Report: Patriots Hosting Terrance Knighton For Visit
BOSTON (CBS) -- The Patriots tried to lure free-agent defensive lineman Nick Fairley to New England this offseason, but came up short when Fairley decided to sign with the Saints.
But the team isn't crying over lost opportunity, and they're instead moving on the next plan: Terrance Knighton.
The big fella better known as "pot roast" in NFL circles will be visiting the Patriots on Monday, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
Knighton, who turns 30 this July, spent his first four seasons in the NFL with Jacksonville before playing two seasons for the Broncos and spending last year with the Redskins. The 6-foot-2, 295-pound defensive tackle has recorded 14 sacks in his career.
The Patriots lost defensive linemen Akiem Hicks and Sealver Siliga to free agency this offseason.
Knighton missed the Redskins' game at New England last year due to cluster headaches, an issue that has plagued him since high school and has been described as "hell."
"On a scale of one to 10, the pain is a 50," Knighton said last year.
The big defensive tackle has somewhat of a history against the Patriots, as in December 2014 he guaranteed that the Broncos would beat the Patriots and win the Super Bowl. Two months later, of course, the Patriots won the Super Bowl and did not have to face the Broncos, who couldn't get past the Colts in the divisional round.
But perhaps sensing some buttering up of the New England fan base was in order, one of Knighton's most recent tweets shows him standing beside a future Patriots Hall of Famer.
Vince Wilfork, for his part, approves.
Knighton is also from New England, born in Windsor, Conn., where he was named to the Hartford Courant's All-State team in 2003.
The Patriots reportedly expressed interest in Knighton last offseason.
UPDATE: Though Knighton visited the Redskins the day after meeting with the Patriots, the Washington Times reported Wednesday that Knighton is "leaning toward" the Patriots.
