Schefter: Pats meet with RB Kevin Jones

[spacecrime]

I think, because of how PUP works, this is almost literally impossible; a player has to pass a physical in order to be signed (this is apparently one reason why Colvin hasn't received any offers yet), but a player cannot be put on PUP if he practices at any point. So, in order to do this, you'd have to find a way for the player to be healthy enough to practice now, but not healthy enough for mini-camps or TC.

This isn't true. A player does NOT have to pass a physical in order to be signed. Many times (most times) a team will not sign a player unless they pass a physical, but it is NOT a rquirement.

They could sign him and PUP him.

 

[Terry Glenn is a cowgirl]

I’m not trying to break the bank, but I’m not about to go anywhere just to go, just because there’s a team out there and I haven’t gotten picked up yet,” Jones said. “I know my worth. A lot of the teams know my worth, but they figure, ‘OK, you’re hurt right now. We’ll bring you in.’ They’re just going to lowball you. But that’s not happening with me.”

No teabaggin' huh?

 

[DarrylS]

Kevin Jones would be a nice addition for this team is he is signed for the right money.. we have not made all that many offensive changes this year and he might mix it up a bit..

 

[Va_Pats_Fan]

This isn't true. A player does NOT have to pass a physical in order to be signed. Many times (most times) a team will not sign a player unless they pass a physical, but it is NOT a rquirement.

They could sign him and PUP him.

Didn't we do that with a CB from Miami last year..someone..a name? escaping me.....

 

[Clonamery]

Eddie Jackson

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Kevin Jones would be a nice addition for this team is he is signed for the right money.. we have not made all that many offensive changes this year and he might mix it up a bit..

Chad Jackson, David Thomas, and Sammy Morris say hi.

 

[Pats726]

This isn't true. A player does NOT have to pass a physical in order to be signed. Many times (most times) a team will not sign a player unless they pass a physical, but it is NOT a rquirement.

They could sign him and PUP him.

Also PUP ONLY has to do with training camp...a player can pracitice rehab all he wants before..BUT if he is NOT ready he can be PUPed. IF he practices ONE TIME in training camp..he is can not be PUPed.

 

[12+81=TD]

I think Jones would be a great pick-up, 25 years old.

Morris and Faulk are not spring chickens by any means, time to groom a backup?

 

[Kontradiction]

Looks like we'll be looking at some two RB sets out of the Shotgun a lot more this year. Faulk and Jones together with Moss, Jackson, and Welker would be potent.

 

[AFPatsFan12]

Kevin Jones would be a nice addition for this team is he is signed for the right money.. we have not made all that many offensive changes this year and he might mix it up a bit..

meh, there are better uses for a roster spot, imho, but if you can get him cheap, what the hell....

and also, I would hope a team that set every NFL record on the planet for offense last year didn't make "all that many changes..."

 

[bradmahn]

Looks like we'll be looking at some two RB sets out of the Shotgun a lot more this year. Faulk and Jones together with Moss, Jackson, and Welker would be potent.

I'd like to see more two RB sets, anyway. Morris and Faulk have both shown consistency when catching the ball and Maroney has impressed with the few opportunities he's had while all three bring different aspects to the running game. If I recall correctly, Morris also has experience as a lead blocker. Two of any of those three would be a welcomed wrinkle in the offense (and Jones also provides that type of versatility if he is signed, although that looks unlikely to me).

It's gonna be a long two months 'til training camp.

As an aside, I don't think it's a given that the Patriots will carry Heath Evans as a FB this season. Last year, they used a FB on 171 of 1057 plays (according to Reiss). The same trend continued for most of the playoffs as he participated in about 20% of plays in the games against the Jags, Chargers and Giants (although he saw only 7 snaps in the Super Bowl, which skews the numbers slightly). He's not particularly effective running the ball and isn't utilized enough in the passing game to warrant a spot because of that and is merely a solid in-line blocker, so why is he considered a lock? It wouldn't surprise me if Morris or Eckel see more snaps at FB during training camp and Evans doesn't make the team. This is more a scenario that I see unfolding if they were to bring in another RB and/or if they only wanted to carry four backs (and obviously Eckel would have to seriously woo a lot of people, consistently, to win a spot over Evans or another in the backfield).

