A familiar face at safety has just entered the free agent market. The Philadelphia Eagles have announced the release of veteran safety Jarrad Page today.
Page, who recently turned 27, recorded 37 tackles in six games (five starts) for the Eagles this year. You probably better remember him from 2010, when the Patriots acquired him from the Kansas City Chiefs via trade. In ten games for New England, Page played as the fourth or fifth safety - coming onto the field in sub-packages and recording 12 tackles and two interceptions.
In the offseason, the Patriots tendered him at the second round level. Unfortunately, that tender was under the old CBA rules. Under the new agreement, Page became an unrestricted free agent and decided to sign with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Now, Jarrad Page is back on the market. And it just turns out that one of the Patriots' biggest needs is at safety. The team released Brandon Meriweather, Brandon McGowan, and James Sanders in the preseason and have since sustained injuries to players such as Pat Chung and Josh Barrett.
Page joins a relatively thin free agent market at safety, one that includes former Saint Darren Sharper. While the Patriots worked out Sharper in August and chose not to sign him, they could feel different about bringing in Page. After all, they must have valued him somewhat if they chose to assign him that second round tender.
What are your thoughts - should the Patriots bring back Jarrad Page (assuming he clears waivers)?