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Sulak scheduled for Patriots visit

Email|Link|Comments (9) Posted by Mike Reiss, Globe Staff July 27, 2009 05:55 PM

The Patriots are hosting rookie Missouri defensive end/outside linebacker Stryker Sulak on a visit tomorrow.

Darin Gantt, who covers the Carolina Panthers of the Rock Hill Herald, first reported that Sulak was visiting New England, then the Panthers on Friday.

That information has been confirmed by the Globe, through Sulak's agent Bob Lattinville, who said Sulak arrives in town today and is scheduled to work out tomorrow.

Sulak was a sixth-round draft choice of the Oakland Raiders this year, 199th overall, but was waived before signing a contract.

"You obviously don't want to burn a bridge, but what I can say is that it certainly didn't have to do with his play or off-field issues," Lattinville said. "It was a decision they made, and you just have to swallow hard and move on."

Sulak (6-4, 251) would probably be an outside linebacker in the Patriots' 3-4 defense, or could potentially rush the passer from a three-point stance on third down. The Patriots have been looking at different options for that type of role, stretching back to their interest in veteran Jason Taylor. Sulak had 10 sacks as a senior.

The Raiders selected Sulak with a draft choice they acquired from the Patriots in a draft-day trade -- the Patriots shipped a second-rounder (47th, S Mike Mitchell), fourth-rounder (124th, WR Louis Murphy) and sixth-rounder (199th, Stryker Sulak) for the Raiders' second-round pick (40th, DT Ron Brace).

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9 comments so far...

This sounds like another piece of Al Davis magic. Wouldn't it be just like the NFL if a player, drafted by Oakland with a pick acquired from the Pats, turned out to be exactly what the Pats needed?!! Haha, I'd love it to happen!

Posted by London_Ben July 27, 09 06:53 PM

I remember reading about this guy. Book on him was that he was a high motor guy with good instincts and work ethic. I thought he was a prototypical Patriots LB/ST guy. Wich he could play ILB but didn't seem like he'd fit there.

Posted by Rockdog July 27, 09 07:55 PM

It seems like this guy has the measurables BB looks for in an OLB. So Mike, if a bunch of teams try him out, does the highest bidder win his services?

Posted by Tony July 27, 09 09:30 PM

Picking up an OLB on the spot sounds pretty bad for Crable. Crable may not recover from whatever he has. Of course ILB Tyrone McKenzie is out too.

Posted by PaulK July 27, 09 09:43 PM

I so totally called this one when I saw he got cut a few weeks ago. Nice added depth , especially if Crable is out . The Patriots did well with the last 199th overall pick in the draft = ) .

Posted by Mikey Vandalism July 27, 09 10:52 PM

What is the process and potential contract/bonus implications if they wanted to sign him? Is he still slotted at the 199th pick?

Posted by Don Ibod July 27, 09 11:21 PM

If I recall the Pat's have pretty good fortune and made history with that magical 199 pick...

Posted by dpgull July 28, 09 07:08 AM

I would LOVE for us to get this kid! As Tony points out, he's definitely got the raw tools that Coach Bill likes, and that he found dramatically absent in the Draft: 6'5, 250, and Fast!

We've already got 3 such Ascending players in Crable, Redd, and Woods, all of whom look ready to make an Impact, this year, but there is ALWAYS room for another 6'5, 250 pound Edge Rusher!!

I wouldn't expect him to make any more'f an impact THIS year, than Crable or Redd made LAST year...but NEXT year, I'd expect him to become a Contributing Factor! THIS year? Spec Teams, baby! And study that PlayBook, young man!

THIS kind of potential acquisition gets me a LOT more excited for the ongoing growth of our Dynasty than coughing up a draft pick so that the likes of Derrick Burgess can suck up our Salary Cap, take a roster spot away from an Ascending player, and play lost and confused for a year while he bumbles through the learning curve, before leaving as a Free Agent!

Posted by Fanatical Yankee July 28, 09 06:39 PM

Seems New England got what they wanted. Strange that Sulak cleared waivers in his division with end hungry clubs like Denver and K.C. I think its the NFL-CBS and its' Raiders hate Patriot love program again. Whatever New England wants because they usually aren't that great at drafting overall talent anyway, they get from the Raiders (Moss, Jordan to name few). Whatever hold the Patriots have on Oakland I hope some agency will investigate it in the future.

Posted by Johnny July 29, 09 08:16 PM

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Mike Reiss, Christopher L. Gasper and the rest of the Globe team provide regular updates –and a behind-the-scenes look– on the daily happenings of the Patriots.

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