Photo: Brad J Ward, Flickr Veteran running back Joseph Addai’s tenure with the Patriots is already over.
Brought in to fight for the chance to fill the void left by former feature back BenJarvus Green-Ellis, who signed with the Bengals in the offseason, Addai was cut the day before training camp was set to begin after failing his team physical.
“It didn’t work out,” Patriots coach Bill Belichick told the media before the team’s first minicamp practice on Thursday.
“We have seven backs on our roster, so, if we add one, then we’ll add one. If we don’t, then we’ll go with what we’ve got.”
Of those seven players, four are true tailbacks: sophomore backs Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen, fifth-year back Danny Woodhead, who has been a reliable option for the Pats since being added to the roster, and undrafted rookie Brandon Bolden. The Patriots official roster also lists two fullbacks: Tony Fiammetta and Spencer Larsen.
The seventh back Belichick was referring to is Navy serviceman Eric Kettani, who missed all of his rookie season last year serving active duty throughout the world.
“It was a decision that the Navy made, and I went back and I did my job and I served my country,” Ketanni told the Boston Globe. "They asked me something and I did it. It was an order."
The Patriots’ website currently has Kettani listed as a RB.
And we all know how Belichick is anything but shy about moving players into positions they are not listed at or even known for playing.
Tight end Aaron Hernandez picked up extra work in the backfield at the end of last season, just to illustrate one recent example.
New England may still bring in a veteran back to supplement the current backs on their roster. One name that consistently pops up in that discussion is former Packers running back Ryan Grant, who the Patriots hosted back in April.
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