New England gets assigned an international player."

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WhitePatriots News Opinion and Analysis Contribute! FanPostsFanShotsAbout the Site List of Patriots Twitter AccountsWrite For Pats Pulpit!New User Welcome and Commenting GuideCommunity GuidelinesMastheadTopics Patriots Off-Season CoveragePatriots Opinion/AnalysisPatriots NewsPatriots Draft CoverageSportfolio ManagementPatriots NewsPatriots sign fullback/tight end Jakob Johnson through NFL’s pathway programNew Womens Ryan Allen Jersey ,42commentsNew England gets assigned an international player.EDTShareTweetShareSharePatriots sign fullback/tight end Jakob Johnson through NFL’s pathway programJim Brown-USA TODAY SportsTwo years ago, the NFL introduced its so-called Pathway Program with the idea of making it easier for international players to find a home and establish themselves in the league. Now, it looks as if one such player has found his way to the New England Patriots: according to the official NFL Germany Twitter account, the reigning world champions have been assigned fullback/tight end-hybrid Jakob Johnson.The 24-year-old started his career playing for the Stuttgart Scorpions in Germany before moving to the United States in 2014. After playing high school football in Florida, Johnson receiving a scholarship at the University of Tennessee as a linebacker. Prior to his sophomore year http://www.patriotslockerroom.com/authentic-jason-mccourty-jersey , he was moved to tight end. Primarily a blocker for the remainder of his college career, Johnson left Tennessee the recipient of a mere 3 passes for 23 yards.After going undrafted and remaining unsigned as a rookie free agent, Johnson returned to Germany to play for the Scorpions again before becoming one of seven players chosen for this year’s Pathway Program. While he failed to earn a free agency deal through the program and the opportunities it provides, the tight end’s NFL dream is not yet over due to him getting assigned to the Patriots.Johnson, who just like the other six players participating in the program this year got randomly assigned to one of the four AFC East teams Kyle Van Noy Jersey , will now have a chance to participate in the Patriots’ training camp. If he fails to make the team’s 53-man roster — the most likely outcome — he will automatically join New England’s practice squad as an eleventh player that is ineligible to be promoted to the active team during the year. Vikings receiver Adam Thielen didn’t speak to Patriots coach Bill Belichick after the game. The two exchanged only a few words during the game, but it was enough.After officials ruled Latavius Murray gained a yard on fourth-and-one with 8:34 remaining in the game, Patriots defensive back Patrick Chung went down to the ground. Thielen obviously didn’t believe Chung was injured but instead faking an injury to buy time for the Patriots to look at a replay.When Belichick threw the challenge flag, Thielen approached the sideline screaming.“That’s bullish-t,” Thielen yelled.“I just thought the play was cheap Womens Chris Hogan Jersey ,” Thielen said afterward, via video from Tom Curran of NBC Sports Boston. “I wasn’t directing it toward him. I just thought the play was cheap. I let my emotions get the best of me, because it’s a smart football play. If you are in that situation, why not? It’s not cheating, because there’s no rule against from a guy going down. I don’t know if he was hurt or not. He might have been hurt. That’s fine. It is what it is. Just interesting timing for a guy to go down when it’s a close play.”As an official escorted Thielen back toward the Vikings huddle http://www.patriotslockerroom.com/authentic-marcus-cannon-jersey , Belichick told the receiver to “shut the f–k up.” Patriots linebacker Kyle Van Noy also said something to Thielen.Thielen appeared unfazed by Belichick’s suggestion.“No offense taken,” Thielen said. “It’s football. There’s emotions. He can think what he wants to think about me. It doesn’t really change how I’m going to go play the game. He can hate me all he wants, and I’m going to still be the same person I am and try to go out and do my best and I’m going to try to compete every play.”The Vikings won the challenge but lost the game, and Thielen had five catches for 28 yards and a touchdown.