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One of this week’s NFL rumors is that the New England Patriots will work out free agent offensive tackle Chad Clifton this week. The Patriots have had several problems on their offensive line with players going down with injuries and others retiring. Over the last week the team has been forced to sign more free agents just to have enough players on the field at that position.
At the start of this offseason, the Patriots learned that Pro Bowl tackle Matt Light was retiring. Light was a staple of the Patriots offensive line for 11 seasons and was a part of three Super Bowl winning teams. After Light’s announcement, Pro Bowl guard Brian Waters announced that he too was considering retirement. Though the Patriots were optimistic he would be around in 2012, Waters has yet to report to camp fueling speculation that he will end his career.
The Patriots have also had several injuries that have caused problems. Starting offensive guard Logan Mankins started training camp on the physically unable to perform list joining in full practice just this week. Meanwhile, starting offensive tackle Sebastian Vollmer remains on the physically unable to perform list. These injuries, in addition to the retirements, have caused the Patriots problems on what was once a very stable offensive line.
Clifton was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in 2000 and has spent his entire career there. Selected to two Pro Bowls and wearing a Super Bowl ring, Clifton would give the Patriots a possible starter and a veteran who would help solidify an otherwise troubled line. The only question with Clifton is that he’s now 36-years old and can he continue to play at the NFL level this season.
The Patriots director of player personnel Nick Caserio has claimed that these rumors are not true. However, the Patriots have a history of keeping all news on player personnel away from the public. Due to the offensive line issue which is worrisome, the Patriots are likely to take a look at Clifton because of what he could bring to the team.
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