Patriots Lose Eric Kettani To Navy
BOSTON (CBS) – The New England Patriots have lost practice squad running back Eric Kettani to the United States Navy.
Kettani, a 2009 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, was ordered to report to the USS Klakring in Jacksonville, Florida Friday and the Patriots released him.
He left Foxboro Thursday and posted a picture of his locker on Twitter, showing his Patriots helmet and his Navy hat.
"By releasing him, we have the option to bring him back if other things get worked out. Once he's on reserve, then he's out for the year. Injured reserve, reserve military – players, they're either active or they're on reserve," Patriots head coach Bill Belichick told reporters Friday.
"There's not a no-man's land. If the player is on some form of active list, which includes free agents and being released and all that, then those players are all active. Once they're on reserve retired, reserve injured, reserve whatever then they're on reserve; they're out."
Kettani is 5-11, 235 pounds. He was originally signed by the Patriots as a rookie free agent in May 2009 out of Navy.
He was placed on the reserve military list on July 23, 2009.
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He was activated from the reserve military list on July 28, 2011.
Kettani was signed to the practice squad this past summer after being released by the Pats in training camp.
"He had a real good college career and we had him for a little while two years ago in the spring and then he was going to active duty after that. He's working his way back into football," Belichick said.
Just before 2 p.m. Friday, Kettani officially reported for duty.
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