Yates: C Dustin Woodard re-instated to active roster

mgteich said:

with 90 players participating in drills, how many centers do we need?

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Its 3 sets for most groups so 3 centers. They usually go with 16 OLs on 90 TC roster.
There are currently 4 centers on the roster (2 of them proven vet starters) before Draft and UDFA - historically deep w OL prospects..

Maybe the real reason for stepping away a year wasn’t a loss of passion for the sport. If it was, it would make very little sense for NE to bring him back to a coach who prioritizes “love of them fame / being into football”. Perhaps it was an easy way of explaining another, more sensitive issue.

In any event, I echo posters who wonder why they are bothering.

What round was Andrew’s drafted in again?

farn said:

Maybe the real reason for stepping away a year wasn’t a loss of passion for the sport. If it was, it would make very little sense for NE to bring him back to a coach who prioritizes “love of them fame / being into football”. Perhaps it was an easy way of explaining another, more sensitive issue.

In any event, I echo posters who wonder why they are bothering.

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I think if you put someone on the retired list and they wish to unretire, you have to take them back. So the reason why might be moot.

Front runner IMO.


No, but really is this kid any good?

long distance said:

Its 3 sets for most groups so 3 centers. They usually go with 16 OLs on 90 TC roster.
There are currently 4 centers on the roster (2 of them proven vet starters) before Draft and UDFA - historically deep w OL prospects..

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I mean, why not? Maybe he turns into a gem and spends the year on the PS, then becomes the C/G backup next year. If not, he's cut.
I don't understand the consternation about this.

If you stayed out for the year with covid you were forwarded money, that you were supposed to pay back. Unless that changed.

versatile, athletic, good run block grades.....was undersized

if he kept himself in shape, if he added some bulk....it's a no brainer to see what he's got, they obviously had some plans for him when they drafted him

betterthanthealternative said:

I mean, why not? Maybe he turns into a gem and spends the year on the PS, then becomes the C/G backup next year. If not, he's cut.
I don't understand the consternation about this.

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1. roster spots are limited - if anything they have to make room for Draft & UDFA additions
2. watched his tape
3. watched tapes of 2021 IOL class, Draft and UDFA

Its quite full & competitive roster already. Its deep & quality IOL class imo. So i was surprised. Just my personal surprise they'd want to do that at this point in time with a player/situation like that, nothing major.. But as @FreeTedWilliams posted, maybe its the case they had to do it. We will see soon enough as roster picture will have to clear significantly around Draft time.

long distance said:

But as @FreeTedWilliams posted, maybe its the case they had to do it.

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This is my best guess at this point. Because he retired, he's still under contract if he decides to un-retire, so they have to take him back at first. Now, with him aboard, they don't need to cut him until they need the roster spot (likely after the draft/UDFA period). Worth keeping him until you see who you pick up as TC centers in those areas, and easy to move on from if you get a kid you like better as a prospect.

Sicilian said:

This is my best guess at this point. Because he retired, he's still under contract if he decides to un-retire, so they have to take him back at first. Now, with him aboard, they don't need to cut him until they need the roster spot (likely after the draft/UDFA period). Worth keeping him until you see who you pick up as TC centers in those areas, and easy to move on from if you get a kid you like better as a prospect.

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The more I researched it, I think you are right, if someone unretires, the original team retains his rights, so they either have to take him back on his current contract or cut him. So I think you are right, the Pats lose nothing by letting him come back. Maybe some other team tosses them a 7th for him late in camp.

long distance said:

1. roster spots are limited - if anything they have to make room for Draft & UDFA additions
2. watched his tape
3. watched tapes of 2021 IOL class, Draft and UDFA

Its quite full & competitive roster already. Its deep & quality IOL class imo. So i was surprised. Just my personal surprise they'd want to do that at this point in time with a player/situation like that, nothing major.. But as @FreeTedWilliams posted, maybe its the case they had to do it. We will see soon enough as roster picture will have to clear significantly around Draft time.

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The roster isn't quite full yet and they can cut him any minute of any day the moment they decide his roster spot would be better used on someone else. There really isn't anything to lose by keeping him until they absolutely need to cut him.

Would at least consider keeping him over Marcus Martin as the #3 camp center. Keep in mind that our other OL picks last year were massive successes, and Woodard could have graded out similarly.

officially unsurprised

Who's going to start the "Dustin Woodard Appreciation" thread?

ctpatsfan77 said:

He and Karras will battle it out for primary IOL backup. It's not impossible he makes the 53 outright.

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It is now.

Yet another personel blunder by this team...

Yeah, the Patriots are the only NFL team in which a 7th round draft pick does not become a starter, or solid contributor.

Let's pick any year, or any team.

How about 2015, that gives us some time to see what happened.

7th round:
Eleven draftees never played a single NFL game.
22 had a career of 20 or fewer games.
31 out of 38 are no longer in the NFL.
None are still with the team that drafted him.

The data doesn't change much when you move up a round earlier either.

6th round:
Seven draftees never played a single NFL game.
23 had a career of 16 or fewer games.
36 out of 40 are no longer in the NFL.
None are still with the team that drafted him.

long distance said:

officially unsurprised

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Woodard: "Hi Bill, I'm ready to play."

Bill: "Great! But you're not playing on my team."

denverpatsfan said:

Yet another personel blunder by this team...

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He had a chance until Andrews signed that deal, with Karras behind him.

He still has a chance to come back on the PS, possibly, depending on injury.

Also, there's no such thing as a "blunder" in the 7th round, unless you were talking about them reinstating him, which was probably some procedural thing.

denverpatsfan said:

Yet another personel blunder by this team...

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Impossible to say without knowing the circumstances