Life on the Roster Bubble: Thoughts from a Former NFL Player | Bleacher Report
Really good read from Ryan Riddle, and although it’s a tough quote about BB below it’s worth pointing out how the Pats consistently have undrafted rookies make their team. Did Dane Fletcher, Gary Guyton, Brandon Deaderick, or any of the other UDFAs who not only made the Patriots but contributed feel like “human sled dummies” too? One way or another they overcame it, and I think that speaks to the “it doesn’t matter how you got here” vibe that you hear about so often with Belichick and the Pats.
Regardless, a worthwhile read especially as we close in on training camp, especially if you want a little glimpse into what playing for Mangini was like.
A good friend of mine from college was signed to the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent. I recall stories about how he felt in camp that year. Struggling to handle the feeling of being utterly worthless, cast aside by the coaches and players. He described Patriots head coach Bill Belichick as a major (insert expletive here), as he was treated like a human sled dummy. It became obvious to him that any real opportunity to make the team was too much of a long shot while the bodily damage and torture necessary to see it realized was nowhere near worth it. He left camp after a couple of weeks.
