Patriots expected to sign DL Alan Branch

[Ross12]

When did we sign Marky Mark??? He can take down Decepticons, surely he can take on Mr. Mallard...

 

[Marinlik]

http://nesn.com/2014/10/report-alan-branch-finally-signs-with-patriots-will-practice-wednesday/

I expected this. Don't know why there was a blip, but I didn't expect it to be permanent.

Branch, Ayers and Casillas. Nice mid-season infusion on defense, at extremely low cost and likely cap hit.

What I really like about these additions to our defense is that they should allow us to use our key pieces(Hightower, Collins, etc) as we want, instead of being forced to use them one way or another because we don't have any depth.

 

[meatface]

So Skinner will probably be resigned to the practice squad no?

 

[SVN]

Yes! Manning must have wasted so much time gameplanning for skinner.

 

[mayoclinic]

So Skinner will probably be resigned to the practice squad no?

I hope so. He's not bad as a 2-down run stuffer. I'd be pretty happy with Skinner and Fleming on the PS for LB depth, instead of on the 53 man roster.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

What move did the Pats make (if any announced yet) for Casilias?

 

[JMC00]

What move did the Pats make (if any announced yet) for Casilias?

OL Chris Barker.

 

[Deus Irae]

What move did the Pats make (if any announced yet) for Casilias?

Davis released for Ayers
Barker released for Casillas
Skinner released for Branch

 

[mayoclinic]

Davis released for Ayers
Barker released for Casillas
Skinner released for Branch

Talk about an upgrade in personnel. I had to think for a minute about who "Davis" even was.

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

Branch will now be subject to a two-game fine, with a maximum forfeiture of $50,000. Barring unusual circumstances, Branch won’t be suspended.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/10/29/branch-resolves-dui-charge/

 

[Kontradiction]

Drink it in, fellas. Branch is officially on the team.

 

[mayoclinic]

Branch will now be subject to a two-game fine, with a maximum forfeiture of $50,000. Barring unusual circumstances, Branch won’t be suspended.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/10/29/branch-resolves-dui-charge/

That may at least partially account for the delay in signing Branch. The PFT article notes: "The Patriots didn’t mandate resolution of the case before signing him, but the source says the Pats preferred it." Perhaps the Pats preferred to wait a week and get this resolved, rather than signing Branch and then potentially losing him for 2 weeks. Just a thought. Obviously other factors (conditioning, game specific plans for Chicago) could have been involved as well.