Today in Patriots History
Pats sign Roman Phifer, and other August 3rd News
Aug 3, 2024:
Aug 3, 2023:
The Patriots now have two open spots on their 90-man roster after waiving an injured linebacker.
www.bostonherald.com
The Patriots waived linebacker Terez Hall with an injury designation on Thursday. Hall has been missing from Patriots practice sessions...
The Patriots released a veteran linebacker Thursday, reportedly making the move after he suffered an injury early in training camp.
nesn.com
The Patriots released veteran linebacker Terez Hall on Thursday, bringing an end to his latest stint in New England.
The decision to part ways with Hall reportedly came after he suffered an injury early in training camp, as Mike Reiss of ESPN noted it came with an injury designation. The 26-year-old collided with running back/wide receiver Ty Montgomery last week, with neither having practiced since.
Hall bounced around different designations by the Patriots, never quite carving out a role for himself on the active roster.
He was originally signed by New England as a rookie free agent in 2019 before spending the entire year on the practice squad. He returned to the practice squad in 2020, but was signed to the active roster and eventually played in eight games. The 2021 season would be a lost one, as he spent it on the reserve/physically unable to perform list before eventually making a return to the practice squad for the final three weeks of the 2022 season.
Aug 3, 2022:
Bill Belichick has added another linebacker to the team's training camp roster.
www.masslive.com
The team is reportedly signing UDFA rookie linebacker Nate Wieland following a workout on Tuesday.
Wieland began his college career at Iowa before transferring to Grand View University. He was at rookie minicamp with New England in May.
The 6-foot-4, 234-pounder led Grand View on defense as the team’s middle linebacker in 2020 and 2021, picking up a team-high 70 tackles last season. He helped lead Grand View to a record of 14-1 and a berth in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) title game in 2021. Wieland earned All-American honors at the end of the season.
He is facing an uphill climb to crack the 53-man roster in Foxborough. Ja’Whaun Bentley, Anfernee Jennings, Matthew Judon, Harvey Langi, Cameron McGrone, Raekwon McMillan, Ronnie Perkins, Jahlani Tavai, Josh Uche and Mack Wilson are currently in the linebacker room.
Aug 3, 2018:
The new Patriots receiver is excited to be reunited with Josh McDaniels, who drafted him in Denver in 2010.
www.bostonglobe.com
The new Patriots receiver is excited to be reunited with Josh McDaniels, who drafted him in Denver in 2010.
Veteran wide receiver Eric Decker is officially on board with the team.
www.patriotledger.com
Eric Decker, 31, is a veteran of eight NFL seasons with the Denver Broncos (2010-13), New York Jets (2014-16) and Tennessee Titans (2017). The 6-foot-3, 214-pounder originally entered the NFL as a third-round draft pick (87th overall) of Denver out of Minnesota in the 2010 NFL Draft. He signed with the Jets as an unrestricted free agent in 2014. After three seasons with the Jets he was released in June of 2017 and spent last season with Tennessee. Last year with the Titans, Decker played in 16 games with eight starts and finished with 54 receptions for 563 yards with one touchdown. He played in both postseason games with one start and posted eight receptions for 106 yards and one touchdown.
During his eight NFL seasons, Decker has accumulated 439 receptions for 5,816 yards and 53 touchdowns in 111 games with 83 starts. He registered three 1,000-yard seasons with 1,064 receiving yards in 2012, 1,288 yards in 2013 and 1,027 yards in 2015. In addition, he has returned 25 kicks for 628 yards. Decker has also played in seven postseason games with six starts and tallied 22 receptions for 301 yards and one touchdown.
Aug 3, 2015:
The New England Patriots have four open spots on their 90-man roster as they prepare for their second week of training camp. The Patriots waived offensive lineman Kevin Hughes and defensive tackle Vince Taylor on Monday. Hughes was waived/injured, meaning he will revert to injured reserve if...
nesn.com
The Patriots waived offensive lineman Kevin Hughes and defensive tackle Vince Taylor on Monday. Hughes was waived/injured, meaning he will revert to injured reserve if he’s not picked up by another team Tuesday. Hughes left Saturday’s practice early with what appeared to be a shoulder injury.
