Pats Sign CBA Grad

Good news for the Capital Region as former CBA standout Joe Vellano has signed a futures deal with the New England Patriots.

Vellano has been with the Pats multiple times before, having played with them from 2013-2014.

From the Patriots website:

Vellano, 27, was released by the Patriots on Aug. 31, 2015, signed to the practice squad on Sept. 25 and released again on Sept. 30. He originally joined the Patriots as a rookie free agent out of Maryland on May 3, 2013. The 6-foot-2, 300-pounder, made the 53-man roster as a rookie and played in 16 games with eight starts and also played in both postseason games that season. He finished the year with 48 total tackles and two sacks. Vellano began the 2014 season on the 53-man roster and then was part of the practice squad before being re-signed to the 53-man roster in the postseason. He played in five games with one start in the regular season and also saw action in the AFC Championship Game vs. Indianapolis. He finished the 2014 season with six total tackles and one sack.

It's also good news for 518 sports fans because the futures deal is the same kind of deal that Albany native Dion Lewis signed last offseason. Until injury, that worked out well for Lewis, who was having a dynamic year in the Pats offense.