New England also added some much needed depth to the interior of the defensive line by claiming former Jacksonville defensive tackle Emarlos Leroy off waivers.
The 6-2, 310-pound Leroy cleared waivers at 4 p.m. Released by the Jaguars on Monday, May 14, Leroy cleared waivers at 4 p.m. The third-year veteran played 23 games, including one start, in two seasons with the Jaguars. He recorded 21 tackles and one forced fumble in a reserve role.
Despite limited playing time behind Gary Walker in 2000, Leroy made a key play to help spark a turnaround by the Jaguars last season. In the fourth quarter of Jacksonville's 23-17 overtime win at Dallas Leroy bulled past Cowboys tackle Erik Williams and caused Emmitt Smith to change directions, which resulted in a fumble at the Jacksonville 25-yard line.
The Jaguars win halted a five-game losing streak and spurred a stretch in which the team won five of six games. The late season rally fell short when Jacksonville was unable to reach the playoffs.
A sixth-round pick for Jacksonville in 1999, Leroy will be reunited with fellow University of Georgia alum Richard Seymour on the Patriots defensive line. The two played two seasons together for the Bulldogs. They arrived together in 1997, Leroy a junior college transfar from Northwest Mississippi Community College and Seymour a true freshman.
In two seasons at Georgia, Leroy had 64 tackles, five tackles for a loss and four sacks. He was the starting nose guard as a senior and had 41 tackles and three sacks that year.
