FOXBORO, Mass. — Bill Belichick made the rare move of announcing transactions Wednesday in his first news conference of 2016 New England Patriots training camp.
The Patriots head coach said the team will receive a roster exemption for safety Nate Ebner, who is competing in the 2016 Rio Olympics on the U.S. rugby sevens team. The Patriots signed guard Jon Halapio and tight end Bear Pascoe to fill out their 90-man roster, Belichick announced.
Halapio entered the NFL as a 2014 sixth-round draft pick by the Patriots out of Florida. He was released before the 2014 regular season began and bounced around from the FXFL to NFL, playing with the Boston Brawlers, Denver Broncos, Arizona Cardinals and Brooklyn Bolts in 2014 and 2015.
Pascoe was a 2009 sixth-round pick by the San Francisco 49ers out of Fresno State. He most recently played with the Detroit Lions in 2015 and also has spent time with the New York Giants, Atlanta Falcons and Chicago Bears.
Pascoe has 40 career receptions for 336 yards and two touchdowns. The 6-foot-5, 265-pound tight end didn’t catch a pass in three games with the Lions last season.
Thumbnail photo via Adam Hunger/USA TODAY Sports Images
