Tarpinian and Moore were in full color, but even Michaels didn’t give voice to their names.
The venerable announcer was likely in the same spot as even some of the most ardent Patriots followers: After the team announced that safety Patrick Chung wouldn’t be able to play because of a foot injury, came the surprising news that Moore, an undrafted rookie out of Southern Methodist, would play in his place, not Sergio Brown.
And while it had been known that linebacker Brandon Spikes wouldn’t play because of a sprained medial collateral ligament, what wasn’t known was that Tarpinian, also an undrafted rookie, and not Gary Guyton, would get the starting nod.
Ninkovich and Ihedigbo may have gotten their close-ups during the introductions, but not too long ago they also sent folks scrambling to the roster for identification purposes. As did Kyle Arrington, Phillip Adams, and Antwaun Molden - essentially, nearly all of the Patriots’ current secondary.
So, who exactly are these guys?
Moore is an affable Oakland, Calif., native, who sports eye-catching red earrings that look more like golf tees. Listed at 5 feet 10 inches, 205 pounds, he was originally signed by his hometown Raiders. A cutdown-day casualty, he was brought back to Oakland’s practice squad a day later, but was released in late September. Less than two weeks later, he was on the Patriots’ practice squad.
When he arrived in Foxborough, Moore was given a directive: Don’t just learn the outside cornerback and “star’’ position (what the Patriots call their slot or nickel corner), learn safety, too.
Having a corner learn to play both outside and in the slot is nothing new in New England. Coach Bill Belichick was asked this week if there was something he saw in Moore to lead him to believe he might be proficient at safety.
