Patriots - Inside Slant

The Patriots got their first look at their rookie crop, which included draft picks, undrafted free agents and tryout players.

One of the more intriguing undrafted rookie free agent prospects on hand was Liberty outside linebacker Vince Redd (6-6, 260). Redd began his college career playing for Al Groh at Virginia. But he was suspended for one game for violating team policy in 2005 and was then reportedly dismissed from the squad along with fellow Cavaliers defender Ahmad Brooks for another violation of team policy in March 2006.

Redd transferred to Liberty where after sitting out 2006 he had a very productive 2007 campaign playing for former Groh assistant Danny Rocco’s Flames. Rocco was an associate head coach with Virginia and linebackers coach for five seasons who also worked under Groh with the Jets in 2000.

Last fall, Redd started 10 games for Liberty, registering 67 tackles and a league-high 6.5 sacks. He’s an impressive physical athlete having also played basketball for a short time at Virginia in 2003. He’s been timed a 4.56 in the 40 and brings an impressive 39-inch vertical to the field.

The defense Redd played at both UVA and Liberty has many similarities to the Patriots’ 3-4. He’s aware that he likely earned a free agent look with the Patriots thanks to his connection to Bill Belichick via Groh. Rocco is hoping to make the best of the opportunity.

“Them knowing each other, they can speak to each other and see how I play and my character and stuff like that and how I actually work,” Redd said before acknowledging that his familiarity with the scheme should help him in the early going. “It’s good for me, but I still have to come in here and make my own spot on the team.”

Among tryout players who seemed to make a good impression, North Dakota State punter Mike Dragosavich was signed to a contract shortly after camp ended. The lanky, 6-6, 212-pounder showed great technique while booming several punts that hit the ceiling of the Patriots practice bubble before they hit the ground.

“Mike’s pretty athletic,” Belichick observed. “He’s a tall guy, he can generate some leg speed there.”

Belichick was asked if it more or less difficult to evaluate a punter indoors versus outside in inclement weather. The coach said he was fine with watching kicks indoors, even if they hit the ceiling.

“Even though you don’t get the full punt, you can see when they’re hitting the ball well and when they’re not. You can watch the way the punter drops the ball and the way it contacts his foot. You can get a pretty good idea of what you need to work on, and how much work you have to do.”

Notes, Quotes

• Former Patriots employee Matt Walsh has certified in writing that he turned over all relevant videotapes in his possession to the NFL—the St. Louis Rams walkthrough prior to Super Bowl XXXVI is not among them. Walsh certified in writing that he’s turning over eight stolen tapes, from 2000-2002. The tapes are reportedly of the opposing team’s defensive signals, a violation the Patriots and Bill Belichick confessed to Commissioner Roger Goodell last year.

• Third-round draft choice Shawn Crable, a 6-5, 243-pound linebacker from Michigan, was asked for his first impression of the New England Patriots. “I look at the Patriot logo, and there’s a lot of history there. I’m just trying to be a part of it,” he answered.

Perhaps he already feels at home, thanks to fellow Michigan alumnus Tom Brady, who’s back at Gillette Stadium working out.

“I talked to Tom yesterday and today,” Crable revealed. “Obviously, I’m from Michigan, so he talked to me and joked around a little. He’s a good guy. He was in the training room, just got done working out. He just gave me some advice about what to expect [here in New England] and how to handle myself, take care of my body when I get aches and pains, and other things he’s learned in his years in the NFL.”

Crable also voiced excitement in anticipation of meeting and working with such Pats veteran linebackers as Tedy Bruschi, Mike Vrabel and Adalius Thomas.

• LB Gary Guyton, a 6-3, 242-pound free agent out of Georgia Tech, played both the inside and outside linebacker spots on defense during camp. Like the other rookies, Guyton said afterward that he’s just going to play “wherever the coaches say.” Guyton, by the way, is a distant cousin of former Patriots safety Myron Guyton.

• Patriots special assistant/secondary coach Dom Capers made his New England debut at minicamp, spending much of his time working with impressive second-round pick Terrence Wheatley.

“It’s good to have him,” coach Bill Belichick said of Capers. “I think Dom is a good fundamental coach and this is kind of a fundamental weekend. I think that’s certainly coming out. He’s got a lot of great experience. Just watching him coach, fundamentally, it’s good. It’s good to have him. It’s a good addition.”