Taylor was waived with a failed physical designation. He was placed on the physically unable to perform list before camp began last Monday.
The Patriots cut cornerbacks Derek Cox and Justin Green and linebacker D.J. Lynch on Saturday. The team also claimed offensive lineman Harland Gunn off waivers from the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.
Aug 3, 2014:
James Morris, a rookie fee-agent linebacker from Iowa, originally signed with the Pats back in May.
www.patriotledger.com
The New England Patriots have re-signed rookie LB James Morris. Morris was originally signed by the Patriots on May 16, 2014, as a rookie free agent out of Iowa and was released on May 20, 2014.
Morris, 22, was just the sixth player in Iowa history to record 400 career tackles after finishing with 400 tackles, 10½ sacks and six interceptions as a three-year starter. The 6-foot-2, 240-pounder was named a team captain in 2013 and started in all 13 games and finished second on the team with 107 total tackles, eight sacks and four interceptions.
Aug 3, 2013:
FOXBORO, Mass. — The Patriots released a pair of players on Saturday. Offensive lineman Elvis Fisher, an undrafted rookie from the University of Missouri, and wide receiver Lavasier Tuinei, who was just signed on Thursday, were released by the team on Saturday. Tuinei wasn’t present at Patriots...
nesn.com
Offensive lineman Elvis Fisher, an undrafted rookie from the University of Missouri, and wide receiver Lavasier Tuinei, who was just signed on Thursday, were released by the team on Saturday.
Tuinei wasn’t present at Patriots practice on Saturday. Fisher was on the field for the scrimmage, but he was limited after spending much of Friday’s practice on the exercise bike.
The Patriots’ roster is now down to just 88 players as they prepare to travel to Philadelphia for some joint practices with the Eagles and their first preseason game next week.
Aug 3, 2011:
Patriots fans got some good news on Wednesday afternoon, with the team announcing the re-signing of runningback BenJarvus Green-Ellis.
www.patsfans.com
Patriots fans got some good news on Wednesday afternoon, with the team announcing the re-signing of runningback BenJarvus Green-Ellis.
The Patriots runningback rushed for over 1,000 yards last season, finishing with 1008 yards on 229 carries, along with 13 rushing touchdowns - the third highest rushing touchdown total by a Patriots player. He started 11 of 16 games.
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The Patriots have announced the re-signing of running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis, as well as the signings of veteran guard/centers Chris Morris and Jonathan Compas and undrafted rookie running back Richard Medlin (Fayetteville State).
www.espn.com
The Patriots have announced the re-signing of running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis, as well as the signings of veteran guard/centers Chris Morris and Jonathan Compas and undrafted rookie running back Richard Medlin (Fayetteville State).
Morris, 28, worked out for the Patriots on Tuesday. He was originally drafted in the seventh round by the Raiders in 2006, and spent four seasons in Oakland before joining the Panthers in 2010. He has played in 51 career games, making 11 starts.
Compas, 25, entered the league as an undrafted free agent with the Raiders, and played in two games as a reserve with the Buccaneers in 2009. He was released by Tampa Bay on September 24, 2010 and spent the remainder of the season out of football.
Both Morris and Compas will add depth to an interior of the Patriots offensive line that had only eight players in uniform for Tuesday's practice. The unit will be bolstered by the return of re-signed free agents Matt Light and Logan Mankins, but center/guard Ryan Wendell was out of practice on Tuesday and his status is unclear.
The team also confirmed the previously reported release of running back Thomas Clayton while announcing that rookie free agent guard Mike Berry has also been waived. Berry had not yet practiced after opening training camp on the Active/Non-Football Injury list.
