Heir Jordan or: What does this signing mean to Pats?

By Os Davis  |   Monday, July 28, 2008  |  Comments( 6 )

New England Patriots
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Boy, that was quick: In the span of 72 hours, LaMont Jordan went from being a formality on the Oakland Raiders' roster to released to working out and signing with the New England Patriots. While it’s taken for granted that Bill Belichick simply knows things that everyone else in the NFL doesn’t, one needs to use a little brainpower in figuring out this maneuver. After all, weren’t the Pats pretty much set with a three-headed monster of Kevin Faulk, Laurence Maroney, and Sammy Morris; what's more, wasn't rookie BenJarvus Green-Ellis marked as the fourth option?

A few theories, then, as to the nature of the Jordan signing: Could there be something serious going on that the Patriots are keeping secret? (Perish the thought.)

Theory No. 1: Morris will be playing more fullback -- his natural spot -- this season. As the Patriots took to the air again and again last season, Morris often found himself at halfback nonetheless. In fact, in the only two games Morris was a starter (and totaled more than 20 carries), he was listed at halfback in lieu of the injured Maroney.

Competing at the fullback spot are old hand Heath Evans and sophomore Kyle Eckel, who performed impressively and often enough late season to presumably ensure himself a roster spot for 2008 as well.

Conclusion: Morris may be playing more fullback, but replacements hardly need to made here. And would the Patriots really carry three FBs, what with their love for tight ends?

Theory No. 2: The chest injury Morris suffered in Week 6 against the Dallas Cowboys last season is still bothersome. Though assured last November that the injury was nothing with long-term implications and despite Morris’ non-listing among the 12 Patriots put on the physically unable to perform list last week (and Green-Ellis was; yeah, like that means anything), this possibility has to be a concern for the Patriot faithful. As one of a half-dozen marquee signings in free agency, 31-year-old Morris remains something of an unknown quantity in Boston. Plus, 2007 marked the fourth year Morris missed games to injury in his eight seasons of NFL play.

Conclusion: The paranoid solution may be the correct one here. Or, if it appears that Morris has lost a step or is just too old to compete, Morris could be seeing a season with a lot of time on the IR, DNP, PUP and/or OOF lists.

Theory No. 3: Faulk could be getting the Troy Brown treatment. Yes, Faulk has been around since the days of “The Little Team That Could” back in 2001, perhaps the most visible member of that underdog squad after Tom Brady and Tedy Bruschi. And Faulk’s $2.5-plus million salary of 2007 was hardly outrageous (though the second-highest sum he’s earned in his career thus far).

However, this decade has shown that the Patriot machine has little time to stop for players slowing up (though that multiyear extension given to Bruschi remains shrouded in mystery) and has waived many an underrated or aged player, only to pick him back up for the minimum. While Faulk could draw interest, if Jordan plays up to potential in the preseason – after all, the man did go for 1,000 yards just two seasons ago – the Patriots' brain trust would certainly roll those dice to save a few bucks while Jordan draws less pay.

Conclusion: Nah, they wouldn’t do this, would they?

Theory No. 4: It’s all about special teams. With all the talk of reshuffling the linebackers and secondary in New England, the most new look of all the new looks the Patriots will sport in 2008 will be on special teams. Once the team’s bread and butter, the Pats resorted to Ellis Hobbs making most of the returns last season in lieu of the once-electrifying Maroney (who averaged 28 yards per return in 2006) in the position. Might the Patriot plan be to stuff Jordan into a punt returning role? Or perhaps Faulk, who fielded punts in many games, will be made the No. 1 in the situation for 2008? After all, word has it that Chad Jackson is holding the kick returning job. Of course, Jackson is currently considered the No. 3 receiver as well.

Conclusion: Any sort of shift requiring a full-timer to join the third team seems a stretch, particularly because the Patriots drafted three dudes – Matthew Slater, Jonathan Wilhite and Terrence Wheatley – who should represent the future of New England’s special teams.

Theory No. 5: Insurance, simple insurance. With the likes of Maroney (injured on and off in his two NFL seasons), Morris (see above) and Faulk (missed significant parts of 2004 and ’05) aboard, Jordan may simply be a fourth option awaiting the inevitable breakdown.

Conclusion: This seems possible, but expensive in terms of real money and attitude. Would New England really take on four halfbacks, especially with so much of the ‘D’ in flux? (Theoretically possible if the team shapes the multi-talented Slater into a three-way player.) Is management really willing to shove Green-Ellis, maybe the future, that far down in the pecking order? Could Jordan ultimately be waived?

Similar most everything else at this point in the NFL non-season, we’ll have to wait and see what happens. Tell you what, though: The Jordan signing means competition at the position just heated up right quick.

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About Os Davis

Os Davis has taken a twisted route to get to RealFootball365.com in his nearly 17 years in professional writing, working in any number of capacities in the sportswriting, news reporting and film criticism worlds. In print media, Os has served as editor at a few publications, including Albuquerque's...
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