Malone Back on the Roster

We reported yesterday on the New England Patriots’ punter situation, but not so fast - Tom Malone was re-signed with the team yesterday, less than a month after he was released. This puzzling decision to re-sign the punter could be a signal that the Patriots aren’t extremely happy with their current pick for the position (Chris Hanson), and it could also be Malone’s second (or fourth?) shot with New England to become the team’s punter.

Tom Malone originally joined the Patriots in 2006 on the team’s practice squad after spending time earlier that year with the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted rookie free agent, and he also participated in the Patriots’ training camp in 2007, being signed once again to the team’s practice squad in 2008. Malone, a USC alum, was released by the Patriots on May 5, 2009, and he makes his return to the Patriots after rookie punter Aaron Perez was released by the team last week. Malone will now battle incumbent Chris Hanson for a spot as the Patriots’ number one punter, the details of which are sure to be worked out in the upcoming months before the start of the regular season.

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Permalink - Posted in Uncategorized on June 2, 2009 - Post a comment

Pats Choose Veteran Hanson as Punter for 2009

The New England Patriots have had plenty of punters to choose from in the lull before the 2009 NFL season, but veteran Chris Hanson has risen above them all, proving his staying power with the Patriots by beating out rookie Aaron Perez for the reigning spot on the team. Perez, an undrafted rookie free agent who was signed by the Patriots last month, was released on Friday, granting Hanson the starting position for the upcoming football season.

Chris Hanson has had his work cut out for him since his arrival to New England in 2007, battling against punters Perez and Tom Malone this year but also having to challenge (and beat) Scott Player, Mike Dragosavich and Reggie Hodges since he joined the team. Though a consistent punter, the Patriots are concerned with Hanson’s 2008 average of 43.7 yards per punt, which ranks him 20th overall.

Hanson, a Riverdale, GA native, is entering his 11th season with the NFL. He joined the league in 1999 and spent time on the practice squads of Cleveland, green Bay and Miami before joining the NFL Europe in 2000, playing for the Barcelona Dragons before coming back to Miami. The punter then spent 2001-2006 with the Jacksonville Jaguars before joining the Patriots in 2007.

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Permalink - Posted in Uncategorized on June 1, 2009 - Post a comment


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