Shaun Ellis of the New York Jets to sign with the New England Patriots

[Patriots2994 43]

The AFC East rivalry between New England and New York is getting an added jolt as longtime Jets defensive end Shaun Ellis will join the Patriots, pending a physical.

 

 

Shaun Ellis

#92 DE

New York Jets

Career Stats

 

Tot

552Solo

382Ast

170FF

13Sack

72.5Int

 

Ellis and the Patriots reached agreement on a one-year deal, a league source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter. The contract is pending a physical, which is expected to be completed later Sunday.

 

New England has been looking to upgrade its pass rush and it believes it will do so with the 34-year-old Ellis, who has played 11 seasons with the Jets after New York picked him with the 12th overall pick of the 2000 draft.

 

The Jets had made a one-year offer for the veterans' minimum of $910,000, according to Ellis' agent, Mitch Frankel.

 

Ellis has earned respect throughout a career in which he has piled up 72½ sacks, ranking third on the Jets' career list behind Joe Klecko (77½) and Mark Gastineau (107½).

 

 

Ellis has been a reliable player, missing just six games since becoming a starter in 2001. His ability to play all along the line made him a valuable part of Rex Ryan's aggressive Jets defense.

 

 

NFL Transactions Analysis

ESPN.com's division bloggers react to all of the big NFL free-agent signings and trades throughout the frenzied post-lockout period. Blog

 

• Insider: Instant analysis

• Scouts Inc.: Free-agent tracker

 

The Jets used their first-round pick to select Ellis' heir apparent, Muhammad Wilkerson, who has been working with the starting unit in training camp. Ryan has praised Wilkerson, saying he expects the former Temple standout to be the Week 1 starter. Ryan had said that he would have liked to bring back Ellis, although he made it clear that his playing time would be reduced.

 

The Patriots have looked thin at defensive end in training camp, with Jermaine Cunningham (second year) and Eric Moore (sixth year) running with the top group as part of a four-man line. There was a significant drop-off in experience after Cunningham and Moore, which the Patriots addressed, in part, with the signing of speed rusher Mark Anderson (6-foot-4, 255 pounds) on Friday.

 

At 6-foot-5, 290 pounds, Ellis is more stout than the team's current ends from a run-game perspective, but also has shown the ability to generate a pass-rush. Ellis has played in both 3-4 and 4-3 schemes in his time with the Jets.

 

 

 

 

Personally, I think this could be a good move. Ellis is familiar with the Jets' defensive schemes and could help Belichick gameplan against them. He brings a veteran presence to the team and could very well make an immediate impact. If he is able to help Belichick in regards to the schemes and formations Rex runs his defense off of, then I expect Brady to be able to play a much more efficient game against them. This could be a very very smart move by New England.

[JetsFan4Life 542]

I think the Patriots did this more to spite the Jets than help their own team.

[Schembechler 2]

Pats are gonna have a killer d-line this year. Nothing compared to Detroits, however. :wink:

[Piggly Wiggly 960]

I think the Patriots did this more to spite the Jets than help their own team.

 

Jets fans are so butthurt it's ridiculous. Hearing Jets fans say stuff like ''Pats only signed Ellis to piss off the Jets!!!11'', or ''Pats only signed Ellis so they could get inside info from him!!!11''.

 

Like this signing a lot. Ellis is a solid addition, IMO. Should contribute pretty nicely on defense. Also, this is yet another Patriots killer that is now out of NY. Cotchery, Edwards, now Ellis. Fucking love it.

[JetsFan4Life 542]

 

Jets fans are so butthurt it's ridiculous. Hearing Jets fans say stuff like ''Pats only signed Ellis to piss off the Jets!!!11'', or ''Pats only signed Ellis so they could get inside info from him!!!11''.

 

Like this signing a lot. Ellis is a solid addition, IMO. Should contribute pretty nicely on defense. Also, this is yet another Patriots killer that is now out of NY. Cotchery, Edwards, now Ellis. Fucking love it.

 

If you don't think that went into the signing of Ellis you're delusional. Obviously you want to weaken your biggest threat whenever possible and taking that teams best defensive end would probably do that.

[Piggly Wiggly 960]

If you don't think that went into the signing of Ellis you're delusional. Obviously you want to weaken your biggest threat whenever possible and taking that teams best defensive end would probably do that.

Of course, but to say the main reason why they signed him was to spite the Jets, is kind of ridiculous.

 

A good example of spiting your rival would be the Kevin O'Connell acquisition. Remember that? Jets traded for him like a week or two before the Jets-Pats game in 2009, and named him a team captain for that game.

 

Pats definitely pissed off the Jets and their fans with this move, but that wasn't their goal. Their intentions were to get, you know, some good d-line help.