Ravens sign Casey Walker off PS

Siliga and Branch have strengthened this position.

http://nesn.com/2014/12/ravens-sign-defensive-tackle-casey-walker-off-patriots-practice-squad/

How does this work with the CBA now with only 2 weeks left in the season?
Does the 3rd week on the 53 mean through wildcard weekend in Jan?

What if a non-playoff team signs a Pats PS player? How long must they keep him given that they have only under 2 weeks left in the 2014 season?

PatsWickedPissah said:

How does this work with the CBA now with only 2 weeks left in the season?
Does the 3rd week on the 53 mean through wildcard weekend in Jan?

What if a non-playoff team signs a Pats PS player? How long must they keep him given that they have only under 2 weeks left in the 2014 season?

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Great question. I would guess that the rule is more money-based than duration-based, so they get 3 weeks salary regardless of duration, but that is just a guess.

Mack Herron said:

Siliga and Branch have strengthened this position.

http://nesn.com/2014/12/ravens-sign-defensive-tackle-casey-walker-off-patriots-practice-squad/

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I like Walker, I thought he had some upside. I wonder who we will sign, this time of year the practice squad roster is always interesting to see.

Well, lets home Branch and Siliga stay healthy.

Belichick has decided that Walker wasn't worth a roster spot. IMHO, this makes it more likely that Branch is in his 2015 plans. Some thought that Branch might be only a one-year patch.

Personally, I'd rather have Walker on the 53 than an injured Easley. We also would have had Walker for 2015. Belichick must expect to use Easley in the playoffs.

This is NOT a hindsight observation. We have been speculating regarding Easley's health for month, and certainly over the past couple weeks. The decision was there to be made for Easley: IR or hope to use him in the playoffs. Apparently, Belichick has chosen the latter.

mgteich said:

Belichick has decided that Walker wasn't worth a roster spot. IMHO, this makes it more likely that Branch is in his 2015 plans.

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And he decided this even with the reportedly uncertain status of Easley. Walker clearly has some potnetial, but the position is pretty strong.

mgteich said:

Belichick has decided that Walker wasn't worth a roster spot. IMHO, this makes it more likely that Branch is in his 2015 plans.

Personally, I'd rather have Walker on the 53 than an injured Easley. We also would have had Walker for 2015. Belichick must expect to use Easley in the playoffs.

This is NOT a hindsight observation. We have been speculating regarding Easley's health for month, and certainly over the past couple weeks. The decision was there to be made for Easley: IR or hope to use him in the playoffs. Apparently, Belichick has chosen the latter.

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Walker's in-game lateral movement is horrible, and he's not the league's best at leverage either.

This is a pretty good signing for the Ravens if they need a DL. He'll probably do as well as anyone available & the Patriots are their possible second round foe.

mgteich said:

Belichick has decided that Walker wasn't worth a roster spot. IMHO, this makes it more likely that Branch is in his 2015 plans. Some thought that Branch might be only a one-year patch.

Personally, I'd rather have Walker on the 53 than an injured Easley. We also would have had Walker for 2015. Belichick must expect to use Easley in the playoffs.

This is NOT a hindsight observation. We have been speculating regarding Easley's health for month, and certainly over the past couple weeks. The decision was there to be made for Easley: IR or hope to use him in the playoffs. Apparently, Belichick has chosen the latter.

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Meh. Walker was OK, but didn't offer anything Wilfork, Branch or Siliga do, so he really wasn't all that necessary. Even if one of them goes down, the other two can pick up the slack without it being overly taxing with so few games remaining and a bye ahead.

Easley's skill set is completely different, and not so readily approximated by anyone else, so it could just be a matter of crossing their fingers and hoping rather than an expectation.

The Patriots had no need for Walker, and took a chance that he wouldn't be stolen which was true for several weeks. Even now, it is possible that they could have promoted Walker instead of letting him go.

Not seeing it as a meaningful loss, either as a player or an indication on anyone else.

Oswlek said:

Meh. Walker was OK, but didn't offer anything Wilfork, Branch or Siliga do, so he really wasn't all that necessary. Even if one of them goes down, the other two can pick up the slack without it being overly taxing with so few games remaining and a bye ahead.

Easley's skill set is completely different, and not so readily approximated by anyone else, so it could just be a matter of crossing their fingers and hoping rather than an expectation.

The Patriots had no need for Walker, and took a chance that he wouldn't be stolen which was true for several weeks. Even now, it is possible that they could have promoted Walker instead of letting him go.

Not seeing it as a meaningful loss, either as a player or an indication on anyone else.

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So, Walker would need to bring something that Wilfork, Branch or Siliga brings to want him on the squad for 2015?

mgteich said:

So, Walker would need to bring something that Wilfork, Branch or Siliga brings to want him on the squad for 2015?

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The Patriots had the option of moving him to their own 53 man roster so they obviously did not think that he was worth keeping around, so I would say that the team thinks he needs to bring something that those guys do.

mgteich said:

So, Walker would need to bring something that Wilfork, Branch or Siliga brings to want him on the squad for 2015?

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I don't see how this has anything to do with what I wrote.

Were they allowed to sign someone to take Ngata's spot or does he still count towards the 53? If he comes back I think they will cut Walker it that is how they got this extra room.

having depth is not a bad thing....but I am sure BB looked at all possibilities before not bringing him up to 53. This could be a reason why they didnt put Easley on IR as he can have a bigger impact when right for our playoff run. BTW that's alot of beef in the middle of our line.

I see it as an intelligence signing prior to the playoffs. Not sure how much stock I would out in it but that's how I see it.

he served his purpose.......nice burst, but too limited in every other regard.

wish him well.....

Oswlek said:

I don't see how this has anything to do with what I wrote.

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If the patriots thought that Walker was worthy of a place on the 2015 team, they could have activated him.

I don't think that it was necessary that Walker bring something that Wilfork, Siliga and Branch don't. That's never going to happen.

obgod3 said:

I see it as an intelligence signing prior to the playoffs. Not sure how much stock I would out in it but that's how I see it.

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Nah, they signed him to get a big body back up with Ngata suspended.

Walker was #6 on the Pats depth chart, I believe - everyone seems to be forgetting about Chris Jones.

50-yard-line said:

everyone seems to be forgetting about Chris Jones.

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Jones is a good role player in this defense. Not sure why you think folks are forgetting him?