Jerome Solomon of the Boston Globe, John Tomase of the Boston Herald and Tom Curran of the Providence Journal report that the Patriots added a veteran cornerback yesterday, signing free agent Eric Warfield, who was released by the Kansas City Chiefs last month. Warfield, 30, has been in the NFL for eight seasons, all with Kansas City, which drafted him in the seventh round out of Nebraska in 1998. Warfield has 20 career interceptions, including a stretch of four seasons starting in 2001 with four picks each year. He had only one interception last year (returned 57 yards for a touchdown against the Texans), playing in just 11 games after a four-game suspension for violating the NFL substance-abuse policy.
Leading up to the NFL Draft, the Providence Journal's Tom Curran will profile a player at a "need" position for the Patriots each day. New England has 10 picks in the draft, six in the first four rounds. Their first-round pick is the 21st overall. Today Curran profiles Oregon State wide receiver Mike Hass.
Scott Van Voorhis of the Boston Herald writes that the National Football League is blocking out local TV station cameras from the sidelines of its games in a move that has raised the hackles of stations across the country. League owners recently voted to clear local TV crews from the sidelines, a move that could force local stations like WHDH-TV and CBS4 to rely on the league for footage of Patriots games. It's not clear what's driving the new rules, with speculation ranging from a NFL front-office drive to gain more control of how its product is marketed, to a move to alleviate congestion on the sidelines.
USA Today's "Inside Slant" writes that as the month of March came to a close, ending what is generally the most active free agent period of the NFL offseason, Patriots fans were left wondering what the three-time Super Bowl champions were doing to restock a dwindling roster. While teams like the Browns, Redskins and a whole slew of others were wheeling and dealing their way through the veteran retooling process, New England signed just one unrestricted free agent, wide receiver Reche Caldwell.
Mike Reiss of the Boston Globe offers his daily sports blog with Patriots notes. Today's blog offers more on the signing of CB Eric Warfield and a Q&A with Patriots defesnive lineman Ty Warren. Reiss also offers his latest Patriots mailbag.
Tom Curran of the Providence Journal offers his daily sports blog with Patriots notes and commentary.
