Stanford cornerback and return specialist T.J. Rushing is one of over a half dozen versatile players who have caught the attention of New England scouts. The Patriots have already spent time with this playmaker to get a closer look at what he could do so help the team both defensively and as a threat on special teams. Get inside to learn more about this "burner."
Patriots Draft: Rushing Has The Speed
News and notes from around the web. The newswire reports today include information on Adam Vinatieri, Ty Law, Martin Gramatica, Randall Gay and more.
Patriots Newswire Update: 4/12
The New England Patriots re-signed backup fullback Heath Evans on Monday. The 6-foot, 250-pound Evans joined the Patriots midway through last season, playing in six games. He rushed for 192 yards on 51 carries. The six-year NFL veteran began the season in Miami. Evans played at Auburn and was the 82nd pick in the 2001 draft.
Patriots re-sign Heath Evans (AP)
Teams in the AFC East have been busy adjusting rosters, signing free agents and working out new deals to solidify their roster for 2006. The Buffalo Bills continue to work on repairing their offensive line. The Dolphins made a bold move at quarterback. The Patriots lost some top talent, and the Jets have finally resolved the John Abraham issue. Team needs and roster moves are as follows:
AFC East: Player Moves and Team Needs (Scout.com)
A total of 32 compensatory choices in the 2006 NFL Draft have been awarded to 19 teams, the NFL announced. The Patriots manged to acquire two more late round picks, while division rivals Buffalo and New York Jets each received one. The Baltimore Ravens received the most with 4 picks.
Patriots Receive Two Compensatory Picks
Some are wondering why Pittsburgh's Greg Lee didn't return to collegiate football for another season. His reasoning makes perfect sense. And he's poised to potentially be one of the steals of the 2006 NFL Draft. If the Patriots are looking for a future David Givens, Lee could be their guy.
NFL Draft: Pittsburgh WR Greg Lee
The Patriots re-signed one of their own today. Exclusive Rights Free Agent (EFRA) safety Guss Scott agreed to terms according to a report released by the team.
Patriots Re-sign DB Guss Scott
Sometimes the Patriots go to a pro day looking for a reason to draft -- or not draft -- a particular player. Many times when they're there, one of the prospects who was not on their radar screen does something to catch scout's attention. That was the case with Missouri linebacker Derrick Ming, who worked out for scouts as a linebacker, then moved to fullback and strutted some of his old moves. A versatile athlete, Ming is willing to do what it takes to make it in the NFL.
NFL Draft: Versatile LB Catches Scout's Eye
The New England Patriots, or "Pats" as frequently referred to by sports writers and fans, are a professional American football team based in Foxborough, Massachusetts. They currently belong to the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference (AFC) in the National Football League (NFL). Originally called the Boston Patriots, the ownership changed location name after relocating the team to Foxborough in 1971.
After forming in 1960, the Patriots advanced to the playoffs four times before their first Super Bowl appearance: Super Bowl XX in 1986. The team also lost Super Bowl XXXI in 1997. However, between 2001 and 2005, the Patriots became the second team in NFL history (after the Dallas Cowboys) to win 3 Super Bowls in 4 years (Super Bowl XXXVI, XXXVIII, and XXXIX). Additionally, the Patriots are the seventh team in NFL history to win back to back Super Bowls (XXXVIII and XXXIX respectively).