DRC article on Cobb signing with Patriots

OldTimer · May 17, 2006

Football: Patriots ink former UNT RB Cobbs

Former NCAA rushing champ joins former Super Bowl champs

08:47 AM CDT on Tuesday, May 16, 2006

By Brett Vito / Staff Writer

Patrick Cobbs knows a thing or two about winning conference and rushing championships.

Patrick Cobbs

On Monday, the former North Texas standout joined the New England Patriots, a team that has intimate knowledge of what it takes to win Super Bowl championships.

The 2003 national rushing champion signed a free agent contract with the Patriots after attending the team’s rookie mini camp over the weekend. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Cobbs rushed for 4,050 yards in his college career with an average of 152.7 yards per game and helped lead the Mean Green to four straight Sun Belt Conference titles from 2001-04. Despite those accomplishments, Cobbs was not a hot commodity before the NFL Draft.

He was not invited to the NFL Scouting Combine and was passed over in the draft, where 255 players were selected.

Cobbs, who is small for an NFL running back at 5-9, 205, knew he might have to go the long route to a professional career and said he was ready to find a different avenue to continue playing before the draft.

“I am willing to try playing in Canada or NFL Europe,” Cobbs said. “I will do whatever I can to keep playing football.”

Cobbs received the opportunity he was looking for from the Patriots.

New England used its first-round pick in this season’s draft on Laurence Maroney of Minnesota, but did not select another running back. Corey Dillon led the Patriots in rushing last season with 733 yards and averaged a career-low 3.5 yards per carry.

Cobbs will be a long shot to make the Patriots roster as a rookie free agent, but it is an obstacle several UNT players have overcome.

Offensive lineman Brian Waters joined the Kansas City Chiefs as a rookie free agent. He has since earned All-Pro honors and been selected to play in the Pro Bowl. Brad Kassell made the Tennessee Titans roster as an undrafted free agent in 2002 and recently signed with the New York Jets.

UNT coach Darrell Dickey expressed confidence that Cobbs would take full advantage of any opportunity he receives.

“[Patrick] will get into a camp, give a great account of himself and put himself in position to make a team,” Dickey said.

BRETT VITO can be reached at 940-566-6870. His e-mail address is bvito@dentonrc.com

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BlackBird23 · May 17, 2006

Patrick has his first fan here in Boston - I got to know about PC from ESPN magazine and love watching the Green play weeknight games. I'll be cheering him on at Training Camp.

It will definitely be an uphill battle to make the team. Dillong and Maroney are locks - Kevin Faulk is the change of pace guy and is entrenched though often hurt. There are 2 FB and now an H Back on the roster as well.

Special teams work will be a major factor as the team routinely rolls out skill players not only to return but to defend kicks.

For those who want to follow the day to day goings on in Patriots land, the go-to guy is Mike Reiss of the Boston Globe - whose "Reisses Pieces" blog can be accessed via boston.com under the patriots banner.

greenjoe · May 17, 2006

Welcome to the board Blackbird. Take care of our guy Patrick. He was a fine citizen here in Denton. He'll make you proud in Mass. if he's given a chance.

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Edited May 17, 2006 by greenjoe