The Patriots reportedly worked out a pair of tight ends and a pair of tailbacks, all of whom have prior NFL experience.
Howard Balzer of The Sports Xchange reports New England tried out running backs Ronnie Brown and Brian Leonard and tight ends Ben Hartsock and Nate Byham. It’s unclear when the workouts were held.
Hartsock is a member of PFT’s All-Unemployed Team, as is Brown. Hartsock, Brown, Leonard and Byham would project as role players in New England, with blocking likely a key job requirement. The 33-year-old Hartsock’s blocking is his calling card. Also, Brown and Leonard, like Hartsock, received positive blocking grades from Pro Football Focus a season ago.
Leonard and Byham both played for the Buccaneers a season ago, with the 30-year-old Leonard rushing 47 times for 182 yards and catching 29 passes for 179 yards. He played all 16 games. Byham, 25, appeared in four games, catching 3-38-0 before being placed on injured reserve with calf and knee injuries in October.
The 33-year-old Hartsock appeared in 13 games a season ago. He did not catch a pass, and he has caught just two passes in the last three seasons, all with Carolina.
Brown, 32, rushed for 157 yards and a touchdown on 45 carries in 16 regular season games for San Diego in 2013. He added eight catches for 60 yards.