Veteran LB signs on for 3rd stint with PatriotsFOXBORO - After hosting a reality show, Junior Seau decided he wanted actual reality a little bit more. To the 40-year-old, that still means life as a professional football player.
Seau signed a contract with the Patriots [team stats] yesterday, according to a news release from Versus, the network that is airing the show, “Sports Jobs with Junior Seau.”
A source said Seau signed his contract for an undisclosed amount before noon. The Patriots have not confirmed the much-rumored deal has been struck, nor have they indicated which player they would release to make room for Seau on the 53-man roster. online sports
Asked to discuss Seau’s signing, coach Bill Belichick deadpanned, “Did I miss it? Did we announce anything? We don’t have anything to say about it.”
During a break at the NFL owners meetings, Robert Kraft was asked about Seau joining the team.
“I hope he will . . . at some point he will be,” Kraft said. “He is a unique individual with a unique physical frame and unique mental acumen. sports news I’d love to have him part of our team.”
Seau, a 12-time Pro Bowler and perennial retiree, is returning to the Pats for the third time. He last played for Belichick in 2008, joining a depth-starved team for four late games.
Seau had previously said he would play only the final six games of the season and only for the Patriots. It’s not clear what changed.
He was not available for comment, but did thank his past and future employers in a release.
“I’m very fortunate and honored to be involved with two class organizations - the New England Patriots [team stats] and Versus,” Seau said.
Seau has 1,512 tackles, 56 sacks and 18 interceptions over his 19-year career. A cerebral player and strong locker room presence, Seau would add leadership to a young group of inside linebackers that includes second-year star Jerod Mayo.
Over the past few months, Seau has been adding a different kind of experience. For his much-hyped reality show, Seau has worked odd sports jobs. He has been run over by a bull as a rodeo clown, worked as a bat boy for the Los Angeles Dodgers, and caddied for LPGA player Natalie Gulbis.
Seau has filmed eight episodes of his 10-episode show that debuts Dec. 2 at 10 p.m. He plans to work within his football schedule to film the final two.
When Seau was in town to publicize the show recently, he had a physical and worked out for the team. While director of player personnel Nick Caserio wouldn’t confirm the move, he did appear impressed by Seau’s performance in the workout.
“The reality is, we’re just trying to see where the player’s level of physical conditioning may be and whether he’s in good enough shape to make it through a practice,” Caserio said. “So, he looked like he’s kept himself in shape and that’s where we were. We wanted to make sure more than anything from a physical standpoint, with the medical information, that he was healthy.”
Defensive coordinator Dean Pees was reluctant to talk about a player not yet on the roster. But looking back to Seau’s past play, he compared working with him to coaching stalwarts such as Tedy Bruschi [stats], Mike Vrabel and Rosevelt Colvin.
Seau signed a contract with the Patriots [team stats] yesterday, according to a news release from Versus, the network that is airing the show, “Sports Jobs with Junior Seau.”
A source said Seau signed his contract for an undisclosed amount before noon. The Patriots have not confirmed the much-rumored deal has been struck, nor have they indicated which player they would release to make room for Seau on the 53-man roster. online sports
Asked to discuss Seau’s signing, coach Bill Belichick deadpanned, “Did I miss it? Did we announce anything? We don’t have anything to say about it.”
During a break at the NFL owners meetings, Robert Kraft was asked about Seau joining the team.
“I hope he will . . . at some point he will be,” Kraft said. “He is a unique individual with a unique physical frame and unique mental acumen. sports news I’d love to have him part of our team.”
Seau, a 12-time Pro Bowler and perennial retiree, is returning to the Pats for the third time. He last played for Belichick in 2008, joining a depth-starved team for four late games.
Seau had previously said he would play only the final six games of the season and only for the Patriots. It’s not clear what changed.
He was not available for comment, but did thank his past and future employers in a release.
“I’m very fortunate and honored to be involved with two class organizations - the New England Patriots [team stats] and Versus,” Seau said.
Seau has 1,512 tackles, 56 sacks and 18 interceptions over his 19-year career. A cerebral player and strong locker room presence, Seau would add leadership to a young group of inside linebackers that includes second-year star Jerod Mayo.
Over the past few months, Seau has been adding a different kind of experience. For his much-hyped reality show, Seau has worked odd sports jobs. He has been run over by a bull as a rodeo clown, worked as a bat boy for the Los Angeles Dodgers, and caddied for LPGA player Natalie Gulbis.
Seau has filmed eight episodes of his 10-episode show that debuts Dec. 2 at 10 p.m. He plans to work within his football schedule to film the final two.
When Seau was in town to publicize the show recently, he had a physical and worked out for the team. While director of player personnel Nick Caserio wouldn’t confirm the move, he did appear impressed by Seau’s performance in the workout.
“The reality is, we’re just trying to see where the player’s level of physical conditioning may be and whether he’s in good enough shape to make it through a practice,” Caserio said. “So, he looked like he’s kept himself in shape and that’s where we were. We wanted to make sure more than anything from a physical standpoint, with the medical information, that he was healthy.”
Defensive coordinator Dean Pees was reluctant to talk about a player not yet on the roster. But looking back to Seau’s past play, he compared working with him to coaching stalwarts such as Tedy Bruschi [stats], Mike Vrabel and Rosevelt Colvin.
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