Patriots Sign Griff Whalen, Hopefully For Return Skills And Not As A Snapper
BOSTON (CBS) -- The Patriots have signed wide receiver Griff Whalen for the rest of the 2016 season.
You may be racking your brain, thinking "Where do I know that name from???". Whalen is a five-year veteran who has experience as a slot receiver and a punt returner, but Patriots fans will remember him more as the man who snapped the ball on one of the NFL's worst plays. Ever.
Whalen snapped the ball on the Colts' ill-fated (and downright laughable) "swinging gate" fake punt last season, a lowlight that ranks right up there with the infamous "Butt Fumble." He wasn't supposed to snap the ball, but he did. The Patriots pounced and quickly tackled Colt Anderson, and a relatively close game soon turned into a blowout.
But the Patriots aren't interested in Whalen's snapping abilities (at least, let's hope that's not the case). He'll add depth as a fourth receiver and gives New England another option as a punt returner with Danny Amendola lost for the rest of the regular season. Julian Edelman is a prime candidate to return punts in Amendola's absence (and with rookie Cyrus Jones struggling), but the Pats will need Edelman in the receiving game with Rob Gronkowski on the shelf, so they probably don't want their leading receiver on special teams too much over the next month.
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick was asked about Whalen during his Friday morning press conference, and made it sound like he'd be used more as a receiver than a returner.
"He's been more of an inside receiver. He's done some returning. We'll see," said Belichick. "I mean, he hasn't had a ton of production as a returner but he has returned. Again, we'll see."
The 26-year-old caught a pair of passes in his eight games for the San Diego Chargers this season, but was released on November 22. He spent three years with the Colts and hauled in 45 receptions for 487 yards and three touchdowns, contributing on special teams with 46 punt returns for 376 yards and 25 kickoff returns for 645 yards.
