Pats sign Victor Hobson Email|Link|Comments (14) Posted by Mike Reiss, Globe Staff April 7, 2008 03:15 PM The Patriots have signed free-agent linebacker Victor Hobson to a one-year deal today, a league source confirmed. The signing was first reported by the NFL Network's Adam Schefter. The 6-foot, 252-pound Hobson enters his sixth NFL season. He played the first five years of his career with the Jets. Hobson, 28, played outside linebacker in the Jets' 3-4 alignment the last two years. While Hobson has not played inside in the 3-4, he could see some work there for the Patriots, who like versatility among their 'backers. Hobson has been durable, playing in 76 career games, while missing only four. He has 58 starts, with 349 tackles and 11 career sacks. Hobson, who played in college at Michigan, entered the league as a second-round draft choice in 2003. In Herm Edwards's 4-3 scheme, he was an outside linebacker. But when Eric Mangini arrived in 2006 and implemented the 3-4, Hobson was used outside despite not having the prototype height to grapple with offensive tackles and tight ends. That's why it wouldn't be a surprise to see Hobson get some work inside with the Patriots, whose linebacker personnel breaks down this way (players in italics could line up at both positions): Inside Eric Alexander Tedy Bruschi Victor Hobson Larry Izzo T.J. Slaughter Adalius Thomas Mike Vrabel Outside Victor Hobson Adalius Thomas Mike Vrabel Pierre Woods I don't know how to feel about this. Scared? Elated? He's not that bad a player. At least they didn't get Vilma.
