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Examining the possibility of the Patriots adding another free agent 06.03.12 at 2:38 pm ET
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Andre Carter had 10 sacks last season with the Patriots. (AP)

As we have already mentioned, the bulk of the team-building process (two-plus months of free agency as well as the draft) is already been completed, and it’s unlikely that the Patriots would make any major moves between now and the start of training camp at the end of July. However, there are several interesting free agent options still on the market. Evan Silva of Pro Football Talk put together a list of the Top 10 remaining free agents, and a couple of them could be attractive to the Patriots.

At least on the surface, the No. 1 (running back Cedric Benson) and No. 2 (tackle Marcus McNeill) options don’t appear to be fits with New England, as Benson appears to be on the downside of his career and McNeill has had serious back problems over the last few years.

•Third on Silva’s list is defensive end Matt Roth. We’ve been an advocate of Roth to the Patriots for some time now, and New England worked him out last summer right off the lockout. However, he ended up signing a one-year deal with Jacksonville. The fact that he could still be out there could have something to do with concussion issues — he missed the last five games of the season in 2011 because of concussion problems. When he’s been healthy, he’s shown positional flexibility and has been productive: he can play linebacker and end and has 11 sacks in his last 27 games.

•Fourth on the list is defensive end Andre Carter, who put together a tremendous 2011 season in his first year in New England, but suffered a season-ending quad injury in a win over the Broncos in Denver. Carter’s agent Carl Poston has indicated that the defensive end would certainly be open to a return to the Patriots, and like the inevitably that surrounded Brandon Lloyd‘s eventual signing in New England, it appears that Carter will come back to the Patriots at some point in 2012, even on a limited basis. (One source says that Carter would return to New England in October.)

Some other interesting names on Silva’s list including wide receiver Braylon Edwards at No. 5, safety O.J. Atogwe at No. 8 and cornerback Drew Coleman (No. 10), who is best known around Foxboro as the guy who laid the hit on running back Kevin Faulk that ended the veterans’ 2011 season.

Read More: Andre Carter, Matt Roth, Print  |  Bark It Up!  |  Digg It
  • Anonymous

    That was a bunch of useless information

  • http://profiles.google.com/warthog0 Pressed Rat and Warthog

    your comment was even less useful.

  • PatsSoxBruinsCeltics

    Why do we need another receiver? If anything we get Andre Carter and Matt Roth…Let them right it out for a roster spot…But ANdre Carter will be good….Even if he does half of what he did last year that will be ok…We need to be smart with the DE’s…We need to get as many as we can to stack up the talent on the defense…WE DOOOOO NOOOOOOTTTTTTTT need another receiver and especially Edwards….U gotta be kidding me…Maybe Drew Coleman, but seriously…We better pick up Andre Carter….We better…

  • trollhunter

    bring carter back he is a good fit .he can help the younger guys!   edwards is nothing but trouble

  • Anonymous

    I’d like to see them bring Carter back if he is healthy, or bring Carter & Roth in to see who wins a spot , the more Defensive competition the better !  I like Atogwe and Coleman but Im not sure if the have enough versatility for Bill, we also need a Kick returner. I think we are going to see alot of changes on Defense and more running & screens on offense . New England Patriots

  • Anonymous

    Carter will be back…..depth….pass on the rest. Pats will develope what they have right now….should be interesting competition for a roster spot this summer.

  • 1234321

    Carter is way overrated. Yes he got ten sacks in an injury shortened season, but he also dissapeared quite often. He was not a consistent threat you had to watch out for, he just had a couple off good games that inflated his stats, but he also had games where he completely dissappeared.

  • Anonymous

    Carter will be an effective rotational player on passing downs. He will have limited snaps allowing him to rush the QB with fresh legs and quick moves. A lot of players disappear for plays during a game or games. If Carter and Anderson totalled half of all the sacks on the defense then many players on the defense disappeared during games. The DBs disappeared most of last season. He will be a good depth player.

  • Justonesguysopinion

    Carter, Roth, and Coleman would all be impact players this year.  Too much youth can be a a hindrance.  Let Hightower, Dowling, Dennard, and Jones ease their way in.  By the time we get to the second half of the year they’ll really be able to step in and make some big contributions.  Plus they can avoid hitting that rookie wall come December.

  • http://www.littlepuppiesonline.com/ Lavonne

    New England, as Benson appears to be on the downside of his career and
    McNeill has had serious back problems over the last few years.

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