FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The personnel wheels are always spinning for the New England Patriots, with free-agent linebacker Arthur Brown the latest player to arrive at Gillette Stadium for a workout.
Brown was a 2013 second-round draft choice of the Baltimore Ravens, picked 56th overall out of Kansas State. At pick No. 52 of the same draft, the Patriots selected linebacker Jamie Collins.
The 6-foot, 240-pound Brown made his primary contributions on special teams with the Ravens in his first three seasons (34 games), and had been hoping to break through to a front-line defensive role in 2016. But he was waived at the final roster cutdown, as the emergence of 2014 undrafted free agent Zachary Orr (North Texas) contributed to blocking his path and made him expendable.
The Jaguars claimed him and Brown played 12 games this season for Jacksonville in a reserve/special-teams role. The Jaguars waived Brown on Dec. 6 and the Jets claimed him. Brown played two games for the Jets before being released on Dec. 19.
The Patriots are well stocked at their off-the-line linebacker spot, with Dont'a Hightower, Shea McClellin, Kyle Van Noy and Elandon Roberts comprising the top of the depth chart, and rookie Trevor Bates (Maine) on the practice squad. The team lost linebacker Trevor Reilly off its practice squad last week.
