FOXBORO, Mass. – The New England Patriots announced the signing of four players, guard Adam Davis, center Rob Gatrell, wide receiver Sean Morey and linebacker Maugaula Tuitele, today. Davis, Gatrell and Tuitele all finished the 2000 season on the Patriots practice squad.
Davis, 23, was listed among the Patriots inactives during the first two games of last season and was placed on their practice squad on Sept. 19. The 6-foot-4-inch, 300-pound guard originally signed by the Patriots as a rookie free agent on April 19, 2000. He was a four-year letterman at Oklahoma State (1996-99).
Gatrell, 23, spent the entire 2000 season on the Patriots practice squad. He was originally signed by the Patriots as a rookie free agent on April 19, 2000 and was later waived on Aug. 27. He was signed to the Patriots practice squad on Aug. 29. The 6-foot-5-inch, 300-pound center was a four-year letterman at Fresno State (1996-99) and earned second-team All-WAC during his senior season.
Morey, 24, was signed to the Patriots practice squad on Oct. 20, 2000 and spent seven weeks with New England before his release on Dec. 6. He was originally drafted by the Patriots with their second pick in the seventh round of the 1999 NFL draft (241st overall). The 5-foot-11-inch, 190-pound receiver appeared in each of the last two regular season games of 1999 and recorded two special teams tackles in each of those contests. He played for the Barcelona Dragons during the 2000 NFL Europe League season and caught 37 passes for 415 yards and three touchdowns. He was voted NFL Europe Player of the Week following his 10-catch, 107-yard performance against the Berlin Thunder. Morey was released by the Patriots on Aug. 27, 2000.
Morey set Ivy League receiving records for career receptions (251), receiving yards (3,850) and touchdowns (39) during his career at Brown. He made the most of his preseason opportunities, catching six passes for 158 yards and a touchdown.
Tuitele, 22, played in one game for the Patriots during the 2000 season (at Detroit, 11/23) and assisted on one tackle. The 6-foot-2-inch, 255-pound linebacker was originally signed by the Patriots as a rookie free agent on April 19, 2000. He was waived by the Patriots on Aug. 27, but was re-signed on Nov. 22. He was later waived on Dec. 1 and was signed to the Patriots practice squad on Dec. 6. Tuitele was a four-year letterman at Colorado State and was named first-team All-Mountain West conference.
