APApparently his Olympic experience went so well, that Jeff Demps decided to continue to wear the red, white and blue.
According to Fox 13 television’s Kevin O’Donnell, Demps has spurned interest from the Buccaneers and decided to sign with the Patriots instead.
The Jets were also in the mix for the Olympic sprinter and Florida Gators running back/return man. The Fox 13 report stated that Demps was flying back to his Orlando-area home after visiting the Patriots Thursday, and would announce his decision when he returned.
The Patriots have always been a safe harbor for backs that don’t fit into a traditional mold, from miniature Danny Woodhead to versatile old guys such as Kevin Faulk.
But Demps gives them an element of raw speed they lacked, and should help them in the return game.
UPDATE: 1:33 p.m. ET: Demps’ track agent, Nohemy Baltodano, tweets that the deal hasn’t been signed. But there are multiple reports saying he has in fact agreed with the Patriots, including this one from ESPN’s John Clayton.
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game changing speed, rich get richer I guess…
I’m a fan of an AFC rival to the Pats and still think this is an awesome story.
Darn..pats shouldn’t be allowed to have him
Sucks to be the Bucs Brother !!
If he can add something, great. Belichick will find a way to take advantage of his strengths and hide his weaknesses. But I can’t help but think he would have found more playing time in Tampa and can’t blame him for not wanting to be part of the circus that is the Jets.
WOW. I look forward to watching his development. I’m glad this could possibly address their horrid return game. It’s one reason I was hoping they’d sign Eddie Royal as a FA.
Fine. THAT’S JUST FINE. As long as he Gator Chomps in the endzone.
The double win for Pats. Get Demps and Jet’s don’t…so sorry Jet fans, so sorry
It’s a mystery why any team would be interested in Jeff Demps. Over his 4 year career in college, he has not one single notable accomplishment.
Wow, another kick in the groin for the rest of the AFC East.
The Pat’s must have cheated somehow in order to sign him. Right?
The perks of being a free agent!! Instead of being drafted by a garbage team, he now has a legitimate chance of a ring immediately!!
I knew some team would pick him up. Be silly not to give this guy a chance.
That must have been a tough choice..
“But Demps gives them an element of raw speed they lacked, and should help them in the return game.”
True statement and YUCK! Want to see the Pats on the decline, not filling glaring holes! Curse you Darth Hoodie (shaking fist) you win again.
now they have it all! except tackles….
Bad move…bill will probably cut him at the end, cant trust him…..brother!!!!
one thing is for sure, Bill will get the most out of him and make him an impact player
goodbye woodhead
Sounds like Tim Tebow may have not recruited Demps to come to NY, but rather, warned him as friend would, NOT to come to, what has become a circus of sideshow personalities. Good move Demps.
This is going to drive a wedge between Belichick and Schiano. Or it won’t.
Wow! The Patriots seldom compete with other teams for the same coveted players. Glad to see Demps had the sense to spurn Rex Ryan’s gimmicky ploy of dispatching Tim Tebow. Maybe this was Tebow’s whole reason for being on their roster. Expect Tebow to be released — and signed by the Patriots.
Love it!! huge for kick returns and punt returns game changing speed for screen passes as well!!
Do the Jets at least get the bronze? Or are they even further down the list?
What return game? You mean the touch back game?
Wow. As much as I was looking forward to seeing Danny Woodhead’s little legs returning kicks again, Demps is a fine addition to the one area not addressed by the Pats so far this offseason.
This made a whole buncha sense for a team that didn’t need much…but did need a KR.
Demps goes to where he knows he will continue to win. This is exactly what the Pats needed for their kickoff return game as it was looking like another year of Danny Woodhead.
Even Tebow couldn’t recruit Demps to the circus.
Just another great day here in New England.
Might oughta use 3 of the asterisks.
I’ll let you know when to add another.
sure all he got was minimum contract. hardly a sign that rich got richer
jeff demps = devin hester
sj39 says:
Aug 17, 2012 12:53 PM
Patriots*
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Huh….that’s an interesting one….not sure what it means??…I dont think I’ve EVER seen something so original before.
Apparently the “sj” stands for Simply Jealous in your name.
Eli laughs
18-1*
Psyched. Now if they could just land a silver medal right tackle…
jets run their mouths, patriots run the afc east
Wow! If this guy can catch the ball really good, this can be awesome. Brady will find him on checkdowns from Gronk, Hernandez, Welker and Lloyd. Faster than Percy Harvin! Kevin Faulk and Dave Meggette with jet engines on their feet. Or David Hester like in the slot, kickoffs and punts. This could be big if Demps has Hester’s heart. How did he go undrafted?
After being actively recruited by Tebow and the Jets, Demps chose NOT to join the circus, and signed up with the adults.
