FOXBORO, Mass. — Pierre Woods got his job back.
The Patriots re-signed the outside linebacker Wednesday, two and a half months after they released him on roster cut-down day prior to the regular season. It certainly beats his interim line of work, in which he spent about 10 weeks on the University of Michigan grounds crew.
"I was excited," Woods said. "How would you be? You know what I mean? You lose your job, and somebody calls you. How are you going to feel? You're going to be pumped, so that’s what I was. I was excited. It was a blessing."
Woods played in 52 games as a special teamer and part-time linebacker with the Patriots from 2006-09. Since getting released Sept. 4, the Chiefs were the only team that gave him a workout.
So, in the meantime, he chose to work on the grounds crew rather than sitting around and collecting unemployment. Woods, who will wear No. 53 because linebacker Tracy White has since taken Woods' old No. 58, worked out twice a day, ate right and kept his body fresh in the event he got another chance in the NFL.
Outside of that, though, Woods said he tried to keep his mind off the league. He stopped paying attention to the NFL waiver wire — it makes players stir crazy when they see certain peers get jobs while they remain unemployed — and the only football he watched was during highlight shows at work.
Now that Woods has returned to New England, he's just thrilled to have another chance, and with the Colts on tap, there's no room for an adjustment period.
"It feels real good to be back. I'm real excited," Woods said. "It's an honor to be back. It's a blessing. I'm just ready to go."
