Jerome Solomon of The Boston Globe reports the Patriots have added Pete Mangurian to the coaching staff to fill the role of tight ends coach. Mangurian has 13 years of NFL coaching experience as a tight ends coach, offensive line coach, and most recently as offensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons in 2003. Most interestingly, Solomon quotes head coach Bill Belichick, in the wake of the Mangurian addition, as saying "that's pretty much it." This, of course, means the Patriots appear prepared to go into the 2005 as the only NFL team without an official offensive coordinator. Thus, the projection of an offensive coordinator-by-committee seems more and more likely, an experiment strengthened by the fact the Patriots have now added two coaches to their staff who have experience with the coordinator position. Recently added assistant defensive backs coach Joel Collier served briefly as the Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator.
Michael Felger of The Boston Herald picks up the issue of the Patriots offensive coordinator position, relaying the belief that Belichick will shoulder much of the job's load with support from a number of his assistants. Felger contends Belichick will receive much of his help from wide receivers coach Brian Daboll, whom Felger describes as a fast riser on the staff. Daboll is but 29 years old, so Belichick is expected to also lean heavily on veteran coach Dante Scarnecchia, who has coached in New England for 21 years.
Tom Curran of The Providence Journal reports the Patriots brought in free-agent defensive back Antuan Edwards in for a visit yesterday. Edwards was a first-round draft choice of the Green Bay Packers in 1999, but has struggled with injuries throughout his career. After a disappointing tenure on Green Bay, Edwards joined the Dolphins last season, but was cut during the campaign. Should the Patriots sign him, Edwards will give the Pats defensive backfield added depth and flexibility, as Curran reports he can play both cornerback and safety.
Larry Weisman of USA Today has more on Rodney Harrison's refereeing internship at NFL Europe training camp. As he begins to look towards his life after football, Harrison will experiment as a ref in an effort to see if it is a line of work he might become interested in.
Finally, the Globe's NFL Notebook reports another defensive signing by division rival Miami. The Dolphins, and new coach Nick Saban, signed talented defensive end Kevin Carter to a five-year deal yesterday. Carter, who leaves the rebuilding Tennessee Titans, joins other new Miami acquisition Vonnie Holliday on what looks to be a deep, talented, Dolphins defensive line.
