FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - The New England Patriots signed free agent running back Amos Zereoue and released wide receiver Andre' Davis today. Zereoue will wear number 31 for the Patriots. Terms of his agreement were not disclosed.
Zereoue, 28, was originally drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round (95th overall) of the 1999 NFL Draft. The 5-foot-8-inch, 205-pound running back has played in 81 games with 17 starts over six seasons with the Steelers (1999-2003) and Oakland Raiders (2004). In his career, Zereoue has rushed 546 times for 2,123 yards (3.9 avg) and 10 touchdowns. He has also caught 136 passes for 1,106 yards and a touchdown. He set career highs with Pittsburgh in 2002, totaling 1,103 yards from scrimmage (193 rushes for 762 yards and four touchdowns; 42 receptions for 341 yards), while starting five of 16 games for the Steelers. In 2003, he played in all 16 games with six starts, recording 433 yards on 132 carries and scoring two touchdowns with 40 receptions for 310 yards. Zereoue signed with the Oakland Raiders on April 29, 2004, and played in 15 games with six starts last season, notching 425 yards on 112 carries and scoring three touchdowns, while catching 39 passes for 284 yards. The former West Virginia University running back became a free agent following the 2004 season.
Davis, 26, was acquired by the Patriots in a trade with the Cleveland Browns on Aug. 22, 2005. He was listed among New England's day-of-game inactive players for each of the first three games this season. Davis is in his fourth NFL season and was originally selected by the Browns in the second round (47th overall) of the 2002 NFL Draft. In three seasons in Cleveland, the 6-foot-1-inch, 195-pound receiver started 19 of 39 games and made 93 receptions for 1,412 yards and 13 touchdowns.
