The Patriots continue to search the post-June 1 waiver wire. The team brought tight end Derek Brown, a former No. 1 pick of the Giants in 1992, in for a visit on Tuesday. In addition, Atlanta running back Harold Green was due in town on Thursday and former Baltimore wide receiver Michael Jackson has scheduled a trip to the area in the coming weeks, according to his agent Gary Uberstine.
The 6-6, 270-pound Brown, 29, played last season with Oakland and made seven catches for 89 yards. He spent the 1995-1997 seasons with Jacksonville after three seasons (1992-94) with the Giants. Currently, the Patriots have ninth-year veteran Ben Coates, second-year man Rod Rutledge, sixth-year veteran Mike Bartrum (who also long snaps) and free agents John Lumpkin and Devon Smith on the roster at tight end.
Green, 31, has enjoyed a nine-year career spent with Cincinnati (1990-95), St. Louis (1996) and Atlanta (1997-98). At 6-2, 222 pounds, he is a bigger back who can also catch the ball well, which is imperative in the Patriots' offensive system.
Green played in six games (no starts) for the Falcons last season and had 20 carries for 37 yards and two receptions for 24 yards. Green is represented by Tank Black, who also is the agent for Patriots' rookie running back Kevin Faulk and free agent Terry Allen.
In addition to Faulk, the Patriots have Lamont Warren, Derrick Cullors, Harold Shaw and Jamie Bowers at the running back spot.
The 6-4, 195-pound Jackson, who turned 30 in April, visited with Dallas on Monday. He previously visited Washington, and according to Uberstine, he also will make a trip to Oakland. The Ravens chose not to exercise an option on Jackson's contract for the 1999 season, making him an unrestricted free agent.
An eight-year veteran, Jackson had 38 catches for 477 yards in 1998. A sixth-round draft choice of the Cleveland Browns in 1991, he played the first five years of his career in Cleveland before the franchise relocated to Baltimore.
The Patriots currently have Terry Glenn, Shawn Jefferson, Troy Brown, Vincent Brisby and Tony Simmons returning at the wide receiver position in 1999. In addition to those players, the Patriots also have youngsters Sean Morey (seventh-round pick in 1999), Sir Mawn Wilson, Nafis Karim and Anthony Ladd at receiver.
IN OTHER NEWS: Wednesday marked a players day off at Foxboro Stadium. Players will report for meetings on Thursday night in preparation for the weekend minicamp. Head Coach Pete Carroll will preside over two practices on Friday and Saturday and one practice on Sunday…
Former Patriots defensive end Ferric Collons reportedly worked out with the Carolina Panthers two weeks ago. The Panthers, whose final offseason minicamp ends on Thursday, haven't yet decided on whether they'll sign Collons…
For those who are counting, four first-round draft picks have signed contracts as of Wednesday: Cleveland's Tim Couch (first overall), New Orleans' Ricky Williams (fifth pick), St. Louis' Torry Holt (sixth pick) and Green Bay's Antuan Edwards (25th pick)…
