The latest example could be outside linebacker Pierre Woods, who joined the team as an undrafted free agent in 2006 and is now in line to replace injured starter Adalius Thomas (broken right forearm).
On a lot of NFL teams, Cassel, Green-Ellis, and Woods would have been shown the door on pedigree alone prior to getting their opportunity to play leading roles, but that's not how coach Bill Belichick and vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli do business.
Pedigree might get you a shot at a job, but performance promises employment. Just ask Chad Jackson, a 2006 second-round pick the team jettisoned prior to the season.
"It is based on their performance and what they do with the opportunities that they get, not where they were drafted," said Belichick. "We have cut second-, third-, fourth-round draft choices. So, those guys aren't better than the guys who come in and aren't drafted. We are going to keep the best players and the guys that deserve to be here. That's what we believe in, that's the way we try to run the team, and I think going forward the people who look at our situation say with confidence, 'We are going to get a fair shot there,' based on our track record or at least I hope so because that really is true."
In the case of Green-Ellis, who had the first 100-yard rushing performance of his career last Sunday against the Bills (26 carries for 105 yards and a touchdown), the Patriots' track record did help. Green-Ellis said that lots of teams courted him when he went undrafted out of the University of Mississippi, but that on the advice of his agent he decided to sign with New England.
That seemed like a curious choice since the team already had Laurence Maroney, Sammy Morris, Kevin Faulk, and Heath Evans on the roster at the time.
