Patriots Add Former Raider Lamont Jordan to Backfield
We're a little late on this one, but earlier today the Pats announced that they'll be adding recently-released Lamont Jordan to their running back corps. He'll join running backs Laurence Maroney, Sammy Morris and Kevin Faulk and fullbacks Heath Evans and Kyle Eckel in the backfield. Some of the early speculation has this signing being something of an insurance policy for Sammy Morris as he attempts to come back from a season-ending chest injury that may possibly be more serious than originally anticipated.
A veteran of 7 NFL seasons, Jordan seemed to have alienated himself in Oakland last year due to his bad attitude, which resulted from a drastic decrease in playing time. Thanks to Justin Fargas having a breakout 2007-08 campaign and Al Davis getting his way with the drafting of Darren McFadden (as well as the emergence of 24-year old Michael Bush), Jordan became expendable and therefore unwelcome on the 2008-09 squad. Seeing that they couldn't get much (if anything) in a trade, the Raiders released Jordan yesterday. He's had to deal with some injury issues in the past couple of years as a knee problem kept him sidelined for 6 games in 2006, but he appears to have returned to good health and has been used sparingly over the past 2 seasons.
Personally, I really like this move. He's a big bruising back who'd worn out his welcome on another team - a la Corey Dillon - who might feel like he has something to prove by contributing to a winning team. He's just 2 seasons removed from a 1025 yard, 9 TD campaign, and at 29 years old, he should have plenty left in the tank. When healthy, he provides a powerful up-the-middle, goal-line, clock-killing running style that the Pats have lacked since Dillon left. What may perhaps work best in his favor is the fact that he should feel right at home in the AFC East as he was a member of the rival Jets for the first 4 years of his career. His attitude, health and weight (apparently he's gotten a bit comfortable around the mid-section) will be constant question marks throughout the upcoming season, but assuming the Pats got him on the cheap, it's a nice low-risk, high-reward signing. If Morris enters the season healthy enough to be on the active roster and Jordan sticks around long enough to break camp with the Pats, it's likely that one or more of the backs (I'd guess Eckel to start) would be designated to the practice squad to make room.
A veteran of 7 NFL seasons, Jordan seemed to have alienated himself in Oakland last year due to his bad attitude, which resulted from a drastic decrease in playing time. Thanks to Justin Fargas having a breakout 2007-08 campaign and Al Davis getting his way with the drafting of Darren McFadden (as well as the emergence of 24-year old Michael Bush), Jordan became expendable and therefore unwelcome on the 2008-09 squad. Seeing that they couldn't get much (if anything) in a trade, the Raiders released Jordan yesterday. He's had to deal with some injury issues in the past couple of years as a knee problem kept him sidelined for 6 games in 2006, but he appears to have returned to good health and has been used sparingly over the past 2 seasons.
Personally, I really like this move. He's a big bruising back who'd worn out his welcome on another team - a la Corey Dillon - who might feel like he has something to prove by contributing to a winning team. He's just 2 seasons removed from a 1025 yard, 9 TD campaign, and at 29 years old, he should have plenty left in the tank. When healthy, he provides a powerful up-the-middle, goal-line, clock-killing running style that the Pats have lacked since Dillon left. What may perhaps work best in his favor is the fact that he should feel right at home in the AFC East as he was a member of the rival Jets for the first 4 years of his career. His attitude, health and weight (apparently he's gotten a bit comfortable around the mid-section) will be constant question marks throughout the upcoming season, but assuming the Pats got him on the cheap, it's a nice low-risk, high-reward signing. If Morris enters the season healthy enough to be on the active roster and Jordan sticks around long enough to break camp with the Pats, it's likely that one or more of the backs (I'd guess Eckel to start) would be designated to the practice squad to make room.
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