Patriots sign 8 free agents, including Robert Ortiz, Vinny Ciurciu, 4 UDFAs

[KDPPatsfan85]

Patriots sign 8 free agents - Reiss' Pieces - Boston.com

The Patriots signed the following free agents to their roster

# WR Tyree Barnes (rookie, Navy)
# LB Vinnie Ciurciu (7th year, Boston College)
# RB Omar Cuff (1st year, Delaware)
# RB Eric Kettani (rookie, Navy)
# WR Robert Ortiz (first year, San Diego State)
# P Aaron Perez (rookie, UCLA)
# WR Shun White (rookie, Navy)
# DL Steve Williams (2nd year, NW Missouri State)

 

[signbabybrady]

Re: Patriots sign 8 UDFA

by my count one spot left not that you cant release some no name if needed.

 

[patriot lifer]

O boy, a punter!!

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Shun White :woohoo:

 

[Jimke]

My question with regard to the Navy players is whether they will be

able to join the team. My understanding is that they have to stay

on active duty for two years and then may apply for the reserves.

 

[Jimke]

O boy, a punter!!

He didn't look too good on day 1 of minicamp but he was the

6th rated punter (45.1 yard average). I hope he is not a three

step punter.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

My question with regard to the Navy players is whether they will be

able to join the team. My understanding is that they have to stay

on active duty for two years and then may apply for the reserves.

The DOD is working to establish consistent standards between the services. Navy has the two year active service requirement, but Air Force has a program to move them directly to the Reserves; with a new Secretary of the Navy there may be policy changes to allow them to play professional football.

 

[TriplecHamp]

Call it a hunch but Cuff is going to be a keeper IMO.

 

[mojocaster.com]

What a shocker, a bunch of Navy guys

 

[VJCPatriot]

Perez is huge for a punter, 6'4 230 lbs.

Player Bio: Aaron Perez - Football - UCLA OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE

Of note, he was the placeholder as well as punter and a 4 year player at UCLA.

 

[primetime]

Why is Shun White listed as a receiver? He's a running back.

One whose stat line against Towson this past season reads 19 rushes, 348 yards, 3 TDs. He had good games against Pitt and Notre Dame too, so it isn't just small schools. Probably would've been drafted if not for the service academy asterisk, but a good guy to put on a reserve list for a couple years from now. Kettani was really good too, played the same position as Kyle Eckel.

 

[pats1]

Why is Shun White listed as a receiver? He's a running back.

One whose stat line against Towson this past season reads 19 rushes, 348 yards, 3 TDs. He had good games against Pitt and Notre Dame too, so it isn't just small schools. Probably would've been drafted if not for the service academy asterisk, but a good guy to put on a reserve list for a couple years from now. Kettani was really good too, played the same position as Kyle Eckel.

He was a slotback and considered at prospect at WR as well.

 

[Jimke]

Call it a hunch but Cuff is going to be a keeper IMO.

Gained over 1900 yards as a senior.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

NFl Draft Scout player news:

12/20/08 - SL Shun White and FB Eric Kettani, the first classmates ever to have 2,000-yard careers, come into the bowl game with 2,240 and 2,041 yards rushing, respectively.

 

[Jimke]

For the next 4 months, the roster will be tweaked.

 

[efin98]

What happened between February and now that allowed Ketanni to be signed by the Patriots? He's the same guy who was told NO! by the Navy when he asked to participate in the NFL Combine back in February...

Navy denies fullback Kettani permission to participate in NFL combine -- baltimoresun.com

 

[drew4008]

May as well sign the rest of the Navy offense, hoooly...

 

[mosi]

Call it a hunch but Cuff is going to be a keeper IMO.

I agree. Baby Westbrook is what they called him. I think he could be our Faulk replacement.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

What happened between February and now that allowed Ketanni to be signed by the Patriots? He's the same guy who was told NO! by the Navy when he asked to participate in the NFL Combine back in February...

Navy denies fullback Kettani permission to participate in NFL combine -- baltimoresun.com

Note the article date in the URL.

Obama Taps Mabus for Navy Secretary | 44 | washingtonpost.com

 

[Fencer]

Eckel was ordered to stay in. He was eventually kicked out for, one presumes, footdragging about his duties.

With the stress on the services these days, guys aren't being let out of their service commitments the way they used to be.

HOWEVER, BB worked out a way for Eckel and I presume any other Navy grad to serve two masters, with a specific local posting. The analogue of same wasn't available to Eckel after Miami claimed him off waivers.