The New England Patriots have developed an affinity for Rutgers players. On Monday, they signed another former member of the program.
Scarlet Knights receiver Mark Harrison has joined the Patriots, the team announced earlier in the day. Undrafted last month, Harrison is one of the two players who stayed in the hotel room that reportedly was trashed at the Scouting Combine.
Harrison and receiver DeAndre Hopkins, a first-round pick of the Texans, denied responsibility for the incident, which reportedly included fecal matter ending up in places where fecal matter shouldn’t be, absent extreme alcohol consumption. Or perhaps demonic possession.
The Pats likely were drawn to Harrison at least in part due to observations made by Steve Belichick, the son of New England coach Bill Belichick, during the younger Belichick’s time working for the Rutgers program.
The Patriots now have seven former Rutgers players on the roster.
The Patriots also signed former Notre Dame kicker David Ruffer, who transferred to South Bend not from Rutgers but from William & Mary. He converted on his first 23 field goals for the Irish, but he finished his career missing 11 of 21.
It’s that kind of poor aim that may have contributed to the unsavory problem mentioned earlier in this blurb.