 

[signbabybrady]

I'd like to see more two RB sets, anyway. Morris and Faulk have both shown consistency when catching the ball and Maroney has impressed with the few opportunities he's had while all three bring different aspects to the running game. If I recall correctly, Morris also has experience as a lead blocker. Two of any of those three would be a welcomed wrinkle in the offense (and Jones also provides that type of versatility if he is signed, although that looks unlikely to me).

It's gonna be a long two months 'til training camp.

As an aside, I don't think it's a given that the Patriots will carry Heath Evans as a FB this season. Last year, they used a FB on 171 of 1057 plays (according to Reiss). The same trend continued for most of the playoffs as he participated in about 20% of plays in the games against the Jags, Chargers and Giants (although he saw only 7 snaps in the Super Bowl, which skews the numbers slightly). He's not particularly effective running the ball and isn't utilized enough in the passing game to warrant a spot because of that and is merely a solid in-line blocker, so why is he considered a lock? It wouldn't surprise me if Morris or Eckel see more snaps at FB during training camp and Evans doesn't make the team. This is more a scenario that I see unfolding if they were to bring in another RB and/or if they only wanted to carry four backs (and obviously Eckel would have to seriously woo a lot of people, consistently, to win a spot over Evans or another in the backfield).

The reason everyone considers Evans a lock is despite his lack of PT it is nice to have him for those 100+ plays instead of using a Richard Seymour.

Eckel will give him a good run for his money as Eckel is the better STer and if he can close the gap with the little things like blitz pick up and pass catching than it will be his job. I think he will do it too. You heard it hear first Eckel will beat out Evans for the FB role this year.

I am a little biased as Eckel impressed me at a training camp a few years back and I have been in the fan club ever since. He was practicing in the Training camp practices like he was constantly being enraged by a drill sergeant and he was taking the anger and using against the LBs in one on one drills he even kinda stomped on Chad Browns face(not intentially) one time as they engaged and Brown went down.

 

[captain stone]

meh, there are better uses for a roster spot, imho, but if you can get him cheap, what the hell....

and also, I would hope a team that set every NFL record on the planet for offense last year didn't make "all that many changes..."

But if you look at the current roster, there has only been one RB added since the end of the season, for a grand total of 6. That may be enough for these passing camps and mini-camps, but that's just not enough for full-pads, real-speed TC.

What really sucks is that off-season roster limits are now set at 80, with no exemptions for NFLE players. IDK if unsigned draft picks are included, because I counted 81 players at the NEP web site.
http://www.patriots.com/team/index.cfm?ac=rosters&print=yes&SortResults=1&SortDirection=ASC&pn=1

IMO, the off-season roster limit should be re-set to 90. Don't be surprised to hear of more injuries to starters during TC than in recent years, because those players have to take more snaps than they should, because there is nobody else available to take them.

If Kevin Jones is too rich for our blood, then the FO should consider the likes of: Anthony Thomas, Verron Haynes, Mike Anderson, Samkon Gado, Josh Scobey, Alvin Pearman, Ciatrick Fason, Kevan Barlow, Tony Fisher, Eric Shelton, or even Shaun Alexander.

Edit: I forgot to mention that missing from the above list are the names of Musa Smith and Michael Pittman. They recently signed with the r-a-t-s and donkeys, respectively. If the FO is thinking of bringing in another vet RB, it should act soon before all the decent ones are gone. If the Price is Right (for both sides), of course.

