James Morris has to be hoping that his current tenure with the New England Patriots lasts longer than his first go-around with the team.
The Patriots re-signed the former Iowa linebacker on Aug. 4. Morris was signed by the Patriots as an undrafted free agent after the 2014 NFL draft and cut after just four days. Morris’ father told the Iowa Press-Citizen’s Pat Harty that the rookie was hospitalized to treat a blood clot in his leg after being waived by the Patriots.
Morris recorded 106 tackles with seven sacks, 17 tackles for loss and four interceptions for the Hawkeyes in 2013. The 6-foot-1, 241-pound linebacker ran a 4.67-second 40-yard dash at his pro day in March with a 4.33-second short shuttle, 36-inch vertical leap and 10 feet broad jump. He ran a 6.94 three-cone at the NFL Scouting Combine.
The Patriots now have 12 linebackers on their 90-man roster. Morris will compete with veterans James Anderson, Darius Fleming and Chris White, second-year pros Steve Beauharnais and Ja’Gared Davis and rookies Cameron Gordon, Taylor McCuller and Deontae Skinner for a place on the 53-man roster.