Aug 3, 2009:
The New England Patriots made quarterback moves Monday as they announced the signing of veteran Andrew Walter and the release of three-year backup Matt Gutierrez. Walter spent the last four seasons in Oakland after joining the Raiders as a third round pick out of Arizona State in 2005. Walter...
nesn.com
The New England Patriots made quarterback moves Monday as they announced the signing of veteran Andrew Walter and the release of three-year backup Matt Gutierrez.
Walter spent the last four seasons in Oakland after joining the Raiders as a third round pick out of Arizona State in 2005. Walter, who was waived by Oakland on July 30, has started nine of 15 games and completed 174 of 333 passes for 1,919 yards and three touchdowns in his career. In 2006 alone, he played in 12 games and completed 147 of 276 passes for 1,677 yards and three touchdowns.
Gutierrez joined the Patriots as a rookie free agent out of Idaho State in 2007 and made the team as the third quarterback. He played in five games as a rookie, completing one pass for 15 yards at Miami.
In signing Andrew Walter and releasing Matt Gutierrez, the Patriots opted for more experience on the QB depth chart.
www.boston.com
In signing Andrew Walter and releasing Matt Gutierrez, the Patriots put a priority on adding more experience behind quarterback Tom Brady.
Walter, who enters his fifth season and has nine career starts on his resume, has been on the field more than Gutierrez (0 starts). With projected No. 2 option Kevin O’Connell (0 starts) entering his second season — and Brady returning from a serious knee injury — adding a player who has started in regular-season action probably increases the team’s comfort level at the position.
The club had also worked out five-year veteran Cleo Lemon last Friday.
Walter will likely slide into the No. 3 spot on the depth chart, although it’s possible he could push O’Connell for the No. 2 role. When considering the statistics he compiled in Oakland (3 TDs, 16 INT), it should be noted that he had four different head coaches and multiple systems to learn, which are factors that can stunt development.
The Patriots released Walter 32 days later.
Aug 3, 2005:
The Patriots signed rookie free agent defensive lineman Tom Sverchek today. Additionally, the team released rookie wide receiver Rich Musinski.
Sverchek, 23, was originally signed by the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent on April 29, 2005. He was waived by the Bills on Thursday, July 28. The 6-foot-3-inch, 300-pound defensive lineman attended the University of California at Berkeley, where he played in 36 games, notching 74 tackles (45 solo) with eight sacks, a fumble recovery and two pass deflections. Sverchek is a native of San Luis Obispo, Calif.
Musinski, 24, was signed by the Patriots on July 28, 2005. He was originally signed by the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent on April 26, 2004. The 5-foot-11-inch, 199-pound receiver played in three preseason games for the Titans in 2004 and recorded one reception for five yards. He was released by Tennessee in the final preseason roster cuts on Sept. 5, 2004.
Aug 3, 2001:
SMITHFIELD, R.I. -- The New England Patriots signed veteran linebacker Roman Phifer yesterday. Terms of the contract were not announced. The 33-year-old Phifer, a free agent, started 11 of 16 gam…
www.southcoasttoday.com
The New England Patriots signed veteran linebacker Roman Phifer yesterday.
The 33-year-old Phifer, a free agent, started 11 of 16 games at outside linebacker for the New York Jets last season. He had 45 tackles, four sacks and one forced fumble.
Phifer was released by the Jets in February to clear salary-cap space.
Phifer, out of UCLA, was selected in the second round of the 1991 draft by the Los Angeles Rams. He played his first eight seasons with the Rams, four in Los Angeles and four in St. Louis before signing with the New York Jets as a free agent in 1999.
In 10 NFL seasons, Pfifer started 134 of 151 games and has 915 career tackles, including 23? sacks. He has forced 12 fumbles and is credited with four recoveries.
Also, the Patriots waived punter Dan Hadenfeldt.
The 24-year-old Hadenfeldt was signed by the Patriots as a rookie free agent on April 27th. He had 104 punts for 4,632 yards and a 44.5 average at Nebraska.
