FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The New England Patriots announced today that they have signed TE Michael Hoomanawanui (pronounced – huh-oh-muh-NOW-uh-NEW-ee) and placed TE Visanthe Shiancoe on injured reserve with a designation to return.
In addition, the Patriots signed WR Kerry Taylor and OL Jeremiah Warren to the practice squad and released FB Eric Ketttani and WR Sam Kirkland from the practice squad.
Hoomanawanui, 24, is a veteran of two NFL seasons with the St. Louis Rams. The 6-foot-4, 263-pounder originally joined the Rams as a fifth round draft pick (132nd overall) out of Illinois in 2010. He has played in 16 NFL games with 11 starts and has 20 receptions for 229 yards and three touchdowns. Last season, Hoomanawanui played and started in eight games, finishing with seven receptions for 83 yards. Hoomanawanui was released by the Rams on Sept. 2, 2012.
Taylor, 23, was claimed off waivers and awarded to the Patriots from Minnesota on Aug. 27, 2012 before being released on Aug. 31, 2012. He spent a week on the New England practice squad last season in September. The 6-foot, 196-pounder was originally signed by Green Bay as a rookie free agent on July 28, 2011 out of Arizona State. He was released by Green Bay on Sept. 3, 2011. In addition to spending time on the Patriots' practice squad, Taylor also spent time on the practice squads of San Francisco and Minnesota last year. He was released by Minnesota on Aug. 25, 2012.
Warren, 24, was signed by the Patriots as a rookie free agent on May 10, 2012 and released on Aug. 31, 2012. He started the final 38 games of his career at South Florida at guard. Warren, 6-4, 329 pounds, was named to the All-Big East Second Team as a senior after starting all 12 games at guard.
Shiancoe, 32, signed with the Patriots as a free agent on July 25, 2012. The 6-foot-4, 250-pounder is a veteran of nine seasons with the New York Giants (2003-06) and Minnesota Vikings (2007-11). He originally entered the NFL as a third-round draft choice (91st overall) of the Giants in 2003 out of Morgan State and joined Minnesota as an unrestricted free agent on March 3, 2007. Shiancoe has played in 144 NFL games with 90 starts and has 243 receptions for 2,677 yards and 27 touchdowns.
