Mike Reiss takes a closer look at Marcus Stroud's potential role with the Patriots.
Free-agent defensive lineman Marcus Stroud, who agreed to a two-year deal with the Patriots (according to ESPN's Adam Schefter), projects to a similar role that Gerard Warren played for the Patriots in 2010.
The 32-year-old Stroud, entering his 11th NFL season, is no longer a full-time player. He's likely to compete for playing time on first and second down, from the defensive end spot in the team's base 3-4 alignment.
One pro personnel director described Stroud as a player near the end of the line, but pointed out that the Patriots have traditionally done a good job of getting one or two more years out of those in the latter stages of their career.
Stroud, who was viewed as playing at a higher level than John Henderson (who just re-signed with Oakland), is 6-foot-6 and 310 pounds. He is tall and often plays upright (he's not a natural bender), so his primary value figures to be against the run.
Shalise Manza Young reports that after sitting out last season with a torn pectoral, Brandon McGowan is ready to get back on the field and play.
McGowan spent this morning at Monument High in South Boston as part of the NFL's Fuel Up to Play60 program, talking to students about the importance of good nutrition and getting enough exercise every day. He shared his own past, when he preferred McDonald's and Burger King to healthier fare, to now when he drinks wheatgrass and ginger as part of his health regimen.
In terms of his rehab, McGowan said he'd be ready to play football were training camp to start tomorrow, and that he's feeling good.
He did not know if there have been negotiations between his agent and the Pats to keep him in New England, but he would welcome a return.
"I love the team...you've got great coaching, and you've got great players," he said.
TEAM TALK
- Paul Perillo reports the Patriots signed DL Marcus Stroud after getting let go by Buffalo a little more than a week ago.
- Ask PFW: Post-Combine questions.
- Last Friday, Jerod Mayo and Rob Ninkovich congratulated youth from the Newton Pop Warner banquet at Gillette Stadium.
- PFW in Progress - 3/01/11Edition: The crew recaps the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine. Find out which players impressed us the most and who we feel could be Patriots. (2 hour program)
LOCAL LINKS
- Mike Reiss notes the Patriots agreeing to a two-year deal with veteran DL Marcus Stroud appears to a be a move made with insurance in mind.
- Tom E. Curran projects what Marcus Stroud can do for the Patriots.
- Karen Guregian says one has to wonder if veteran DL Marcus Stroud still has something left in the tank, and how much he can truly help in the trenches.
- Christopher Price notes the Patriots tend to put more weight on a player's quickness over speed, so here's the top ten performances among all WRs in the 3-cone drill at the Combine.
- Tom E. Curran reports agent Frank Bauer said he's never seen a head coach work harder to get a deal done than Bill Belichick has worked on Logan Mankins. The holdup appears to be with ownership.
- Mike Reiss answers his weekly reader mailbag, with everyone's ideas turned towards who the Patriots should draft.
- Christopher Price discusses how former Patriots assistant Brian Daboll might have gotten the Dolphins in trouble.
- Tom E. Curran thinks Robert Kraft's criticism of lawyered-up NFLPA looks kind of silly now.
- Tom E. Curran discusses the NFL labor talks with Andrew Brandt. Part 2. (3.10 min. video)
NATIONAL NEWS
- Tim Graham (ESPN) Will Patriots TE success cause a trend?
- Tim Graham (ESPN) NFL won't punish Dolphins for meetings. Hypocrisy at it's finest.
- Sam Farmer (LA Times) Players' union wins court ruling against NFL: Judge says NFL violated the CBA in negotiating a $4-billion provision in TV deal.
- Andrew Brandt (Nat'l Football Post) The Wrath of Doty persists: Judge rules against NFL lockout funding.
- Michael Silver (Yahoo! Sports) Doty ruling should force sides to compromise.
- Ann Killion (SI) NFL playing dangerous game with fans.
- Don Banks (SI) Urgency building as NFL and union continue mediated negotiations.
- Albert Breer (NFL.com) Talks between NFL, union resume; will pause for owners meeting.
- Mark Kriegel (Fox Sports) NFL players just can't help themselves.
- Jack Bechta (Nat'l Football Post) Assistant coaches have labor issues of their own.
- Tim Graham (ESPN) All-time best: Tecmo? Madden? NBA Jam?
- Greg Gabriel (Nat'l Football Post) How much stock goes into the Combine?
- NFL.com Top performers in NFL Scouting Combine. Sort by position, player, year or drill.
- Russ Lande (Sporting News) A look back: Combine winners and losers.
- Adam Caplan (Fox Sports) 2011 NFL Scouting Combine winners.
- Wes Bunting (Nat'l Football Post) Combine notes: breaking down the DBs.
- Matt Bowen (Nat'l Football Post) Is Patrick Peterson the top player in the draft?
- Khaled Elsayed (Pro Football Focus) Ranking the Free Agents: Defensive tackles and 3-4 Defensive ends - Guards and Centers - Offensive tackles.
- Elliot Harrison (NFL.com) Plenty of teams could use help from recently released veterans.