Patriots sign Banta-Cain and former UMass TE Brad Listorti

[JSn]

It's possible that he really missed New England. It's possible that he/his agent is a complete idiot. It's more likely that "compete for a spot" has some real meaning.

I think he may believe he can compete for a spot, and also he recognizes Bill can amplify his strengths and minimize his weaknesses in a way the 9ers couldn't. But the fact hes remained an active player and signed THIS early means they think he has something to offer. I hope it's depth, but if something happens with Peppers and our OLB's are all coming back, it's gonna be mighty tough for him to stick, imo.

I agree about the off-season. Very interesting. The Cassel thing has added limitless possibilities, and now feeling confident we're also getting the best QB in the NFL back, and possibly as motivated as ever... dang. We might just win a few games this year!

 

[jeffbiologist]

If TBC is actually getting signed to play linebacker and not just serve on special teams, it seems to me that one logical conclusion is that either Woods is gone or Crable isn't looking good.

When I first heard this I too thought TBC to be brought in to compete with Woods, good call.

 

[memento]

anyone know about this Listorti guy?

can he block?

 

[Patjew]

Interesting. Tully, I'd like to introduce you to my friend Mr. Salad.

 

[dtbrks]

well, am not that enamered with the signing, but hey, that's why I'm not the coach

I seem to recall him loosing his spot back in 06 (in the playoffs) because he couldn't stop the run and woods (or someone else) took the spot with injuries. There were a lot of injuries at the time (the colts game maybe). I could be thinking of the wrong person though.

 

[Deus Irae]

I think he may believe he can compete for a spot, and also he recognizes Bill can amplify his strengths and minimize his weaknesses in a way the 9ers couldn't. But the fact hes remained an active player and signed THIS early means they think he has something to offer. I hope it's depth, but if something happens with Peppers and our OLB's are all coming back, it's gonna be mighty tough for him to stick, imo.

I agree about the off-season. Very interesting. The Cassel thing has added limitless possibilities, and now feeling confident we're also getting the best QB in the NFL back, and possibly as motivated as ever... dang. We might just win a few games this year!

Interesting. Tully, I'd like to introduce you to my friend Mr. Salad.

I was going to be a smartass, but this brings me to a serious question instead:


How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Roll Tootsie Pop?

 

[condon84]

Tully probably would have been the best addition to our OLB corps outside of Suggs. There's no one in the draft that can help us this year like Tully can. Good move by the Pats.

 

[upstater1]

Listorti is from my old high school, Notre Dame High in West Haven, Ct.

Listorti was tall and fast in high school, the leading pass catcher at ND. Kids fill out, obviously, but I'm having a hard time imagining him as the blocking type. He played more like Dave Thomas... in high school that is.

 

[Frezo]

This could be as simple as BB trying to replace Washington's ST production with a player that can also contribute elsewhere. IIRC TBC was a good STer.

 

[ausbacker]

Big if, and I mean a big IF. If TBC can resort to some of the form he was in during his first Patriots tenure, I think this is a good signing. Sometimes you need time away from the roost to realise how good it is.

Renewed work ethic + the Patriots mantra and who knows what can happen with him.

 

[tanked_as_usual]

TBC is an upgrade over woods.........

 

[RayClay]

Re: Patriots sign Banta-Cain

That's a twist.

Yeah, imagine them going cheap by signing a failed low round draft pick instead of spending valuable picks for linebackers.

Only kidding (kind of), Tully fans, don't shoot me.

 

[RayClay]

If this means a viciously competitive camp for linebackers, I'm all for it.

 

[RayClay]

Re: Patriots sign Banta-Cain

I honestly think that all of the kids that we picked up in the draft and the undrafted free agents are all in play at linebacker, IMO.

I count two. Does that qualify as all?

 

[TimU]

Its always hard to know what the Pats are up to. Having said that, I think that they may believe Crable is a bust. He had a bunch of healthy scratches last year and then went on IR with something that didn't sound that serious. And now they sign Tully. That's a few tea leaves suggesting Crable may be in trouble.

 

[Taxed in Maine]

I was going to be a smartass, but this brings me to a serious question instead:


How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Roll Tootsie Pop?

"One, Two, Three"....crunch...."THREE".

 

[farn]

TBC is an upgrade over woods.........

Hard to say... TBC has had more experience on D and has shown some in the past. I too (as someone already pointed out), remember Alexander playing ILB so that Vrabel could play outside vs the Colts. Seemed like a stroke of genius for a half.

Truth is : you CAN win with Woods, you CAN win with TBC... but if you had another alternative would either of these guys be our first choice ? To be honest, I don't think either of them stops the Pats from drafting an OLB if they feel they can grab a good one in April.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

TBC is an upgrade over woods.........

You really need to find a dealer who uses less toxic substances to cut his product. :nono:

 

[RayClay]

well, am not that enamered with the signing, but hey, that's why I'm not the coach

I seem to recall him loosing his spot back in 06 (in the playoffs) because he couldn't stop the run and woods (or someone else) took the spot with injuries. There were a lot of injuries at the time (the colts game maybe). I could be thinking of the wrong person though.

Eric Alexander. We were forced to use Eric Alexander in a playoff game because we had one injury.

Yet we've never had a problem with linebacker depth.

 

[tanked_as_usual]

You really need to find a dealer who uses less toxic substances to cut his product. :nono:

usual.....blah blah blah with zero substance.......not so much an endorsement of TBC as a thumbs down on woods......the only reason he saw the field was because the pats had nobody else.......his pass rush was marginal and he was manhandled versus the run.........no to mention that he was out of position on just about every screen that went his way........

besides......does anyone know if the pats even plan to tender woods?