UDFA's that have signed

[DaBruinz]

Here's some video footage on Porter. He's 285 lbs and he looks like a possible Neal type conversion project for BB and Dante? He looks strong and quick on the mat.

285- #10 Jermail Porter (Kent State) VS Roman Husam (Clarion) | Clarion at Kent State on Flowrestling

He'll have to put on 20 lbs to be close to the same weight that Neal was. But if he can, great.

 

[Jimke]

I see they pick up two Navy kids a FB Eric Kettani and Tyree Barnes a WR. Now time to check up on these guys.

Their agent has announced that they have not signed. Most

likely, they are going to spend the next six years in the U.S.

Navy.

 

[BPF]

Already posted but Per Reiss: LB Appelby agrees to deal with Patriots - Reiss' Pieces - Boston.com so it's official.

Like this move, I was actually hoping we would pick him in the 7th.

 

[CanadianPat'sFan]

Their agent has announced that they have not signed. Most

likely, they are going to spend the next six years in the U.S.

Navy.

I can see that just reporting what I had read but the FB seemed like a good pickup and we all know how BB feels about the Navy guys.

 

[Pats726]

So no new signees...do u think they will add a few others before mini camp tomorrow???

 

[Synovia]

He'll have to put on 20 lbs to be close to the same weight that Neal was. But if he can, great.

Neal was wrestling at 285 a couple months before trying out for the Pats. From what I've read, right now, this kid is 6'6, 312 right now. IE, bigger than Mankins.

 

[Armchair Quarterback]

So no new signees...do u think they will add a few others before mini camp tomorrow???

The Pats haven't announced any UDFA signings yet, so there should be a few more names. There will also be a number of tryouts. I don't beleive Toal and Purvis from BC have signed, so they may be possibilities.

 

[Pats726]

The Pats haven't announced any UDFA signings yet, so there should be a few more names. There will also be a number of tryouts. I don't beleive Toal and Purvis from BC have signed, so they may be possibilities.

I know they never do UNTIL camp...and there will be tryouts...but last year..those were hushed up some...so the public did not know...

 

[Jimke]

Aaron Perez from UCLA has been invited to try out. He was the

6th rated punter (45.2 yard average) and holds for field goals.

 

[Sicilian]

Already posted but Per Reiss: LB Appelby agrees to deal with Patriots - Reiss' Pieces - Boston.com so it's official.

Like this move, I was actually hoping we would pick him in the 7th.

Anything special we should know about Appleby? Think he has a chance to pull a Guyton this year?

 

[Jimke]

Anything special we should know about Appleby? Think he has a chance to pull a Guyton this year?

He was the 9th or 10th rated middle linebacker and has an

outside shot at making the team.

 

[WaterfallJumper]

Anything special we should know about Appleby? Think he has a chance to pull a Guyton this year?

Well, he's not only played in a 34 all through college, but he was also responsible for calling the defense, which means he has a very good grasp of 34 principles and can line up the other players. There's not a lot of film on him online, but if you YouTube his teammate Clint Sintim (now with the Giants), you can see Appleby in just about every play. Look for the middle linebacker who's in on almost every tackle.

He's got great size, is fairly fast, and is at least adequate in coverage. The knock on him is that he's very stiff, overly hesitant, and doesn't really play up to his physical ability. He's got to the tools to be a very good SILB, but I don't think he'll ever become a starter. I do think he can make the team, especially if all he has to do is beat out, say, Alexander, but he would be behind Mayo, Guyton, Bruschi, and McKenzie on the ILB depth chart. Still, I do see him as an upgrade over Alexander, and he could provide nice depth as a back-up next year when Bruschi retires. Providing, of course, he can beat out Ruud, whom everyone seems to have forgotten.

I hope he makes it, but mostly because I like his name.

 

[WaterfallJumper]

He'll have to put on 20 lbs to be close to the same weight that Neal was. But if he can, great.

Neal was the same weight when he came in (around 285). It's pretty standard for wrestlers to cut like crazy before matches. Neal is more naturally 300 - 310. Given Porter's frame, I think he's a natural 320, but with outstanding athleticism and conditioning. I'm rooting for him to make the team, or at least the PS.

 

[Armchair Quarterback]

He was the 9th or 10th rated middle linebacker and has an

outside shot at making the team.

His chances improved a little bit. Ruud been released according to Reiss.

