MORSE: Patriots Depth, Signings and The Micah Parsons Trade
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Patriots’ veterans Kyle Dugger and Anfernee Jennings played deep into the second half of meaningless Pre-season games, with Dugger playing until the end in the last two games. That is humiliating for veteran players.
Dugger, coming off a severe ankle issue last year, needed off-season surgery to correct the problem. He has been slow to recover and gain back his speed. He has also had problems learning the new defensive scheme being implemented by DC Terrel Williams.
Anfernee Jennings was deemed early in the offseason as not a scheme fit for this defense. He was more of an Edge setting run defender with little or no pass rush ability.
Both players were rumored as being on the trade block. In Karen Guregian’s article on Mass Live she goes into the details on how each player coped with those reports. Both players knew of the reports, but to their credit they played through them, showing their professionalism. Dugger was quoted as “Do my job!” Where have we heard that before? Jennings was out in the community on Saturday, his day off, handing out backpacks to school children, despite the distinct possibility that he would be cut or traded by Tuesday. They both talked about what they could control, going out and showing what they could do.
The Patriots have a known lack of depth. Keeping two veteran players like Jennings and Dugger could have some influence on younger players, showing them how to go about their business, about being professionals. The Patriots chose to keep both players to improve the team’s depth because they play hard, a trait that doesn’t go unnoticed by Vrabel.
The beat reporters are only allowed in for the stretching part of practice and are not allowed to report on what they see other than who is there at the beginning of practice. Christian Gonzalez and Anfernee Jennings were not at the start of practice.
Patriots tweak their Practice Squad by adding four players and releasing three. DB Corey Ballentine, Linebacker Mark Robinson and Defensive Tackles Fabien Lovett and Cory Durden were added to the practice squad amid a series of moves.
Ballentine, 29, was selected by the New York Giants in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL draft at No. 180 overall. The 5-foot-11, 196-pound former Cliff Harris Award winner (Best DB in Country DII, D III or NAIA) out of Washburn University (DII) has appeared in 69 games since then. A veteran of 11 starts in the secondary, Ballentine has also spent time with the New York Jets, Detroit Lions, Atlanta Falcons, Arizona Cardinals, Indianapolis Colts and Green Bay Packers. His career includes 100 tackles, one interception, two forced fumbles and one recovery while averaging 23.7 yards per kickoff return. A superb athlete he would have been one of the top DB performers at this past Combine as he posted a 4.47 40, 6.83 3-Cone (2), 39.6” Vertical Jump (2), and an 11’ 3” Broad Jump (1). The number in parentheses would be his ranking against the 2025 DB class at the combine.
Robinson, 26, landed with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the seventh round of the 2022 class at No. 225 overall. The 5-foot-11, 235-pound linebacker by way of Presbyterian, Southeast Missouri State and Ole Miss was waived by the organization that drafted him during 53-man roster cutdowns. Through 38 games in the AFC North, Robinson totaled 45 tackles, one sack, three forced fumbles and four starts. He has seen 203 snaps on defense and 619 snaps on special teams. At his Pro day he ran a 4.69 40-yard dash and put up 34 reps of 225# Bench Press. That is as strong as the strongest Offensive or Defensive lineman.
Lovett, 25, entered the league as an undrafted free agent with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2024. The 6-foot-4, 315-pound former Mississippi State and Florida State defensive lineman spent the duration of his rookie campaign on the practice squad. After signing a futures contract in February on the heels of Super Bowl LIX, Lovett was waived at the 53-man roster deadline. His leadership and maturity have grown significantly, particularly influenced by personal challenges off the field. He was awarded the Bobby Bowden Award for Leadership at Florida State in 2022. At his Pro Day he ran a 5.1 40-yard dash which is not bad for a player of his size.
Durden, 26, went undrafted to the Lions in 2023. The 6-foot-4, 305-pounder of out of Florida State and North Carolina State later logged a stint with the Los Angeles Rams before being signed to the New York Giants’ 53-man roster in December. He cleared waivers on Wednesday after facing head coach Mike Vrabel’s side in the August finale at MetLife Stadium. Durden stands eight games and 13 tackles into his career across 128 snaps on defense and 37 snaps on special teams.
Mike Reiss was the first to report the DT signings on X.
Scott, 24, was retained on New England’s initial practice squad after being waived during the 53-man cutdown. The 6-foot-4, 240-pound rookie tight end had signed as part of the organization’s 2025 undrafted class in May. He saw 48 offensive snaps in the preseason. A convert from wide receiver, Scott appeared in 52 games at Ohio State, starting 16 and winning a national title. His Buckeyes run included 47 receptions for 393 yards and three touchdowns. I was surprised that Scott was signed to the Practice Squad because he was just a move TE and lacked blocking ability. I predicted the team would keep only 2 TEs and that Jack Westover would join CJ Dippre and Cole Frothingham on the Practice Squad. They would elevate one of the three TEs when it was needed.
Riley, 23, joined the Patriots as an undrafted free agent in May. The 6-foot-4, 228-pound linebacker played 57 snaps on defense to go with 31 snaps on special teams in preseason action. A fumble recovery was logged. Riley spent four years at Auburn before transferring to Florida State in 2024. In all, he recorded 167 tackles, 3.5 sacks and one forced fumble over the course of 58 games and 11 starts. Greg Bedard was a big fan of Riley and had him making the 53-man roster.
The Patriots filled the 17th spot on the Practice Squad, which left some question about their status with Javon Baker. He’s since joined the Eagles’ practice squad. Was there some bad blood between him and the team over his release?
I still think there is an imbalance on the Practice Squad with 4 Defensive Tackles now on the PS. They also have 3 CBs. The Robinson and Ballantine signings are special teams depth signings.
The cost of two 1st round picks and Christian Barmore, to go along with a $47M per year contract was a price the Patriots were not willing to pay. Whether it was cap hit $ or the two 1st Rd picks or the inclusion of a young starter, it was just too much, and I don’t blame them. That was an outrageous price to pay by Green Bay. Parson’s is very good, but is he Reggie White kind of good? I think the draft picks will be at the end of the 1st round and not near where the Patriots picks would have been.
Reports have stated that Green Bay is the only team that offered to trade for Parsons. They got a hell of a player but at what cost?
The Patriots wanted Javon Baker back on their Practice Squad and felt that he would go unclaimed. They were correct in the assumption that he would not get claimed. However, Baker apparenlty felt disrespected by the Patriots cutting him, and he chose a fresh start and signed with the potential Super Bowl contender Philadelphia Eagles.
Good for Baker, who was another screw up by the Patriots Front Office. Baker has been criticized for a lack of production, especially during this Pre-Season and Training Camp. However, upon closer examination, QB Joshua Dobbs should be held accountable for some very poor throws to Baker. He was wide open for a TD, and Dobbs overthrew him. Two other passes in the Giants game, he was open and the throws from Dobbs were off target.
Baker excelled on Special Teams, and I am not sure Charles Woods is any better than Baker on Special Teams. There were plenty of other players who could have been cut from this team if they really wanted Woods.
It was Baker who caused the muffed punt against the New York Giants that led to a turnover. He pushed the player trying to block him back into the punt returner, causing the turnover.
This is another example of players not wanting to play in New England. There is no nightlife in Foxboro. Baker’s rookie contract was 4 years, $4.836M. The States Millionaires tax surtax of 4%, on top of the 5% state income tax, would hit a player like Baker as well. He is no longer making that money as a Practice Squad player, but the Pennsylvania State Tax is only 3.07% .
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