FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Whenever a player from a New England college football program lands with the New England Patriots, the news has some additional meaning in the six-state region, and this time it extends north to Maine.
On Monday, the Patriots shuffled their practice squad by signing former Maine Black Bears linebacker Trevor Bates, two weeks after first working him out. To make room for Bates, the team released fullback Glenn Gronkowski.
Bates, a 2016 seventh-round draft choice of the Indianapolis Colts, played in 46 games in college and totaled 207 tackles (35 for loss), with 19 sacks, three interceptions, five forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and nine pass breakups.