Patriots sign OT Ross

[mesaSteeler]

Patriots sign OT Ross
PA SportsTicker
Published: Tuesday, June 03, 2008

The New England Patriots on Monday signed veteran offensive tackle Oliver Ross.

Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

The 6-foot-4-inch, 327-pound Ross has played in 89 games, including 58 starts, in 10 seasons.

A torn triceps suffered in training camp landed him on injured reserve and ended his 2007 season.

Ross, 33, played in 11 games with the Arizona Cardinals in 2006, but enjoyed his greatest success with the Pittsburgh Steelers from 2000-2004.

From 2001-04, he appeared in all 64 games with Pittsburgh, starting every game in the 2004 season.

A fifth-round pick of the Dallas Cowboys in 1998, he played one season with Dallas before spending one season with the Philadelphia Eagles.

(Ross! I'm in state of shock. The Steelers let him walk, he did nothing for the Cardinals and the Cheatriots sign him! They must be more desperate than I thought - mesaSteeler)

[K from Cal]

No doubt Bekllicheat will turn him into an all pro

[Aries1247]

Ross, 33, played in 11 games with the Arizona Cardinals in 2006, but enjoyed his greatest success with the Pittsburgh Steelers from 2000-2004

Really? Is that what you'd call it?

[K from Cal]

Really? Is that what you'd call it?

He barely cracked the starting lineup.

[markymarc]

Oh please let Ross be their starting RT in 2008. Anyone rushing from the left side would enjoy abusing Ross all season.

[Avoid Lloyd1975]

Add another loss to their record. Whooo-hooo!!!!

[mesaSteeler]

Patriots add depth with Ross
Boston Globe

Veteran offensive tackle known for his versatility

By Mike Reiss, Globe Staff | June 3, 2008

When describing why the Patriots selected quarterback Kevin O'Connell in the third round of April's draft when they have Tom Brady at the position, owner Robert Kraft said that "having insurance at key parts of any business is good business."

The Patriots added to their policy yesterday, signing veteran offensive lineman Oliver Ross to a one-year contract.

The 6-foot-4-inch, 327-pound Ross, who has played in 89 games with 53 career starts, is most naturally suited to play right tackle, a position the Patriots appear to have well-stocked with returning starter Nick Kaczur, and third-year players Ryan O'Callaghan and Wesley Britt.

But as Kraft previously emphasized, having a fallback plan is seldom a bad thing, and in the 33-year-old Ross, the Patriots locked up what appears to be a pretty good one.

Best known for his stint with the Pittsburgh Steelers from 2000-04, Ross progressed from practice player to starter, helping the club maintain its identity as a smash-mouth running team under former coach Bill Cowher. As offensive tackles go, he is more of a road-grader than a light-on-the-feet pass-blocking type. He also has experience at left tackle.

Ross spent the last three seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, who had signed him to a lucrative free agent deal, but his tenure in the desert was littered with injuries.

A torn left triceps sustained last August in an exhibition game forced him to miss the season, and Ross also was sidelined for stretches of his other two seasons because of knee and hand ailments, appearing in 23 games with 17 starts.

He couldn't even avoid the injury bug off the field over the last year, falling off the last step of his camper and cracking his collarbone, which required surgery. Ross is now "pretty close to 100 percent," according to his agent, Alan Herman.

The string of injuries contributed to Ross's decision to sign with New England.

"I think he felt a change of scenery would do him well," Herman said. "He had some of his best years in Pittsburgh and now he's coming back to the Northeast. New England is a great place to be for a guy at this stage of his career."

Ross visited with team officials at Gillette Stadium last month, and the sides consummated the one-year contract yesterday, with Herman negotiating with vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli.

The Patriots did not select a lineman in the draft, and with no rookie free agents sticking at the position, Ross adds another layer to the depth chart.

The 6-4, 315-pound Kaczur started a career-high 15 games last season and all three playoff contests. He adds value with the ability to swing to left tackle, where Matt Light is the starter.

O'Callaghan (6-7, 330 pounds) has seven career starts on his résumé at right tackle and projects to once again challenge Kaczur for the starting job.

Meanwhile, Britt (6-8, 320 pounds) has been a reliable backup the last two years, with his high point coming in 2006 when he made his first career start at Cincinnati Oct. 1 and the Patriots rushed for 238 yards.

Mike Reiss can be reached at mreiss@globe.com.

[General Manager]

Like the article states he is only there for depth or just a camp body with EXPERIENCE.

[DerbyCityBNGfan]

He can't pass protect to save his life, hardly decent on running plays. Wasn't much of a contributor when he was with the Steelers, and Arizona picked up a top 10 guy (Levi Brown, PSU) the year after they signed him. I get the feeling that the snake bites will start soon enough for the Cheaters. Their OL better be amazing this season, because their defense is significantly less experienced in the secondary, and they still have a bunch of dinosaurs @ LB and DL.

[Far51]

he was dreadful filling in for Marvel at LT medicore at best at RT.

[K from Cal]

helping the club maintain its identity as a smash-mouth running team under former coach Bill Cowher. As offensive tackles go, he is more of a road-grader than a light-on-the-feet pass-blocking type

----------------

and this exactly why it's a stupid signing. The Pat's are more a passing tea.

[Chicoman]

He had one good year in 2004 and thats it!

Woodley would abuse Ross to no end if he's blocking when we play the Cheatriots!!!

[SteelrzGirl]

Now seems like a good time for a "fuck the patriots".

[Avoid Lloyd1975]

now Seems Like A Good Time For A "fuck The Patriots".

Hellll Yeah Mamma!!!!!!!

[markymarc]

Now seems like a good time for a " the patriots".

I second that!