• Two players the Patriots had in for tryouts—punter Mike Dragosavich and tight end Tyson DeVree - were signed by the team to undisclosed contracts.

• The Patriots signed second-year nose tackle Steve Fifita and waived rookie offensive tackle Josh Coffman and rookie defensive lineman Carlos Feliciano.

Quote To Note: “One of the things we try to do this weekend (at rookie mini-camp), and would highly recommend it to you and your programs based on my own personal experiences, we just really try to lay it out in terms of what we expect from the player.”—Coach Bill Belichick on what he expects from his players at rookie minicamp.

Strategy And Personnel

Franchise Player: None.

TRANSITION PLAYER: None.

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

• WR Troy Brown played just one game in his 15th season after starting the year on PUP. He may retire, but if he doesn’t the team told him that he’s not in its plans moving forward.

• S Mel Mitchell played in 10 games and is a core special teams-type guy. He might choose to go elsewhere as New England only has room for so many one-dimensional special teamers.

• CB Chad Scott didn’t make it through training camp and has been hurt often. He’s a solid veteran backup and could be back with the team in the market for corner depth.

• LB Junior Seau was expected to get his first Super Bowl ring and retire. The Giants messed that little story up. He was healthy all year and made plays. If he doesn’t retire after his 18th season, the only place he’ll be playing is in New England.

RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.

EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS

• LB Eric Alexander is a decent though injury prone special teamer although he’s yet to show anything on defense, other than of course his still inexplicable start in the 2006 AFC title loss in Indianapolis.

PLAYERS ACQUIRED

• WR Sam Aiken: UFA Bills; $1.555M/2 yrs, $225,000 SB/$40,000 WO; 2008 cap: $757,500.

• CB Fernando Bryant: FA Lions; $776,000/1 yr, $20,000 SB/$20,000 WO; 2008 cap: $491,000.

• LB Victor Hobson: UFA Jets; $645,000/1 yr, $40,000 SB; 2008 cap: $485,000.

• P Scott Player: FA; terms unknown.

• TE Marcus Pollard: UFA Seahawks; terms unknown.

• CB Lewis Sanders: FA Falcons; $770,000/1 yr, $40,000 SB; 2008 cap: $491,000.

• CB Jason Webster: UFA Bills; $800,000/1 yr, $130,000 guaranteed/$70,000 WO.

• S Tank Williams: UFA Vikings; $645,000/1 yr, $40,000 WO; 2008 cap: $491,000.

PLAYERS RE-SIGNED

• T Wesley Britt: ERFA; terms unknown.

• LB Tedy Bruschi: Potential UFA; $4.1M/2 yrs, $1.2M SB; 2008 cap: $1.6M.

• WR Jabar Gaffney: UFA; $1.281M/1 yr, $500,000 SB/$75,000 WO.

• LB Larry Izzo: Potential UFA; $870,000/1 yr, $40,000 SB; 2008 cap: 485,000.

• WR Randy Moss: UFA; $27M/3 yrs, $12M SB/$3M base guarantee; 2008 cap: $6M.

• LS Lonie Paxton: UFA; $880,000/1 yr, $150,000 SB.

• S Ray Ventrone: ERFA; $370,000/1 yr.

• WR Kelley Washington: UFA; $1.855M/2 yrs, $450,000 SB; 2008: $830,000.

• LB Pierre Woods: ERFA; terms unknown.

• DL Mike Wright: RFA; terms unknown (tendered at $1.47M).

PLAYERS LOST

• TE Kyle Brady (released/failed physical).

• LB Rosevelt Colvin (released/failed physical).

• CB Randall Gay: UFA Saints; $12M/4 yrs, $3.75M SB.

• DL Rashad Moore: Not tendered as RFA/Falcons; terms unknown.

• CB Asante Samuel: UFA Eagles; $59.475M/6 yrs, $6M SB/$7M RB 08-09.

• WR Donte Stallworth: UFA Browns; $35M/7 yrs, $10M guaranteed.

• DB Eugene Wilson: UFA Buccaneers; $1.8M/1 yr, $500,000 guaranteed.