 

[Urgent]

Neal was the same weight when he came in (around 285). It's pretty standard for wrestlers to cut like crazy before matches. Neal is more naturally 300 - 310. Given Porter's frame, I think he's a natural 320, but with outstanding athleticism and conditioning. I'm rooting for him to make the team, or at least the PS.

I would be really shocked if Porter made the team. PS, yes.

The guy doesn't know how to put on pads yet.

The "locks" for the OL include:
Light - Mankins - Koppen - Neal.
Kaczur is an experienced, average RT.
Hochstein is a terrific, versatile back-up.

They usually keep 8-10 OL. Last year it was nine.
So assume those six make it.

Next in line:
Vollmer - second round draft choice
LeVoir - dependable back-up last year
Ohrberger - rookie, four-year college starter
Yates - less dependable back-up
O'Callaghan - experienced back-up
Johnson - experienced center
Bussey - late-round draft choice
Britt - less dependable back-up
Clement - aging vet hanging on

To make the team, Porter would have to beat out six OL on that list. And the Patriots would have to be prepared to have him protect Brady if the unimaginable happened and Neal got injured.

Practice squad is a possibility, along with Bussey.

 

[Jimke]

I would be really shocked if Porter made the team. PS, yes.

The guy doesn't know how to put on pads yet.

The "locks" for the OL include:
Light - Mankins - Koppen - Neal.
Kaczur is an experienced, average RT.
Hochstein is a terrific, versatile back-up.

They usually keep 8-10 OL. Last year it was nine.
So assume those six make it.

Next in line:
Vollmer - second round draft choice
LeVoir - dependable back-up last year
Ohrberger - rookie, four-year college starter
Yates - less dependable back-up
O'Callaghan - experienced back-up
Johnson - experienced center
Bussey - late-round draft choice
Britt - less dependable back-up
Clement - aging vet hanging on

To make the team, Porter would have to beat out six OL on that list. And the Patriots would have to be prepared to have him protect Brady if the unimaginable happened and Neal got injured.

Practice squad is a possibility, along with Bussey.

I will be shocked if Porter is on the team next Monday morning.

I think he will be cut after the rookie camp ends.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

UDFA
QB Brian Hoyer, Michigan State - Reportedly he has bad mechanics and makes questionable decisions, his best bet is to progress enough to earn a shot on the Practice Squad.
LB Antonio Appleby, Virginia - I saw him in one Virginia game and one All-Star game, while he has size and athleticism, he always looked to be having trouble finding the ball.
SS Marcus McClinton, Kentucky - He has a very good chance of finding a slot on the Practice Squad.
CB Jamar Love, Arkansas - He has a very good chance of finding a slot on the Practice Squad.

Tryouts
OL Jermail Porter, Kent State (K.S.U. Wrestler) - This will determine if he gets an invite to Training Camp. If he gets that far, he'll be cut at the end of camp. Neal wasn't immediately signed to the Practice Squad for NE after his first Training Camp, a week after cutdown he was signed by the Eagles to their Practice Squad, he spent most of 2001 on the Eagles Squad before NE signed him to the 53 off the Eagles Squad in December. Neal made the roster the next season. This is just step one of a long process.
P Aaron Perez, UCLA - Malone has been brought back at least twice, Hanson gets panned for his season last year, but it appears he did the job he was asked to do, so this kid has to look better than one of these two just to get invited to camp.
RB/WR Josh Allen, Troy - He is being brought back after an injury last year cost him his tryout, he's showing them something to make them interested.

 

[Ungeheuer]

Obviously Porter isn't going to make the actual team. But he'd be a solid candidate for the practice squad. I don't think it's possible to draw conclusions from Neal's career arc. Among other things they may be more highly motivated this time around to hold on to their project -- if they had it to do over they probably wouldn't have cut Neal loose for Andy Reid to snatch up.

Of course technically they do have to release him to get him to the PS, but I doubt they'll really cut him loose all the way unless he shows absolutely nothing.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Of course technically they do have to release him to get him to the PS, but I doubt they'll really cut him loose all the way unless he shows absolutely nothing.

Remember (as noted in another thread), that if you claim a player off waivers, you have to put him on your 53-man roster. You can't claim another team's rookie and just sign him to your practice squad.

 

[efin98]

Remember (as noted in another thread), that if you claim a player off waivers, you have to put him on your 53-man roster. You can't claim another team's rookie and just sign him to your practice squad.

What about if/when he clears waivers?