New England Patriots Pick Up Another Reclamation Project

There's a new number 16 in Foxborough.

In a move that might seem surprising to some, it was announced this morning that the New England Patriots had cut quarterback Matt Guttierez and signed five-year veteran Andrew Walter.

The Raiders mercifully let Walter go on July 31, a move that is likely to benefit both parties.

The former Arizona State Sun Devil never had a chance in Oakland, standing on the sideline for most of his four years there. Every time it looked like he had a shot at the starting job, someone else stepped in front of him.

When fate intervened and he actually did play, the Raiders' style proved to be a poor fit for Walter.

It was not pretty.

A big knock on the Pats' chances this year has been the lack of experience of Kevin O'Connell, who would have been and might still be Tom Brady's backup.

With this move, the team buys some insurance in the form of a veteran whose skills just might fit.

Best of all, we could be looking at yet another Bill Belichick reclamation project.

The talk has been that Andrew Walter is psychologically damaged goods as a result of his time in Oakland. 

And at 6'6" and 230 pounds, Walter is a big man with limited mobility.

Never one to listen to the "experts," Belichick apparently pulled the trigger on this one Monday night, bringing in a talented guy who has been considered by many as having great potential in the right setting.

Sound familiar?

Walter practiced with the Patriots today.