Patriots news for the week of 7/7

[BillsFever]

Please post Patriots news here!

[The_Philster]

FOXBORO, Mass. (AP) — New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft wants to increase the parking capacity at Gillette Stadium by nearly 3,000 spaces. Kraft is planning to purchase a nearly 40-acre lot across Route 1 from the 68,000-seat stadium, The Sun Chronicle of Attleboro reported.
Kraft, who has owned the team since 1994, wants to expand the lot in two phases, increasing its capacity to 4,000 spaces. It now holds a little more than 1,000....
more (http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/patriots/2003-07-03-parking_x.htm)

[The_Philster]

The Patriots have signed seventh-round draft pick Ethan Kelley, a defensive tackle out of Baylor. Kelley received a three-year deal worth just over $900,000, including a $21,500 signing bonus and a rookie minimum salary of $225,000 in 2003.

A player in Kelley's draft position would ordinarily be a long shot to make the roster, but given the Pats' need for a nose tackle, the 6-foot-2, 315-pounder has a prime opportunity to compete for a job....

more (http://www2.bostonherald.com/sport/patriots/pats07082003.htm)

[The_Philster]

Normally, the NFL's supplemental draft comes and goes without much fanfare. However, several teams - including the Patriots - are very interested in the fate of Georgia Tech running back Tony Hollings.

On July 1, 23 NFL teams attended a workout by the 5-foot-10, 225-pound Hollings, who missed most of his junior season last year with a torn ACL. Agent Todd France confirmed the Patriots were in attendance....

more (http://www2.bostonherald.com/sport/patriots/pats07092003.htm)

[The_Philster]

If two's company and three's a crowd, then what's seven? By this afternoon, if the price is right, the answer could be the tailback position for the Patriots.

Headlining today's six-player supplemental draft is former Georgia Tech running back Tony Hollings, at whose recent on-campus workout the Patriots were represented. Hollings, a junior who entered the supplemental draft after being declared academically ineligible for next season, was leading the nation in rushing (633 yards) last season when he tore his right anterior cruciate ligament in his fourth game, against Brigham Young. Thus he's managed to create interest in what typically has been a relatively quiet annual process. These days, it's done via e-mail....

more (http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/191/sports/Hollings_prize_of_supplemental_draft+.shtml)

[BillsFever]

Patriots | Klecko Signed - from www.KFFL.com
Thu, 10 Jul 2003 12:01:34 -0700

ESPN.com's Len Pasquarelli reports the New England Patriots have signed rookie DT Dan Klecko to a four-year contract. Klecko, who was one of the team's fourth-round selections this year, received a $320,000 signing bonus and will earn base salaries of $225,000 (2003), $305,000 (2004), $380,000 (2005) and $460,000 (2006). The contract also features an escalator clause that could increase his 2006 salary based on playing time.

[BillsFever]

Patriots | Samuel Signed - from www.KFFL.com
Thu, 10 Jul 2003 12:00:52 -0700

ESPN.com's Len Pasquarelli reports the New England Patriots have signed rookie CB Asante Samuel to a four-year contract. Samuel, who was the latter of the team's fourth-round selections, received a $312,500 signing bonus and will earn base salaries of $225,000 (2003), $305,000 (2004), $380,000 (2005) and $460,000 (2006). The contract includes an escalator clause that could increase his 2006 salary based on playing time.

[BillsFever]

Patriots | Taylor Waived - from www.KFFL.com
Thu, 10 Jul 2003 20:35:57 -0700

The New England Patriots have waived first-year WR T.C. Taylor, according to Patriots.com

[The_Philster]

Even if the Patriots were interested in selecting Georgia Tech junior Tony Hollings in yesterday's six-player supplemental draft, apparently they weren't that interested.



The Houston Texans, who had the league's second-worst running game and lowest yards-per-carry average last year (3.2), their inaugural season, nabbed Hollings with the 32d choice in the second round and therefore have relinquished a second-round choice in the 2004 draft. Hollings, coming off a torn right anterior cruciate ligament suffered in his fourth game last season, at which time he was leading the nation in rushing, was projected to go in the third or fourth round. The Patriots also have two second-round selections in 2004, but it was difficult to imagine them parting with anything greater than one of their three fourth-rounders in order to acquire a seventh tailback....
more (http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/192/sports/Patriots_take_pass_on_Hollings+.shtml)

[The_Philster]

The coaches will return to Foxboro starting tomorrow and the players will begin trickling in later this week. The first full day of Patriots training camp is still 11 days away (July 23), but the feeling at Gillette Stadium is unmistakable.

It's back to work.

To say that the organization was ``devastated'' by not making the playoffs last year would be an overstatement. But given the 2001 Vince Lombardi Trophy sitting in the owner's office, it would certainly be in the ballpark. Everyone - from owner Robert Kraft to coach Bill Belichick to personnel director Scott Pioli, to every scout and assistant - expects the Pats to be a perennial postseason participant. Playing just 16 regular-season games no longer is acceptable....
more (http://www2.bostonherald.com/sport/patriots/nflnt07132003.htm)

[Cntrygal]

There's hike of interest with Conaty addition

Bill Conaty, whose six-year tenure with the Buffalo Bills officially ended when he signed with the Patriots July 3 as an unrestricted free agent, will always be grateful to have been a Bills center. He started his NFL career in Buffalo as an undrafted rookie out of Virginia Tech, where he got to play in the Sugar Bowl and the Orange Bowl. Married and a father of two, he's made a nice living in the NFL.

Conaty, 30, is one of those lunch-pail, 100 percent effort guys who provided Bills coaches peace of mind on the offensive line. You won't see him on the All-Pro ballot, but he's a guy who can step in if a starter goes down, as he did in 2001 when he started all 16 games for the Bills, or last season when he saw significant time as a backup.

[The_Philster]

Here's the link (http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/194/sports/There_s_hike_of_interest_with_Conaty_addition+.shtml) for that story