Clearly he was more impressed by a few BB visits during spring practices at Florida, than his former QB,
He can be an immediate upgrade on KO’s, and COULD be an interesting addition to the RB corps in a Sproles/McAlister kind of way down the road, though I’m not sure how much to expect this season.
Dissolve into the patriots depth chart or get some real playing time on a young team in your home state. Good call Jeff
I think it is more relevant that he picked the Pats over Tim Tebow.
If he did I don’t blame him. They are Super Bowl ready with a very good coach. The Bucs have an as yet unproven first year coach and according to LaGarret Blount perhaps the best backfield in the NFL. (eye roll) The one thing Florida does have an advantage over a lot of NFL cities though is a lack of state income tax. If he came here fine. If he doesn’t fine. Doesn’t dampen my excitement of wondering what the Bucs will look like this year.
whitdog23 says:Aug 17, 2012 1:13 PM
sure all he got was minimum contract. hardly a sign that rich got richer
Ummm….you should look up what that phrase actually means.
He could be the next Wes Welker!
He was always going to the Pats. That is why when they addressed and stockpiled talent at every other position during the off season they didn’t get a return man
marty2020 says: Aug 17, 2012 1:01 PM
It’s a mystery why any team would be interested in Jeff Demps. Over his 4 year career in college, he has not one single notable accomplishment.
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Yeah 24 tds in college isn’t notable at all!
That explains why two roster spots were still open. Now, who is going to fill the other one?
marty2020 says: Aug 17, 2012 1:01 PM
It’s a mystery why any team would be interested in Jeff Demps. Over his 4 year career in college, he has not one single notable accomplishment.
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He rushed for 2,470 yards and had 23 TDs. What the hell would he have to do to have a “notable accomplishment”. Not every player is Bo Jackson in college. Let me guess, in 2000 you were sitting there saying, “wow, how could the Patriots stupidly draft a QB in the 6th round with no notable accomplishments?”.
University of Florida Patriots.
he chose the pats because they could have the worst backfield in the NFL and he actually has a chance to play. He was at the biggest school in college football in Florida when he was there and didnt get drafted……theres a reason for that.
Gotta love the haters!
ricknau says,
He was at the biggest school in college football in Florida when he was there and didn’t get drafted…theres a reason for that.
Yes it is called the Olympics
Love the Demps move. Now all the Pats have to do is sign Nick Mangold’s sister, the weightlifter, to play offensive tackle and we’ll have 2 Olympians to help the team this year.
habsman says:Aug 17, 2012 1:01 PM
Wow, another kick in the groin for the rest of the AFC East.
The Pat’s must have cheated somehow in order to sign him. Right?
No – they just cheated to get to the Super Bowl (and still almost lost). But that’s ok – All American non luggz wearing, non pony tail having, non baby goat carrying Eli has certainly put them in there place in not 1 but 2 Superbowls now – hasn’t he?
Speed kills!
Demps is the next Noel Devine. They are similar players, about 180lbs soaking wet, and blazing fast. Devine had a much better college career and look where he is now. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Demps joining him in the UFL soon. Guys that small just don’t hack it in the NFL, most kickers have more muscle mass than that.
icknau says:
Aug 17, 2012 1:47 PM
he chose the pats because they could have the worst backfield in the NFL and he actually has a chance to play. He was at the biggest school in college football in Florida when he was there and didnt get drafted……theres a reason for that.
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Reason being that he had committed to participating in the Olympics and therefore wouldn’t be in camp until now?
It was his penchat for ill-timed backside blow ups and floating foul air biscuits that kept him from being drafted.
Hay Gaiz Tebow
Great … Brady Gaga just got a Darren Sprolles.
That’s a no brainer
Can you imagine the room underneath after Gronk and Hernandez sweep through. Demps will be a terror at certain times. He is probably faster than any other player in the NFL.
Just proves what I have been saying for years – no good offensive player want to play with Tim Tebow. Tebow hogs the ball and steals all the headlines. That’s why he’s never played with a 1,000 yard rusher and didn’t help anyone from UF get to the NFL.
He’s the Alan Iverson of the NFL – all shot, no pass.
Hahaha at Cuda, didn’t help anyone from UF get to the NFL. What school do you think Aaron Hernandez, Percy Harvin, and Andre Calwell went to? ALL GATORS. That’s right Tebow hogged the ball and the headlines so they never made it to the NFL. Idiot.
He wont be anything more than a return specialist.
People like him and Reggie Bush who thrived off their speed in college did so because the hash marks are further apart thus giving them THAT much more room to run. Plus obviously NFL players are ALOT faster than anything that they’ve seen in college. Cool story, but I dont think he will be an impact player. Just my .02
sj39 says:
Patriots*
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* = best team of the 21st century.
John Clayton reports that Demps
Was seen at the JETS training facility this afternoon.