FOXBORO, Mass. – The New England Patriots announced the signing of four of their draft choices from the 2000 NFL draft class and one first-year free agent. The four draftees are Greg Robinson-Randall, Jeff Marriott, David Nugent and Casey Tisdale. In addition, the Patriots also announced the signing of free agent offensive guard Brent Warren.
Robinson-Randall, 22, was drafted by the Patriots in the fourth round of the 2000 NFL draft, 127th overall. The 6-foot-5-inch, 315-pound offensive tackle was a two-year starter at Michigan State. He earned All-Big Ten honors as a senior, while helping the Spartans to a 10-2 record. It was their best finish in 34 years. He started every game at right tackle and helped power an offensive arsenal that averaged 368.2 yards per game. He attended Coffeyville Community College in Kansas, where he earned Super Prep JUCO All-American honors.
Marriott, 23, was drafted by the Patriots with their second selection in the fifth round, 161st overall. The 6-foot-4-inch, 300-pound defensive tackle was a four-year letterman at Missouri who started 25 of 44 games and totaled 110 tackles, including six sacks. He was voted MVP of the Insight.com Bowl against West Virginia after posting five tackles, including two for losses, one sack and a blocked field goal that was returned 70 yards for a touchdown.
Nugent, 22, was drafted by the Patriots in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL draft, 201st overall. The 6-foot-4-inch, 300-pound defensive tackle started 25 of 46 games at Purdue and totaled 91 tackles, including 4.5 sacks. Last year, he totaled 46 tackles, including a pair of sacks. He was recruited to Purdue as a tight end, but made the transition to defensive tackle as a freshman.
Tisdale, 24, was drafted by the Patriots with their first of two seventh-round selections in the 2000 NFL draft. The 6-foot-4-inch, 255-pounder started 22 of 23 games in two seasons at New Mexico and was credited with 74 tackles, including 9.5 sacks. Last season, he finished third on the team with 74 tackles and led the team with 6.5 sacks.
Warren, 25, originally signed with the Patriots as a rookie free agent on April 24, 1998. He was released during training camp (8/24/98). The Patriots re-signed him following the season (2/11/99) and allocated him to the Berlin Thunder of NFL Europe. He was released by the Patriots on Aug. 30, 1999. He signed with the Saints on April 6, 2000, but was released on June 30. The 6-foot-5-inch, 338-pound guard is a native of Brockton, Mass., where he earned all-state honors at Brockton High. He was a three-year starter at Syracuse.
