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Big Blue looks to unearth hidden gems
By Ken Palmer

Each season, New York signs a bunch of longshot hopefuls to the roster immediately after the Draft. And each year, a handful of these rookie free agents defy the odds and make the club. Last year, both LB Jack Golden and OT Chris Ziemann made the team and are both looked upon as having promising futures in New York. OL Jim Goff also showed himself well enough in off-season mini-camps that he ended last season on New York's practice squad. The year before that, New York kept a quartet of rookie free agents - CB Reggie Stephens, CB Bashir Levingston, G Scott Kiernan and DE Frank Ferrara. Let's take a look at New York's 19 recently signed free agents.

Anthony Green is a 6-2, 245-pound RB from West Virginia. Last year, Green signed with Seattle as a rookie free agent before being waived in August. As a senior, Green had 18 carries for 68 yards and 10 receptions for 69 yards. A Jersey City, N.J., native, Green was born on May 13, 1977.

Delvin Jones is a 6-0, 196-pound FS from Minnesota. Jones started 11 games his senior season and finished with a team-leading 85 tackles (64 solo), one pass break-up and two fumble recoveries. As a junior, Jones started every game for the Golden Gophers and finished second on the team with 106 tackles (79 solo). The Miami native was born on Feb. 28, 1979.

Mark Kacmarynski is a 6-1, 230-pound FB from Central College in Iowa. Originally signed by the Bears in 1997, he was released during the preseason. He was signed by Philadelphia on Feb. 18, 1999, then allocated to NFL Europe. Kacmarynski spent last preseason with Indianapolis before being waived after training camp. He left Central College as the school's all-time leading rusher with 5,855 career yards. Kacmarynski was born on Feb. 2, 1974 and is a native of West Bend, Iowa.

Matt Layow is a 6-4, 244-pound DE from Kentucky. He finished his Wildcats career with 76 tackles, nine sacks, three passes defensed and three fumble recoveries. Last season, Layow compiled 44 tackles (38 solo), 12 for losses of 48 yards, five sacks and three fumble recoveries. The Miami native was born on March 22, 1977.

Lance Legree is a 6-1, 285-pound DT from Notre Dame. Legree finished his collegiate career with 119 tackles (67 solo) and four sacks. Last season, he started 11 games and finished with 50 tackles (25 solo), including six for a loss and two sacks. He was born Dec. 22, 1977 in Charleston S.C.

Brady McDonnell is a 6-3, 268-pound DE from Colorado. McDonnell finished his career with 152 tackles (74 solo), 9.5 sacks and 22 QB pressures. As a senior, McDonnell recorded 34 tackles (22 solo) with seven sacks for minus-37 yards. The Giants also view McDonnell as a potential tight end. He was born July 24, 1977 and resides in Quinn, S.D.

DeWayne Patmon is a 6-0, 185-pound S from Michigan. He finished his Michigan career as a three-year starter with 186 career tackles and 11 interceptions. Last season, Patmon was All-Big Ten Conference honorable mention, playing in all 12 games (10 starts) and leading the team with 86 tackles. Patmon also had three interceptions. The San Diego, Calif., native was born on April 25, 1979.

Jerry Phillips is a 6-0, 185-pound LB from Tulane. He finished his career with the Green Wave with 141 tackles (93 solo), one interception and two sacks. Last season, Phillips recorded a team-high 104 tackles (65 solo), two sacks and four pass break-ups in 10 starts. The Miami native was born May 19, 1978.

Ray Redziniak is a 6-2, 297-pound G from Illinois. He has been a mainstay on the Fighting Illini offensive line since the fifth game of his freshman year, putting together a string of 41 consecutive starts. Redziniak did not allow a sack in his last 26 games. He was born Dec. 17, 1978 and resides in Melbourne, Fla.

Marcellus Rivers is a 6-4, 231-pound TE from Oklahoma State. He caught 68 passes for 963 yards (14.2 avg.) and 10 touchdowns in his collegiate career. Last season, Rivers played in every game, and finished fifth on the team with 19 receptions for 292 yards (15.4 avg.) and a pair of touchdowns. The Oklahoma City native was born on Oct. 26, 1978.

Kevin Rollins is a 6-0, 231-pound LB from Toledo. Rollins finished his career with 301 tackles (179 solo) and 24 quarterback sacks. He led the team with a career-high 96 tackles (56 solo) and nine sacks. He also intercepted three passes and forced three fumbles. Born Feb. 1, 1978, Rollins resides in Twinsburg, Ohio.

Rich Seubert is a 6-5, 295-pound G from Western Illinois. As a senior, Seubert came on and led the Leathernecks OL to the nation’s 21st-ranked rushing offense, earning first-team All-Conference honors. The Stratford, Wisc., Native was born on March 30, 1979.

Josh Stamer is a 6-2, 220-pound LB from South Dakota. In his career, he recorded 152 tackles (90 solo), 15.5 sacks and three interceptions. Stamer finished his senior season with 72 tackles (45 solo), and six sacks. He was born Oct. 11, 1977, and resides in Sutherland, Iowa.

Terrence Sykes is a 6-6, 270-pound OL from Louisiana Tech. Sykes finished his career last year anchoring the Tech line and earning Football News All-Independent honors. In 1998, Sykes earned all-state honors at Holmes Junior College before transferring to La. Tech. The Grenada, Miss., Native was born Feb. 24, 1979.

Josh Warner is a 6-6, 305-pound G from SUNY-Brockport. He became the first player in Brockport history to be honored on the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) All-America team. Warner was a starter since the end of his freshman season and did not allow a sack during his last three seasons. A Cato, N.Y., Native, Warner was born on May 15, 1979.

Clayton White is a 5-11, 225-pound LB from North Carolina State. White closed out his career with the Wolfpack with 263 tackles (157 solo), eight quarterback sacks and 15 pass deflections. As a senior, White recorded 49 tackles (35 solo). Born Dec. 2, 1977, White resides in Dunn, N.C.

Emile White is a 6-0, 219-pound DB from Houston. He finished his career with 168 tackles (114 solo), four sacks, four interceptions and 25 pass deflections. As a senior, White ranked second on the team with a career-high 100 tackles (69 solo), including two sacks. He intercepted a pair of passes and deflected 11 others. The Houston native was born Oct. 24, 1978.

Pat Woodcock is a 5-9, 166-pound WR from Syracuse. A two-year starter, he became only the 14th player in school history to gain more than 1,000 yards receiving in a career. He caught 62 passes for 1,047 yards (16.9 avg.) with seven touchdowns at Syracuse. He also returned 11 kickoffs for 217 yards (19.7 avg.). The Canadian native (Kanata, Ontario) was born on April 27, 1977.

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