The New England Patriots announced that the team signed unrestricted free agent running back Lamont Jordan today. Terms of the deal were not available.
Jordan was recently released by the Raiders after a three-year stint in Oakland. Originally selected by the New York Jets in the second round (49th overall) of the 2001 NFL Draft, Jordan spent four years in New York (2001-04) before signing a huge free agent deal with Oakland.
The Raiders opted to part ways with Jordan after they couldn’t find a trade partner. The team instructed Jordan not to report to camp this week. Instead of trading him, the team waived him on Friday July 25.
The 5-foot-10, 230-pound veteran running back joins the crowded backfield in Foxborough consisting of Laurence Maroney, Sammy Morris, Kevin Faulk and rookie BenJarvus Green-Ellis. How and where Jordan fits will get sorted out in training camp. For now, the Patriots are just happy to have another talented back on the roster that will push the players already here.
To make room for Jordan, the Patriots released wide receiver Robert Ortiz. The San Diego State pass catcher was signed by the Patriots on May 15, 2008 as a free agent.
Tom Brady has been fortunate enough to have great protection since his time taking over in 2001. The Patriots offensive line has been a strenth of the team with consistency and cohesiveness for the past several years. Perhaps the biggest reason the Patriots were upset in February by the New York Giants was the surprisingly bad play by this unit. Brady was under pressure throughout the entire game and the offense never was able to get comfortable and into a rhythm. Was this an isolated incident or the sign of things to come? Michael Felger and Andy Gresh discuss in our next "Camp Checklist" season preview.
defense? / Getty Images" class="imgcaption floatr" style="float: right;" />In the latest edition of our "Camp Checklist" previews for the upcoming Patriots season, the Boston Herald’s John Tomase talks about the young defensive players on the Patriots with Michael Felger. While the Patriots defense is a very veteran crew, there is some youth that has experience, along with a promising group of rookies. As you see in the list below, some guys like Vince Wilfork and Ellis Hobbs are starters (Pro Bowler in Wilfork’s case). James Sanders and Mike Wright have been impressive part-time players. Pierre Woods has been a very good special teams contributor, and should see more time in the regular rotation with Eric Alexander.
The key to the growth of the young D centers around 1st Round Pick Jerod Mayo. All signs through the national experts season previews and mini-camp point to a fairly big contribution from Mayo from the get-go.
Here is a look at some of the young talent on D for the Pats:
26 years-old: Vince Wilfork, Pierre Woods, Mike Wright, Eric Alexander
25 years-old: LeKevin Smith, Ellis Hobbs
24 years-old: James Sanders, Brandon Meriweather
23 years-old: Shawn Crable, Terrence Wheatley
22 years-old: Jerod Mayo
Former Patriots Tight End Christian Fauria joins Gary Tanguay and Andy Gresh in this installment of "Camp Checklist" on Comcast SportsNet to discuss Randy Moss’ second season with the New England Patriots. Moss is coming of a historic first season with Tom Brady, catching 98 balls and scoring 23 touchdown’s.
In the next installment in our "Camp Checklist" series, we count down the days until Patriots Training Camp begins with Michael Felger and Michael Holley talking about head coach Bill Belichick. As the author of his best selling book, "Patriot Reign", Michael Holley knows Coach Belichick better than most in the Boston media.
Make sure to tune-in to Comcast SportsNet during the first full week of training camp as we bring you "Pats Camp Report ‘08" weeknights at 7:30pm beginning July 28th, live from Gillette Stadium.
Comcast SportsNet kicks off its coverage of Patriots Training Camp with a series of video previews with our experts answering some of the questions going into the start of the 2008 NFL season. In this edition of "Camp Checklist", Michael Felger is joined by former Patriots quarterback and radio personality Scott Zolak to discuss Tom Brady’s place in the league and the upcoming season.
Comcast SportsNet will be live in Foxboro for the first full week of training camp nightly at 7:30pm beginning July 28th, as we bring you "Pats Camp Report ‘08". Felger will be joined by our experts and we’ll have exclusive interviews with owners, coaches, and players as we get you ready for the upcoming season. Stay with Comcast SportsNet throughout the entire season for more Patriots related shows and content on-air and online!
Wicked Good Sports & Comcast Sportsnet has the best coverage of New England Patriots Training Camp in Foxboro, MA. We’ve compiled a list of links that will get you prepared for this year’s training camp and the 2008/2009 season.
The Boston Herald’s John Tomase joins Michael Felger and Sean Grande (in for Gary Tangauy) on the Late Edition of Mohegan Sun’s Sports Tonight on June 30th. Tomase talks about his apology in the Herald that ran May 16th, and how the team has treated him since the incident.
Boston Herald columnist John Tomase is scheduled to appear on Mohegan Sun’s Sports Tonight at 10pm on Comcast SportsNet on Monday, June 30th. This will be the first appearance for Tomase since Matt Walsh met with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and Senator Arlen Specter. Tomase will be joined by NBCSports.com’s Tom Curran to look ahead to Patriots Training Camp, which begins in a few weeks.
Jon Rubin
M-Town NH
Felger,
Pats draft picks, can the young kids step in and help us?
Felger: Obviously, the whole purpose of this draft was to get younger and faster on defense, and that need is immediate. So the Pats had better get some production from the draftees on defense. Of course, given the money the Pats will have to lay out to sign Jerod Mayo as the No. 10 overall pick, there is some pressure for him to perform immediately. But, overall, I don’t think the Pats will get picky. Whoever can step up and make them faster on defense, they’ll play.
Dan O’Leary
East Brookfield
I heard your discussion about Manny being the best left fielder in Boston history. Yaz’s name came up, but Ted Williams did not. Williams or Yaz, whom do you think was the best? Ted or Manny, who was the best hitter/fielder? Any discussion on Boston left fielders should start with Ted Williams.
I think we did mention Williams, and, of course, he was not only the best Red Sox hitter of all time, but one of the best hitters in the history of the game. My point is that Manny has to be considered in the same league as all of them, especially when you consider the championships. Manny’s postseason numbers in Boston are terrific and he’s been a World Series MVP. In other words, I think Manny is very under-rated as a winner. I also think he’s under-rated as a left fielder at Fenway. While he’s mediocre (at best) on the road, I think he’s become a sneaky good player in front of the wall.
