The New England Patriots announced the signing of tight end Matt Cercone today. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
Cercone, 28, spent the 2003 training camp with the Jacksonville Jaguars and the spring of 2003 with the Barcelona Dragons of NFL Europe. He started 10 games for the Dragons at tight end and caught 11 passes for 115 yards and one touchdown.
The 6-foot-4-inch, 252-pound native of Bakersfield, Calif. was originally signed as a rookie free agent by the Minnesota Vikings in 1999, where he participated in training camp. In 2000, Cercone spent time on the Vikings' practice squad before being activated for three regular-season games. He was then re-signed to the practice squad where he spent the remainder of the regular season and postseason. Cercone spent the spring of 2000 with the Barcelona Dragons of NFL Europe where he caught six passes for 44 yards and one touchdown. In 2001, he spent 15 weeks on the Vikings' practice squad. He was placed on the 53-man roster but was inactive for one contest. Cercone spent the first month of the 2002 season on the Vikings' active roster and saw action in three games. He was waived by the Vikings on Oct. 1 and spent the remainder of the season out of football.
Cercone spent two years at Bakersfield (Calif.) Community College where he was named J.C. Gridwire All-America and first-team Western States Conference. During those two seasons, Bakersfield finished 20-2 with two conference titles. He transferred to Arizona State where he was a two-year letterman and totaled 18 receptions for 201 yards and three touchdowns.
