Here are a pair of Patriots-related stories found that I thought would be worth passing along:

The first is the transcript of a recent question and answer session with former Patriots assistant and current Cleveland offensive coordinator Brian Daboll. Daboll, who was an assistant with the Patriots from 2000 through 2006 (he was a defensive coaching assistant and wide receivers coach while in New England), talks about where he takes his offensive principles from, the challenges of being a coordinator for the first time and what he learned from working with Tom Brady.

The second is part of an interview with new Jets coach Rex Ryan that took place recently on SiriusXM Radio. Ryan, who made headlines after saying he didn’t come to the AFC East to “kiss Bill Belichick’s rings,” appeared to change his tone a bit, expressing a bit of contrition over the statement. “I certainly didn’t mean to be disrespectful, especially to [Bill] Belichick,” Ryan said. “I have a lot of respect for him. I have a lot of respect for his coaches and his football team, but my point is, we’re not afraid of any of these guys. We’re not intimidated by them and our players shouldn’t be.”

According to this report in the Dallas Morning News, Greg Ellis — who was recently released by the Cowboys — was offered a one-year, $1.5 million deal with the Patriots. However, the veteran pass rusher decided against signing with New England, preferring instead to ink a three-year, $10 million contract with Oakland.

The 33-year-old Ellis, who has played his entire 11-year career with Dallas before being cut loose earlier this spring, had 77 sacks in 11 seasons with the Cowboys. His best season came in 2007 when he made the Pro Bowl after posting a career-best 12.5 sacks, despite missing the first three games recovering with a torn Achilles’ tendon.

A first-round pick out of North Carolina, Ellis is a 6-foot-6, 262-pounder who spent eight years at defensive end in Dallas before the Cowboys moved him to outside linebacker.

According to this report in the Asbury Park Press, the Patriots have hired Frank Edgerly as a pro personnel scout. Edgerly, who has worked as the football coach at Catholic High School in Red Bank, N.J. the last 10 years and has reportedly done some advance scout work for the Cowboys, told the newspaper he has signed a three-year contract with New England.

“For me, this was a dream come true,” Edgerly told the newspaper. “Anyone that knows me knows I’ve been banging on this door for longer than I care to admit. The NFL has always been my passion. It’s just sort of ironic that the first opportunity I get to sit near that kind of environment happens to come with Bill Belichick.”

Edgerly said he spent a few days at Patriots’ training camp last summer and stayed in contact via e-mail with Belichick. In April, Belichick e-mailed him, saying there might be a position for him within the organization. Edgerly told the paper he was up in New England twice in the last 10 days, including last Thursday, when he was offered and accepted the job.

He’s excited about the possibility of working with Belichick.

“He’s the best coach in football. He’s in the top five of all time, if not higher, and it’s the best organization in football with their track record of developing their coaches and developing their people,” Edgerly said of Belichick. “This is such a great opportunity for me.”

Edgerly said he duties will include working as an advance scout, as well as some collegiate scouting.

The Patriots have just announced they have signed fourth-round pick Rich Ohrnberger. Here’s the complete announcement from the team:

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The Patriots have just announced they have cut rookie linebacker Antonio Appleby. See below for the full press release from the team.
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Jim Nance. (Photo Courtesy New England Patriots)

FOXBOROUGH — The most recent selection to the Patriots Hall of Fame could have easily wound up in Pro Football Hall of Fame had he played in a different time and place.

But as it was, Jim Nance played for the Boston/New England Patriots from 1965-71, winning the MVP of the old American Football League in just his second season. He didn’t play before the same NFL crowds and audience that began to capture the imagination of the American football conscience in the late 60s.

But if he did, he may have been as popular as Jim Brown and received as much attention. Both Nance and Brown were outstanding running backs from Syracuse University who starred in other sports — Brown was a star lacrosse player while Nance was a two-time NCAA champion wrestler.

Talk to ex-teammate Gino Cappelletti for five minutes and he will tell you all about the greatness of Nance, who died on June 17, 1992.

“He would be really recognized as a strong player and one of the top running backs in the game,” Cappelletti said last week in announcing the running back as the 14th player inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame. “We all know the game has changed. The evolution of the game, and all of that is part of the different types of football that is played today. He had quickness, and he speed and he had size and he had power. MVP in ’66 as well, richly deserved and I would say that exemplifies the type of player he was. Read the rest of this entry »

Outside linebacker Greg Ellis, a player who had been believed by some to be a good fit with the Patriots, is reportedly set to sign a three-year deal with the Oakland Raiders after being cut loose by Dallas.

The story was first reported by Calvin Watkins of FanHouse.

A pass-rushing specialist, the 33-year-old Ellis had 77 sacks in 11 seasons with the Cowboys. He had his best season in 2007 when he made the Pro Bowl after posting a career-best 12.5 sacks despite missing the first three games recovering with a torn Achilles’ tendon.

A first-round pick out of North Carolina, Ellis is a 6-foot-6, 262-pounder who spent eight years at defensive end before being moved to outside linebacker.