 

[captain stone]

What really sucks is that off-season roster limits are now set at 80, with no exemptions for NFLE players. IDK if unsigned draft picks are included, because I counted 81 players at the NEP web site.
http://www.patriots.com/team/index.cfm?ac=rosters&print=yes&SortResults=1&SortDirection=ASC&pn=1

IMO, the off-season roster limit should be re-set to 90. Don't be surprised to hear of more injuries to starters during TC than in recent years, because those players have to take more snaps than they should, because there is nobody else available to take them.

It feels strange to quote myself, but Mike Reiss' latest entry discusses this very dilemna. IIRC, TC rosters used to exceed 90 or even 100 during the 60s and 70s. IMO, the owners are doing a safety and health disservice to the players by not expanding the TC roster limit.

 

[Fencer]

Here's an interesting exercise.

For each of Maroney, Morris, and Faulk, pick the season in which they got the most carries that they actually played well (for Faulk, that probably would not be the season in which he got the most carries ever). Add up those numbers.

I don't think there will be a huge margin of error vs. the number of carries we want from the RB position.

This is a position where more depth would be nice to have.

 

[bradmahn]

Here's an interesting exercise.

For each of Maroney, Morris, and Faulk, pick the season in which they got the most carries that they actually played well (for Faulk, that probably would not be the season in which he got the most carries ever). Add up those numbers.

I don't think there will be a huge margin of error vs. the number of carries we want from the RB position.

This is a position where more depth would be nice to have.

Forgive me for thinking this is a pointless endeavor that is not predictive of anything.

 

[Leave No Doubt]

The reason everyone considers Evans a lock is despite his lack of PT it is nice to have him for those 100+ plays instead of using a Richard Seymour.

Eckel will give him a good run for his money as Eckel is the better STer and if he can close the gap with the little things like blitz pick up and pass catching than it will be his job. I think he will do it too. You heard it hear first Eckel will beat out Evans for the FB role this year.

I am a little biased as Eckel impressed me at a training camp a few years back and I have been in the fan club ever since. He was practicing in the Training camp practices like he was constantly being enraged by a drill sergeant and he was taking the anger and using against the LBs in one on one drills he even kinda stomped on Chad Browns face(not intentially) one time as they engaged and Brown went down.

I remember when Saban snatched Kyle Eckel up right after BB had cut him as a roster move IIRC, then Eckel never played. I forget the exact details but didn't Saban's move mess up his naval career, and in the end he owed something like $90,000 to the Navy? And never playing in Miami probably set him back a bit on the field too. I'm glad he's finally back here, and I agree about him being impressive. He also got some pretty good playing time last year so he should continue to improve.

 

[RayClay]

Why in the world would you cut an experienced, proven player for someone who's proven nothing in the league?

Evans can do everything Eckel can do and usually better, including special teams ( Evans had 3 tackles in the upset over San Diego. Eckel has done very well on special teams. If there's a screw up, or loose ball, I'd give the nod to the proven veteran).

If they were equal, having a smart veteran would tip the balance, but Evans is a better blocker and receiver and more proven runner and special teams player.

Evans was a 3rd round pick who would immediately be picked up if we cut him while Eckel was undrafted and has been cut more than once.

I have nothing against Eckel, but......

 

[Crazyeechrispats1]

Kevin Jones would be a great signing, he could easily make our running game elite splitting carries with Maroney and Morris.
He can receive he has electric speed.
Imagine this goal line formation, Kevin Jones and Laurence Maroney in the backfield one to the left one out to the right Watson behind the qb to block, Moss out to the left, Jackson out to the right, Welker in the slot, and Oconnel at QB with his speed.
What would the defense think?

 

[Deus Irae]

Kevin Jones would be a great signing, he could easily make our running game elite splitting carries with Maroney and Morris.
He can receive he has electric speed.
Imagine this goal line formation, Kevin Jones and Laurence Maroney in the backfield one to the left one out to the right Watson behind the qb to block, Moss out to the left, Jackson out to the right, Welker in the slot, and Oconnel at QB with his speed.
What would the defense think?

The defense would think something like:

"Belichick pulled Brady? He must have lost his bloody mind!"