Patriots to sign Andre Carter

Ed Hillel

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This is either a friendly little gesture, or they are considering moving Nink off the line and are really desperate. I can't imagine he's better than Buchanan at this point.
 

soxfan121

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Has not played in more than a season, coming off a serious leg injury and has always been an "edge" guy, which doesn't help the DT depth chart. 
 
Other than that, great.
 

Jimy Hendrix

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This smells mostly like one of those stories we'll pick apart to figure out the implications vis-a-vis defensive repositioning, he'll play five snaps next week in a sub package and then get cut, but who knows?
 

Super Nomario

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soxfan121 said:
Has not played in more than a season, coming off a serious leg injury and has always been an "edge" guy, which doesn't help the DT depth chart. 
 
Other than that, great.
He played last year in Oakland, 12 games.
 

bradmahn

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This is most likely a reaction to Buchanan's undisciplined rushes the last couple weeks, as Reiss detailed in the 3rd quarter review when talking about Geno's big 1st down rush (apologies if it wasn't there... on mobile, working from memory).

If he can provide something on third down, I'll take it
 

soxfan121

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Super Nomario said:
He played last year in Oakland, 12 games.
 
I stand by my statement. The 2012 Raiders do not count as an NFL team.
 

triniSox

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Jimy Hendrix said:
This smells mostly like one of those stories we'll pick apart to figure out the implications vis-a-vis defensive repositioning, he'll play five snaps next week in a sub package and then get cut, but who knows?
For other players I'd tend to agree but I'm guessing the Pats were keeping an eye on him all the while he was getting healthy. He's probably finally healthy enough for a roster spot (i.e. I guess he was on the Pats shadow roster). I also think this move was probably going to happen even without the injuries. Our pass rush on the outside was pretty thin coming into the season (Jake Bequette where art thou??).
 
He'll definitely bring some veteran knowledge to a pretty young D-line group. Also, he's pretty good when healthy but he's also old now too. Hopefully he can still bring it for a limited number of snaps a game. 
 

SeoulSoxFan

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Carter seems like a player that depends a ton on health and rest, even more so than others. Here are his sack totals all the way back from 2006:
  • 2006: 6.0
  • 2007: 10.5
  • 2008: 4.0
  • 2009: 11.0
  • 2010: 2.5
  • 2011: 10.0
  • 2012: 2.5
Crappy year generally followed by a double-digit sack year. He won't get that this season with almost half year gone, but I wouldn't be surprised if made an impact opposite Jones, with Nink dropping back. 
 
No reason to dislike the move at all.
 

Morgan's Magic Snowplow

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I'm not so sure that this is about Ninkovich dropping back.  Jones and Nink have played a ridiculous number of snaps this year, often playing every down or nearly every down, and there's real concern that those guys will wear down over the course of the season.  My guess is that they still don't feel comfortable using Buchanan except as a situational rusher in obvious passing situations and the hope with this move is that they can add AC to the mix in order to lighten the load on the starting DEs.
 

dynomite

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I think Reiss might have nailed it on the ESPN Boston blog:
 
Mike Reiss said:
Potential Carter for Buchanan swap. In the Patriots' 4-2-5 nickel and 4-1-6 dime packages, rookie Michael Buchanan has primarily been coming on as the right defensive end, kicking end Chandler Jones (the team's best pass-rusher) to an interior rush position. Buchanan has lost containment in two of the last three games on third-down plays, which contributed to quarterback scrambles for first downs (Bengals' Andy Dalton for 6 yards on third-and-5 and Jets' Geno Smith for 14 yards on third-and-14). Carter's presence could be tied, in part, to the Patriots looking for a more consistent player in that role. Buchanan has played 28 snaps over the past three games, and while those numbers can always fluctuate, the lower playing time total in recent weeks reflects how this is not a full-time role.
And he also agrees with MMS:
 
Morgan's Magic Snowplow said:
I'm not so sure that this is about Ninkovich dropping back.  Jones and Nink have played a ridiculous number of snaps this year, often playing every down or nearly every down, and there's real concern that those guys will wear down over the course of the season.
Mike Reiss said:
Overall view of defensive end spot. The Patriots are playing starting ends Chandler Jones and Rob Ninkovich on every snap. Buchanan and second-year player Jake Bequette are the backups. Carter adds depth and flexibility should the Patriots' coaching staff consider limiting the workload of Ninkovich and Jones, or moving Ninkovich to more of a linebacker role. This also makes one wonder if the coaching staff has concerns about the development of Bequette, a 2012 third-round draft choice.
 

SpacemanzGerbil

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Does the back fork come free in a package deal?
 
This makes no sense whatsoever. Getting killed in the run game due to your two starting DTs being injured? Sign a DE edge rusher, who happens to have gone to high school with Jesus.
 

Stitch01

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This also makes one wonder if the coaching staff has concerns about the development of Bequette, a 2012 third-round draft choice.
 
Ha. Mike what tipped you off, was it the 20 or so defensive snaps he's played in 2 seasons or consistently losing backup roles to UDFA's and 7th round draft picks?
 

mulluysavage

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Happened, yesterday. Apparently it was Pats or retire. Seems he really liked it here.


"I still kept in contact with Mayo, Wilfork, and a lot of my teammates, and just told them they’ll continue to be brothers," Carter said. "The game moves on, but the Patriots are always going to be in my heart, no matter what."
 

crystalline

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Super Nomario said:
Another roster move:
sealver siliga ‏@
S_Siliga1h
Proud to say I am now officially a New England patriot!
I think he deleted that tweet. Pats media training already getting to him.

He was signed off the Seahawks practice squad, correct? That's a good defense, hopefully he can contribute early.

Edit: I had missed the other thread; he was waived by Seattle and signed to Pats' practice squad.