New England Patriots
Gabriel: Doghouse to unemployment line
The Patriots cut wide receiver Doug Gabriel, whose playing time had diminished after his fumble against the Jets last month.01:00 AM EST on Wednesday, December 13, 2006
In a move that surely will lead to far more questions than answers, the New England Patriots cut wide receiver Doug Gabriel yesterday.
Acquired in a trade with Oakland just before the regular-season opener, Gabriel, a 6-foot-2, 215-pound fourth-year pro, saw his playing time reduced considerably after a costly fumble against the Jets last month. In the last two games, however, it seemed that Gabriel was working his way out of the doghouse.
Gabriel had 25 catches for 344 yards and three touchdowns for New England. All except one of those catches came before the Nov. 12 game against New York. His only reception post-fumble was against Detroit two weeks ago.
Last week, Gabriel told the Journal, "If I made a mistake, I made a mistake, and that's in the past," and said he did not know if his fumble in the loss to the Jets led to him seeing fewer snaps. "I don't know what it is. I don't ever think about nothing like that. I just go out there and do my job, whether in practice or a game. That's what I'm here for. I'm here to play whenever my number's called. That's what they got me here for, so I come to do my job."
He also said he was happy in New England.
Gabriel's agent, James "Bus" Cook, did not return a call last night. The move leaves the Patriots with 52 players on the active roster.
Also yesterday, the Pats made a few practice-squad moves, signing their own former third-round draft pick, Guss Scott, as well as Justin Phinesee, and releasing James Patrick. All are defensive backs.
Scott, a 2004 draftee, spent his rookie season on injured reserve and played in five games last season before again suffering a season-ending injury. After being cut by New England at the end of training camp, Scott spent more than two months with the Texans and a week with the Jets before yesterday's move.
Phinesee was drafted by Tampa Bay in the seventh round this year and was cut on Aug. 29. He was on Kansas City's practice squad from Oct. 4 to Nov. 7. Patrick spent all of last season on the Buccaneers' practice squad and was released at the end of the preseason. He was signed to the Pats' practice squad on Nov. 1.
smanza@projo.com / (401) 277-7340
|
More Patriots stories
Pats' special advisor Floyd Reese, who drafted Steve McNair, 'deeply saddened' by the QB's death
Welker's charity football camp brings former teammates together
Projo Stats Patriots
Most Viewed Yesterday
Pedroia misses game to be with pregnant wife
Imprisoned for murder, ex-Providence police officer will still collect disability pension
Providence woman slain, boyfriend arrested in N.Y.
Most active surveys
Should the R.I. Tea Party have been dumped from Bristol's Fourth of July parade?
What would you do about the two tent cities in Providence?
React to proposed toll changes on the Pell, Mount Hope bridges
Is Narragansett's policy of using 'orange stickers' to mark party houses unconstitutional?
Most e-mailed in the last 24 hours










You must be logged in to contribute. Log in | Register Now!
You are logged in as screenname | Log Out
You are logged in, but do not have a "screen" name. Create a Screen Name