Eckel because the Navy wasn't going to let him out of his commitment.

 

[Rob0729]

I'm sure there have been some UDFAs who have made it onto other rosters, but I don't know how many would have actually been picked up to the practice squad. I do know some of the ones that become fan favorites like Bam Childress (the most notable one) typically have no problems passing through waivers.

 

[mgteich]

In the end, we will pick the 53 players who can most help this team. IMHO, Alexander and Izzo fit that definition much more than Guyton and Redd.

There is cerrtainly a possibility that Belichick will not keep 3 TE's, expecting two to easily make the Practice Squad, and then paying them the same pay as roste players as he did with Yates.

 

[Rob0729]

In the end, we will pick the 53 players who can most help this team. IMHO, Alexander and Izzo fit that definition much more than Guyton and Redd.

There is cerrtainly a possibility that Belichick will not keep 3 TE's, expecting two to easily make the Practice Squad, and then paying them the same pay as roste players as he did with Yates.

Although I could see Guyton potential supplanting someone, I agree with you. The Pats do not hold roster spots for developmental players. Either you can contribute now (even if you are not activated on Sunday) or the Pats will take their risk waiving you. If they really like a player who might not make it through to the PS, that player might develop a season ending injury.

 

[patriot lifer]

Although I could see Guyton potential supplanting someone, I agree with you. The Pats do not hold roster spots for developmental players. Either you can contribute now (even if you are not activated on Sunday) or the Pats will take their risk waiving you. If they really like a player who might not make it through to the PS, that player might develop a season ending injury.

I assume O'Connell is in another category being a third-round qb, or will he develop a season-ending injury, or will he be cut?? Because he sure isn't contributing this season (or lets hope not)

 

[Rob0729]

I assume O'Connell is in another category being a third-round qb, or will he develop a season-ending injury, or will he be cut?? Because he sure isn't contributing this season (or lets hope not)

The #3 QB is the exceptipm to the rule. O'Connell can stay on the 53 man roster and be a developmental player.

 

[loosebearing]

Mgteich

On two different threads you post that Alexander is a lock for the 53

Could you please list (inform) me of any qualities that he brings to a football team that are better than any JAG?

I am not a football x's and o's efficianado. I can only see a 52 on my TV "chasing" the ball carrier. To me - that's not good

 

[patriot lifer]

Mgteich

On two different threads you post that Alexander is a lock for the 53

Could you please list (inform) me of any qualities that he brings to a football team that are better than any JAG?

I am not a football x's and o's efficianado. I can only see a 52 on my TV "chasing" the ball carrier. To me - that's not good

for what input I have, he can support the team better than a rookie could for this season. It's a tough system to learn, and he knows it already and has experience. It's a short-term decision. He probably won't return for another season (that's my guess), but he's more valuable now. And with depth at inside lb thin (until Seau might return) he might be hard to simply toss aside.

 

[mgteich]

We are all exagerating a bit. There is room on the inactive squad for a developmental player for at least part of a season (especially 1st - 4th round draft choices). And yes, there is also a spot for a #3 QB is usually a developmental player.

The #3 QB is the exceptipm to the rule. O'Connell can stay on the 53 man roster and be a developmental player.

 

[alvinnf]

for what input I have, he can support the team better than a rookie could for this season. It's a tough system to learn, and he knows it already and has experience. It's a short-term decision. He probably won't return for another season (that's my guess), but he's more valuable now. And with depth at inside lb thin (until Seau might return) he might be hard to simply toss aside.

The problem is he has never distinguished himself as an everyday player, if they think someone else is more talented that's who they take. They bring all players in with an expected learning curve, Alexander has plateaued.

 

[mgteich]

The argument you make is exactly right for Alexander's contributions as a backup linebacker. He is also a key top special teamer. And I agree that he will likely be gone next year, being replaced by a Day One draft choice.

for what input I have, he can support the team better than a rookie could for this season. It's a tough system to learn, and he knows it already and has experience. It's a short-term decision. He probably won't return for another season (that's my guess), but he's more valuable now. And with depth at inside lb thin (until Seau might return) he might be hard to simply toss aside.

 

[Keegs]

Edit: not too mention the guy busts a nut in practice. This, too, has not gone unnoticed.

not exactly sure what you are trying to say here.

 

[alvinnf]

The argument you make is exactly right for Alexander's contributions as a backup linebacker. He is also a key top special teamer. And I agree that he will likely be gone next year, being replaced by a Day One draft choice.

So I guess the question is? What's the end game for that 53 spot? is it to develop backup linebackers or find future linebackers. Either way what future do they see in Alexander or maybe the devil you knows better than the one you don't.

 

[loosebearing]

for what input I have, he can support the team better than a rookie could for this season. It's a tough system to learn, and he knows it already and has experience. It's a short-term decision. He probably won't return for another season (that's my guess), but he's more valuable now. And with depth at inside lb thin (until Seau might return) he might be hard to simply toss aside.

He has lost his backup LB to Woods

Redd, Ruud, or Guyton can't learn to play special teams (or Slater as gunner)

To loose a PLATEAUED (nice call) player especially when the plateau is 3rd string can easily be replace by JAG's Redd, Ruud, or Guyton - especially if the price is to loose them and Alexander later

 

[mgteich]

Alexander is good enough fight know to be active in every game, and play on all the special team units. Alexander is good enough right now to be the #3 ILB (over Hobson and hopefully to be replaced by Seau).

To be clear, if the season were starting next weekend, Alexander would be our first ILB off the bench and one of our top special teamers.

So I guess the question is? What's the end game for that 53 spot? is it to develop backup linebackers or find future linebackers. Either way what future do they see in Alexander or maybe the devil you knows better than the one you don't.