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June 8, 2007

Pats sign two defensive linemen; release Tony Case

The New England Patriots signed free agent defensive linemen Rashad Moore and Kenny Smith today. Terms of the agreements were not disclosed. Additionally, the Patriots released first-year long snapper Tony Case.

Moore, 28, is entering his fourth NFL season and has played in 48 career games with 18 starts for the Seattle Seahawks (2003-04) and New York Jets (2006). The 6-foot-3-inch, 325-pound defensive lineman has recorded 87 career tackles (62 solo), 3.0 sacks, two passes defensed, one forced fumble and four fumble recoveries. Last season with the Jets, Moore played in 13 games and recorded 11 tackles (8 solo) and a forced fumble. The University of Tennessee product was originally drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the sixth round (183rd overall) of the 2003 NFL Draft. As a rookie in 2003, he played in 13 games with six starts for the Seahawks and totaled 30 tackles (20 solo), including one sack and a fumble recovery. He broke into the lineup as a regular starter for Seattle in 2004, starting 12 of 16 games and totaling a career-high 46 tackles (32 solo), including two sacks, two passes defensed and three fumble recoveries. He was released by the Seahawks following their 2005 training camp and did not play during the 2005 season. Moore was signed by the Oakland Raiders on March 28, 2006, but was waived by Oakland following 2006 training camp (9/2/06) and claimed off waivers by the Jets the following day.

Smith, 29, is entering his sixth NFL season after spending five seasons with the New Orleans Saints (2001-04) and Oakland Raiders (2005). The 6-foot-4-inch, 303-pound defensive lineman has played in 30 career games with 10 starts and has recorded 69 career tackles (56 solo), 4.5 sacks, two passes defensed and two fumble recoveries. The University of Alabama product was originally drafted by the Saints in the third round (81st overall) of the 2001 NFL Draft. He appeared in six games as a rookie for New Orleans and totaled eight tackles (7 solo). In 2002, Smith saw action in nine games with one start and notched 19 tackles (17 solo), including 3.5 sacks, one pass defensed and one fumble recovery. The following season, he set career highs with nine starts in 15 games while compiling 42 tackles (32 solo), including one sack, one pass defensed and one fumble recovery. Smith spent the 2004 season on injured reserve with the Saints, and was signed as an unrestricted free agent by the Oakland Raiders on March 31, 2005. He was subsequently placed on injured reserve by Oakland and missed the entire 2005 season. After spending the 2006 season out of football, Smith was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a free agent on March 7, 2007 and was released by the Buccaneers on April 30, 2007.

Case, 24, was signed by the Patriots on April 25, 2007. He attended Adams State College in Alamosa, Colo., and was signed by the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent in the spring of 2004. The 6-foot-2-inch, 285-pound long snapper was signed by the Bills on April 30, 2004 and was released on June 18, 2004. The Colorado Springs, Colo. native spent the last two seasons as a graduate assistant at Chadron State College in Chadron, Neb., helping to coach the team’s offensive line and long snappers. Case has also played in the National Indoor Football League. During his college career at Adams State, he was a three-year starter on the offensive line while also handling long snapping chores for the Grizzlies.

Posted by Art Martone  at 5:44 PM | Permalink