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The second day of the NFL's legal tampering period has not been kind to the New England Patriots: The team will lose wide receiver Danny Amendola, running back Dion Lewis and cornerback Malcolm Butler, as has been reported today. However, not all was bad as a recent report by ESPN's Adam Schefter shows.
According to Schefter, the Patriots have re-signed free agent special teamer Nate Ebner:
Patriots reached agreement with special teams standout Nate Ebner on a 2-year deal, per source.
Nate Ebner entered the 2017 season in his usual role as a core member of the Patriots’ kicking game units. And early on during the year, the two-time Super Bowl champion and one-time Olympian proved why he is among the best special teamers in the business. Playing almost 90% of snaps over the first half of the season, he registered eight tackles – a team-high at the time.
In game number nine, however, his season found an abrupt end: On a fake punt that Ryan Allen’s personal protector carried for 14 yards and a first down, Ebner tore his ACL and was lost for the season. Despite the injury, New England has now decided to bring the 29-year old back – unsurprisingly given Ebner's past productivity.