Veteran defensive back Cody Davis will sign with the Patriots, according to his agent (Twitter link). He will land with a franchise that has frequently displayed a commitment to rostering high-end special-teamers.
Davis spent the past two seasons with the Jaguars, playing at least 85% of their special teams snaps in those years. He spent the first five seasons of his career with the Rams. While Davis made five starts with Los Angeles, the former UDFA has primarily operated as a special-teamer in the NFL.
The 30-year-old specialist will join recently re-signed Matthew Slater, a perennial special teams Pro Bowler, and three-time Pro Bowl special-teamer Justin Bethel — whom the Patriots added last year. Davis does not have a Pro Bowl on his resume, but he will add to New England’s array of talent at these spots while helping the Pats fill the void Nate Ebner created when he signed with the Giants.
New England offseasons are typically rugged, but this one…ooph
What does that mean? It’s called building a roster and with BB special teams players are very important. He started as a ST coach. In addition they signed a DT, S, WR, LB and QB with a lot of time until the first game in Sept. if that even happens. Right now 12 picks in next months draft. This team isn’t even close to what it’s going to look like. Hang in there Oldmanpoop. Lolololol
That doesn’t mean they’ll be any good, GMB. Lol
Yay. Special teams…. who needs WR or TE
With all these Special Teams stars it looks like the Patriots are expecting to punt a lot.
Lol…don’t mind BB picking versatile special teamers but I don’t like that he values them so much that he overpays. Also, why does he love coverage guys but doesn’t pay returners? Plus, I can’t remember the last time the Pats led the NFL in special teams play.
How do you define leading the league in special teams play? Bill values field position and turnovers. He wants guys on his teams who are sure tacklers and can create game changing turnovers. Inevitably the Patriots win two or three games every year because they block kicks or recover fumbles that result in a score for them. They are far more likely to create a turnover on special teams than to make one. Ball possession and winnng the field position game is their objective not necessarily breaking long td runs. Brandon Bolden will never run a kickoff back for a td but he also will never fumble so year after year he returns kicks.