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Long Snapper Joe Cardona To Return To Patriots From Navy Reserve

BOSTON (CBS) -- Joe Cardona has been transferred from active Naval duty to the Navy Reserve, meaning the long snapper will be available for the Patriots in 2016 and will be available for the start of training camp on July 28.

ESPN's Mike Reiss confirmed Cardona's availability on Thursday. The news comes on the heels of the Patriots releasing long snapper Christian Yount and linebacker C.J. Johnson on Thursday.

Cardona has long been a somewhat controversial draft pick of the Patriots, who selected the long snapper out of Navy in the fifth round (166th overall) of the 2015 draft. He played for the Patriots in 2015 while on active duty at the Naval Preparatory Academy in Rhode Island, but missed this season's voluntary OTAs despite attending mandatory minicamp in June.

NFL.com predicted Cardona to be a seventh-round pick at best in his draft profile, but still considered him an elite prospect at the position. He became just the fourth long snapper to be drafted in NFL history.

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